Captain Jack portrait finished!
Captain Jack, best friend of Sindy B. for 16 years. When Sindy first contacted me about a portrait, she told me Captain Jack had been...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 293 min read
2 views
Captain Jack portrait in progress 8 - Making biscuits!
How I chose the colors for Captain Jack’s biscuit. There is no specific “biscuit” color in Prismacolor pencils. 1 The pencil colors I’m...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 232 min read
2 views
Captain Jack portrait in progress 7 - A biscuit story
This is how the portrait looks now. Captain Jack’s face is finished. Next, the biscuit. There is a story about why holding that biscuit...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 211 min read
2 views
Captain Jack portrait in progress 6 - Whisker info
Captain Jack’s forehead and right ear finished. Now working on the intricate detail of his white muzzle and nose. Next, the biscuit....
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 181 min read
1 view
Captain Jack portrait in progress 5 - Sweet shining eyes
Captain Jack’s right eye is finished. My last post showed the left eye finished, and described the colors and reflections in an eye that...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 172 min read
1 view
Captain Jack portrait in progress 4 - A window in the eye
You can see all kinds of shapes in the lighting and reflections in an eye. Capturing them accurately is what makes an eye look real. In...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 152 min read
1 view
Captain Jack portrait in progress 3
Left eye finished. His bright, cheerful eye. Sindy cried when I sent her this pic. Captain Jack was her best friend for 16 years and...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 141 min read
3 views
Captain Jack portrait in progress 2 - A limited palette so far
Working on Captain Jack’s ear. This portrait will be mostly in black, white, and various greys. Except for the tan biscuit he’s holding,...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 111 min read
5 views
Captain Jack portrait in progress 1 - Initial outlines
Starting a portrait of Captain Jack, a black and white Pomeranian, for Sindy B. This shows the detailed outlines I start with. In...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 101 min read
8 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