How to paint realistic black fur in acrylics - step by step tutorial

[@evelynsharland3030]

As an artist, I only see you fake dabbing at it. No change, no instruction.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you for your input. There was real paint on the brush though and it was in progress as I was filming....:) I think anyone who's eyes aren't painted on can see that....

[@lynxlady5355]

I'm so happy to hear you say that 'black is black'!!! I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my eyes because I could not see all the colors other people see! I kind of suspected they may be exaggerating their color vision. Fabulous black fur! Another wonderful tutorial. Thank you.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Yes there is definitely a place for using other colours and mixing other colours in but my colour vision is fine and i can see black regularly that is just that...black lol...

[@user-cj7ge1ki5k]

I like your no-nonsense approach to colour, painting what you see and I agree with other comments about use of black, very refreshing! A beautiful and skilled piece of work. I look forward to other tutorials.

[@lesleyhale8910]

I'm just beginning my first border collie. Painting a friend's beloved baby who died last year. It's a big responsibility, but feel more confident after watching this! Thank you.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Hope it has gone well....

[@lesleyhale8910]

@TmHudsonArt it went very well. Many tears! I'd love to see a tutorial on eyes, especially the blue eyed dogs.

[@stevenmorris4482]

BLACK!! LOL I think mixing black with maybe purple /blue or brown helps to make black appear less flat .. but as you said adding colour on top works also . Lovely portrait .

[@dogriver751]

I only started painting about 3 years ago. My wife turned up one day with cheap set of acrylics and brushes from Lidl and said "I think you should try painting landscapes".. So I thought well I'll give it a go. To my surprise I found I did have a limited skill and found it very relaxing. I did a few landsacapes but then I thought I'd try to paint my dogs. Thats when it got really interesting. Since then I have had a few commissions from frieds and family. I've just found your chanell and I must say I love your work and your video is very helpful. I am currently doing a Border Collie and I like your technique in fur and texture... Thank you so much ...

[@TmHudsonArt]

Most welcome. I do a lot of collies as I have them and do agility and there's a lot of collie people in those circles lol. Glad you are finding joy in art.....:)

[@lisasternenkind6467]

Fantastic tutorial! Thank you so much. 🙏🏻 My last Rottweiler Lodur died on April 29th at the age of only 7. I would really like to paint him, but couldn't even get started. I couldn't find any colors other than the typical black and reddish brown. This was somehow holding me back. I never painted animals in a realistic way. I only used to do the easy stuff like landscapes and flowers, as well as drawings and paintings for children. But since Lodur was my PTSD service dog and had suffered his injuries that later led to his death while he was outside with me and doing his duty, he really deserves special remembrance. I now believe, after having watched this tutorial twice, that I can do it. 👍🏻 I will have to wait until my current 4 projects are fulfilled, but I am looking forward to painting Lodur right after the 4 projects are done. I will do a trial painting first on a smaller screen, and then I will buy new paint and a huge canvas for the final painting of Lodur. ❤ Thank you so much for lending me your helping hand, for sharing your knowledge on how to paint black dogs, thus supporting me in painting my beloved Lodur, whom I miss day and night 24/7. Your skill sharing is very much appreciated by me. 😊 Regards from Germany. 😉

[@c6s6s6]

Really beautiful work! As a realist myself, I appreciate your level of detail. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you....:)

[@Edward-rw3kq]

Absolutely stunning, and I learned a great deal ThanQ....🌟🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@sandracahill4313]

Omg u are so good love watching u 👍

[@michaelwhite8031]

Lovely work.

[@robertkanchuk1677]

Very nice, great detail. The nose is amazing. Great job.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you...:)

[@detramental2682]

It's amazing to watch the process all the way to the finished product.

[@GaryNorthants]

Great tutorial and I had a real 'doh' moment here. Why not shape riggers by hand ? Never thought of that lol You mentioned colours in black and white fur etc and something I gleaned some years ago that I found useful was a little colour theory. If the light is the sun (yellow) then move to opposite on colour wheel for cast shadow area colour( purple grey) or Blue sky (subject in day but under some shade etc) then again go opposite (orange /burnt umber) etc. For form shadows decide the colour surrounding the subject and use that where needed. That was pretty much my rulebook for skin tones when doing portraits but the principles apply to everything,. I also used to ultra saturate photos to try and see if any colours jumped out from that and added them into the underlayer's etc. Gonna squish my brushes tomorrow :) Thank you

[@debrafrost9950]

Any tutorials on the pencil sketch underneath, would be great. I tend to over sketch 😅 but I like having a strong guide. Painting only for a couple years. I love your work. Thank you

[@TmHudsonArt]

Hi...for a lot of commissions with time constraints, I just use a "cheaty" transfer method or it takes up too much time but when i have chance to do more non commission work, i'll see about freehanding tutorials. Thinking about doing one soon just for drawing canine noses since they are an odd shape and seem to stump a lot of beginners.

[@fredasidaravicius232]

I absolutely love your paintings and instructions. Thank you.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you. Glad you find them helpful...:)

[@Mergal5]

I have 2 border collies and this Pic is beautiful!

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you....3 BCs here....:)

[@kathrineshaw9901]

AMAZING.....thank you so much for sharing your talent

[@debrafrost9950]

Thank you, wonderful 👏 easy to understand and follow

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thanks and welcome....:)

[@tessieojeda6496]

Your work is amazing

[@shaunsart]

Absolutely brilliant

[@Wakermanrocks]

Easy to follow and a super result

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you....:)

[@johnjhunter5185]

only recently started doing pet Portraits,have found your tutorial Very helpful,ie in laying down multiple layers ,to build up to the detail,thankyou❤👌👍.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Glad it helped....:)

[@ArsPraestigium]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thanks...:)

[@paulwhiting1648]

Great video. What brand of Acrylics do you use?

