Raven portrait in progress 10 - Life in a mirror
When I finish a portrait I tape it up on the wall of my studio, stand back and look at it, make an adjustment, stand back and look again,...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 18, 20252 min read
Raven portrait in progress 9 - a symmetrical fade-out
In a previous post I showed how I created a center-line with white chalk pencil (easy to erase later) up the center of Raven’s muzzle, so...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 16, 20251 min read
Raven portrait in progress 8 - Raven has a wrinkly tongue!
Every dog is an individual, even down to the characteristics of their tongue. I noticed in Raven’s reference photo that his tongue has...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 12, 20251 min read
Raven portrait in progress 7 - Seeing with the heart
Raven's pink tongue is finished. Every time I share “in progress” pics with Cathy, she tells me a bit more about Raven. When I first...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 11, 20251 min read
Raven portrait in progress 6 - A difficult passage
This was a difficult passage: Raven’s nose and the muzzle around the nose. It required careful attention to the reference photo because...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 10, 20251 min read
Raven portrait in progress 5 - The importance of multiple reference photos
Raven has such a beautifully symmetrical face, and I have been portraying him symmetrical – with a lot of attention on getting that...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 9, 20252 min read
Raven portrait in progress 4 - The importance of landmarks
1 Raven's forehead and around the eye-socket on the left side are finished. I’ve put in Raven’s center white stripe down his nose as a...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 3, 20252 min read
Raven portrait in progress 3 - The centerline
An artist should always improve upon their reference photo. Artists: Don't be a slave to what you see in your reference photo. I've...
Kevin Roeckl
Jul 1, 20253 min read
Raven portrait in progress 2 - What color are these eyes, really?
1 Working on Raven’s eyes - so important in a portrait. It’s particularly important to get the colors and values accurate in this one,...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 24, 20252 min read
Raven portrait in progress 1 - Oh those big puppy ears!
I’m starting a new portrait, of Raven. This is the 4th Border Collie portrait I’ve done for Cathy Nearman. Soon I’ll share more of what...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 23, 20251 min read
Wishes portrait finished!
When you read Alicia’s words about Wishes you’ll understand why this quiet, watchful pose was so deeply meaningful: “Dobermans are...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 18, 20252 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 11 - Big dark shapes
The lighting from the window on Wishes’ chest is finished. And her feet and forearm are finished. Now I have a lot of big dark shapes...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 12, 20251 min read
Captain Jack portrait...p.s.
You remember Captain Jack, whose portrait I shared in April. Sindy sent me photos of the portrait framed. A set of notecards is included...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 11, 20251 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 10 - The challenges continue
I thought when I finished Wishes' head the rest would be easy. But the values in this piece are going to challenge me all the way...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 9, 20253 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 9 - The rhinestone collar
Wishes’ green rhinestone collar finished. The captions tell how it came about. It was not in the original reference photo. 1 In her photo...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 5, 20253 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 8 - A happy ear
I’m very happy with how Wishes’ ear turned out. 1 If you've been following my “swatches map” you will recognize the swatches-map for...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 4, 20252 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 7 - The heart dog
Here is a post about how much a portrait of a loved one can mean. I emailed Alicia asking if she had gotten the 5 “in-progress pics” I...
Kevin Roeckl
May 31, 20251 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 6 - Using my "swatches map"
I had to create a “swatches map” to understand those tricky and deceptive values in Wishes’ face. I first showed you my swatches-map in...
Kevin Roeckl
May 28, 20254 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 5 - A precarious challenge
In previous posts I talked about the challenge of the values in this difficult piece. In my last one I shared why capturing the...
Kevin Roeckl
May 20, 20255 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 4 - The passion behind the portrait
Wishes’ eye is finished. Wishes whole heart and soul was about watchfulness. All of that is captured in her eye. Below is part of what...
Kevin Roeckl
May 15, 20252 min read
