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LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
Wed May 18, 2022, 08:59 AM May 2022

Did this pastel painting over the last few days. Trying to learn how to do pet portraits.

People seem to like getting portraits of their pets so it seems like something useful for me to do.

Thank you to anyone who looks, comments. Always grateful for constructive criticism, always hoping to learn and improve,

Thank you ❤️😍☮️


[url=https://postimg.cc/4mdPGhrH][img][/img][/url]

144 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Did this pastel painting over the last few days. Trying to learn how to do pet portraits. (Original Post) LiberalLoner May 2022 OP
Wow! Really good. Tomconroy May 2022 #1
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #56
That is stunning! Very nice work! Docreed2003 May 2022 #2
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #57
Looks nice! 2naSalit May 2022 #3
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #58
That is just wonderful. niyad May 2022 #4
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #59
Fabulous! Diamond_Dog May 2022 #5
Thank you! 😍 sharpened pastel pencils! 🤗 LiberalLoner May 2022 #60
Beautiful portrait. riverbendviewgal May 2022 #6
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #61
Just gorgeous. FalloutShelter May 2022 #7
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #62
You captured the cat's expression of love Sanity Claws May 2022 #8
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #63
The light off the eye is amazing! CrispyQ May 2022 #9
That caught Rebl2 May 2022 #22
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #64
absolutely beautiful. n/t KarenS May 2022 #10
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #65
That is great. So life-like. sinkingfeeling May 2022 #11
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #78
That is so beautiful Tree-Hugger May 2022 #12
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #79
Soulful portrait ChazInAz May 2022 #13
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #80
The eyes... MontanaMama May 2022 #14
Thank you friend! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #81
Gorgeous. Absolutely GORGEOUS! ❤️ dixiechiken1 May 2022 #15
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #82
That is absolutely AWESOME!!! I love the reflection in the eyes!!! woodsprite May 2022 #16
Thank you! Chalk pastels, they are so much fun to use! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #83
Let me know when you decide to take contracts. I am thinking of two loved ones Scrivener7 May 2022 #17
Thank you so much!!! I feel I need to do a few more practice pieces first 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #84
It's georgeous. PM me when you think you're ready. Scrivener7 May 2022 #105
Thank you, I will, so kind of you! 😍😍😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #111
Wow! That is beautiful. Lonestarblue May 2022 #18
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #85
Beautiful Danmel May 2022 #19
Thank you so much!!! I'm not quite ready yet, want to do a few more practice works, scared LiberalLoner May 2022 #86
Wow!!! That's amazing! CaptainTruth May 2022 #20
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #87
That is beautifully executed cate94 May 2022 #21
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #88
Recommended. You have a real talent. panader0 May 2022 #23
Thank you! 😍 haven't gotten there yet, kind of still practicing? 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #89
very, very nice. good niche, i think. mopinko May 2022 #24
Thank you so much! I am so grateful for help, I really do want to get better! 😍 pet LiberalLoner May 2022 #90
she's just far enough away to make it hard. mopinko May 2022 #106
Oh, yes, I totally forgot about that trick, thank you so so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️ LiberalLoner May 2022 #109
feel free to shoot me a pm if you post something i dont comment. mopinko May 2022 #108
Oh you are so incredibly generous, that offer means the world to me! 😍😍😍😍😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #110
So life like. sheshe2 May 2022 #25
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #91
Very nice! Klondike Kat May 2022 #26
Thank you, and thank you for helping me get better! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #92
that NJCher May 2022 #27
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #93
Wonderful PatSeg May 2022 #28
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #94
Beautiful. 3Hotdogs May 2022 #29
Thank you, and thank you for helping me. You are right! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #95
Love it! HAB911 May 2022 #30
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #96
The green eye is gorgeous, and I wanted... 3catwoman3 May 2022 #31
Thank you so much, and thank you for helping me! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #97
I'm so envious of your talent. 3catwoman3 May 2022 #107
😍😍😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #142
