While the Chihuahua waits for spray fixative before continuing forward, I decided to start another image on the back side of the board. The drawing board takes up quite a bit of studio space when propped on boxes. It was from my father’s collection and first belonged to the University of Oregon school of Architecture. I have 3 total, but this one is the largest (36″ x 52″ or 91cm x 132cm). German Shorthair Pointers seem to be on my brain these days. A friend had to put her GSP down on Thursday evening. My heart goes out to them! Gus seemed like a lovely guy. Anyway, I continue toying with the idea of acquiring another GSP puppy. Yes, I know I must be nuts, especially after living through the terror known as Mocha. Oh, that dog had a never ending energy supply! Moby is a sack of potatoes in comparison. She was the smartest of her litter and that intelligence almost killed her several times. She lived to be almost 16.5 years. She came into our life at 11 weeks.
What an odd looking pointer drawing! It takes me awhile to work through proportions (eyes to nose, ears, neck) before exploring the color side (and thing still have quite a ways to go!). I’m working from an image that has been tacked to the fridge for well over 4 years. The pointer has a goofy look with his lips pulled back a bit, which makes it harder for me to work. Recently, there have been a couple of people requesting dog portraits but I don’t feel comfortable taking them on. Maybe once I build up a larger body of work. Several years back I did a series of 13 prints (block, screen and a litho, all visible on my other website- www.galeeverettstudio.com). After creating the prints, people responded favorably but didn’t necessarily want to purchase images. Part of it was because they wanted their own dog as the subject. “Can you do one of my dog” was what I kept hearing over and over and over! Hence the reason for the dog drawings. I will eventually go back to printmaking but my fingers are still too compromised. Drawing will have to do for now.
Oh, what a goofy dog!
Charcoal on brown Builder’s Paper. 34″ x 35″ (86cm x 89cm)
Sticks, Stones, and Paper Stew Blog 
This is such a great progression Gale, watching him come to life, and he really does! I’m repeating myself, but the character of your dog drawings leaps off the page. I can understand why people want portraits of their own pets, and also why it is such a tricky task to take on.
Pet portraits could possibly create a line of income, but people can be so picky! Especially when it comes to their pet! I need to talk to a couple of friends who have been creating portraits for many years to see what suggestions they might have. Thanks for the compliment! 🙂
It’s great to see your progression and build up of line work. Very handsome pup! I love your prints, they are so graphic and bold, really wonderful and expressive images!
Thank you so much Cathe. It’s going to be so much fun to collaborate on the sketchbooks with you. I’m blown away by your page composition and elegant addition of script to your works. 😃
Gale