The process of drawing 51 dogs (Pt 2)

[Please note: If you missed Part 1, you can read it HERE] I’m a month in to the drawing process, and progress has been a little slower than anticipated and I’m only now just finishing the final rough drafts. This is partly due to me underestimating the extra layers of planning needed for such a big project, and partially because my health took a bit of a dip so I’ve had to take some days off and slow my pace a bit on the days that I am working. It’s all good though: new lessons bring new skills and experience!

  Hunger attack!

Early on in the rough drafts stage, I kept getting ridiculously hungry and couldn’t work out why. As I looked through some of the dog’s names, reality suddenly dawned on me that these beautiful dogs were the culprits! Here’s a selection of those that caused the hunger!

Fab, but hunger-inducing, dog's names!

Where did that extra dog come from..?!

Every now and then in the rough drafts stage, it was important to do a quick count up to make sure I had included all 51 dogs in the picture. I was changing the positioning around so often that it could be easy to lose one. What I didn’t anticipate, is that on one tot up, I had 52 dogs!! Although this error made me laugh, it was a genuine problem and it took me a good half an hour to work out which dog I had accidentally drawn twice!

Extra alterations to the white board... Despite all of my white board planning, when it came to the reality of drawing the dogs, further alterations were needed to make sure they fit comfortably. The white board has been an ongoing huge help though, and great to set up in view while I draw so that I can check finer details.

Rough drafts...

This was one of the early drafts, and as you can see, the dogs are just very roughly drawn in circles and basic details so that I could map out where each one is going, plus the positioning of each dog, and ensure that they all fit together well.

Rough draft initial planning

Perspective considerations...

One factor that took some time was getting the viewing perspective right. With so many dogs in one scene, it wouldn’t look right to have them all with the perspective of looking straight on, so the dogs at the bottom of the scene show a perspective that looks slightly from above as well as straight on.

If you aren’t sure what I mean, look at the legs of the dogs at the front, and then of the ones at the back. The ones at the front show some extra space between the legs nearer the viewer, and those further away, whereas the ones at the back show them closer together as if they are viewed immediately from in front. The same method applies to how much of their heads and backs you can see. This is to get the finished view showing as if the viewer is a little above ground, so that the dogs look in a natural scene rather than standing on top of eachother.

Final rough draft...

I’ve just finished the very final rough draft now, (shown below) which includes more detail than the early drafts. The rough drafts are always the stage that takes the longest, as the trials and errors happen here, and things should sail more smoothly from hereon (she says hopefully!) So onwards and upwards to the linework now!

I’m still absolutely loving the challenge, and getting to know all of these gorgeous dogs!

Final rough draft

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