- Hanna 1
Hanna the Harrier (breed of Hound), in progress. 5" x 7" scratchboard Reference photo provided by my client. I started with the railing to be sure it was headed in the direction I wanted, then began scratching on Hanna. - Hanna 8 (Final)
This is the final Hanna the Harrier (hound) 5" x 7" scratchboard commission Reference photo provided by client. Scratched with a #16 X-Acto, colored with watercolor (dog & railing) & color pencil (railing) - Hanna 8 (final) - detail
Detail of the finished portrait. This portion of the portrait is about 3.25" x 1.5" - Hanna 7
Scratched to fine tune after adding color. It's lighter, but just wait, I'll add another pass of watercolor, then minimal scratching to fine tune, and the portrait will be finished! I'm in the home stretch....
Check out this video where I added the highlights to her eyes.
And this video that shows scratching previously added color. - Hanna 3
At this point, the railing was pretty much finished, with more scratching on Hanna. I've used watercolor & color pencil for the color & texture on the railing. - Hanna 5 - detail
Detail of the "all scratched" stage - Image #5 This portion of the portrait is about 3.25" x 1.5" - Hanna 2
Watercolor on the railing: I've scratched & added color twice. I'm still building the contours & wood grain, but I like how it's going. I'll add some color pencil to define the grain further. Just scratching so far on Hanna. Clearly, I'm not worried about drawing the eyes first. Every drawing is different, the eyes happen when they happen... - Hanna 5
All scratched, ready for color on Hanna. After looking at the railing for plenty of days, I'm happy with it, no further changes needed there. - Hanna 4
Now with "spooky eyes". I know it looks weird - the eyes are overscratched at this point, they will be a lovely warm brown when the portrait is finished. I'll stipple the eyes with ink & scratch more to make them darker, while still leaving enough white for the surface to accept color. Her nose is over-scratched also, that will be stippled as well. I left a black outline, so I don't lose the edges of her nose against the fur in that area. Once I finish the scratching in the central area and that tiny bit on the left, then I'll go back in & stipple. - Hanna 6
Now with color! This is the first pass of watercolor, next I'll scratch to soften, blend & bring back details.
This video shows adding color to her eyes & nose.
This video shows adding color to her fur. - Off Duty? 2
Still working on scratching the dog, but I've started adding a water background. Read the story about the water here: When You Want Different Water - Off Duty? 3
Border Collie is all scratched, ready for color! That will help pop him out from the background. He won't have spooky eyes either. After adding color, I'll scratch as needed. - Off Duty? 1
5" x 7" scratchboard of a Border Collie: "Off Duty?" because anyone who knows Border Collies knows they're working even when they're playing. - Off Duty? 4
With color (watercolor). I didn't spend a ton of time on color-correcting this scan. The dog looks pretty accurate, but the water isn't quite right. I'll take more time when I scan the final. At any rate, in the home stretch at this point. Next:scratching to add highlights on the dog, and separate him from the background. - Off Duty? - Final
Finished! 5" x 7" scratchboard (Ampersand Scratchbord), with watercolor and some India ink for re-inking & drawing long, black hairs. From my own reference photo taken at a dog play day many years ago.