Finally drew my AA tattoo... still working on it cuz I'm not quite happy with it yet.... but wanting some feedback so thought I'd post it. It's my dog, whom I'd planned to get a tattoo of, decided to combine it with my AA tat cuz she's been such a big part of my sobriety (yes, I'm insane lol) I gotta work on the shading and I got the eyes way too dark... still workin on it, I'm a perfectionist with my art lol
Consider me a nutcase as my animals are a huge part of my recovery too! :)
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguements and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
~Herbert Spencer
I think some of the hard lines will need to darken to bring out your dogs personality. around the mouth eyes and ears. Great job. Looks hard to get detail since so much fur is the same shades.
You might try quick sketches in various lights to catch how your dogs expression looks. It might bring out subtle lines in his/her face that will hold detail in a tatoo as it ages.
I tried to learn to draw but gave up when I discovered photoshop. I always felt like drawing and other expression was good for my sobriety though. I held so much back when I was drinking. I was never good but I put it up there with learning to write so I could inventory.
The reason I mention shading lines is because I never got past pencil sketches :). Thats about all I know. That and you might find a book on portraiture to glance at in the art store. The section on eyes can show you real fast how to get some emotion in those eyes. My brother always draws animals with human expressions. :) He's not good either but he's way better than me and it looks cool in its own way.
Lisa, I "dabbled" in art....pencils sketches and water-based paintings. Taught my kids some of the tricks. My daughter has/is taking art classes in college. One of two sons has designed various T-shirts/banners for some of the bikers' clubs and their various fund raisers. The former has gotten pretty good grades for her efforts. Perhaps more definition around the eyes and the area between them. As Tug said, the darker hardlining can bring out personality. Wow, another facet of Lisa is revealed. Great job. Wanda