Dogs are a delightful painting subject - especially for loose watercolour.
If you are a little afraid of all that fur and getting the anatomy right - take heart. I used to feel exactly the same way.
Let me show you my approach, and how I am learning to put those fears aside and jump into some joyful dog painting.
First of all, a loose approach is very forgiving.
And those drawing fears? Like many things they are much worse in our heads than in reality. Dogs break down to simple shapes. All that fur tends to blur those shapes too. So relax, and let yourself enjoy having a go at painting a pup.
You can give yourself an easy start by choosing to crop out some of the dog. Even the whole body!
Like this…
I’m not sure that I got those eyes in the right place but I think that the crazy strands of fur on that little terrier hide a multitude of sins.
The other thing that helps is that there are many colours in the fur of this little dog. So much fun to paint.
How to Paint a Black and White Dog in Watercolour
Speaking of things that are fun to paint…. how about dog accessories?
I couldn’t resist this cute little bow.
I mean, really…
A white dog can be a little more challenging. Here’s why…. and how to to take on the challenge!
How to Paint a White Dog in Watercolour
The thing with white subjects is that they are the same colour as the paper for the watercolour artist. This means it can be hard to distinguish the dog from the background. Check out the video below to see how to paint the dog by not painting the dog. (Hint… you have to paint the background.)
It can also seem difficult to give the dog volume and make him leap off the page in three dimensional glory. To do this, you have to accept that white subjects are not really white. They reflect all sorts of colours from their surroundings.
This means you have to give yourself permission to paint with colour and trust that the dog will still read as a white dog. Value is more important than colour.
Pet Portraits
Once you have a bit more confidence you might want to consider adding a person to your pet portrait.
Yes, people are one of the most intimidating painting subjects. But here’s a secret. It just takes practice. You have to let yourself paint some bad portraits to begin with. Before you know it they get better and better.
Not convinced?
This post offers some tips for the terrified when it comes to drawing people to add to your paintings. Pop on over and see if it allays any of your fears. Let me know either way - I’d love to hear from you!
I also have an extensive post about how to paint a portrait in watercolour. It even includes a downloadable pdf with 10 tips for beginners. This link will take you directly to it.
By the way, if you are brand new around here and/or new to watercolour you might want to check out my class on watercolour supplies for beginners.
It’s free, and you can sign up here.
The Beginner’s Guide to Watercolour Supplies
Are you on your own painting journey?
One of these might be useful…
Keep on reading…
