Christmas portraits are underway and this is one of a lovely dog called Poppy who is being painted in acrylics. The process so far shows how I first applied a ground of yellow ochre to underpin the painting with a warm colour before drawing Poppy onto the canvas board. I have placed her in a fictitious park with a ball at her feet as she looks eager to play in the original photograph. Next I painted green onto the background to establish the balance. When that was dry the light and shadow areas were marked out in Poppy's coat along with the shadows in the background scenery. I am painting in the details now and building up glazes within the coat to create thick fur and depth. Keep watching - this is only halfway through...!