Daisy

Daisy is just about done now. Am relatively happy with how she turned out. I find these light dogs quite difficult to do as the chages in tone are very subtle, and it is easy to go to little and then it looks flat, but then it is easy to go too far. I have to say that usually my paintings look better from a distance, but in this case, I think this one is better closer up.

Puppy Eyes - Done

I am calling this one done. The last little bit got very frustrating, and I started losing the flow. It is best to quit while you are ahead I think, so will put it down to experience, and not get quite so confident so early - pride comes before a fall as they say.... ;-)

Worked a bit more on thsi today. I tried to just cover the canvas and made a start on the eye. Most of the pieces are in place now and tomorrow I can start work on the more detailed stuff. This is quite small, so for me the details are quite fiddly and it takes me longer than when I work on bigger things. I am enjoying working with the oils again, and am beginning to feel like I know what I am doing with them.

Puppy eyes

Only started this today. I am playing with my oil paints and was drawn to this little guy because of his cute watery puppy eyes - of which he only has one at the moment. Was constricted by time, but hopefully should get this done tomorrow. Am working with a limited palette as usual, but am being a bit more bold with my colours, and hopefully it should give something a wee bit more dramatic. We shall see..... ;-)

Lulu portrait finished - just about!

Something new for me. I put together some of the progress photos of the painting I did of Lulu, and made a mini film so you can see the process. Enjoy!

Lulu Portrait

This is Lulu - the painting is only in the early stages at the moment. I have been working on getting the basic shapes in place. Now I am more or less happy with the positioning, I will start work on the more detailed aspects. This is not an easy horse to paint as she is strawberry roan in colour and there are flecks of white in the reds, and reds in the white, so it will be quite challenging to render her accurately. I was hoping to have had her finished last weekend, but ended up being too busy - I am hoping this week will be less hectic.

Charlie

Meet Charlie! This is my latest commission - a present for the owners by their family. It is acyrilic on canvas 14" x 16" or thereabouts. Not quite finished, but should be done by the weekend.

Sortudo

This is Sortudo - the horse of my friend Marta. It was her birthday recently, and this is what she wanted as her present. Happy birthday Marta!

Newky finished

Well I think Newky is finished now. It is always a challenge to do a black animal, especially when there isn't much light reflected in the coat. The whiskers were a big challenge for me, but I am quite happy with the end result.

Newky

Finally got the ref photo from the owners of Newky. Have made a start, but there is still a way to go with this until it is finished. This is acrylic on cavas board. Very difficult as it is a black cat and there wasn't a lot of definition in the photo.

2nd of 4

This is the second commission, I have now only 2 more left to go - a cat and a dog. The dog will probably get done over the summer break, but I have to chase up the owners of the cat to give me a reference photo or let me take one for myself. Given that they have already paid for the painting, it is funny that I have to be chasing them up. You would think they would be hassling me!

Mare and foal done

Think this is just about finished now, maybe some tidying up to do but not much else.

Mare and foal update

Have got most of the body in now, but have to work on legs and then shadowing and grounding. The colour looks a bit off in this photo, the real colour is closer to the first photo.

Alison's mare and foal

I have just started this pastel painting for Alison. It is only in the early stages, but it gives the idea of where it is going. The foal is wearing a headcollar which for the meantime I have removed, but it can easily be drawn in again if necessary.

Desert dogs update

Got a little bit further with this, but as I have four other comissions on the go at the moment, it is hard to find the time to do anything, let alone paint this. Got some colour blocked in on Girlie and have started to play with the light a bit. Need to get the legs and head done and work on Purdy - she needs her hind legs!

Part 2

Have positioned the dogs, and have started putting in some colour and shape, but obviously there is a long long way to go!

Desert dogs part one

Okay, so no dogs yet, but there will be... my two desert dogs Girlie and Purdy who I take for walks in the desert before I ride. This is a painting inspired by those walks and for the moment you will have to imagine the dogs, but for now just enjoy the desert.

Molly done

Just about finished Molly. Might have a play around with the markings but otherwise.... Have to get these to the framing shop so that they will be ready for the SAD ball on 17th of April. Hope it raises lots of money!

Molly for SAD - Strays of Abu Dhabi

Well, this is a work in progress (WIP) of Molly - a Saluki mix. It is the third painting I am doing for SAD - Strays of Abu Dhabi as a fund-raiser. The idea is that they are going to have a silent auction at the SAD ball in April. In addition to a painting I have donated for auction, and potentially also these three dog paintings, I have donated a "pet portrait" as one of the auction items. I will paint a picture of whoever bids for that, and so that people can get an idea of my paintings, I have been working on three different media and three different dogs.

Molly needs a good home. She was homed, but was given back to the SAD programme for some reason. She is a super dog, very calm and easy to deal with. I hope she finds a home soon.

Girlie Done

I may still have a play around with this, but it is mostly done. Only one more to go in acrylic.

Another example for SAD

This is an example of my work in pastel - it is only in the very early stages and I have only spent a few hours on it so far, however, it is shaping up. This is our dog - Girlie. She is a Saluki mix - otherwise known as a desert dog, so it seemed appropriate to put her in a desert setting. I am doing this on stretched cavas, which is not my usual support for pastel, but it seems to be working out okay so far!

Safi done

Made a few changes to head and ears and put her dog tag in, but I think this is finished now.

Not a horse - again

Seem to be doing more dogs than horses at the moment. This is an example of my work which I have done to go to the Strays of Abu Dhabi fund-raising ball - where they will be holding a silent auction. I have donated as a prize my services to paint a pet portrait, for whoever bids the most. The organizers asked if I had an example of what people might expect, and as Ollie and Tigger will be going back to Portugal at Easter, I thought I had better get painting - quick!

So this is Safi -11" x 14" oil on canvas board.

Not quite finished but moving along nicely I think.

Ollie for John and Kate

Well, this is Ollie. Acrylic on wood panel. I did this for Hailey's parents. He has a different look from Tigger, but he is a handsome dog nonetheless.

Tigger portrait for Hailey

This is an acrylic painting done as a present for Hailey Blunden who was brave enough to travel by herself to come out and visit us in Abu Dhabi. This is her dog - Tigger. I hope I have managed to get a good likeness.