Belle: Commissioned Dog Portrait by kto ART

Belle: commissioned pet portrait

Yes, the real Belle is really this cute... All 4lbs of her! This portrait is a mini: 5"x7". But size is no indication of ease. Initially, I started with a sketch of baby Belle, but we decided to go more current (she was super fluffball with a little extra baby fat). Then I began painting a different pose and realized it wasn't working for me. So finally I scratched my previous attempt and went back to the drawing board.

I have found that forcing a composition to work never works. Sometimes I have to step back, take a breath and say to myself, "what is the best choice?" Not the easiest, but the best. In this situation, going back to the start was the right choice. My second attempt moved effortlessly. We had to adjust a few tiny aspects (thin down her skinny legs and bring in more detail on her belly), but all in all it was smooth sailing once I got back on track.