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Bobby's portraits
100% Hand Drawn by Artist Robert Shirt— No AI or Digital Filters

Dog Portrait Timelapse: Golden Retriever–Labrador Cross in Coloured Pencil (Stonehenge Kraft)

There’s something genuinely special about drawing a Golden Retriever–Labrador cross. The soft cream tones, expressive eyes, and gentle personality typical of this mix always make for a rewarding portrait. In this piece, I take you through my full process of creating this dog portrait in Prismacolor and Derwent Lightfast coloured pencils, drawn on Stonehenge Kraft paper — a surface I’ve grown to love for its warmth and versatility.

You can even watch the portrait come to life in real time in this full timelapse video:

Materials I Used (and Why)

These two pencil brands complement each other incredibly well — Lightfast for structure and detail, Prismacolor for softness and glow.

Why I Chose Stonehenge Kraft Paper

Stonehenge Kraft has a warm, earthy mid‑tone that naturally supports cream and golden fur. Instead of building layers from a stark white surface, the paper gives me:

  • A natural mid-tone foundation
  • Softer transitions in the fur
  • Beautiful contrast for bright highlights
  • A traditional, organic finish

It’s an ideal choice for breeds with pale coats, especially Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and crossbreeds like this.

If you’d like to learn more about the materials I often use, see:
The Mediums I Mainly Use

Step‑by‑Step: How I Drew This Dog Portrait

1. Initial Sketch

I begin with a very light graphite sketch to map the proportions. 

2. Warm Underpainting

Using Prismacolor, I lay down the first warm undertones:

  • Peach
  • Ochre
  • Light Umber
  • Caramel

These shades give life beneath the cream fur and stop the portrait from looking flat later on.

3. Building the Fur Texture

I switch to Derwent Lightfast for precision and permanence. I:

  • Use tapered directional strokes for the ear fur
  • Short, softer marks around the muzzle
  • Layer curls beneath the chin to build depth
  • Add subtle shadows to separate fur layers

Layer by layer, the coat starts to take shape.

4. Bringing the Eyes to Life

The eyes are always the heart of the portrait.

I use burnt sienna, walnut, and deep brown tones to create depth and warmth, then add sharp catchlights for life and realism.

5. Final Polishing

I glaze over transitions, refine highlights, strengthen shadows, and occasionally add tiny acrylic accents to emphasise the brightest points — especially on the fur and eyes.

See the Final Artwork

See the final piece at full resolution with detail crops in my portfolio:
[View the Final Dog Portrait]
labrador retreiver drawing 1 scaled

Would You Like a Portrait Like This?

  • I create custom portraits of all dog breeds, including Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Collies, Spaniels, and mixed breeds.
    You can commission your own custom piece here:

    Order a Portrait:

    Price List:

    Framing Service:

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More Dog Portrait Blogs You May Like

For artists interested in exploring coloured pencil techniques further, the Colored Pencil Society of America is an excellent resource

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

This Golden Retriever–Labrador cross was a joy to draw. The warm personality of the breed shines through, and working on Stonehenge Kraft allowed me to bring out the softness and glow of the fur beautifully.

If you’d like your own pet — or a loved one’s pet — captured in this timeless coloured pencil style, I’d be honoured to create something special for you.