OMG gorgeous !!! fierywoman May 2022 #32
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #98
That's really beautiful wendyb-NC May 2022 #33
Thank you so much! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #99
Art Director's critique (well, you asked): Auggie May 2022 #34
Wow, thank you so very very much! I am blushing! And the critique is appreciated LiberalLoner May 2022 #40
perfect!! for a second, I thought it was a photo. But then better than a demigoddess May 2022 #35
Thank you!!! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #100
Beautiful! secondwind May 2022 #36
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #101
Quite lovely. Sienna86 May 2022 #37
Thank you! I will when I feel more confident in my abilities! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #102
Looks like you learned! pandr32 May 2022 #38
Thank you! I want to practice some more though! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #103
Definitely! Never stop! pandr32 May 2022 #137
😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #140
Absolutely stunning! bif May 2022 #39
Thank you so much, fellow artist friend!!! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #104
OMG you guys I am overwhelmed, I will have to give individual replies later but THANK YOU!❤️❤️❤️ LiberalLoner May 2022 #41
If you decide to do pet portraits Saoirse9 May 2022 #42
Thank you so much! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #113
Excellent, especially the eyes. Ocelot II May 2022 #43
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #114
Wow! Very talented. Pepsidog May 2022 #44
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #115
Wow Traildogbob May 2022 #45
Thank you so so much! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #116
how wonderful. you are SO TALENTED. i would love you to do my 5 cats !!! Trueblue1968 May 2022 #46
Thank you so much! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #117
It's beautiful samplegirl May 2022 #47
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #118
That's excellent. lunatica May 2022 #48
Thank you so so much my kind friend. Your comments always mean the whole world to me, LiberalLoner May 2022 #119
Beautiful work. You captured the kitty spirit right there. japple May 2022 #49
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #120
Beautiful Riverman100 May 2022 #50
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #121
Gorgeous! (nt) Richard D May 2022 #51
Wow! I think you've got it. Joinfortmill May 2022 #52
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #122
Fantastic...Only one small comment which you can fix very fast... Escurumbele May 2022 #53
One of the best pet portraits I've ever seen. Sucha NastyWoman May 2022 #54
Wow, thank you!!! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #123
One Question Dem_in_Nebr. May 2022 #55
LOL thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #124
It must have been satisfying suncat May 2022 #66
Yeah, pastels are an investment at first...worth it though...you shouldn't be afraid, LiberalLoner May 2022 #125
Wow! karin_sj May 2022 #67
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #126
Just gorgeous. You can feel the cat's soul. femmedem May 2022 #68
Oh thank you so much! I posted a new post with the change you suggested, hope it looks less LiberalLoner May 2022 #127
You're welcome! femmedem May 2022 #138
Nice!!! Demovictory9 May 2022 #69
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #128
That is completely amazing! nt Trueblue Texan May 2022 #70
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #129
LOVE IT. Soft sweet and the eye shine!! TigressDem May 2022 #71
That is fabulous! CrispyQ May 2022 #112
Thank you! 😍 what a cool photo, thanks for sharing it! LiberalLoner May 2022 #130
i never drew or water color/oil painted whiskers. + it seems to work. pansypoo53219 May 2022 #72
Thank you! 😍 it's a soft pastel painting. 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #131
i am a nu pastel fan. i liked the lines better. the white is probably better for lines. pansypoo53219 May 2022 #143
i am a nu pastel fan. i liked the lines better. the white is probably better for lines. pansypoo53219 May 2022 #144
That looks like it was fun to paint. BigmanPigman May 2022 #73
Thank you! It was fun! 😍 actually it's a work in soft pastel! Impossible to tell from photos, LiberalLoner May 2022 #132
Astonishing how eyes and fur appear so differently SleeplessinSoCal May 2022 #74
Thank you so much! 😍. I love working in soft pastel, it's an amazing medium. LiberalLoner May 2022 #133
I dabbled for a short time and can see how you love it. SleeplessinSoCal May 2022 #139
😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #141
Superb!! majdrfrtim May 2022 #75
OMG I'm cracking up but thank you thank you thank you! 😍😍😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #134
You got the expression KT2000 May 2022 #76
Thank you! 😍 LiberalLoner May 2022 #135
Gorgeous! Desert_Leslie May 2022 #77
Oh I am so so sorry for your loss. 😭 it's devastating to lose beloved fur babies. LiberalLoner May 2022 #136

