Painting long black dog hair. What colours?

I have been commissioned to paint two long haired, black dogs side by side on the same canvas. I paint in acrylics. I never use black because it comes out just flat and lifeless.

What are your suggested colours for the base colour, highlights and shadows?

Thanks, Ann

Painting long black dog hair. What colours?

Toss the tube black...use Thalo green and Aliziran crimson for your base black and draw from your background color for highlights...White tinted with the background hue. Reflect what is around your subjects in the highlight colors. Remember..to shadow a color...if the light is warm the shadow is cool and vice-versa.

Painting long black dog hair. What colours?

I thank you all for your replies. I was fresh out of ideas.

Ann Report It

Painting long black dog hair. What colours?

Black, white,gray,blue? Whatever color is bouncing off elsewhere.

Painting long black dog hair. What colours?

With acrylics I would use black as my base color. Try mixing some cobalt blue in with it as well as a retarding medium. Then when you add highlights (White), while it is still wet, it will add color and depth to your painting.

For you deepest shadows, just leave black and lighter shadows can be done as above using very little white. For strong highlights wait for the area to dry and use a liner brush for long individual strokes.

After the painting is complete and dry try using a spray varnish to coat your painting. This will not only help to protect your painting but help to eliminate the flatness that you have described.