This painting of beautiful Tanya was commissioned by clients I created a few paintings for to date. They are very keen dog lovers and show their dogs in dog shows. Their dogs are often very unusual and specially well looked after.
Tanya sadly passed away late last year after almost 12 happy years living with my clients. She was a beautiful Russian Wolfhound, a very unusual dog breed in Ireland I thought. It was my first time painting this dog breed and I enjoyed every minute of this challenge. The tall slim body reminiscent of a greyhound and their head looks so small compared to their body.
I always encourage my clients to send me photos of their dogs’ favorite places to be or walk to use as backgrounds. Tanya’s place was the clients’ garden, where she spent most of her time. She could always be found there, happy in her environment. The clients had some lovely photos they took just after Tanya died, which was in autumn. The colours work so well and especially with Tanya’s black and white fur. I superimposed her into the background digitally at first and once approved by the clients, they decided to order the painting.
The painting is larger in size at 50 x 60 cm, painted in acrylics on stretched canvas. I worked on it in late January and the clients collected it from my studio here in Kilcock.
They had it framed shortly after collection and sent me a photo of the framed painting hanging in their home. They were so happy with the portrait and I was just delighted to have been commissioned to paint Tanya and work with Jane and her husband again.
