Welcome!

In this course, I will show you how to paint your favorite fur friend in the Impressionist style. Pet Portrait paintings are very popular and also make a great gifts! I will be using oil paint for this demonstration, but you may use any medium you'd like. I hope that you'll join this course and I am excited to see your pet portraits in the project section!

We will be using Alla Prima techniques in this course. If you need an introduction to Alla Prima techniques, check out my Skillshare course Oil Painting for Beginners - Alla Prima Techniques

We will be approaching color in a subjective way throughout this course. In simplest terms, I will show you how to think about color in terms of value and temperature. You do not need to use the same colors of paint that I use, and I encourage you to use a very limited color palette. When I paint pet portraits, I like to have a lot of fun with color! Typically, I'll choose a color scheme to block in the base layer of color, and then I'll build the more natural colors in the subsequent layers so we get small, subtle glimpses of interesting color that peak through from the base layer.

This course begins with a full, in-depth lesson on painting a pet portrait from beginning to end. I will emphasize how to think about color subjectively so you don't feel like you have to copy color from your photo reference. Another important factor is light and shadow, also known as value. A common saying in the art world is "Value does all the work, and color gets all the credit" -- and it's so true! So I'll show you how to get into the mindset of thinking about light and shadow primarily and color secondarily. The full lesson also discusses how to create a soft texture to fur, how to create vibrant eye colors, and how to lay in features like whiskers that can be very challenging.

After the full lesson, I will have shorter lessons that focus on certain challenges that are particular to pet portraits -- such as how to paint markings and color variations, how to change the background, how to paint wrinkles / skin folds and more!

I hope you enjoy this course! If you have any questions or if there is anything you're struggling with, please post in the discussion section and I will answer and I may even add new video lessons to the course! I hope that you'll join this course and I am excited to see your pet portraits in the project section!

Happy Painting!

** Links below to more of my Skillshare courses to help you with the fundamentals of oil painting **

Oil Painting for Beginners - Materials (Non-Toxic) & Basic Techniques

Oil Painting for Beginners - Poster Studies

Oil Painting for Beginners - Value & Form

Oil Painting for Beginners - Color Temperature (Part 1)

Oil Painting for Beginners - Color Temperature (Part 2)

Oil Painting for Beginners - "Fat Over Lean" Principle

Oil Painting for Beginners - Master Color with a Limited Palette

Oil Painting for Beginners - Alla Prima Techniques

Libby Sykes

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