Meet Michelle and Tia. I re-interpreted a photograph of these two best friend in graphite pencil on paper. I was contacted by the girl’s aunt a few months ago. She wanted to have a memory of Michelle, who sadly passed away, with her beloved best friend Tia, the black labrador cross pet dog.
About the Re-Imagined Pencil Commission and Prints
Michelle’s pet dog is now living with her aunt, my client. Geraldine, my client, commissioned this drawing together with a couple of prints of the finished drawing. She gifted the original drawing to Michelle’s mum and she kept the print for herself. The prints were printed by Fine Art Print Studio in county Waterford on Hahnemulle Photo Rag paper 308 gms. I scanned the original drawing here in my studio on a quality Epson Perfection 600 scanner. Therefore the quality of the image I supplied the printers with was very true to the original drawing.
The reference photographs I used to draw from
The drawing is 25 x 25 cm in size. I used graphite pencils for the sketch. I had a few reference photographs to work from that my client emailed me at the enquiry stage for the portrait commission. She wanted one specific photograph as the basis for the portrait. Michelle is wearing a black hat in this photo, but Geraldine was hoping for me to draw her hair into the portrait. Therefore I used some other photographs of Michelle that my client sent me. I prepared a digital mock-up image at first to give my client an idea of how the drawing will work in a portrait composition. I also transformed the image to a monochrome version.
The main reference photo really shows the connection the girls shared during their cherished time together. I really wanted to show this in the drawing. I knew how important it was to my client, as she shared a very special connection with her niece. Especially now that she has adopted her pet dog.
The testimonial
Geraldine was delighted with the finished drawing. She emailed me when she received the scan in an email and again when she received her portrait and prints in the post.
Hi Ivana, it looks lovely.
Hi Ivana, I picked up the portrait today. They are gorgeous. Thank you so much. I think Michelle’s mum will love it.
Geraldine commenting on the portraits and prints she received of her niece and her pet dog, Donaghmede Dublin, March 2026
The Process I took when Drawing the Girl and Dog Portrait
The drawing process started for me in my usual way. I worked on paper, Fabriano 50% cotton hot pressed, and I started with a precise line sketch of the two lovely characters. The photo was originally a selfie, but I removed some of Michelle’s arm to make it look a little more natural.
Once the sketch was complete, I starting shading the girl’s face at first before continuing to shading the dog’s head. I wanted to concentrate on the most important parts of the portrait and capture their likeness well. It was at this point therefore, I could make decision about how dark I wanted the darkest areas to be.
Some Photographs I took during the Work in Porgress
Therefore before adding more detail to their faces, I shaded their bodies, clothes and fur. I used one of my other reference photos of Michelle to draw in her hair. My client, Geraldine, wanted to show her hairline and flowing hair in the portrait. I suppose, this is the beauty of working by hand, I can amend any part of the photos once I have other reference to compare to.
I took plenty of photographs during the process. I always find it fascinating watching other artist’s work develop and I think it’s a great insight to see how everyone creates. I scanned the finished drawing in my studio and emailed it to my client. Once she was happy, which she was, I was delighted to email them to the printing studio. I ordered two prints of the drawing.
I included some promotional material when posting the portrait and prints. I enclosed a certificate of authenticity and a care leaflet on the artwork.
What is on the way…
I have some very interesting projects I have started working on and a few in the pipeline. They are all so different and exciting, including a painting of the New York Skyline, Holler Street Hospital, some pet portraits and a drawing of the Crumlin Shopping Centre.
If you have a project of your own you would like to talk to me about, please email me at info@trueimage.ie or fill out my contact form on my contacts page.
