I recently had the pleasure of drawing ‘Buddy’ a cheerful cheeky collie. His photographs made me smile and he literally was a joy to draw. His owner described him as a ‘lovable doofus …always smiling about something or another’.

I thought I would show the process of how I approach my work as can be seen in the photographs below. I begin with a basic outline with the main features to ensure the proportions are correct. I then work from left to right to avoid smudging and set about layering up the detail and depth. Buddy is a fluffy dog and I wanted to make sure I captured the softness of his fur so I had to be careful not to over-work it. I enjoy drawing the eyes, finding the small subtle changes in the tones of the iris and light reflections in the pupil. This is what brings a portrait to life. Once I am generally happy I leave it for a day and then come back to it with fresh eyes, tweaking here and there where necessary.

When I send my work off to the client for approval is when I feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Have I captured their pet or relative as they see them? Will they like it? In Buddy’s case ‘absolutely gorgeous, very happy’ made my smile as wide as his.

Two beautiful cats to do next….