background for Animal Portraits

[Sharon Casavant]

I have been doing dog portraits.  I am doing them from photograph.  This one, the person wants the chair to be the same color it is, but it is woven cloth and a few colors combined.  I don't want it to overpower the dog with the design in the chair.  I am thinking to leave it as it is, or to make the swirls an off-white.  Also, the background color I am having trouble with.  I know I should incorporate some chair color into the dog's shadows? to harmonize? But darker?  Hence, warm dog, cool shadow?  tough. Here is the photo and painting (which is not finished)

 

[Sharon Casavant]

Thanks Trevor, I see what you mean.  I left the right ear lighter to have light coming trough the ear because when it was darker, it seemed as though the eye and ear had the same value.  I agree the forehead needs darkening, now that you mention it, but unfortunately, the painting is now in the hands of the owner. 

[Trevor Erskine]

This is really nice, better than the photograph. I would not touch the chair or background, but check out the dogs right hand ear relative to the right eye and forehead. The triangle between the ear and forehead needs to be darkened, otherwise the forehead seems to have a growth pushing it out towards the ear. Hope this helps, congratulations, well done.

[Sharon Casavant]

I would appreciate comments on how to paint the background, please, thanks!