Zelda portrait in progress 7 - Back after a long break
Resuming work on Zelda, the portrait of the Top Twenty show Doberman, after a VERY long break for health issues. Now working on her...
Kevin Roeckl
Feb 201 min read
5 views
Zelda portrait in progress 6 - First the ears...
When I shared this in-progress picture with Diane today I wrote: “I started working on Zelda’s head today. I re-read what you wrote about...
Kevin Roeckl
Jan 231 min read
8 views
Zelda portrait in progress 5 - Keeping it correct
Continuing to build Zelda’s musculature and the shapes of her body, the muscles and bone — her structure. A correct Doberman should look...
Kevin Roeckl
Jan 201 min read
3 views
Zelda portrait in progress 4 - About pencil pressure...
Lots of colored pencil artists believe it’s necessary to build up lots of layers with light pressure to achieve a solid color. I don’t...
Kevin Roeckl
Jan 172 min read
7 views
Zelda portrait in progress 3 - Attaching the muscles
Putting in Zelda's musculature. This has to be exactly precise to capture her structure…her beautifully correct structure. By working in...
Kevin Roeckl
Jan 152 min read
6 views
Zelda portrait in progress 2 - All the colors
Continuing work on Zelda. Photo taken in the studio today. These are all the greys, black, brown, and blue pencils I’m using for her...
Kevin Roeckl
Jan 141 min read
7 views
Zelda portrait in progress 1 - Decisions to be made
I’m starting a portrait of Zelda, a Top Twenty Doberman. Commissioned by Doberman breeder Susan R. as a gift to Zelda's owner Diane. ...
Kevin Roeckl
Jan 122 min read
11 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress - start to finish
August 20 The last portrait I shared (a dog in a forest scene) was very complex. This one will be straightforward: a double Head Study...
Kevin Roeckl
Dec 19, 202433 min read
6 views
Cheri and Larry portrait finished!
The portrait of Cheri and Larry is finally finished. A special portrait for a special friend who has played an important part in my...
Kevin Roeckl
Dec 11, 20242 min read
5 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 21 - Small changes, big difference
A finished portrait is not always perfect. It’s not unusual for a client to ask that something about a portrait be fixed. Usually just a...
Kevin Roeckl
Dec 7, 20242 min read
47 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 20 - A slogan worn with pride
It was important to Cheri to have this shirt-patch included on Larry’s shirt. When you read Cheri’s words you’ll understand why. From...
Kevin Roeckl
Nov 13, 20242 min read
14 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 19 - Something small but meaningful
A portrait artist can often include things that are deeply meaningful to the client, which are not there in the reference photo. There...
Kevin Roeckl
Nov 10, 20243 min read
7 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 18 - Fixed it!
In my previous post I shared what a mess I made of the heart-shaped vignette. (The watercolor-wash-gone-wrong.) I’ve been working on it...
Kevin Roeckl
Nov 8, 20241 min read
4 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 17 - Oops....
Continuing “Cheri and Larry”…. This album shows how I used watercolor wash to add the big chunks of color for their t-shirts and...
Kevin Roeckl
Nov 5, 20245 min read
13 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 16 - Emerging from the grey...
Both heads finished now. Whew! The hard part is done. Cheri wrote: “With this glorious work of art of us - with his eyes shining the way...
Kevin Roeckl
Oct 26, 20241 min read
7 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 15 - That smile
Larry’s smile finished. The words Cheri wrote about it are below the picture. Larry's beard color (“5 o'clock shadow”) is very close to...
Kevin Roeckl
Oct 23, 20242 min read
3 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 14 - Blending smooth skin
Working on Larry’s bottom lip: These three pictures show how I add the patches of color for his skin and lip. Then I blend them together...
Kevin Roeckl
Oct 18, 20242 min read
4 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 13 - Capturing the person
I sent this in-progress picture to Cheri and wrote, “When I was working on Larry's eyes I tried to capture his sense of humor. I'm glad...
Kevin Roeckl
Oct 10, 20242 min read
5 views
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 12 - Oh those blue eyes
Capturing Larry’s blue eyes is the most critical part of this portrait. When we were discussing the layout of the portrait, Cheri wrote: ...
Kevin Roeckl
Oct 10, 20242 min read
1 view
Cheri and Larry portrait in progress 11 - Creating luminous skin
A man’s skin is darker and redder than a woman’s (typically) . So I am putting in some darker colors on Larry’s forehead. Continuing work...
Kevin Roeckl
Oct 5, 20245 min read
9 views