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PHarold — Relaxing on the Dock
Published: 2011-10-04 05:57:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 1120; Favourites: 15; Downloads: 0
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Description
...with the dox.This is for “Too Cool for Shoes” contest. The idea was to use our original characters and have them enjoying a moment of shoeless-ness.
If he could, Martin would be swimming every day, he loves the water that much. But when practices run late or get too tiring (he’s an acrobat in the local circus) relaxing on the dock is the next best thing. When this happens, he’s often barefoot. The call for an impromptu dive just might be too strong. Of course…he’ll have to wait an hour since he was eating.
Benno originally had his ball and nosed his way under his master’s* arm to get his attention. But when Martin started giving him a belly rub, he dropped it.
• I use this term very loosely. Anyone who has ever had a dachshund knows who owns whom.
• “Nosing”: an action performed by dachshunds by getting their snout under an object and flipping their head to move it. Often performed on arms (if they are blocking a lap) hands (if they are holding food) blankets and cushions.
Done on marker paper with Prismacolour pencils and marker (used on the water)
No references were used for the dog.
Dock reference: Shutterstock,Google images
Hands, feet, head tilt references: Live: my husband and myself
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Comments: 53
Yes,'nosing'. It's a dachshund thing.My dog did it all the time. I think that all breeds must have their own way of doing it though!
Thank you so much for faving this too! Martin doesn't relax very often or very well.He's getting better at it though;before he'd be forced to relax by someone telling him to do so!
What kind of spaniel do you have?
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Workaholic or just stressed out? I think animals might be better at convincing some of us to relax than our fellow humans, at times
Yep, guess all breeds do that but dachshunds must be experts since they are (or rather used to be) supposed to go in burrows etc 
My dog's an English Cocker Spaniel. Little mean (tho loveable) beast!
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Workaholic. He has the driving need to be absolutely flawless when he performs his routines. So he'll work late.
His trainer and his best friend is a full blooded elf (Martin is only half),used to tell him to go home.He gave up. He just told the people to start closing down. Martin got the hint when he ended up practicing in the pitch dark when all the torches and lanterns were extinguished!
Oh yes, and if nosing doesn't get what they want,there is the dreaded Look.
Awww,but you're loving him to pieces all the same!
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J:
Gotta say, every time I visit your page, I'm impressed by how versatile your subject matter is and how you're able to capture everyday moments and make them look as candid as if they were unfolding right before your eyes. The moment between Martin and Benno is so tender and "aww"-inducing, and I feel almost guilty for intruding in this intimate moment.
OK, enough about how much I love your work with the pose. <3 The anatomy looks great, especially on the legs. Feet are extremely difficult to draw, but you captured the curve of his arches perfectly and didn't give him the "cankles" or absence of ankles seen in beginners' work. The perspective of his legs were tackled nicely, likewise the proportions of his frame. His torso and arms have a lot of depth, and I like the subtle fold in the crook of his right elbow. The only things I'd probably change are his nose and neck-- the way its bridge is curved inwards makes it look flat, and the neck muscles don't taper off in the upper portion; rather, the sternocleidomastoid (the muscle visible in most people) inserts behind the ears, so the lines would look more natural drawn outward.
The way you work with colour is also impressive! The way you used it to define perspective on the bridge and the subtle interactions in how the shades of the food cast shadows onto each other give the picture some extra dynamism. The reflection of the ball in the water creates a nice touch and I like how you accurately captured how light reflects on the feet underwater. So many people tend to forget that objects look flatter and paler and don't cast as much of a shadow underwater when viewed from above. The only critique I have to offer is a personal preference-- water has a myriad of hues in it rather than just blue, and most rivers and lakes have kind of a greenish or brownish tint due to the algae. However on the converse, there are places with crystal-clear blue water, and it looks much prettier when the water is that pristine, so mileage may vary!
Can't say I know anything about dachshunds, but I'm seriously impressed by how you managed to draw it without reference! When you've seen something enough times you definitely understand how it appears from all angles. Plus that happy expression adds the perfect touch
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OMG thank you for the wonderful comment!
This was a simple piece to do emotionally. I can really connect with Martin here. The joy was so easy to picture since I felt this way about my dachshund...which is why I didn't really need a reference for the dog.If you're owned by a wiener dog for 16.5 years, it gets burned into your brain somewhat.
