I have now decided to switch to Facebook for blogging...

I very much like using Blogger and have enjoyed posting my updates on here.

Now I have decided to try Facebook for blogging as I enjoy the interaction it offers with friends and customers alike.

You will be able to see my latest pet portrait on there... Over the weekend, just completed a double portrait of these two beautiful German Shepherds Prince and Princess, in oils, for a client living in Germany. It's a relatively large canvas at 24" x 20" and as such has allowed me to paint a great deal of detail.

The Facebook link is...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pet-Portraits-and-More/108504182572179

Skye and Isis in oils...Update

Just a quick update on the portrait of Skye and Isis now that I am totally happy with the background and sky effect using quite lively brush marks. The range of colours and strategically placed light and dark areas should hopefully make both dogs stand out. 

Now I've blocked in the main areas on Skye (the dog on the right) and have to work from the right hand side of a painting to left because I'm left handed! I will now do the same on Isis.

I am also adding richer shadows around their chest areas in order to give a three dimensional feel, to make them appear as if the are coming out of the background, not to look like flat cutouts. 

The stage after is when my favourite process begins, in painting the strongest darks, wispy fur ( love painting the wisps on Border Collie's ears), selective detail and making the fur effect look softer with blends...

Then lastly the strongest highlights and highlights in their beautiful iridescent blue eyes to bring everything to life...

Cassie and Lottie....

Just a few photos of Cassie and one of her best friends Lottie, (who lives just down the road) playing in our local park. Lottie having some "extra special" fun rolling in something really smelly too! Taken on one of the few sunny July evenings 2012

My latest portrait...

My latest portrait is of Isis and Skye. These two Beautiful Blue Merle Border Collies will be painted in oils on canvas...

Here's the 20"x 22" portrait in it's first stage, the dogs have been drawn onto the canvas, ready to paint in the background tomorrow...

Photos of the next stage of Skye and Isis's portrait in oils.
Just had to wait a little bit longer for the paint to dry a bit and the sheen to go off in order to take some pics.

Decided to go for predominantly shades of blue/ grey with tones to echo the colouration within the dogs fur.
This should enhance the dogs which will be painted in a realistic style and will bring out the beautiful blue colours in their eyes.

This is the second version as the first was too smooth and not as dynamic as I would have liked, had a look at the work of a famous American portrait artist called John Howard Sanden who uses lively brush strokes for his backgrounds to set of his portrait work.

Looking forward to the next stage which is to start blocking in the main colours of the dogs and then I can assess that the background is working and add or subtract colours to this too... I just need to wait a few days for the background to dry off first!

I also have a double portrait of two stunning German Shepherds called Prince and Princess (brother and sister) to paint in artist's watercolours. This is a repeat commission from customer Lorraine and I'm looking forward to receiving some more photos in due course...

The Latest Pet Portraits and Website Updates...

Here we have an update on Miranda's double portrait painted in artist's watercolours as a birthday present for husband Steve.
I really like the choice of contemporary frame and the crisp white window mount, they go superbly with the painting.

Some feedback from Miranda...


"Steve was absolutely thrilled with the picture of Barley and Tyeler. 
He said that Steve had captured the pair of them brilliantly.


Steve was really helpful during the whole process from advising me on
how to get a reasonable picture of the dogs to letting me know whatcolour mount 
would look good. We would definitely recommend Pet Portraits and More to anyone who is looking to have a pet portrait done.

Once again thanks for all your help."


Regards,
Miranda

I've also recently painted a portrait of Charlie in artist's watercolours as a commission from new customer Lorraine. The painting is for partner Andy's birthday.
A really enjoyable subject to paint as Charlie has lots of soft wavy fur and beautiful big eyes. I also have some fantastic photos of the portrait of Charlie now framed and I will upload these later on.

Next on the agenda is an update on my website...
I am in the process of re-working the current website, adding all of
the new 2011 to 2012 pet portraits and a better way of navigating through the
gallery, updated home pages etc:. Plus a "New and Exciting" smartphone
friendly microsite so that customers can view my work  more easily on mobile phone 
and ipad type platforms.

Barley and Tyeler in Artist's Watercolours...


Here we have the latest 16" x 12' watercolour portrait of two dogs 
called Barley and Tyeler. This went off last week with Miranda who 
commissioned this as a Birthday present for husband Steve. Should be 
framed and presented sometime soon!


Miranda had a very hard time photographing Barley, even though she is 
fourteen years old, never sits still for very long. Barley (on the left 
of the painting) does look quite a serious girl, however this pose was 
derived from only a few photos in focus enough to work from.
Tyeler (on the right) really likes to be photographed and the problem 
here was to keep her distant enough from camera as not to get too much 
distortion.


Another "wet on wet" watercolour background with rich strong colours 
again for both dogs. Thoroughly enjoyable to paint as each dog is 
different, one has short spilkey fur and the other quite  a smooth wavy 
coat.


Looking forward to some photos and feedback from Miranda in the near 
future...


Hope that you all enjoy viewing the double portrait...

The Latest News and Portraits in Progress...

It's been a busy couple of months with some serious DIY and decorating at my Mum's house and a new car for Cassie to be chauffeur driven in.

I've decided to get rid of my big, thirsty diesel and buy a Fiat Panda as cheap and economical run about. Mainly to take advantage of the low £30 per year road tax and cheaper insurance, plus three years of trouble free motoring, all being well! The next phase will be to

design some "Pet Portraits and More" graphics to go in the rear side windows and across the tailgate!

Just at the beginning of April and here we have an update on one of the current batch of portraits coming off the easel...

This is a 16" x 12" watercolour portrait of Perry. A truly magnificent horse owned by Jenny and her husband, commissioned as a Birthday present for Jenny's husband.

I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of the painting up on the wall to see what frame and mount was chosen. Framing by a well known gallery/ framers in Market Harborough.

I had a great selection of photos to work from, both full head/ shoulders and detail shots of Perry's eyes, ears, nostrils which helped tremendously in getting every detail as accurate as possible. Horses are always great subjects to paint and this one was a highly enjoyable experience with the "wet on wet technique" dynamic background and the challenge in capturing the posture and elegance of Perry himself.

The next painting to come off the easel is another 16" x 12' watercolour portrait of two dogs called Barley and Tyeler, which I look forward to posting in the near future...