Hello everyone

Thankyou Switzerland for granting us a little warmer weather, even though that inevitably must mean RAIN!

I've just started a labrador oil painting, and since I have so much interest from you in my 'How To Paint' pages on my boxer dog, I thought I'd repeat the process, since I think so many people want to improve their painting skills; I should know, because I do, too. I'm sure painting must be the winter occupation of many. Even though the light is a little difficult now.

Being a self-taught artist myself, I've never seemed to 'get' what the painting books were trying to say. Somehow, it all just seemed to go through a big hole, somewhere at the back of my head. So, about six years ago, I decided to teach myself: mostly by trial and a lot of error. Luckily, I'm VERY self-critical, so I couldn't let myself get away with anything. This also helped me progress very quickly. I think this way, I found my own style of painting, which makes me very happy.

Anyway, hence, I decided to show you my palate of colours, since odds are, being of an artistic inclination, you work better with pictures anyway.  Also, I find when I buy my colours, often they go by different colour names. So, here you can SEE the basic colours (described in my own way ) : so; like reading a book from left to right, it's diarreah brown (sorry), navy blue, rust brown, dark brown, white, red, dark rust brown, and black.

Often, I chose a good photo, and often the end result is only as good as that photo: so it's important to chose really well. There are some great photo sites online now, where you can purchase credits for photos: this means that the owner is happy for you to use their photo, and there are no copyright issues if you follow their basic rules of usage.

Underpainting Of Dots

Can you see which way round my Labrador is??

Impressive eh? Honestly, this is what I start with. But each of those dots is completely accurate: from the ear to the nose etc. Sometimes you may wish to paint your painting far larger than the photo, so you must multiply your measurements, so that they all follow the same pattern. For example, if you want to paint 2.5 times the size of the photo: all your measurements must be times by 2.5 (yes, I know it's obvious to you! But it might not be to someone else) 

Honestly, this is probably the most important part of the painting: since there is nothing like putting in hours of your valuable artistic time, only to discover his leg is in the wrong place!  So, force yourself to plan it; soon you get much quicker at it anyway; until it easily becomes a formality. You'll really be surprised just how good it is when it's finished!  I am!  

Labrador Under Painting

Where you correct? Did you guess which was the nose? So; here I've added approximately correct colours to flesh out the shape of the dog. I usually start around the ear, nose, eye of an animal. I keep working between those areas with my colours, still checking my calculations a bit. Because sometimes, even when I calculate, I get it wrong  

Labrador Painting.

It is actually of a Labrador dog, in the snow. So, it will be a lovely subtle painting, quite lightly done, since it's a yellow labrador. It looks more golden than it actually is here; since on the day, I had very dingy light conditions. Once I am happy with the distance between the nose, eyes and ear, I usually move downwards to the rest of the body. As said before, I only ever use Linseed Oil with which to mix the paints and to clean off my brushes; since I find Turps always makes me feel very ill. It's far too strong a chemical to be breathing in on a daily basis, even in a well-ventilated room.

Dog, Animal Oil Painting

He's a lovely boy, isn't he? The soft, gentle colours give a really soft, sentimental feel to the painting already. When I first started teaching myself painting, I used to think the more primary the colours used, the more it would come to life. I was wrong. I've since learnt that the most subtle of colour changes actually brings a painting to life. So, try it: mix a tiny dot of  red, into the brown nose, see what happens! Or a tiny drop of orange onto the top of the ear. With the labrador's light coat, I have used colours just off- white: so poo-brown with a little white, yellow with a little white - keeping the colours very faint and subtle is far more effective than darker strokes. How many different off-white colours can you mix?

The wonders of oils, mean that you can use pure colour  (i.e. not diluted with Linseed Oil: used straight from the tube) to bulk up the hair of the coat, to lend a realism to a painting. I love the life oils give to a painting. So, although I enjoy watercolours, I always seem to come back to oils. Because I can always change my paintings, too; in the first few days, before it begins to dry. That's great really: like being able to do an exam, go home, think about it; then change your answers  

Then everybody gives you top marks!!

Anyway; as you can see, he's not yet finished. He needs a few other sessions. So, I shall continue these tips on my next blog (just to keep you enthralled!) That's annoying, isn't it? Kind of like telling a story, and not giving the ending. Grrrrrrrr!

I promise he'll be back soon though. I have to do some housework now, anyway. You don't want the dishes to remain dirty, do you? Or let the bin start smelling. 

I think I've decided on a name: I think I'll call her 'Bonny', since I've just decided she's a girl, after all. Do you think it suits her? I once knew a Labrador called Bonny, too. Very bouncy thing she was. Always in and out of the sea, with a kind of wild abandon. Labradors are great dogs, aren't they? You never hear of a Labrador attack, do you?? They're far too busy, rolling on their backs.

Hey; I've just realized I haven't got on to the eyes yet! (despite the title) Whoops. Although, I hate to leave a dog without proper eyes, I promise I will amend this next time. I will just mention that the biggest thing to remember about eyes, is that they are covered in a film of liquid! This means that they are 'reflective'. This, I have found in my discoveries to be the key to painting eyes. Hmmm! Interesting eh!

Bye bye for now painters. C U soon............. www.MooreThanArt.com

*I must just add one further comment about 'fat over lean' With oil paints, if you tend to paint more than one layer of paint over another, make sure each additional layer has a little more oil in it than the first. This ensures that you painting won't crack in years to come.

www.boundlessgallery.com and www.moorethanart.com or questions@moorethanart anytime.