One of the key challenges, and most satisfying parts, of this golden doodle portrait was capturing the contrast between the looser, longer waves on the muzzle and the short, tight curls across the body.

When rendering curls, I’ve found it’s far more effective to think in terms of shapes of colour, rather than trying to draw each curl individually. By observing how light and shadow define the overall form, the texture emerges naturally and more convincingly. It’s a mindset shift that makes curly coats feel more fluid and lifelike.