Kita had recently died, and her owner asked me to do a portrait of her as a gift to his wife. They had few photos and those they did have was lacking in important detail. I was able to work from one photo, but had to search online for more references to capture the natural colour, as the reference image had been taken with flash which saturates colour and causes a loss of detail. It is very challenging to do this as it can end up looking like a different dog but luckily they loved the finished piece!
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 Dudley, 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.
As Kita had died, few photographs were available, except for indoor flash photos, which were not ideal. Therefore, I had to conduct a thorough online search for pictures of Akita dogs and carefully extract their colours and shades to ensure a perfect match for Kita's portrait. Though it was challenging, I felt satisfied that I could capture Kitas' personality in the final painting. |
Customer Testimonial" Hi Karen, I just wanted you to know that I absolutely love my painting of Kita.
Thank you so much, you have done the most amazing portrait of him. He was my best friend and my little boy and the painting has been hung in the living room so we can all admire him every day! Thank you again, xx " Rachel B, Chesterfield, UK |
Commission your own portrait
If you would like a personalised portrait of your Akita dog or any other subject, take a look at my commissions page or reach out to me via email at: karenmberisfordart@gmail.com to share your ideas for the portrait.
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