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Doggy Pic - Lhasapoo

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Yvette Hutton

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So, I thought I would do a 'quick' painting of my friend's dog for her birthday (in acrylic) but I am struggling now and think I am having painting blindness - there must be a word for that.   Anyhow, I thought I would put it out there and I am looking for some constructive criticism      ps.  I added the extra eye but not sure that works but the painted one looks strange without it...   I know it can be difficult painting another persons pet as it is so personal so I really want to get it at least pictorially correct.  :-)

Sylvia Evans

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Smashing dog pic.  Your friend will be delighted.  A suggestion or two.  That extra eye… strange turn of phrase ,should I think be a bit more to the right.make a mental triangle with nose at apex I think he’s a bit cross eyed…no use chasing cats. Plus I think you need less high lights and more of his dark colours.  ,my advice to my self is go away and look again in a few hours or overnight .  Hope this is helpful. Wuff . 

Bari Marsh

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You're right about the eye Sylvia a bit more to the right   l can see much more red in it's coat but you have certainly caught the character...Yvette. 

Alan Bickley

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You’ve captured the character of this breed nicely… frankly, I would discard the eye altogether, it’s not necessary!

Sylvia Evans

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Good advice Alan , I was wondering how it could be altered , .

Alan Bickley

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Alternatively, ask for another similar pose with both eyes visible, this will give you an accurate position - guessing is never a good idea!

Sylvia Evans

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More good ideas Alan.  I only do dog pics now as gifts from photos I like.it’s when someone expects a miracle from  a photograph of a black dog on a black settee in a dark room for thirty quid.  I send them to a friend who charges way way more .  Funnily enough they never go.  .

Yvette Hutton

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Thank you so much for your responses!  It was exactly the critique I was looking for.  Lots of great suggestions!  I've made a few minor changes but think I am going to sit on it for a few days and look again with fresh eyes!   Here is an update (please note black paint is still wet so looks a bit odd after the photo has been taken but this should settle :-) ):  

Edited
by Yvette Hutton

Sylvia Evans

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Much better 
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Agreed - much better; I'd have gone with not painting the eye at all, but you've hit on a better solution - or one that works, anyway.  

Yvette Hutton

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I am really struggling with this painting...  I've double checked the dimensions but it still looks wrong to me.  When I created the copy I asked a print shop to enlarge it for me 220% to get the framework for the painting but now I'm convinced it must have distorted the image (that's my excuse for now...) .  Anyhow, I've attached the original image along with the painting.  Any suggestions?  
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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I think you've lost objectivity here, Yvette. You're not " standing back". ( Been there, done that) It looks perfectly fine to me and remember, it's a painting, not a photo. Your painting is more lively than the photo - I don't see the point of exactly reproducing a photo......
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