Hey Friends!
Welcome to the first part of my exciting new series on painting dogs! In this series, I’ll be sharing my insights and experiences on capturing the beauty and essence of our furry friends on canvas. While this guide isn’t meant to be the definitive handbook on painting dogs, it’s a valuable resource that I’ve curated over the years to help you on your artistic journey.
The dogs´s eyes
In this initial installment, we’ll be diving into the captivating world of dogs’ eyes. As the saying goes, “the eyes are the window to the soul,” and when it comes to painting dogs, the eyes truly hold the key to bringing our subjects to life. Naturally, our gaze is drawn to the eyes, so it’s essential to master their intricacies.
The parts of the eye
Let’s explore some important aspects to consider when painting dogs’ eyes:
Eyelid: Unlike human eyelids, a dog’s eyelid may not be prominently visible due to the surrounding fur. However, it protrudes slightly and casts a subtle shadow, adding depth and dimension to the eye.
Conjunctiva: This is the delicate mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. It often exhibits fascinating reflections that beautifully accentuate the eye’s shape.
Iris: The iris holds a captivating allure with its dark outline, lighter middle, and a darker shade around the pupil. It’s also highly reflective, adding a spark of life to your painting.
Tips
Now let me share some valuable tips before you start painting a dog’s eyes:
Pay close attention to the direction of hair growth around the eye. It typically follows the eye’s curvature, so capturing this detail will lend authenticity to your artwork.
Remember that the iris covers almost the entire eye, while the white sclera is only visible when the dog looks in a different direction.
Take note of the dog’s coat color, as it will influence the color of the eye line. It can range from black and brown to even pink, adding an extra layer of realism to your portrayal.
When painting the eyes, I recommend starting with the darkest areas and colors first, gradually building up the highlights to create depth and bring the eyes to life.
Conclusions
I hope these insights and tips inspire you as you embark on your dog-painting journey. Feel free to leave a comment below and share your own experiences or questions. And remember, this is just the beginning of our adventure together!
I’m truly passionate about art, and it brings me immense joy to share my humble knowledge with all of you. If you find value in my content and would like to express your support, you’re welcome to leave a comment, share with your friends, or if you’re in a position to do so, consider treating me to a coffee. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Stay tuned for the next part of my series, where we’ll explore even more fascinating aspects of painting dogs!
Happy painting!
P.S. If you’re eager to get started with acrylic painting, make sure to check out my previous blog post on how to start painting with acrylics. It’s filled with helpful tips and insights to kickstart your artistic journey.
10 Responses
Thank you! I have painted several dogs. I may go back and check the eyes!
I’m glad this was helpful to you.
Thank you for this tutorial! You’ve helped me understand the process of painting realistic dog eyes.
I’m so glad you said that! Thank you!❤❤❤
Can I ask what brushes you use for such fine strokes? Do you have a preferred brand? To what your paint work is magical?
Hi! When it comes to painting small details such as individual hairs, I prefer to use a size 10/0 round brush. The brand I use is Renasans, which is a Polish brand that falls within the mid-range category. In my opinion, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on brushes when working with acrylic paints because even with good care, they will eventually become damaged.
Very helpful! Thank you!
Thanks to you for stopping by my blog.
Thank you for the information. I’ve painted a dog the other day and the eyes just don’t look right anyway I got on my phone to check my email and here is the information that I need how to paint my dogs eyes part one in part two I’m going to give it a shot and see what I can do with the information. Thank you so much.
Great! I would like to see how that painting turned out. Thanks for stopping by.