We are delighted to share some of the wonderful artwork created by Pet Portraits Diploma student Mayumi, who is studying with tutor Heather Jolliffe. These pieces are from her Set 4 assignments, and they demonstrate both her skill with coloured pencils and her exploration of oils.
For her first exercise, Mayumi chose to draw Kelly, a spaniel belonging to her friend. She used coloured pencils to capture Kelly’s joyful expression and the challenge of her tightly curled ears, which she handled beautifully. The background was created with PanPastel, a medium she tried for the first time, and she was impressed with how quickly it could be applied compared to traditional coloured pencil work. Mayumi also reflected on whether a background is always necessary in such detailed drawings, drawing comparisons to botanical art where blank space can enhance realism.
Her second exercise was a full-body oil painting of her own dog, Annie. This piece was painted on a prepared wooden panel and gave Mayumi the opportunity to revisit oils after many years. She noted the differences between mediums, enjoying the flow of oils compared to pastels, and worked through the challenges of composition and shadowing to ensure Annie felt grounded within the scene. The result is a lively and engaging portrait that captures Annie’s personality.
Mayumi’s Workspace
Alongside her finished pieces, Mayumi kindly shared a photo of her working environment. It shows her desk setup with reference photos, brushes, and her painting in progress. She even devised her own support tool for steadying her hand when painting details – something she later learned was similar to a traditional mahl stick used by oil painters.
We would like to congratulate Mayumi on her progress through the course so far. Her careful attention to detail and willingness to explore different mediums are evident in these assignments, and we are very much looking forward to seeing her future work.
If you would like to learn how to create pet portraits in pencil, pastel, or paint, why not take a look at our Pet Portraits Diploma Course and let us know if you have any questions.
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