Painting lifelike fur

I enjoy painting animals. Most of the time they appear in my landscape paintings—rabbits, sheep, cattle and so on—as a smaller element in a bigger scene, but I find a standalone piece can be striking as well as challenging, which is fantastic for your creative and artistic development.

Many artists know creating the array of textures in an animal’s coat can be tricky. Finding and developing techniques to truly represent fine, soft, thick, silky and woolly textures in various animals is something I've been working on for many years. I've included individual animal portrait lessons in my Art School, from beginner through to advanced painter, to help you hone these skills.

I use various brushes for this subject. The Professional Brush Set, which includes 17 essential brushes, is available in my store through this link.

I have expanded my brush collection to include new sets, new brushes and new sizes of original brushes. You will find them here.

First, apply the grid to the reference image and panel. This is an important element to ensure your painting is as accurate as possible and in proportion. When the sketching diagram is completed, you can then add a mid-tone block-in. Use the block-in guide included in my lessons to get the colours accurate. It helps to keep the paint as smooth as possible and follow the direction of the fur growth with your brushstrokes. Soften the edges so there isn't a harsh transition between light and dark areas; you can use the Blender Fan Brush to achieve this.

Lightly cover the block-in layer with a thin coat of darker tones. This adds depth and makes it easier for the delicate highlights to cover those areas.

Ensure you follow the direction of the fur growth with your brushstrokes, and pay particular attention to where the lighter tones of the fur are.

Watch my tutorial Tabby Cat to see the various stages in more detail here.

Using the finer Rigger Brush and thinning the paint slightly will enable you to create tiny strands of delicate fur, building up the individual hairs gradually.

Being observant is key at this stage. Pay particular attention to the photograph to ensure not only a true colour representation but also the length and thickness of the brush marks and the direction the fur is growing in. All of these things will help your painting look more realistic.

Watch my tutorial How to Paint a Sheep here.

Replicating the wavy texture of the sheep's woolly fleece in my painting was a challenge. It was trickier than painting fur, but it was great fun developing the brush techniques and I found it highly rewarding.

As in all my paintings, the block-in comes first. Then you have to apply darker tones, but it is important not to go too dark too soon in this instance as it will make it difficult to get the lightness you need in the fleece. Start with minimal amounts of mid-tones where they are most obvious. You don't need a blanket cover. Use light brush marks in a slightly wavy motion, then add darker tones using a Rigger Brush, which will enable you to add the brighter colours afterwards and create a nice depth of texture.

I tried a couple of different ways to achieve the wavy effect of the fleece. With the brighter tones, don't be afraid to experiment to find the best brush for you. I tried the Dagger and Rigger Brushes at this stage. I found the Rigger Brush made it easier to create the fine, delicate wavy texture, flattening the brush as I do when painting grass and gently using the very tip. The trick is to gradually add layers, adjusting and experimenting with the thickness of the paint and the way you apply the brushstrokes.

I have other tutorials available to watch which will help you hone your skills in creating lifelike fur.

Watch my YouTube time-lapse painting Young Bess below. It is also available as a lesson on MJS TV.

You can buy my brushes here.

Why don’t you give this a try? It may seem like a challenge, but with the right equipment and techniques your painting will definitely improve.

Happy painting!