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Painting Realistic Curly Fur in Oil – 9 Tips

graphic for Curly White Fur article on how to paint realistic curly white fur. 4 images of a painting of a dog with curly white hair. The largest image on the left is finished. The smaller 3 images are in various stages of painting. Text reads "Painting Realistic Curly Fur". Painting by Shelley Hanna.

Painting realistic curly fur is definitely not for the faint of heart. Painting straight white fur is hard enough, but conquering the twists and turns of realistic curly fur is a challenge that can level up your skills as an artist. I’ll share everything I learned while painting this Bichon Frise portrait with all his luscious locks so you can approach your own curly portrait paintings with confidence.

In this painting tutorial, I’ll cover the following topics:

  1. Understanding the Anatomy of Realistic Curly Fur
  2. Choosing the Right Materials
  3. Preparing the Canvas
  4. Sketching the Subject
  5. Laying Down the Base Colors
  6. Building Texture with Layers
  7. Adding Highlights and Shadows
  8. Finishing Touches and Fine Details
  9. Tips on Drying Time

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How to Draw a Realistic Bird in Colored Pencil Step-by-Step

How to draw a realistic bird in color pencil title image with 4 stages of a bird drawn in color pencil

Learning how to draw a realistic bird in color pencil is challenging, but worth the effort. With the right approach and some patience, you can create a stunning piece of art that captures the beauty of these amazing creatures.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to draw a realistic bird step-by-step in color pencil, from sketching the initial outline to adding the finishing touches. Let’s begin!

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Why Rembrandt’s Self-Portraits Are More Than Just Artist Selfies

Rembrandt’s self-portraits have been fascinating artists for over 400 years. But, what makes Rembrandt’s self-portraits stand out from the rest? What is it about his paintings that have allowed them to endure the test of time?

Self-portraits have been a prominent part of art history for centuries, with many famous artists throughout history choosing to paint themselves.

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Painting A Sunflower In Oil Using Elements Of Design

Painting a sunflower in oil is a great way to practice your painting skills while being inspired by nature. Today, I will guide you through my process for painting a sunflower in oils incorporating the elements of design. I’ll also give you a supply list, so you can find any necessary supplies you need easily. If you prefer to watch this sunflower come to life on video, this link will open in a separate tab on your desktop.

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How To Paint A Pet Portrait – Limited Palette, Unlimited Possibilities

Pet portraits can be a big challenge for artists. In this article, I’ll take you through my step-by-step process for painting a realistic pet portrait using only four colors. Using a limited palette helps to eliminate some of the headaches while painting. This pet portrait is in oil, but I’ve used the same approach in acrylics and even while painting digitally.

I’ll begin with a quick overview highlighting the main steps. I’ve expanded the section on detail (step 10), giving extra tips.

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10 Essential Steps For Landscape Painting In Oil

Are you ready to take your landscape painting skills to the next level? In this tutorial, you’ll discover essential techniques and tips that both beginner and experienced artists can use for creating stunning landscape paintings.

In this tutorial, I will go through my 10 step process of painting a landscape in oils, from prepping the canvas to sketching out the composition and adding the finishing touches. So get out your paints and brushes, because we’re about to get creative.

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Oil Painting Mediums – A Beginner’s Guide

Oil painting mediums article title graphic

Oil painting mediums are used to change the properties of paint. They thin oil paint, make it dry faster or slower, improve the flow, and increase the gloss or transparency. If you’re new to oil painting, learning about different mediums and how to use them will help you create the effects you want in your paintings.

When I started oil painting again, navigating all of the mediums to use had my head spinning. There is a lot to learn but my advice is to start with the most simple method and then build on that as you grow as an artist.

What are oil painting mediums?

Oil painting mediums are additives. They are made from natural or synthetic substances and used for a variety of purposes.

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Check out my latest interview with VoyageKC

I was contacted recently by VoyageKC Magazine to give an interview in their Rising Stars series. VoyageKC’s focus is to shine a spotlight on Kansas City’s local artists, small business owners and entrepreneurs and I feel very fortunate to be included.

Shelley Hanna pictured in her art studio

The interview includes my background as an artist, the challenges I’ve faced and the things that matter the most to me. It also showcases some of my portrait work. So if you would like to know more about my story, feel free to check out the link below. And if you are here to learn a little more about how I do

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How To Paint A Realistic Portrait – Avoid These 11 Mistakes!

Realistic portrait painting has always been my favorite thing to do. However, getting a likeness can be a huge challenge due to simple mistakes. I’ll share with you a couple of the mistakes I made painting this portrait. I will also go over other common mistakes and helpful tips. This will help you to avoid some of the pain of painting portraits.

paint realistic portrait article title graphic

I’ve drawn and painted portraits of people and pets for as long as I can remember. Fortunately, I’ve been able to capture a likeness with most of my subjects.

The only time I have trouble with a likeness is when I make some basic mistakes. With this realistic portrait of Dr. Claude Pressnell, I started out the painting with an inaccurate drawing. That was my first mistake. I also had

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