Pet Portraits and Wildlife Art

Back at work this week at the Forestry Commission and my first job was brush cutting on the hottest day of the year. I worked with Rusty the springer spaniel and his owner Dave on Monday. I have only recently been trained to use a brush cutter and clearing saw so I now need to practice but it was hot work!!! Rusty had the right idea and went for a paddle in the water with Dave and then sat on me in the truck, what a good dog!

After a day off yesterday at Welland Vintage Tractor Show (where I bought myself an easel) and after a lovely phone call from Terry and Lorraine who owned Mickey, I was eager to get on with his portrait and finish it. The original photo proved a little difficult to work from as Mickey's fur was so dark I had problems seeing where his fur ended and the black floor tile began near his tail so I had a guess, I made my spaniel Zac pose in this position, it took many attempts and lots of dog biscuits to no avail, then hey presto, he just sat down like it, they say never work with animals, unfortunately Zac's fur is a bit fluffy and not as shiny as Mickey's so it did not help too much at all.

I am waiting for Mickey's owners to get back to me as to whether I need to alter his tail at all, but in the meantime I've got to make a start on another pet portrait, so until next time....

I had quite a fruitful day today, I went shopping to buy a selection of frames and mounts to keep in stock as I had none left at all, so now I have a varied selection I can offer clients again, I usually send several images of their completed portraits with different coloured mounts for them to choose from and at long last I got around to framing Rusty, something I have been meaning to do for a couple of weeks, luckily Rusty's owner works with me so he was quite laid back about it.

And it was back to the drawing board for Mickey, I seem to be getting somewhere now and it's the downhill bit, for a long time with a pet portrait it seems as though nothing is coming together but eventually I can see in my mind's eye how the finished pet portrait will look, as usual I was working on my bench in the garden, as my rabbits and guinea pigs ran about, such a chore!!! I also received an email from Tia's owner to say she had received her pet portrait in one piece and that it was 'perfect' plus I managed to get some more images of Sal the sprocker for her portrait, so all in all a very good day.

Again I have been sat in the garden working on Mickey, I'm a bit disappointed as I seem to have been working away for quite some time without actually progressing much. Again all the pets were wandering around the garden and I practically got mobbed when the bread was shared out!!

As usual the geese came in numbers, luckily they are all friendly so although they look mean they are not.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

I have been sat in the sun working on Mickey and have got the basics of his front legs on place now, I intend to work from right to left going down his back now. I will go back after the portrait is all in place and add further detail which is when a portrait really starts to look more 3d.

The view of the geese is from where I am sat at my table in the garden 'slaving' away, they saunter by every now and then, the toulouse are becoming very tame and will happily come up for bread now, and my little ducklings out and about, they've had a swim and have been sat in the shade under a tree.... oh to be a duck...

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

Work has continued on Mickey's portrait at a rate of knots, I feel I did actually get quite a bit done on him yesterday. I have also began to put in some of the grass but so far only two layers of colour have been used and I will need to add more at a later point. I wanted to get the blades of grass next to his forelegs in so I could work around them, for some reason the white pencil (chinese white) is very hard to work over the top of so strangely it is better to put down the darker grass first. This also helps me keep things in proportion.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

Above is Walter the abacot ranger drake (he has about 8 girlfriends) bathing ready for an afternoon's romance. He usually hides underneath a hedge and jumps out on passing ducks - and then abandons them, heartless he is.

One of our toulose geese having a bath above with a white campbell duck, these are such a gentle breed we have to make sure they aren't bullied by the other geese. We found this basin at a vintage tractor show, we think it may have been used to crush fruit (maybe grapes) and then the juice can be poured off via the spout you can see. If anyone knows what it really is please let me know!!

...and went wandering, pausing to have a clean and tidy up of course

I have completed more of Mickey's dog portrait, I am not going to put this on my website as it is too close to the start point. I have added more depth to his ear and used white to bring out some highlights and shine.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

After completing Tia's dog painting yesterday I am ploughing straight into the next, I am beginning work on Mickey, a lovely looking springer (my favourite) who has sadly only recently passed away. His owners would like a memorial portrait of him in colour pencils and him laid on grass, he looked such a glossy coated dog with lovely eyes so I am hoping to do him justice. I have already started working on his portrait and will post an update asap. In the mean time, this is his photo I am using for reference.

