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Making a fade-out at the bottom of a head-study portrait can be tricky. Sometimes I use Photoshop on the client’s reference photo (or on my layout if I’m combining more than one photo) so I can see where to make the fade out. How far down the neck or body to start the fade so it makes a pleasing overall composition with the subject’s face as the most important feature. Sometimes I fade out the bottom very carefully, as though the realistic detail is becoming fainter and faint

In the original photo Annie was wearing a bandana, which the clients asked me to remove. I asked if they wanted a particular collar on her, or no collar. Carolyn requested that she be wearing "a princess collar because she is a princess”. I photographed my Sara’s “party collar” and sent the clients two rough Photoshop layouts, with suggestions of either pink or turquoise, which I felt were good colors to compliment Annie's coloring. In the artwork I straightened out the bow r

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving or Indigenous People's Day. I took the week off from my artt studio to fill the many orders that came in for my 2025 Doberman Holiday/Christmas cards . Now back to work on Annie's portrait. Annie’s cute face is finished. Next her turquoise “princess collar”.  🎨 Prismacolor pencil on “Felt Grey” Canson Mi-Teintes paper. 18 x 23 inches. "Annie" in progress Commissioned by Carolyn Martini, Gloria Kehoe, and Tammy Cunningham. This is the 1

A black-and-tan adult Doberman and a red Dobe puppy exchanging a gift is a great way to let friends and family know you’re thinking of them this Holiday season. Doberman owners and enthusiasts, you can let your light shine with true Holiday spirit! The warm and loving inscription inside the card lets your loved ones know you care.  Verse inside card: ABOUT THE ART “Starting in the early 1990’s I designed a Doberman Holiday card each year for my own use, and released it for sa

Quite an interesting mix of colors in Annie's nose. Light yellow ocher, dark yellow ocher, cool mauve, warm mauve, grayish pink, orange, rust, chestnut, warm greys, cool greys, chocolate brown, sepia brown. And of course black.  Most of the pencils on the left are the ones I’m using for Annie’s coat. They live on a piece of clean white paper that I move around where I need it (and an eraser that keeps them from rolling). I add another sheet of paper (and eraser) with a differ