Painted Creche

A group of young hunting dogs await the return of the main pack after a hunt)

This image has been sketched using PASTELS on Pastel Matt Paper

Marking up the eight dogs and a termite hill onto pastelmat paper before starting on the far bank of the river

The trees on the far bank of the river are starting to come to life as I add the line of the of the distant river.

Sketching in the termite hill gives a focal point to work from and it also shows the effect of a blurred background..

I'm currently working on my second board (B) which has the natural light coming from over my left shoulder.

Laboriously adding the base background colour ready for the finer detail

Still working on the background before moving onto the first of the eight dogs

The first two young dogs appear on the scene, just another seven to go!!

Dog three completed now, with the beginnings of a tail on the adult dog (baby sitter) starting to appear.

Using my light lenses to do the finer detail on the dogs.

Adult male (sitter) sketched in, just the remaining three pups to do before moving back to the background detail

That's all the dogs in situ.

Gradually filling in the twigs, bushes, scat and other bits and pieces you find in the in the bush.

That's the picture finished.

Scanned ready for framing