Posts Tagged ‘dogs’
Composition dogs: part 3
November 6, 2014
Dogs and owners: Spaces between Above: “Eli and David”, by Lucian Freud, 2005-6. A portrait of David Dawson (Freud’s assistant and friend) with his whippet. I find “Eli and David” remarkable both as a powerful composition and for the way in which it demonstrates a key aspect of human-canine relationships. This man, painted with all his human flaws and concerns, […]
2014 | Blog | Tags: blog, Cassatt, composition, dogs, Freud, mythology, negative shapes, shapes
Composition dogs: part 2
October 12, 2014
A dog at the table: two pictures to compare In this second part of my short series on dogs in composition, lets compare two paintings. Both painted in France in the 1860s, each of these pictures shows figures at a table, and each artist has included a single dog as a key part of the composition. […]
2014 | Blog | Tags: composition, Daumier, dogs, Renoir
Composition dogs: part 1
October 10, 2014
Above: “Henrietta and Ollie” by Tim Hall (Click on the image for a closer view) Dogs in pictures can be very engaging but, in the hands of an expert artist, their use goes far beyond mere representation. In this and the next post, I’ll discuss complex images in which a dog plays a key role. Our canine companions can form all […]
2014 | Blog | Tags: composition, Courbet, dogs, Hockney, shapes
A Dog’s Place
March 20, 2013
Some thoughts on drawing dogs indoors, with reference to Pierre Bonnard Above: “Carafe, Marthe Bonnard with her dog”, by Pierre Bonnard, c.1912-15. This little dachshund is small but determined. His upright shape will not allow the viewer’s eye to wander out of the left side of this picture. We occasionally have a special house-guest: […]
2013 | Blog | Tags: Bonnard, dogs, shapes, sketchbook
Memory pictures in progress
November 19, 2012
Exploring ideas around identity and memory Above: Vincent Van Gogh “Landscape with ploughed fields”, 1889, oil on canvas Starting points for art: Working from life vs. an emotional starting point I spend much of my time drawing and painting from life. Shapes, colours, tones and volumes interacting with one another in the real world are intriguing […]
2012 | Blog, Paintings | Media: acrylics, oils | Tags: acrylics, blog, death, dogs, Freddy, identity, memory, oil painting, oilsComments (1)
Dogs at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nice
August 8, 2012
A gallery visit and some surprise dogs My sketch of Michel de Tarkowsky’s bronze sculpture, “Les deux amis”, 1901 Nice is a perfect holiday destination for artists. This part of southern France is renowned for its wonderful natural light and has traditionally been a destination for those who wish to paint outdoors. Even if you […]
2012 | Blog, Sketches | Tags: blog, dogs, sketchbook, sketches
Border Terrier in Pastels
June 9, 2012
A drawing of my terrier, Freddy, in pastels Border terriers are renowned for being healthy and lively well into their old age. When my little dog suddenly slowed down at about 15 years old, I not only started him on painkillers and Aktivait but also made it my priority to do this portrait. […]
2012 | Blog | Tags: blog, dogs, Freddy, pastelComments (2)
Sketching pets: which medium to use
May 27, 2012
Sketching pets in various media Today I discuss which media are best suited to sketching your pet. The illustrations here are pictures from my own sketchbooks, mostly of my Border Terrier, Freddy. Pen and ink drawing For the last few years, pen and ink has been the main medium used in my sketchbooks. Both rollerball […]
2012 | Blog | Tags: blog, dogs, Freddy, sketchbook
Sketchbook dog drawings
May 24, 2012
Ideas and tips for sketching your pet at home Today I shall share some of the dog drawings from my sketchbooks. This post is in memory of my Border Terrier, Freddy, who recently died at age 17 years. Here are some suggestions for drawing pets, this time illustrated by sketches of my own dog. These tips […]
