how to draw a pet dog in pastels from a photo

HOW TO DRAW A PET DOG IN PASTELS FROM A PHOTO

Here is the photo of dog
( toby ) supplied by a
client

The brief is to draw the dog in
pastels on textured artist pastel
paper size 12 by 16 inches

I was asked to alter the layout to
make a neater portrait.
remove the leg upper right
remove area of back on left side
don`t show front legs
( this will leave a head and
shoulders portrait )

I start the drawing by lightly
drawing in the main details with a
hb lead pencil

Here I start to go a bit heavier with
the pencil and white pastel to see
detail clearly

Using my pastels I apply some pink
colour to ears and shade in white
areas on face and add colour to
eyes

The white shading is now roughly
added in the face

I add some of the darker shading
to the face

The shading is now roughly
finished on the face and colour
added to nose. strengthen eye
colour

Here I start to blend in the shading
on the face ( darks and highlights )
to give a smooth finished look

I am now starting to finish blending
the shadows and lights on the
face,nose, ears and mouth

Now the face and ears are blended
and appears darker and smoother.
I have also made shadows even
darker added colour to collar .Add
blue to background

Now here is the finished pastel
portrait of toby ready for framing !

A STEP BY STEP DEMONSTRATION
by artist David Gilchrist

Practice working from photos yourself
it`s a great way to gain confidence in
art and if at first you don`t succeed
you can always try again ! Give it time
and you will see results.

I hope to bring you more how to`s soon
so please feel free to come back and
see if I have added something new