The portrait of Snoop, the lovely tan and white Jack Russell was commissioned as a keepsake for his owner. She wanted something to always remember him by. The client wanted Snoop’s tartan collar to be included as he always wore it. I removed the tag and clip from the collar. She wanted him sitting with his leg underneath and I used two photographs for the composition, using one for Snoop’s head and the other for his body. She wanted him captured in his favourite spot, the beach. I found some images I took a while back and used them to create the landscape behind Snoop.
The painting is 30 x 40 cm in size and painted with acrylics on stretched canvas. As always I worked in thin layers of paint starting with a line sketch in yellow ochre. The blue of the water in the background was incorporated in small highlights in Snoop’s eyes and nose.
The client was really happy with the finished painting:
Hi Ivana, Snoop’s portrait came today, it’s fantastic! Thank you so much! You have a real talent! Take care
Theresa, Waterford
Step1 Initial sketch 
Step2 Colour blocking 
Client image for body 
Client image for head 
Finished painting 
Painting close-up 
Detail of signed canvas