Composition & Planning: Brainstorming a Labrador Portrait

I just accepted a new portrait commission, and it’s officially time for one of my favorite stages: the preliminary sketches! 🎨 Before I ever touch the main canvas, I spend time mapping out potential layouts to find the perfect composition.

Working in these small thumbnails helps me quickly refine elements like framing, posing, and the use of negative space. It ensures the final piece feels balanced and captures the subject's personality perfectly. I’m excited to finalize this direction with my client and move into the painting phase—stay tuned for the progress shots