Diamond_Dog

(31,658 posts)
5. Fabulous!
Wed May 18, 2022, 09:10 AM
May 2022

Your shadows and lighting, superb!

How did you create all the very fine lines such as in her whiskers? I’m not very competent in pastel.

Tree-Hugger

(3,364 posts)
12. That is so beautiful
Wed May 18, 2022, 09:38 AM
May 2022

The light on individual hairs....just

Gorgeous kitty portrait - you are very talented.

dixiechiken1

(2,113 posts)
15. Gorgeous. Absolutely GORGEOUS! ❤️
Wed May 18, 2022, 09:58 AM
May 2022

I can't believe the amount of detail - the reflection of light in the eyes, the fur that looks soft & touchable, and the whiskers. So lifelike! You are truly talented, Liberal.

woodsprite

(11,853 posts)
16. That is absolutely AWESOME!!! I love the reflection in the eyes!!!
Wed May 18, 2022, 09:59 AM
May 2022

I have done paintings (watercolor and oil) and pen/ink drawings, etc. but have never ventured into the pastel medium. Did you use oil or chalk pastels?

Scrivener7

(50,773 posts)
17. Let me know when you decide to take contracts. I am thinking of two loved ones
Wed May 18, 2022, 10:05 AM
May 2022

for whom this would be a treasured gift.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
86. Thank you so much!!! I'm not quite ready yet, want to do a few more practice works, scared
Thu May 19, 2022, 09:51 AM
May 2022

Of messing up and disappointing someone willing to pay me for my art. But I will contact you when I feel more confident! 😍

mopinko

(69,805 posts)
24. very, very nice. good niche, i think.
Wed May 18, 2022, 10:40 AM
May 2022

my sister is a photographer, and if i lived closer, we would do pet portraits. me to wrangle, her to shoot. she gets asked often.
i know a couple people who do pet portraits as a side gig, and it helps pay the bills. and it's happy work.

just one critique, tho. the right eye needs some light.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
90. Thank you so much! I am so grateful for help, I really do want to get better! 😍 pet
Thu May 19, 2022, 09:58 AM
May 2022

Portraits do sound like they are something people might like, plus wildlife portraits, I might concentrate on that field for awhile. Thank you again! I hope you do get to do portrait photos with your sister some day! 😍😍😍

mopinko

(69,805 posts)
106. she's just far enough away to make it hard.
Thu May 19, 2022, 10:54 AM
May 2022

and she doesnt do that much photography since i got her elected in '18.

here's another tip- look at it upside down. make sure your eye goes where you want it to go.

mopinko

(69,805 posts)
108. feel free to shoot me a pm if you post something i dont comment.
Thu May 19, 2022, 12:20 PM
May 2022

it's nice to use my crit chops. art school was a long time ago.

Klondike Kat

(808 posts)
26. Very nice!
Wed May 18, 2022, 10:53 AM
May 2022

Looks similar to our cat Chuck.

I think the tip of the nose is a bit "off". Seems a bit skewed to me. However, I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination so you can take that for what it's worth.

3Hotdogs

(12,207 posts)
29. Beautiful.
Wed May 18, 2022, 11:11 AM
May 2022

I think the nose may be off center. But I’m looking on small screen so I won’t put money on it.

3catwoman3

(23,812 posts)
31. The green eye is gorgeous, and I wanted...
Wed May 18, 2022, 11:34 AM
May 2022

...to reach into the painting and stroke the soft-looking fur.

I do agree with the 2 earlier commenters that something is "off" about the nose.

wendyb-NC

(3,250 posts)
33. That's really beautiful
Wed May 18, 2022, 11:42 AM
May 2022

Keep doing art! That's a wonderful idea, doing pet portraits, to give to those who love them. I am impressed by your work. Thank you for sharing it.

Auggie

(31,060 posts)
34. Art Director's critique (well, you asked):
Wed May 18, 2022, 11:44 AM
May 2022

First, it's an awesome effort. Congratulations. Your stroke work captures the fur texture magnificently. Great lighting, design and crop!

Had I commissioned this commercially, I'd ask you to push the saturation of colors a little more, particularly the yellow and green areas, and increase the density of the black areas. Also, the gray area in the lower left is a little too light and draws the attention away from that beautiful feline face. I'm not a pastel expert, but I do know they're pretty unforgiving, so I'd urge you to make changes with a light touch.

Also, the cat's left eye doesn't look quite right to me though I imagine it matches your reference material. The nose looks slightly out of perspective too.

This critique comes from evaluating commercial illustration and photography over four decades. It's not the final word or necessarily correct. But it's what I see.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work. You have an incredible talent. Thanks for sharing.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
40. Wow, thank you so very very much! I am blushing! And the critique is appreciated
Wed May 18, 2022, 01:04 PM
May 2022

More than I can say, it is exactly what I need to help me on my artistic journey! Thank you so so much!

I do struggle with drawing, and that is something I MUST learn to get right, there is no painting without a proper drawing. Sometimes I despair at ever getting better at drawing.

Thank you so so much!
❤️❤️❤️

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
41. OMG you guys I am overwhelmed, I will have to give individual replies later but THANK YOU!❤️❤️❤️
Wed May 18, 2022, 01:06 PM
May 2022

Saoirse9

(3,662 posts)
42. If you decide to do pet portraits
Wed May 18, 2022, 01:40 PM
May 2022

I hope you will post a link to order one. I would love to have one of both my dogs.

