The red rose painting is complete and drying – I’ll show you the final scan of course when it’s dry and varnished and ready to go. This little 4×6 oil painting is on a canvas sheet, so it can be rolled and framed in an open frame just like this.

View work in progress

About those roses I showed you yesterday, we’re going with #6. This is the underpainting, and I’ll further enhance the rose (the background will stay as is, and it’s pretty close to accurate) on the next layer. It’s a little bitty thing, 4×6 on a canvas sheet, that’s why there’s a bit of a border around it. Pictured with a quarter so you can get perspective on the size of the bud.

Titto’s underpainting is complete now, as well. (Paint is splattering everywhere in my studio!) He’s a gorgeous and vibrant sun conure, and I’m excited to finish his portrait. That may happen tomorrow – depending on how quickly the darks set up overnight tonight.

I’ve just completed the underpainting on Carol & Jerry’s portrait. I skipped posting WIP #3 as I sent that one along to my client and it was just half the underpainting (I finished Carol late yesterday).

My palette, in case you’re curious, is a small one. French ultramarine, yellow ochre, raw umber, magenta, white, sap green, indigo and cerulean blue. I’ve learned a lot about creating skin tones over the last few years, and the more people I paint, the more I learn.

(I am admittedly kinda happy that Jerry’s face is a bit furry.)

Katie’s underpainting is complete now, and woah! She looks a lot different! (Check out the painting in progress link to see the progress all together.) These are all the darkest values in her coat and muzzle, I’ll lighten things up in layers to give her that creamy yellow lab coat.

(View Katie’s painting in progress)

I skipped the sketch progress shot and intro and went right for the background on Titto’s portrait. He’s a Sun Conure I’ll be working on this week. Another small piece, 5×7 on a canvas panel, his bright plumage is going to be stunning against this dark forest green and brown background.

I’ve got a lot of work to do in the studio! I’ll update with more progress shots of the portraits I’m working on later today.

Have a great day!

I’m working on Katie’s portrait now, starting with the most detailed areas (as usual). Her eye, nose and mouth (tongue!) are moving right along, I’ll have her ears and the rest of her coat and collar blocked in and the entire underpainting ready for the next layer over the weekend.

(View Katie’s painting in progress)

I’ve just completed Elsie’s portrait, although she’s not *officially* done until her mom gives me the thumbs up. Once she loves her painting, I’ll give it a day or two to dry and scan the final detail shots before she heads home.

(View Elsie’s Painting Progress)Update: Eye color revisions and better daylight pic, click to see additional image…

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It’s not a mistake – she’s upside down! I thought you might like to see how I painted today. It’s never as straightforward as it seems. I’ll turn the painting around in circles as I paint so that I’m pulling my “fur” brush (a long liner) toward me.

Her ears, forehead, eyes and nose are complete. I’ll finish her portrait tomorrow and show her to you again right-side-up.

(View Elsie’s Painting Progress)