Bull Terriers Sketch

© Ellen Blonder

I guess I have dogs on the brain lately. These are a pair of bull terriers that I saw behind a fence on Kauai. When I stopped to photograph them, they both went into an instant frenzy, barking and tearing along the fence. The one in the foreground paused long enough for a good reference shot, but the other one never stopped moving. His legs are a blur, a challenge when I get to painting.

Charlie-Study 3

© Ellen Blonder

Charlie is one happy dog. I like this pose best so far because I'll be able to add things all around him easily and because he's looking right at you.

Charlie-Study 2

© Ellen Blonder

I didn't mean for months to go by without posting new art. Here's another pencil sketch of Charlie, I want to get a better feel for his face, shape and fur before I start in on an acrylic painting of him within a Hawaiian setting. He's all black, which makes drawing him both fun and challenging.

Charlie-Study 1

© Ellen Blonder

Winnie Lu, a friend and realtor here on Kauai, asked me to paint a portrait of her dog Charlie. He's all black, with ears that have a tendency to flip inside out. He also has boundless energy at age 2, so I'll work from a series of photographs that Winnie and I both took. This is my first pencil study; I'm trying to get a feel for what handsome Charlie's all about.