If you’ve ever stared at a reference photo and wondered how to make the fur look real, the answer lies in mixing warm and cool greys. It’s a total game-changer, and once you start using this technique, you’ll never go back.

Take a dog’s fur, a horse’s coat, or even a black-and-white cat, you’ll notice something—they aren’t just black, white, or grey. There are layers of warmth and coolness depending on the lighting, the natural colour of the fur, and even what’s reflecting around them.

Think of warm greys as the golden glow of a sunset—soft, cozy, inviting. Cool greys are like a misty morning—crisp, subtle, and perfect for shadows. And when you blend them together? Magic.

A Portrait Brought to Life with Just Greys

Let me give you an example. A recent commission of mine—a full portrait of a dog—was created using nothing but warm and cool greys from the Polychromos range. This might sounds limiting, but it really isn’t. Warm tones were perfect for the highlights, while cool tones worked beautifully in the shadows. Together, they created a rich, realistic look that gave the piece so much life.

This Works With So Many Animals…

Bearded Collie – His chest fur moves seamlessly from warm greys under his neck to cooler greys along the edges. That transition makes the fur look soft and realistic.

Daisy the Dog – Her face was a mix of cool greys for the light areas and warm tones to enhance her rich, orange fur. I even snuck in a bit of ultramarine violet and blue in the cooler shadows to create extra depth.

Fluffy Cats – I love this effect on cats! Their fur often has a mix of golden highlights (warm greys) and cool, crisp shadows (cool greys). Blending both makes their coats look soft and alive rather than flat and dull.

A Simple Trick for Softer, More Realistic Fur

This simple yet powerful approach works wonders for any fur-covered subject. The Polychromos range is perfect for this, with six warm greys, six cool greys, plus Dark Sepia and Payne’s Grey to push those shadows even further. It adds softness, contrast, and that extra touch of realism that makes a piece feel complete.

Want to see this technique in action? Check out my video above—I break it all down for you!

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