Springer Spaniel | Acrylic Painting
BUDDY
Portrait size:
11" x 14"
11" x 14"
Completed: December 2016
25th October 2016
Hi, I am enquiring whether you still have any availability for a Springer portrait in time for Christmas. I would be looking at either 12”x12” of 11”x14” in acrylics with a detailed background (I like the one of Willow on your website with the grass background). I will supply proper photos for you to work from, including the stance I would like which will be him sat upright so you can see his chest and front legs in the garden.. For now I have attached a selection of detail shots to give you any idea. If you could confirm that you are able to take this that would be great.
Many thanks, Esther
Hi, I am enquiring whether you still have any availability for a Springer portrait in time for Christmas. I would be looking at either 12”x12” of 11”x14” in acrylics with a detailed background (I like the one of Willow on your website with the grass background). I will supply proper photos for you to work from, including the stance I would like which will be him sat upright so you can see his chest and front legs in the garden.. For now I have attached a selection of detail shots to give you any idea. If you could confirm that you are able to take this that would be great.
Many thanks, Esther
Esther reached out to me to commission a painting of her beloved Springer Spaniel, Buddy, as a Christmas present for her husband, Steve. She carefully chose the perfect photo of Buddy from her collection, and I created several mock-ups for her to choose from. I understand that selecting the right image can take some time. However, ultimately, it's crucial that the customer is happy with their choice. The size was ideal for a full body portrait, any smaller and it just would not have the same impact.
Upon receiving a commission featuring a scenic background, I begin the process by carefully painting the background with a strong emphasis on detail. Once this phase is complete, I make necessary adjustments where the background and the subject interact. In this particular painting, my goal was to develop a highly detailed foreground complemented by a softly focused background. This approach effectively directs the viewer's attention towards the main subject.
Building up the contrasts on the Springer Spaniel before adding the fine detail.
The initial stages can often look chaotic and untidy when creating an acrylic painting. This is because acrylics have a quicker drying time than oils, which can result in a less smooth and blended appearance. Despite this, acrylics are the ideal medium for my portrait work, as I enjoy adding intricate details to my pieces. When working on this painting of Buddy, I took great care to meticulously add each blade of grass and strand of hair, layering them up to create a rich and textured surface. My ultimate aim was to accurately and faithfully represent Buddy, capturing his unique personality and character in the painted form.
Creating the reference photo
In many of my commissions, I have to create artwork using multiple reference photos. Sometimes, I have to piece together a reference image by combining elements from different photos. For example, Esther gave me some lovely photos of Buddy. However, the close proximity of the shots resulted in an apparent disproportion between Buddy's head and body. Furthermore, the preferred head pose did not align with the ideal body pose. Consequently, I juxtaposed a head from a different photograph onto the body to achieve the desired composition. Additionally, the background was derived from an entirely separate photoshoot.
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Customer Testimonial" I'm sitting looking at Buddy in pride of place on the wall, photo attached! It is absolutely lovely and it had the desired effect on Steve when he unwrapped - there were tears!!
Everyone that has seen it has said how amazing it is with the amount of fine detail and so Buddy. Thank you once again, it is lovely to have a painting of Buddy forever. " Esther B
Leicestershire, UK |
