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Mya, A Lesson Painting, Part I


I started a new commission, a 12" x 14" portrait of a gorgeous Husky (Malamute? I don't know the difference - someone educate me please!). Since the painting was too big for me to complete in one day, I decided to give you yet another step-by-step.
 
Don't you love this underpainting? It's Light Turquoise (Pthalo) and while I don't use it that often, when I do it just makes me smile. It will add the perfect accent to all the purples and blues in Mya's coat, and play a nice compliment to the warmer buff tones in her shoulders.
 

You can see my sketch, done loosely in a paler version of the underpainting - I just identified where Mya's face was going to sit, and roughed out the shape of her skull before reaching for more color.
 
 
Here I've started to sculpt her face - with a Husky, because their skin and fur thickly blanket their head, it is key that I get the planes identified properly at this stage. Otherwise she'll look like a stuffed animal.

 
 
And because I like to talk to my muses while they are in the studio, I went for her eyes and nose next. Getting an area of the canvas done correctly in the earlier stages allows for better decision making - and the eyes identify my darkest darks and my lightest lights, so I can base all my other paint mixtures upon their relationship to Mya's eyes.

 
I can actually hear her breathing now. 
 

 
While I adored the underpainting, it was distracting, so I mixed a harmonious gray (using the light turquoise and cadmium red - opposites on the color wheel) and glazed various tints of it overtop the background for a lovely effect. 
 

Isn't she gorgeous?

 
And that's where I'll leave off. Thanks so much for your attention - I love sharing my paintings with you!!
 
Kim
 
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Comments

  1. Anonymous7:46 PM

    I LOVE the way the turquoise came out in the final product!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kimberly Kelly Santini7:50 PM

    Anonymous, she's not done yet. I' hope to finish her up in the next day or two. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maria's Watercolor10:44 PM

    She is so gorgeous, I learn so much when you share your painting process, thanks so much for taking the time!

    ReplyDelete
  4. martinealison10:45 PM

    Des couleurs explosives, comme je les aime pour donner vie à cette charmante Mya!
    Une approche déjà bien avancée... Un regard qui me fait déjà fondre...
    Je suis impatiente de voir votre prochaine publication.
    gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sara8:41 AM

    Me, me, me! I know the difference between a husky and a malamute!! There were so many coming into our shelter that mama and I had to educate ourselves. :P Malamutes are BIGGER and their eyes are brown, not blue. I think there are some personality differences too. So pretty...I really love the turquoise underpainting! Thank you for doing these!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kimberly Kelly Santini9:22 AM

    Maria, thank you!

    Martine - you are the best!!

    Sara - much appreciated!! so Mya IS a Husky! :)

    ReplyDelete

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