I am glad the pose came out well;I used a drawing mannequin for part of that as well as my long suffering husband as a model!
I meant to go back and fix the nose. And I do see what you mean about the neck, so I will correct that too. I remembered those tips on a later picture so thank you for that!
I've been deconstructing this character and trying to figure out how to draw him better, so all the help and advice is much appreciated. Martin's eyes and ear shape haven't been consistent nor have I been drawing his facial structure very well. You think I'd have learned by now considering I draw him so much. But as much as stuff goes up here it comes down just as quick, so I guess I subconsciously know I'm not doing something right.
As for the water,I'm glad that it came out as well as it did considering it was an accident. That led to the reflections on the feet and the colour.The lake that Martin lives by is named for its rather deep blue colour so I kind of had that in mind, but I see your point!
Thank you so much again!
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Oh man Oh my god there is too much adorableness going on in one drawing! 
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Thank you very much! I'm happy you like it, and thank you for faving it!
I'm happy you like Martin's expression.How he feels is exactly how I did around my dog of 16 1/2 years. I tried to draw him, but he never sat still long enough. So I ended up just having to do quick doodles whenever I could! After so many scribbles I think it has become second nature.
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Whoa, first I had to say was your dog has a very long life! That's awesome~ I've never seen dachshunds in real life but they seem like such cuties to be around with.
Ahahaha, I guess animals would be the worst still life models since they keep moving, unless they are asleep.
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He did,bless him.
They are characters and once you've been owned you never go back.
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I really like your pictures!
Your characters look so lively and their faces are so full of emotions.
This is so faved!
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Thank you very much!I'm so glad you like it. And thank you for faving!
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Awww! Puppy! Your poses are getting sooo goooooddd!! I love the very natural and relaxed feeling here, just what you'd find in a great photograph. Beautiful!
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Thank you my dear! As I told Ben, this was very empathic and easy to do emotion-wise. The feet and toes on the other hand...
I'm glad that you like it!
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lol...feet are awful to draw. XD I hate doing them as well...but you did a great job!
Hmmm...I can't remember if I did answer it. I'm finally getting caught up on all my late messages. XD
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Thank you! I am starting to like toes. But I realized my dog has no toenails...
Don't worry about the poll.
Long story short, the poll was in regards to whether or not I should draw my characters in risque poses,covered up but still showing a lot of skin. And I got good results.
I pulled the worst sin an OC creator could do:I tried to do something against my character's behavior. I realized I just couldn't go through with it, especially with Martin. It wasn't in me and it especially wasn't in him. So I dropped it like the proverbial hot rock.
There was a reason this all came up, and I'll tell you and Sasha about it whenever we get together!
OK, that was a little long!
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Oh! I didn't notice...I was too drawn into the sweetness of the drawing.
Mm..you have to go with what your comfortable with, so if it doesn't feel right, nothing wrong with ditching it. But I admire you for your efforts to do something that you don't normaly do. It always takes guts to try something different. Just like I never did the Edward Gorey challange...just wasn't working for me...made me realize that I can't do simple line art. XD
Sounds like a plan!
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Thank you! But I have fixed a few things in this so I have to re shoot it and get it up here.
Yeah, I had the sketch and everything.But as good as it looked,it did not suit Martin at all.So I redid the whole thing and that led to the "Christmas Ribbon" picture where he's wearing a hell of a lot more. And simplicity doesn't sound like you. So much of the beauty of your work is in the flow of the lines and the details.
30 pounds! Good for you! Metrotown,Good Lord! You'd have to set aside a good chunk of the day just to get there. I shall figure something out. I don't have to be on drugs anymore so I'm a little more coherent now!
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Oo...do you have it up yet? I've got to do another dive into my dev stacks to find you.
Aww..you're very sweet. 
Yup...thought that's what you get when you eat mostly veggies and grains. XD But it's nice to have that weight off...I can now fit into a top I've had for 3 years.
I'm glad that your wrist is a little better so you don't have to be in a drug stupor most of the day. XD
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Well about that wrist;I think you know what happened there!
Not yet. I've two pics of him that have to get fixed then I'll take them to the shop and properly shoot them. You might see them in person before I get them up here!
Good for you! Hurray!!!! I could learn from you.
Aww...and he thanks you.Before he dashes off to hid his blushing face.
