Dog Portrait Coloring Page

This dog portrait coloring page is a quiet face study of a gentle, long eared dog looking straight at you. Soft locks of fur fall from the ears and pile in three layers down the chest, each with its own round tips and flowing lines. A pale blaze runs from the forehead down over the muzzle. An oval frame with small beads sits behind the dog, with leafy sprigs in all four corners.

It's meant for teens and adults who want a calm page. The face is large and clean, so the real work lies in shading. That makes it a nice choice for anyone who wants to practice soft fur.

Dog portrait coloring page fur guide

Fur looks soft when it is built in thin layers. Take your time with these steps.

1. Lay a pale base over the whole coat, using a sharp pencil on its side.
2. Add a medium tone, following the long lines in the fur.
3. Darken each gap where two locks meet. This one step creates most of the depth.
4. Leave the rounded tips lighter, so the fur seems to catch the light.
5. Finish with a few fine dark strokes near the roots.

Always stroke in the direction the hair grows. On the chest, that means downward and a little outward. On the ears, it means long, slow lines from the top down.

Coats to try on this long eared dog

The drawing suits a soft tan head with brown ears and a cream chest. Think of a spaniel or a golden mix. For a red setter look, try deep rust ears with a warm orange head. Gray and white makes a lovely older dog, and silver around the muzzle adds real character.

Keep the oval behind the dog pale. A dusty blue or a soft pink lets the fur stay in front. The beads in the frame can pick up a gold or yellow, and the four sprigs look good in two calm greens. Too much color here will fight with the face, so go easy.

The eyes need the most care. Use a warm brown around each dark pupil, and don't touch the small white highlights. Add a faint shadow under each one, which will make them look deep and kind.

Small facts about a dog's face

Those dots on the muzzle mark where whiskers grow. Dogs have whiskers above the eyes and below the jaw as well, and these stiff hairs sense air currents and nearby objects. The nose is even more impressive. Dogs have roughly 40 times more smell receptors than we do.

Behind the eye sits a reflecting layer called the tapetum lucidum. It helps a dog see in low light. It's also why dog eyes shine in a camera flash. The dog anatomy article on Wikipedia covers these details.

Make it a keepsake

Print this on heavy paper and color it to look like your own dog, or a pet you miss. Choose the coat, add a name on the back, and frame it. It makes a warm gift for a family member, and a thoughtful one after a pet has passed away.

Art teachers can use it for a lesson on value. Have students shade one ear in pencil only, with three clear tones, before they add any color. The difference is easy to see when the two ears sit side by side.

Don't worry if a stroke goes wrong. Fur hides small mistakes well, and a light layer on top will blend them away.

Paper and time

Allow an hour or more, across a sitting or two. Smooth, heavy paper takes layers best. Keep your pencils sharp, and press lightly until the last stage.

If you like this kind of study, the cat portrait coloring page uses the same soft approach. You may also enjoy the fine shapes in the Persian cat coloring page.

Questions