Ocelot II

(115,270 posts)
43. Excellent, especially the eyes.
Wed May 18, 2022, 04:56 PM
May 2022

Pastels are so tricky - all I can do with them is make a smeary mess - and you've done a great job here!

Traildogbob

(8,571 posts)
45. Wow
Wed May 18, 2022, 05:41 PM
May 2022

Just wow. You have a gift. The eye, magical. If that kind of talent was near me, I’d pay for my two labs and my daughters 2 dogs and two cats. I would first hire the painter to do the pitty she lost a year ago. Her first and the one that helped her deal with her mom losing cancer battle. That dog gave her love and strength. You can help a lot of people with your gift. Thank you for sharing. Please share more.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
48. That's excellent.
Wed May 18, 2022, 06:32 PM
May 2022

It’s a very successful portrait! I love the reflections in the cat’s eye. I’ve gazed into my cat’s eyes like that and seen many incredible thing. I think you’ve captured the cats eyes beautifully and completely. All of it is outstanding! The soft fur and the whiskers and the pink nose make me want to pick the cat up and snuggle! My cat is a tabby just like that one and for a split second I thought your drawing was of him! It’s truly lovely to get pulled in like that because it filled me with all the emotions I feel for my cat as soon as I set eyes on it.

This portrait is quite successful. It’s perfect in every way. I don’t see a thing that could be improved!

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
119. Thank you so so much my kind friend. Your comments always mean the whole world to me,
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:25 PM
May 2022

And just knowing a real artists sees value in my work, encourages me to keep painting. You are my sunshine! I wish we lived closer so I could take you to lunch or dinner or something nice! 😍😍😍

Escurumbele

(3,340 posts)
53. Fantastic...Only one small comment which you can fix very fast...
Wed May 18, 2022, 07:17 PM
May 2022

The nose needs to have the same angle as the rest of the face. See how the nose ends too soon, needs to continue a bit to the left to match the angle. I am talking about the tip of the nose, the pink part.

Everything else is fantastic, real command of pastel, which I have always found to be difficult, reason why I stay with oil. I admire people who do your kind of work on pastel and water colors...

You nailed it, even though it is almost a profile, the expression of the eyes is magnificent.

Good job, you are an excellent artist.

suncat

(41 posts)
66. It must have been satisfying
Wed May 18, 2022, 08:18 PM
May 2022

to concentrate on your beloved cat for hours! He looks like a great companion. You have got your technique for imaging fur close to, if not perfect!

I just picked up some pastels (not cheap) but I haven't begun yet. I am a little hesitant to begin...

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
125. Yeah, pastels are an investment at first...worth it though...you shouldn't be afraid,
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:29 PM
May 2022

They are the most fun medium ever, you will be hooked!

Thank you so much! 😍 not my kitty, just from a photo.

Oh I can’t wait to see your pastel paintings in this group, I hope you will share them!😍

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
68. Just gorgeous. You can feel the cat's soul.
Wed May 18, 2022, 08:58 PM
May 2022

Along with the wonderful technique, you've composed it beautifully. It's rare to see a pet portrait cropped like this and it creates a lovely sense of intimacy.

The tiniest suggestion, which a couple of other people have mentioned: the centerline along the pink of the nose lines up with the centerline of the mouth, as it should. But see how to the right of the centerline on the mouth there is only a tiny bit of mouth showing? But to the right of the centerline on the nose there's still a fairly substantial amount of pink nose. So it looks as if the nose is facing us a bit more than the rest of the cat is. But this is a tiny detail, one that I didn't notice right away. It's a gorgeous portrait and one you should feel very proud of. I think that you'll have plenty of business if you want to start doing this professionally.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
127. Oh thank you so much! I posted a new post with the change you suggested, hope it looks less
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:30 PM
May 2022

Wonky now!

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement and help! 😍

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
138. You're welcome!
Thu May 19, 2022, 04:24 PM
May 2022

The correction looks good, and I love the new portrait as well.

And it's easier to critique than to draw: I couldn't have drawn either one of those portraits.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
132. Thank you! It was fun! 😍 actually it's a work in soft pastel! Impossible to tell from photos,
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:34 PM
May 2022

I know. But pastel sticks and pastel pencils. 😍

Desert_Leslie

(131 posts)
77. Gorgeous!
Thu May 19, 2022, 08:52 AM
May 2022

Simply beautiful ... love the interplay of lights and darks. Lost my beloved 9yo cat Cutie two days ago to aggressive large cell lymphoma.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
136. Oh I am so so sorry for your loss. 😭 it's devastating to lose beloved fur babies.
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:37 PM
May 2022

Thank you for your kind comments even in the midst of your suffering. You are a very good person. 😍😍😍

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