Back to the drawing board (really)... until next time

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

If you are interested in commissioning me please visit my pet portrait artist website or my wildlife artist website

Thanks for visiting!

I have forced myself to do some work today, I'm so worn out by the bite to my hand that all I want to do is sleep but Tia's portrait is for a birthday present so deadlines have to be met. I will admit it took a few attempts as I had to keep putting it down as I was nearly nodding off (face down on the paper at one point I was) but I succeeded and a full version has been sent to Tia's owner of her dog portrait in full for her to have a good look at to check everything is as she would like it. This is the nerve-wracking bit now when the waiting goes on for ever, it's such a relief when you get a positive reply, only then does it seem worth it...anyway here she is, she's such a sad looking dog but Mrs Allen assures me she is a little bit of a con-artist as when she looks particularly sad she always gets an extra biscuit, just look at those eyes!!!

You can see Tia's portrait in full through its creation here along with the original reference photo used.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

If you are interested in commissioning me please visit my pet portrait artist website or my wildlife artist website

Thanks for visiting!

Unfortunately I've been bitten on my left hand by an unidentified flying object, and as a result my hand is a 'little' swollen and I have a temperature and a bit of a fever (quoting my doctor) so I'm being lazy and taking his advice and staying off work today. Luckily I can just about use my right hand for typing but it's a skill that as a 'leftie' I'm not too good at!!!

I've slept for England and have just woken up, no doubt to fall asleep again soon. I may continue with Tia's pet portrait if I can but otherwise I'm going to laze around today.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

As we stopped to discuss yet another oak tree, Cass the chief whip, started barking, she is worse than any manager and boss as she barks constantly when we stand still, she's such a slave driver!

We are now moving to an area called the Doward which is on the banks of the river Wye, very near where the peregrine falcons nest at Symonds Yat. We are working in a wood where dormice live so these are one thing I would love to get a picture of, alas I think they are very secretive.

Anyway back at home (on the farm) this is our baby faverolle salmon who was hatched yesterday, it looks like a cuddly little teddy bear, cute or what?

As usual all the furry friends had a run about this afternoon, bunnies and piggies are all happy and I cleaned all of their cages. Lucky little buggers! Got to get back to my pet portrait of Tia, it's getting near completion now and I'm pleased to have received an email from Tia's owner to say I'd got her portrait just right so that has spurred me on to make the final push to complete it for her husband's birthday. Back to the grind stone...... until next time!!

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

We moved our table garden and chairs down to nearer my rabbit shed and pens so that I could sit near them and keep and eye on everything (we do have frequent flybys from buzzards which are quite harmless but also we have had a fox wander around the garden in broad daylight also there is a goshawk's nest around the corner and they would love a guinea pig or two for tea plus I'm a bit paranoid!) Anyway, you've seen the garden so who wants to sit inside anyway!!! So I sat here continuing with Tia's pet portrait which you can view on my pencil portraits website

what professionalism!!!

Sid our gander decided to fight with his best friend Pierre the mixed breed gander this afternoon, Ronnie was mowing the lawn so did not hear the commotion, so I had to split them up, Sid was particularly vicious today and he would not let go of Pierre even when I grabbed hold of his wings, eventually I split them up and put Sid in solitary confinement until he had calmed down a bit!!! I dare anyone to try carrying a flailing gander with a death wish.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

If you are interested in commissioning me please visit my pet portrait artist website or my wildlife artist website

Thanks for visiting!

I have a large shed with curtains, television, fan and heater for all my four footed friends and a large pen for them to run about in. I'm lucky enough to finish work at 3.30pm each day so weather permitting I let them all have a run about. It's a bit time consuming as I cannot carry them all at once so one by one they get put out and the same when it's time to go to bed (very problematic if it starts to pour with rain)

As you can see I do have a few four legged friends to look after but they are all very well looked after and spoilt to death, sometimes I even think I'm a little mad myself but there we go.

Zac the spaniel is fascinated by Sooty and Sweep, he completely ignores Pickle and was even let into the pen with him plus Willy and Rag but just looked at them and sat down, lucky for me!!!

As yet I have not used any of these as subjects for my pet portraits but that may yet happen, watch this space!!!