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Awwww! Dachshund : D I love them, what a lovely picture : )
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Me too! As you can so clearly tell. There are no other dogs for me;I'm doomed to be a dachshund lover forever!
Thank you so much!
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I keep telling my boyfriend we're going to get a one and name it saucisson XD
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Yes! Do it!
"Benno" is actually a combination of my old dog's name (Kato)and Benny,what we would call our future dachshund(a smooth). My hubby wants to get a wire-haired and name him Reuben.
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I like the way your characters are recognisable from image to image. The scene as a whole is a nice one - I like the interaction between the dog and the man.
The shirt is drawn and coloured well - I like the details around the top and the way you've dealt with the folds. You've also handled the underwater part of the image quite nicely. The hands and feet are drawn really well and the plate of food too. His nose does look a little flat - I think this might be because you outlined both sides of it when we're actually looking at it from front-on.
But I like the characterisation of both of them and the way you've built up the characters in the description as well, makes it interesting to read. Nice work
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Thank you very much for your comment! A lot of the things that you commented on are weak points of mine, so I am glad that they seem to be improving. I will work on fixing the nose;that could be a possibility.
And that shirt took about 6-8 layers of pencil to get it coming out that way!
One thing that Martin is responsible for is the depletion of any my brown toned pencils.
I'm glad that you enjoyed the read. Thank you so much again!
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Aw, looks like a peaceful moment 
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Thank you so much. It's falling off the dock.
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oh this really tugs at my heartstrings ;-; my childhood pet from 6 to 19 years old was a dachshund just like this one, her name was Kristie. I loved that dog so much, she was my best friend, and even now, nearly ten years later, it's difficult to think back on her without getting all misty eyed. She was a treasure, no doubt, and I udnerstand all too perfectly the joy that maritn has here! what a masterfully done piece, it is so filled with the emotion and wonder of having such a fine pet, even though they can be little basatrds when turning over our stuff, lol!
thank you so much patricia. this piece means a lot to me, dachshund and all! one of the reasons I am not going to be a judge, lol! it would be too easy to mark this a winner because of benno! nevertheless, this is a strong piece, and I thank you for taking the time! good luck my friend!!!
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It is said that once you've owned a dachshund, you're owned for life. And I believe that.
While technically this piece was interesting for me to do, emotionally, it was simple.
How Martin feels here is how I always felt around my dachshund. I had mine for 16 1/2 years and he was exactly how you described Kristie.
Yes...well, Kato always whined in the middle of the night if I didn't let him on the bed.
I'm so glad that this speaks to you, and that you enjoy it.
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its so true! I wish to have a dog again, but my cats have left paw prints on my heart too
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And thank you for faving Ben!
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Yes, now you see him in person! He's what my old dog looked like.
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Ooh, wow. This is gorgeous. Water is always really hard to do. Plus, that's a really hard pose, and I love the way he's interacting with the dachshund. He's enjoying his attention too much to realize his ball is falling off the dock! :3
My aunt's dachshund Dappler did that "nosing" thing with his ball. He would nudge it over to me to get attention. We would roll the ball back and forth, it was really cute.
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The picture was re-shot, so it's much sharper and the colours are more true to the original.
Thank you so much! That water was quite an adventure. I didn't realize I'd end up doing so much of it!
Martin doesn't know what Benno is exactly,so he always gets surprised by Benno's "wiener-isms".
Yes, my dog Kato did that too. But often just to get my arm out of the way so he could sit in my lap! That sounds so sweet,rolling a ball with a dachshund!
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I love this a lot! The colouring is superb as always, and I love the atmosphere a lot. It's very serene, calm, and relaxing. You did very well on both Martin as well as his Dachshund. 
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The picture was re-shot, so it's much sharper and the colours are more true to the original.
Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it. This is the second time I actually attempted bare feet, so I m glad everything turned out OK.
Thank you again, and you too!
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A wonderful drawing and a nice story to go with it!!!
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The picture was re-shot, so it's much sharper and the colours are more true to the original.
Hey, welcome back!
Thank you very much. Gotta have a story!
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What a lovely calm moment! I'll admit, I go gooey over anything with dogs and their owners. It just looks like one of those perfect moments. I seem to lack the ability to be at all descriptive here, but I think you know what I mean!
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The picture was re-shot, so it's much sharper and the colours are more true to the original.
Thank you! Another everyday moment. Yes, I do know what you mean!
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