Ru is starting to progress. I always like to paint in the eye first before continuing with the rest of the face as it helps me feel the personality whilst painting. Things have been going slower than usual, however, as one of our cats has been very ill and it's amazing how hard it is to concentrate on painting when you have an animal looking very sorry for itself but after a weekend at the vets, he's much better and fingers crossed will be home later today. Must admit it's been nice and quiet though because he's a very vocal cat.....

Ru

Here is the first stage of Ru. She will be a finished size of 12x16".

Honey & Cassie finished.

I've nearly finished Honey, just her ears to complete. This painting is taking me slightly longer than usual because the lighting on the photo needs adjusting or the dogs will end up green and I struggle a bit with changing things as I paint what I see but I'll get there!

Cassie & Honey

These cuties are Cassie and Honey. I started today by painting in the background and their blanket and have blocked out the colours on their bodies.

Here is the final version of Reggie, having been able to get a good photo of the painting outside in decent light.

Finished

This is the finished painting of Reggie. Just waiting to hear if any alterations are needed and then once approved I need to apply the varnish and he'll be ready to go.

Getting there!

Today were the neck and ears. I'll wait to paint in the forelock until I've painted the browband and face so that the forelock sits on top.

Reggie

This handsome boy is Reggie. I've started out today by filling in the background and then blocking out the main colour of the portrait. The areas that I've left are so I can remember exactly where features and the tack are. It's always quite messy at this stage but hopefully the painting will start to resemble Reggie soon!

The final painting.

Finished

Here is the finished painting of Holly and Freddy. I will try and get a better photo of the painting in daylight tomorrow plus it will need varnishing once it has been approved. The varnish is to give it extra protection against dust and dirt and to make it easier to clean as acrylic paintings do not tend to be framed behind glass.

Holly finished.

Holly is nearly done now, I just need to finish the painting of her ear and then I can get started on Freddy's face. This painting was done this afternoon and evening as I had to go out to near Oxford this morning for a photo session and to pick up paintings from the Only Dogs and Horses exhibition, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to do a lot to Freddy, if not complete him, tomorrow as I finally have a full day to paint!

Monday - I was able to paint in Freddy's chest and then start on Holly's nose, being careful to get her markings just right. I would normally have managed more but had the launch of my latest exhibition at lunch time which I was more nervous about than my own wedding! I've been part of big exhibitions before but this time it was just me and one other artist Elizabeth Armstrong and we had the Gloucestershire Echo, Cotswold Life and Cotswold Style there to take photos for features about the exhibition. My nerves weren't helped by the fact that I was driving and couldn't take advantage of the free champagne! This exhibition is being held at the Spice Lodge in Cheltenham from 3 March until 19 April and is open to the public.

After painting the layers of different tones, I have worked up to the top layer bringing out the whiteness of the coat. The colours underneath then show through as the shape of the fur and any markings in the coat, such as the dapples on the body.

This morning I have been working on the chest and shoulders of Holly. I've started by painting the underlayer in the various tones that are in the fur. I can then work over layer by layer, lightening the colours as I go and adding extra tones.