This is Ben the Cocker Spaniel who passed away in January 2017. A customer contacted me with a special request: to create a portrait of Ben as a Christmas gift for their niece. Kathleen graciously posted some physical photographs, which I scanned onto my computer. With these images, I could craft a pet portrait of Ben. As for the background, I used one from my photo collection after confirming its suitability with the client.
Physical photographs do not have the level of detail that a digital image has, so zooming in to a scanned file offers very little detail. In these cases, other digital photos found online can provide the detail lacking, but it is limited. In this instance, I was able to provide a loose interpretation of Sam, recommended that a full body portrait rather than a head and shoulders portrait, is the only option available due to the lack of fine detail. Though head and shoulder portraits are the most requested, full body portraits offer a moment in time and can offer a traditional looking appearance.
An isolation coat was applied to the painting, followed by two varnish coats. Once dry, I then placed the artwork in the Saltergate silver frame. This is a matt black frame with silver inner piping. Many people choose a black frame because it does not detract from the colours in a painting. I framed the picture using acid-free products and attached felt pads to the back to protect the wall from damage. Additionally, the painting has a certificate of authenticity to ensure its legitimacy.
Commission your own portrait
If you're interested in a custom pet portrait of a your own Cocker Spaniel dog or any other subject, you can visit my commissions page or send me an email at: karenmberisfordart@gmail.com to share your ideas for the portrait.
Other pages that may be of interest