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

As part of belonging to the West Gloucestershire Art Society (WGAS) we regularly put on exhibitions around the Forest of Dean, and today we exhibited at Staunton Village Hall. This exhibition will take place for the next three weekends and today I had to steward there.

Kaitlin, who is in a portrait I have on display came to visit with her Mum and Dad and kindly posed by her portrait.

Kaitlin has visited the animals and pets at my house several times and her Dad gives me bread for the ducks, we have arranged a feeding time and Kaitlin is coming to visit soon and feed all the ducks and geese, she is quite taken with my rabbits and hopes to get her own soon.

Anyway it's sunny now so I'm off out in the garden with my rabbits and guinea pigs and no doubt I'll have more photos and details to update later.

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.

Welcome to my blog. I thought I'd be a little different to most other 'pet portrait artist bloggers' in that I would let you see my daily to-ings and fro-ings rather than just a blow by blow account of my artist efforts. Plus I think I have a wonderful home life with lots of pets which someone else may find as interesting and charming as I do. Please rest assured that no animals were injured in the process of making this blog. I am so lucky to be able to keep these pets, none of which end up in a pot, they really are pets, but I am sure someone somewhere would love to know about their quirky personalities and oddball natures as much as I do. We have several days of discussions when naming a new arrival, we have to study each pet to see which name tag suits them, it's a hard life you know. See our Elvis, the golden appenzeller, he had such a cocky little personailty and was such a pretty boy that nothing else would do except being named after the King himself. Sid our gander was a bit of a double whammy as he was initally very vicious and also hissed until he got to know us better, he still has off days!!!
I hope you enjoy meeting my extended family, I shall of course involve you in my arty side but as far as I'm concerned my animals come first, last and in the middle (I am quite mad!) So happy browsing, and leave any comments as you see fit, I'll pass them onto my feathered and furry friends of course.
We let all of our geese out yesterday together for the first time since the breeding season. Geese need grass for their digestion and when they are shut up for breeding we throw them handfuls of grass each time we pass their pen for them to enjoy.

As it was such a nice day, all of our feathered and furry friends had a day out, it rained until after lunch so my rabbits had to stay in until then but then they spent the afternoon in the sunshine and I've neglected all of my pet portraits I have to do, it was too nice to work. See all the pet portraits work I should be doing!!!

Our indian runner ducks at the watering hole!! These were bought as eggs from ebay by a man we used to work with, we hatched them for him and he took them to live near Catbrook. Mark then decided he was going to move to Australia so we had them back to live with us, he never made it to Australia but he's not having his ducks back!

These are our young khaki campbell ducks, we bought these from Ross bird sale to go with a drake we had been given all the way from near Skegness!!! They are still only babies at the moment.

As you can see our spaniel Zac takes everything in his stride, he's a gentle old soul who just lets the birds wander by - see him featured several times as pet portraits on my website. Today he was savaged by Sid the embden gander up against a fence, Sid usually ignores Zac but as we had let all the other geese out he felt he had to show authority and set upon several of them as well, I chased Sid around the lawn as he was hanging from the tail feathers of a toulouse gander and Zac barged through the middle thus splitting them up only to receive a peck himself. Thankfully after being together all day the geese all settled down, this is the first time they have been let out together since before breeding so usually they all try to boss each other around until they find out who's in charge and it's usually Mildred the female goose!! See George and Mildred below

These are our cayuga ducks, as you can see they are in moult but the drake in the middle still has his feathers and this is how they should look.
Anyway, the day came to a close and it was time to put everything to bed, see the geese making their way to the shed below. As you can see they've all made friends now!!!
And finally....

...it was our rouen ducklings first day out. They are kept in the garage at the moment still under a heat lamp but as today was mild we put them on the grass and they loved it. We put a plant tray down filled with water and both had a splash about all afternoon. Both are in bed now, we need to think about names for these, I think it is a drake and a duck so if you have any ideas leave me a comment letting me know!!!
Goodnight from the feathered friends....until next time

If you like my work please take the time to leave me a comment or become a follower (see bottom of page). If you would like to win a pet portrait of your dog, cat, horse or any other pet please see my new competition. It costs nothing to enter, all you require is internet access.