[@claresullivan1867]

Just seen your channel. Thanks for your tips, this is a beautiful painting of a dog. Very realistic.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you and glad it is of some use to you....:)

[@robertaroper1502]

Love your work it's inspiring . I'm currently struggling to paint border collie with limp ears as I cannot see them in the photo .

[@TmHudsonArt]

This is where you draw what you see as opposed to what you think you should be seeing. The only other option is a ref photo where the ears are showing.

[@hardy5288]

Lovely work. just subbed.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you....:)

[@patriciawilson5289]

Wow blown away by this how do you build black on black and get such definition wish I could grasp this . Beautiful

[@TmHudsonArt]

Thank you...

[@Jennifr1966]

TM, when you're first painting the black, it looks gray. Is that just thinned-out black that you have two layers with, or are you beginning with gray and then adding black? Sorry, I'm REALLY new!

[@TmHudsonArt]

I do add water to make it flow better on the initial layer...

[@bobmickiewicz]

Excellent painting and love your technique. Question for you…. What colors do you use for the eyes ? Do you have a tutorial on eyes?

[@TmHudsonArt]

Hi I do have an eye painting tutorial but there's no set colours to use because all dogs eyes are different colours.

[@vickyboz1]

Are you adding white to black layers to get different shades of black or only using black with multiple layers?

[@TmHudsonArt]

That would depend if you wanted it black in the area or paler due to reflected light. You have to add other lighter colours to make it paler. Black can only be black.

[@jacquiesnick1501]

Absolutely love watching you paint! You make it look so easy. I started painting about 2 years ago and still struggle with using my brush like you do. Any suggestions on keeping paint on brush when working? More videos like this would be great.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Hi...glad you find the videos helpful. Not sure what you mean about keeping the paint on the brush? Maybe something to do with paint consistency and how often you load?

[@jacquiesnick1501]

@@TmHudsonArt Maybe I'm not putting enough paint on brush during detail part or I use to much water . Your detail work is amazing, lines are so good. I need to work on my detail lines and the right brush. Thanks for your response.

[@bobmickiewicz]

Hi could you tell me the colors you used on this dogs eyes. I really like how you did this one. I’m working on a dog that has similar eye colors. Love your work… they are beautiful. Thanks very much.

[@TmHudsonArt]

I can't specifically recall as I did this painting over a year ago and did not record the eyes or anything but numerous mixes could get the same results. I'd have used burnt umber in the brown eye and ultramarine/process cyan in the blue eye mixed with other stuff (White/black) because I know i had those colour paints but there's no one way of mixing most colours....a lot of it comes down to just learning what you get from mixing different colours.

[@meganschultz1227]

How do paint eyes ? Can you make a video on it please 🙏

[@TmHudsonArt]

Hi, I have done an eye painting tutorial but not from this particular dog. It was a French bulldog. You can find it on my channel page or in the tutorials playlist.

[@johnjhunter5185]

What brand of Brushes and Paints do you use?,just curious,cheers,John.

[@TmHudsonArt]

I have linked to the materials I use in the description...

[@mananddog9884]

Wow! How do you increase tone with each layer of black? Just use less water?

[@TmHudsonArt]

Yes...the initial layer is just to get the paper covered up and it's easier to do it when the paint is watered down a bit. Adding thicker paint is easier when there's already a layer down..

[@herrmosa918]

will those techniques work also with acrylic gouache?

[@TmHudsonArt]

I'm using acrylic in this video. I've never used gouche so I am not entirely sure. Best thing is to always just experiment anyway.

[@xupeadi]

What size brush do you use for the fur.

[@TmHudsonArt]

I use various sizes of rigger brush. The point is more important than the size..

[@ArtbyKarenValentine]

I would love to know what paper you are using and if you treated it before beginning your painting. 😊 Your work is always beautiful.

[@TmHudsonArt]

Hi..I am using Fabriano Artistico hotpress 640gsm and no treatment needed.

[@ArtbyKarenValentine]

@@TmHudsonArt Thank you very much!!!!

[@berneebrawn7102]

is your first layer of black paint thinned down?

[@TmHudsonArt]

I do add water to make it flow more easily yes...and just layer up until opaque...

[@wendyshoults7355]

Beautiful work! Which black do you prefer to use? Mars, Ivory?

[@TmHudsonArt]

My most favoured black ever was a tube of Reeves and I was surprised because it was quite a cheap paint. I had it bought as a gift with a tube of white. the white was rubbish but was really impressed with the black. That was Mars black and I now have liquitex in Mars black.

[@wendyshoults7355]

@@TmHudsonArt Thank you for your reply. You do amazing work.

[@chrismay5349]

…Lovely painting. You’ve inspired me to get my acrylics out. Two question’s. Is this done on a grey canvas.? And do use any retarders for paint. You have a new subscriber and a like. Keep up the good work and inspiring me and others.

[@TmHudsonArt]

All my paintings are on fabriano artistico HP 300lb. The grey is painted background colour. I do use a flow improver but not for everything. I plan to expermient more with mediums and also different acrylics in the future..

[@robvanderveer8294]

Is that a David Bowie dog

[@GissGR78]

❤

[@pamelaslaven9909]

You never showed how you did the whiskers

[@TmHudsonArt]

That is because this video was focusing on the black fur only....

[@blenderheadxyz2418]

F. me, thats so real