Hello everyone!
I’m really happy to finally share the finished drawing of my latest piece, Radiant Hope. This one holds a special place in my heart. From the very beginning, I felt drawn to the calm and trusting look in this Corgi’s eyes, and that quiet strength is exactly what inspired the title.
Here’s the reference photo that sparked everything. The soft expression, bright eyes and fluffy texture immediately drew me in. I knew I had to bring that feeling to life on paper.
This piece took about 65 hours of focused work—spread over many days of patience, small adjustments, and deep attention. I wanted it to feel alive, and I’m proud of how it all came together.
Materials Used:
✓ HB and 4B graphite pencils
✓ Marie’s soft charcoal pencil
✓ Tombow monozero eraser
✓ Blending brush
This was my starting point—just the eyes. I like beginning here because once they feel alive, the rest of the drawing starts to speak emotionally.
I began with a light sketch to map out the structure and get the proportions right. Then I slowly built up the tones with graphite, adding charcoal to deepen contrast and define edges.
Here, I began building shadows and layering depth across the ears, snout, and cheeks. This stage really brought out the softness in the fur.
Here’s the full completed drawing. Seeing it whole like this, makes me feel deeply satisfied. I wanted the final piece to radiate joy and happiness. And I feel like it does.
A closer look at the finished work, showing the textures and shading around the eyes and nose.
This drawing reminded me to slow down and enjoy the process. Some days were slower than others, but every hour helped shape something I’m truly proud of.
Thanks so much for following the journey. I’d love to hear what you think of the final result in the comments.
Reference photo sourced from Shutterstock (used under license).