Dizzie & Ted - Working sketches

Recently I have been working on this large full body double portrait of Dizzie the fox terrier and Ted the cat.  Ted is very fond of Dizzie the dog, and likes to nuzzle his head into Dizzie's neck.  It felt as though I had taken hundreds of photos of them in the garden, and was delighted with an   almost perfect photo capturing the moment.  I say "almost perfect" because the angle of  Dizzie's head wasn't quite right, Ted had his eyes closed and the preferred markings were on the opposite side of each pet.  Challenging, but not impossible.    As there were several changes  to the original photo and to help clarify the final image for the portrait, I made a few rough charcoal sketches using multiple reference photos for the clients approval before I began the painting.  I am just adding the finishing touches to the painting and will be back soon with photos of the painting in process.

Teddy & Bounce, Jack Russell double portrait

    Watercolour on Arches paper 15"x20"- 38cm x 51cm Copyright Marion Simkins

Charlie - Bull Mastiff

Watercolour on paper 16"x12" Copyright Marion Simkins

I can't quite believe that we are now into March.  Where does the time go?  I am falling behind in my admin duties so will try to make time for more regular updates. 
The above portrait of Charlie took much longer than I initially thought it would.  Partly because of the lovely wrinkles around her muzzle and in her furrowed brow, and partly because of the intricate pattern in her brindle coat.  Despite the hours of concentration, (I have a few wrinkles of my own now) I really enjoyed painting her.