Killer was my parents dog. He was quite the character. I like to say he was adorably annoying, and I say this with love.

I start by doing a basic sketch. It begins with the circle of his head and muzzle, then with the layout of his ears and facial features. Once I'm certain everything is proportionate and where it should be, I roughly fill in the details with a pencil. The below image is the completed rough sketch.

I will do two pieces of Killer. The first one is in pastel. The second will be painted in acrylics. I have completed the pastel one. Pastel is my favorite medium. The acrylic one will follow. I will post it when it is complete.

The first thing I do is trace the main elements of my sketch onto quality pastel paper. Next, I fill in the background. Then I start drawing the animal's eyes and nose. This is where I always start. The eyes are the heart of any animal portrait and if I can't get them right, then I will start over. Killer's eyes, in this case, are hard to see. But they are still the focal point.

I work outward from the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Killer's face is almost complete.

And now for the final touches.

The first step in acrylic painting is to paint the background, then trace the main elements onto the canvas.