My favourite part of drawing Emmylou and Ted was their soft, wavy coats. When I’m working with long, wavy textures like theirs, subtractive techniques are essential. Instead of only building layers on the paper, I also lift pigment off to create those natural highlights and flowing strands. For this piece, I used a mix of…
Category: Dog
Emma (commission)
I loved working on this dog portrait, and if I had to choose a favourite detail it would be her ears. The colours, the textures, and that mix of long inner fluff with shorter outer fur came together so softly you almost want to reach out and touch them. To achieve that softer look, I…
Lacey (commission)
When I create a portrait, the eyes are always the heart of it. I start with a simple outline, just enough structure to build on, then slowly layer colour, keeping it light and deliberate. I’m always watching for how the light hits. There’s usually one strong highlight, but it’s the smaller, secondary reflections that give…
Joey (commission)
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…
Mylo (commission)
One of the most rewarding challenges in coloured pencil work is capturing the softness and texture of long fur, especially on a white dog. For this commission, I leaned heavily into subtractive techniques, using a micro eraser and ceramic blade to lift and carve out delicate strands of hair. These tools allowed me to create…
Honey (commission)
My latest commission, and this one was a joy to create! Unlike traditional painting, where colours are blended together directly, coloured pencils don’t blend in the same way on drafting film. However, by applying colour on both sides, the film’s translucency allows the layers to interact seamlessly, creating depth and richness in the final portrait.
Thor (commission)
I was absolutely captivated by Thor’s charming ‘smile,’ and recreating it was the most enjoyable part of his portrait. Achieving a realistic gummy smile lies in capturing the glossy highlights on the gums. It’s essential to focus on getting the deeper tonal values of pinks and blacks just right. I begin by working outward from…
Molly (commission)
While looking at Molly’s photos, I could almost feel the softness of the fur on her ears. To capture this delicate texture in my drawing, I start with initial layers of colour applied with a very light touch, using circular motions to create a ‘soft blur’ without any harsh lines. Shadows are added with a…
Odin (commission)
True story: When I first pursued art as a career, I was beyond excited. I got all of the materials and aimed to start with pet portraits. Single-coloured animals like all black are trickier than you think. They aren’t just so,I’d black- you must capture the greys, blues, purples, and reds in their fur for…
Bella (commission)
Exciting news! My pet portrait commissions are fully booked until June. If you are considering a pet portrait, join my waiting list to be notified when I open slots for July through December. Can’t wait to create more amazing portraits for you and your pets! Here is my latest portrait of the beautiful Bella.
Kelly Murphy, Fine Art 