"Abby" pet portrait commission

This is the last commissioned painting due before Christmas and I delivered it today. What a cute puppy Abby was. I think this pose captures her perfectly! The client brought her to my house for me to photograph and she was so excited that we barely got her to sit still for anything. I think I will go to the clients house next time where the dog (or child) is in their own familiar surroundings. Live and learn, huh?

Now I can focus on Christmas for my family. Wish I felt better though. Woke up sneezing and now have a head cold that's making me just want to crawl back into bed. But I have art prints to ship and cleaning to do so no nap today. Merry Christmas to everyone!

"Sarah"

I've always wanted to paint red hair and I finally got my chance. This little girl has the most beautiful hair color. In my resource photo, she had braces and they were showing. I made the decision not to paint them but I'm wondering if that was a good decision because the braces have a lot to do with the way the mouth is shaped. Does that make sense without the braces showing? I don't know yet. I would love to hear feedback about this.

"Emmi and Zanna"

This painting was done for the "Life's Little Paws" cocker spaniel rescue auction in Maine. Participants bid on the opportunity to have me paint their pet. The winner paid to have her other dog added and I was glad to do so.

The apple painting I finished a few weeks ago. It is in the style of my teacher and friend Timothy Tyler. I had seen a painting of his that had the very dark red background with the red apples and I loved it. I wanted to try something similar myself.