Dog Portrait On Canvas Of Staffordshire Bull Terrier

This article delves into the step-by-step process of creating a Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog portrait on canvas in oils, from the initial commission to the finished painting.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with his muscular build, distinctive head, and expressive eyes, presents a compelling subject for portraiture. Capturing the breed’s unique character on canvas requires a keen eye for detail and a mastery of oil painting techniques.

I will share with you the methods I used to convey the dog’s powerful physique, the lovely markings on his coat, and, most importantly, his personality.

Whether you are a seasoned artist or an enthusiastic beginner, this guide offers insights into the art of canine portraiture and the specific challenges and rewards of painting this picture of a pet.

So let’s get going and showcase how I created this lovely memorial Staffy painting for his owner, who was missing having him at home.

How I Created This Staffy Dog Drawing

The client had requested this oil painting as an addition to two previous pet commissions of their passed dogs. The previous artist had a much looser style than mine, which made for simpler renditions of the personalised pet portraits.

However, I decided not to attempt a copy of those artworks but to stay true to what my natural style is. The lady who had requested the portrait had seen my previous commissions, so was aware of how I worked and what to expect from me.

That’s a little tip about accepting pet commissions. Most people who request a commission from you have done their homework. They have looked at various artists and have decided that they like what they see.

So stay true to yourself and keep your customers happy with a beautiful pet picture in the style they expect from you.

Art Materials

The client had requested a dog portrait on canvas oil painting, with the photograph provided, in portrait format.

So I popped down to my local art shop for a stretched canvas by Dala, and I already had a collection of my favourite oil colours by Winsor & Newton in my art room.

With my old but trusty laptop to show the photograph on screen for reference, I was ready to start the personalised dog canvas.

Where I Start

The Eyes

Traditionally, I always choose the eyes as the first order of business. I feel that the eyes are the most important element of an animal painting.

After shaping the eyes in the dark outline, I then add the colour and endeavour to get the gaze correct and capture his personality and character.

The next project is the nose. I enjoy creating the noses of animals for some reason. Maybe it is the shape and shading I enjoy. It is a natural progression to then move down to the mouth and cheeks.

In order to finish off the chin, I moved on to the collar. It is the dividing line from the rest of the body and was a good base to get the face completed. With experience, I have learned to not be scared of making the darks very dark and making highlights stand out. For example, the dark of the nostrils and mouth, and the highlights on the nose. These elements give the artwork depth and form.

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Background

I then decided to get the background colour down. The reasoning is that to get the colours on the face correct and standing out from the background, it needs to be added. The background colour is reflected in the eye colour to bring the painting elements together and make them cohesive.

I made the top right corner darker to match the darker side of the face to cement the direction of the light and followed that down the whole right side of the canvas.

I carried the darker colour along the top to frame the dog’s face and create some impact, knowing that the base of the canvas was going to be the lightest section.

The Face

With the background now in surrounding the face I felt more confident on how to proceed completing the markings on the face.

I started working out from the eyes and shaping the eyebrows and cheekbones to give Fenton his unique expression. I was not happy with the left eye’s shape, so did a bit of adjusting there.

Working out to the jowls and side of the face gave the painting some real substance, and when this happens, I feel like I am achieving my goal. You will notice that the darker side of the face is in line with the darker background too. The background being there encouraged me to make the shadows darker on that side of the face to stand out and give impact.

The same shadows were added to the jowls compared to the highlights on the side of the face the light source is coming from. Making sure you do this makes the painting so much more interesting.

I was very careful and took time to blend the dark marking edges into the lighter central fur to make the blend look natural and have no hard edges.

By now the face is complete except for the ears. The client was specific about the white markings on the tips of the ears, stating that one ear had more white than the other. She insisted this was an important part of Fenton’s character.

This type of client request is something you HAVE to take note of when doing a commission. It is very important to them; otherwise, it would not have been mentioned. Therefore, you must make it a priority.

The Body

In the original photo, the body was shorter than what I was creating on the canvas, and there was also a cushion obscuring the view of his shoulder. So finishing the body was a little bit of a challenge!

Luckily, after painting many African cats, it was fairly easy for me to improvise. Practice does make a big difference, and after 20 years or so of “practice”, the chest and shoulders came together and looked pretty good.

Keeping the body lighter and fading it out creates focus on the most important features of the painting, the face, making it stand out.

Conclusion To A Dog Portrait On Canvas

Painting Fenton was enjoyable, and both the client and I were very happy with how the pet wall art turned out.

There are always going to be moments where you are unsure of how to proceed, but either moving to a different part of the painting and then coming back to your nemesis usually works for me.

It will eventually all come together, and hopefully your client will appreciate your hard work and enjoy the dog portrait on canvas for many years to come.

If you would like to order a commission of your beautiful pet, please fill out the form provided, and I will get back to you as promptly as I can.