In February, I received a big portrait order. The subject was two big dogs, a Rottweiler named Shatae and a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Ram. Not only were the dogs big, the customer requested a 24” x 48” portrait.
Wow!
Such a large and challenging project thrilled me. And I admit to some trepidation approaching something so large.
As I sat in front of my large Wacom pen display at the start of the portrait, I remembered a line from The Right Stuff, as Alan Shepherd sat in the spacecraft prior to launch, “Please, Lord, don’t let me F*** up!”
Well I didn’t. I started small, with a 9” x 18” sketch combining photos of each dog into a scene together, blocked in the major shapes and colors (which would inevitably change). Once happy with that, I enlarged it to full size (that’s why I work digitally, boys and girls) and began the actual (digital) painting.
We went through a couple rounds of proofs getting things just right. This is natural for a portrait so large as the details are a lot bigger and really stand out if they’re not perfect.
I worked on this portrait for two and a half weeks.
Shatae & Ram (24x48)
About the Author
Topdog is Steve Merryman, a retired graphic designer, illustrator, and curmudgeon-in-training. Steve can often be found working on a portrait commission or some other artwork. Steve fills his days by painting, writing, shootin' guns, cuttin' trees, hiking with his dogs, and shaking his head at world events, all while searching for the perfect cheeseburger. He is occasionally without pants.
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