By Lauren Elizabeth Fine Art

www.laurenelizabethfineart.com

12-Step Dog Portrait Guide

Follow the steps below using acrylic paint to create any breed of dog.

1. Rough Sketch: ​Draw a rough sketch of the dog onto your canvas or
paper. You can also trace your dog using charcoal transfer paper.

2. Eyes & Nose:​ Using black, paint in the pupils, and nostrils. Outline the
eyes and nose. Add the first layers of color to eyes and nose.

3. Background​: Paint the background and connected parts. Everything

other than the dog.

4. Dark Tones: ​Paint the first layer of dark tones on the dog.
Determine light source.

5. Medium Tones:​ Apply the medium tones to your dog.

6. Connected Parts: ​Paint all connected parts of just the dog. This includes
the collar, paws, nails. (Note: NOT the whiskers)

7. Paint Fur: ​Start creating fur-like texture.

8. Light Fur Tones:​ Start applying the first layer of light tones to fur.

9. Repeat​: Re-mix the same color and add in new colors to apply more
layers to dark, medium, and light tones.

​ inal Details Phase: ​Add final layers to eyes, nose, paws, and any other
10. F
parts of the dog.

11. ​Whiskers: ​Carefully paint in whiskers.

​ ouch Up Phase:​ Fixing up anything in the pet portrait that you may
12. T
have painted over or missed layers on. Don't forget to sign your work!