Ollie’s portrait, a drawing using graphite and watercolour pencil is finished. Ollie’s portrait features one of my drawings as a reproduction print. Ollie decided to get the print and modify Ollie style with a few selected chews! I drew the print, as a brilliant idea from Kerryn, as a representation of Ollie’s cheeky fun loving nature.
Fiona Ludbrook is the Client Services Director of Pets and Plants Ballarat who I met on Friday 19th August, 2016. Fiona greeted me with warmth and hospitality and the subjects for my next animal portrait, Mack and Elsa awaited my arrival. Mack , a gorgeous and very handsome whippet and Elsa the loveliest cat, were the very best models as I photographed them both for over 3 hours. I am looking forward to undertaking a double portrait of Mack and Elsa. Thank you Fiona for your hospitality and the lovely lunch was superb! Please visit Pets and Plants blog for excellent and interesting information about all things animals, especially dogs and cats. Also if you are near Ballarat I highly recommend Fiona’s dog sitting services in your home or stays with Fiona and Mack and Elsa in their home. I will be making regular posts once I start Mack’s and Elsa’s portrait with progress photos as I go.
Three very special Italian Greyhounds; Giacomo, Bella and Pia. When I undertook drawing their portraits I wanted to make each of them distinct in personality and character and also in keeping with their petite size, so I used soft watercolour washes to emphasise their differing colours. Once the watercolour was dry I continued with soft graduated graphite strokes and blending technique to build up the contrast of tone and sense of the three lying and sitting in (not on!) the soft fabric.
I specialise in the art mediums of drawing and painting(oils). I consider both mediums have their own very distinct visual ‘language’. Drawing is to me linear and always on going, I mean by this that a drawing can be added to, where as a painted portrait once all is complete and just right is a final and complete statement. Drawing is an enquiry, pushes boundaries. Painting is about presence and the beauty of the painted mark and colour. The drawing and painting of Zorro express certain unique physical and psychological characteristics of Zorro. My love of both mediums and their unique visual languages is my way of communicating visually the unique and individual character of every animal or person that I have the privilege to draw or paint. Wendy-Jane
When I undertake any portrait drawing I go through many different stages. I begin with a simple drawn outline and work towards a fully realised portrait and along the way I use an enormous variety of different pencils and equipment to enable me to make the drawing highly realistic and in keeping with the unique and individual animal.
I completed the drawn portrait first so I could refer to it when completing the painted portrait. I referred to the drawing for the accurate portrayal of William Park Orlando L’s features and also the correct tonal placement, the lights and darks. I always create a detailed drawing first to use in this way when I am painting major portraits .
Edna Louise Shaw
Portrait information : dimensions: 76cm by 60cm, medium: Oil on Stretched Canvas
My portrait of Edna Louise Shaw is permanently exhibited at the James Cook University Library in Townsville, Queensland. The portrait is in honour of Edna Louise Shaw who has generously donated a significant collection of books in honour of her father John Vernon Shaw . This valuable collection numbering over 5000 books is titled the Shaw Family Collection.
I have been honoured that Edna Louise Shaw had endorsed me to paint her portrait. I have endeavoured to express her generous, honourable and virtuosic spirit and profound wisdom and strength of character
