Black Labrador Retriever Drawing | Coloured Pencils
SEAMUS
Portrait size: 10" x 12"
Completed: March 2022
20th January 2021
" Hi Karen,
I love your pictures and was looking to commission two separate portraits for my father as a surprise 60th birthday present. One of his recently deceased Labrador (Seamus) and one of his new Labrador (Rua). The idea would be for him to hang these on his wall. I don't have as many photos for Seamus so would like to understand with the ones I have if a portrait is possible. Would love to get your advice and opinion of what you think would be suitable. I was thinking a traditional portrait style, without a background (I think), open to advice on size too. (the picture of the chocolate lab Ernie stood out to me) "
" Hi Karen,
I love your pictures and was looking to commission two separate portraits for my father as a surprise 60th birthday present. One of his recently deceased Labrador (Seamus) and one of his new Labrador (Rua). The idea would be for him to hang these on his wall. I don't have as many photos for Seamus so would like to understand with the ones I have if a portrait is possible. Would love to get your advice and opinion of what you think would be suitable. I was thinking a traditional portrait style, without a background (I think), open to advice on size too. (the picture of the chocolate lab Ernie stood out to me) "
This coloured pencil portrait features Seamus, a male black Labrador, and is one of two portraits commissioned by Michael in 2021 as a 60th birthday gift for his father, showcasing his two cherished dogs. The second portrait portrays Rua, a Red Fox Labrador. Her portrait can be viewed here. Due to the recent passing of Seamus, Mike was unable to provide any additional photographs beyond those previously shared with me. Among the few images he provided, one stood out as particularly suitable because it matched Rua's pose; however, it was somewhat blurry. To ensure I captured all the fine details necessary for the realism I strive for in my pencil drawings, I got my black Labrador, Haze, placing him in the same pose and taking several photographs.
Capturing black fur in photography can be challenging. It demands the correct balance of light, ideally in natural lighting conditions, such as mid-morning or early afternoon on an overcast day, to prevent over or under-saturation. Trying to enhance the details in an underexposed portrait can lead to a loss of the natural colour, making it essential to start with appropriately exposed photos. Since the original photo was deficient in some areas, I supplemented it with other sources, including pictures of my own black Labrador and images found online, to reconstruct the fine details missing from the reference photo.
The layering technique consists of multiple applications, initially applied as a base layer, followed by the sequential addition of individual strands of hair. This process continues until a realistic appearance, as depicted in the images shown below, is achieved. My portraits are intended to exhibit lifelike qualities when viewed both up close and from a distance.
Mike asked about framing options for his portraits. Although I provide framing services for my acrylic and oil pastel artworks, I unfortunately cannot extend this service to my coloured pencil portraits. This is due to the need for glass protection, and postal services do not provide insurance should the glass break during transit. Thankfully, Mike located a nearby framer who was able to frame his portraits and was also happy to add the names to the mounts.
This short video presents the coloured pencil portraits of Seamus and Rua. It highlights the intricate details achieved so far.
Below are portraits from two additional coloured pencil drawings I have created for Mike. Click on the images to learn more about each one on their dedicated web pages.