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Author: Zara Toms

How to paint fur in acrylics

Posted on by Zara Toms
How to paint fur in acrylics I have lots of tutorials on Patreon and YouTube which focus on painting fur. Depending on the subject the fur texture will require a variety of techniques so the correct approach is important. The brushes we use will also be a important factor. I am not overly particular about the brand of brushes I use but I do like certain brushes for certain layers and fur types. ...
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The importance of contrast

Posted on by Zara Toms
Happy Easter everyone! I'm working on a Labrador portrait today but I have another YouTube tutorial coming tomorrow :D. I'm going to be adding the voice over to that today.   One thing I wanted to talk about is the importance of contrast. I speak about this in every single one of my tutorials regardless of the medium I work in. This is what makes the difference when we are aiming towards a...
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New Wolf drawing for sale

Posted on by Zara Toms
Fresh off the easel, my latest graphite portrait is finished =). When I planned this project I knew I wanted a dark background to make the lighter tones within the Wolf to stand out. I had the idea of a distant forest, misty type effect but knew that I must use many blending techniques to ensure this remained blurry otherwise it could be to distracting. There are projects which I get really quit...
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How to paint fur in acrylics

Posted on by Zara Toms
Painting realistic fur in acrylics Regardless of the animal I am painting I always strive to achieve as much realism as I can. When painting fur this relies on a few things. Layers, contrast and pencil technique are three of the main factors. Without enough layers we cannot build sufficient depth within the fur. Without good contrast the portrait will be flat and two dimensional. The lights and...
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Highland Cow drawing for sale

Posted on by Zara Toms
I recently completed this Highland Cow graphite drawing and it's now been professionally mounted by my framer and is looking for a new home =). This is one of my most detailed graphite originals to date. I loved drawing all of that long hair. There were many hours of work that went into this to build up the depth to ensure the hair replicated the right thicker texture. I'll pop a few details abou...
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NEW graphite tutorials on Patreon =)

Posted on by Zara Toms
** 1st December 2022 - Real time graphite tutorials ** When I launched by Patreon channel in February 2021 with my pastel tutorials I never dreamt that it would have evolved into offering tutorials in pastels, acrylics and graphite. I am so thankful for the support and it's only through this support that it's been made possible. Thank you so much! Whenever I have launched any of my tiers I alway...
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Learn to draw with graphite

Posted on by Zara Toms
Exciting plans for Patreon! In February 2021 I launched my Patreon. This is where you can find all of my step by step tutorials in pastels and acrylics. I have a Patreon library on my website which lists all of the tutorials there and I have a wide variety of domestic pets and wildlife subjects. I am so grateful for all the support I have received and in the last couple of months I have had lots ...
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How to draw a Cockerpoo in pastels

Posted on by Zara Toms
Rosie the Cockerpoo Hi everyone, I have been so busy building up my Patreon library and I haven't updated my blog here in such a long time! I am really proud of the content that I have been working on so hopefully it's been worth it :). This month full length tutorial for the pastel tier features Rosie a beautiful Cockerpoo. Cockerpoos are very popular and any artist taking on pet portrait commis...
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How to draw a dog nose in graphite

Posted on by Zara Toms
Drawing a dog's nose in graphite I've recently been uploading voice over graphite tutorials to YouTube. In today's tutorial I show how to draw realistic dog noses and how to create the 3D shape. I share 2 of my must have erasers which I adapt to add even finer details to any area using a subtraction technique. This tutorial is packed with tips and techniques which I hope will make tackling dog no...
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