Course overview This is an intensive course in learning to draw and paint all types of pets. We open the course with a comprehensive chapter presenting information and advice on various mediums and the materials you may need to complete the course. We then move on to some basic drawing skills in graphite pencil to ensure that you understand the basics before delving into the more complicated subjects of drawing and painting animals and pets.

Melanie Phillips - Pet Portrait Diploma Tutor

An introduction is given to each medium and we illustrate various techniques, plus an example of a pet drawn or painted in that medium. We then deal with animals in detail, looking at specific areas such as eyes, nose, tongues, collars and reins in a variety of media. We also deal with problematic subjects like black or white dogs, dealing with long and short fur and direction of fur.
 
This leads to composition - adding two or more animals into a painting and creating backgrounds and landscapes behind your pets. This sections also deals with how the use of a computer can help you in the layout and design of your work.The course then provides an in-depth look at how to portray various breeds of dogs, cats and horses in a variety of mediums.
 
The final section of the course focuses on starting up your own business, how to sell your work, accepting commissions and how to make your own website, just to name a few. There are many practice exercises throughout the course which we trust you will complete. Once you have worked though each section and are familiar with all of the aspects of learning to portray animals and have completed the practice exercises, the final section gives you a set of four exercises to complete and send to your course artist.

This course is suitable for the complete beginner as well as intermediates as it gives a good grounding in drawing, which is essential before adding any colour to your work. For those of you who are more experienced and work through the drawing part at a faster pace, there are some harder more challenging exercises to work though.

Critiques
On enrolment the student will receive a fully illustrated printed course folder with assignments at the end of each section. Students can work through the course until they reach the exercises and they can either send work electronically or in the Mail. Students who send work electronically via the London Art College website will receive an Audio/Video critique showing amendments on the artwork digitally. Each student is able to login to their own personal secure area in the 'Artwork Submission Area', and their critique will be uploaded for the student to access at any time. They can then download and listen/watch the video in Windows Media Player. An example of an audio and visual critique can be played below.

Students who send work through the postal system will receive an audio critique on cd playable on any cd based audio system - ie a stereo system, DVD player or personal computer.

Samples pages from this course - click to enlarge

Materials needed for the Pet Portrait Diploma Course.

The course will give you a run through of the mediums and lists some of the brands of paints, pencils and paper with information on each that are available to purchase in your local art shops. The Mediums covered in the course are

Graphite Pencil
Coloured Pencil
Pastels
Acrylic
Oils

Pencils and Paper
For the first section of the course you will need some good quality drawing paper and a range of graphite pencils. I would suggest to to use a 2b, 6b and 8b on some good quality cartridge paper.

Coloured Pencils
The course then moves onto using coloured pencils and these can either be bought singularly, or in sets. There are many brands of coloured pencils to choose from and are all different. Some are more soft and waxy than others. If you are able to try them or purchases a variety singularly before hand this would be a great idea. The course gives a brief introduction to the main brands available which will help you in your decision. Use a smooth paper for the coloured pencils, try hot pressed watercolour paper, nothing too shiny. Again art shops provide a variety of papers for you to feel and try, why not test a few to see what you prefer to work with.

Pastels
Pastels can be purchased in sets and in colour ranges. If you are going to be drawing pets, I would recommend the brown tonal range. Again art shops have many varieties of pastel papers and all are suitable for using with pastels. If you are able to find velour paper this is worth trying. Its a great surface to work on.

Acrylic
Acrylic paints. If you have never used acrylic before I would purchase a few single tubes to start with. There is information about acrylic brands in the course and my advise would be read the course before you buy. You can paint acrylics on pretty much any surface from cardboard to newspaper! There is info about paper in the course too.

Oil
Many students ask me what colours i use for my pet portraits and I use the basic simple range of 8 colours. You should be able to get all the colours you need form this range. I recommend using waterbased oils for the course, and information about the brands and canvas are in the course itself. Purchase tubes individually and the colours i recommend are -

Black
White
Naples Yellow
Indian Red
Burnt Umber
French Ultra Marine
Yellow Ochre
Crimson

Optional Colours are below, these are handy when painting grass or specific breeds of dogs that are more vivid on tone and colour.
Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Orange

Brushes
Brushes are a little more difficult to recommend as all brands use different sizes. So for instance my number 1 could be twice the size of the ones you are looking at. The best advice I can give is to keep your brushes in tip top condition, as working with an old brush with no spring or point can make your strokes look blunt, so a new brush regularly does help. Blocking in and background ones are fine to use over and over, I have two background ones I have had for over 10 years : )

We have secured student discount rates with a number of online art shops. Information provided on enrolment.

Illustrations from the Pet Portrait Diploma Course by Melanie Phillips