Border Collie in a Heather Field

A black-and-white border collie stands among purple heather, with one ear lifted towards the open hillside. Pale rocks break through the flowers in the foreground, while a lake and distant mountains stretch beneath a cool blue sky. The dog’s dark coat gives the lower left a firm shape against the softer field.

Build the collie first by following the white chest, black back and long feathered tail. The heather is full of small purple marks, so the stones and grasses are useful anchors between the flower patches. Farther away, the mountains turn blue-grey and the lake becomes a flatter band. The changing distance gives each part of the scene a different texture.