Tell me about your dog!
Dogs are very special creatures. They have an ability to empathize with our deepest hurts and soothe our souls with their kisses. They heal our emotional wounds with their devotion. Our laughter is the music they dance to! Our joy is their joy! Their lives are complete only when we come home. They laugh, cry and hurt with us, share secrets of our lives that no one else knows, or cares about, and love us deeply and truly without asking anything in return. If only humans could love like that, imagine the beautiful world we'd live in! I believe that God created dogs as our companions, helpers and healers to give us an example of what His totally unconditional love is like, so that we'd be able to experience genuine, true, no-strings attached love in this world and thereby know our Creator through one of his most magnificent creations: Dogs.
I know exactly why you want a permanent remembrance of your Forever Friend, now I just need to get to know him, too, so I can "commune with his spirit" while I'm painting and try and capture that wonderful essence that you know and love. That is what will make this painting special for you, and for me, as well. I'm not just copying a photograph of some anonymous dog.
I'm painting your Special Friend and he has a name, a mission in this life, a soul, a spirit and, beautiful eyes that convey the love and joy he has in this life. That's what I strive to capture.
Here are some questions for you to think about:
Where did you get him from? Did he come to you as a puppy, or was he an adult dog, a rescue?
What breed is he? What characteristics of his breed does he most exhibit?
If he is of uncertain parentage, what do you think he most likely is?
What is his name and why did you choose that name for him, or did he come to you already named? Does it suit him?
What has he meant to you in your life? I know he's your best friend; tell me why. What makes him the most beloved and special dog in the whole world.
Is she a working dog? What is her job? Does she hunt, guard, assist, protect, alert? Does she serve mankind in an official capacity? Locate the lost, search out contraband, assist with disasters?
What are his "hobbies"? Does he love to play fetch, catch, Frisbee, agility, chew bones in the backyard or shoes in the bedroom? Go for walks or hikes in the mountains, join his friends at the Dog Park, go jogging with you?
What are her favorite toys? Chew toys or furry stuffed animals?
If you have more than one dog, where does he fit in with the pack?
Is she a mother, has she had a litter of pups? Or does she just "mother" you or your kids, or even other critters?
Very important: What color are his eyes? Sometimes photos have "red eye" that obscures eye color, or outdoor photos sometimes hide or wash out eye color. Most dogs eyes are light amber to deep brown, but dogs, like people have varying shades. I'd love to paint a dog whose eyes are blue, grey or green!
Another photo that shows true eye color, even if the "pose" isn't great, is fine.
Or just tell me. Take a nice, long look into those windows of his soul.
Whether your dog is still living, or has crossed that Rainbow Bridge into the next world, the questions remain the same.
Just tell me what you'd like for me to know about your dog.
Some guidelines for photos
I prefer digital photos, because I'm probably going to crop and manipulate them into a suitable composition, but if all you have are regular photographs, that is just fine, too. I promise to take good care of them and return them to you.
Send me the photos that you think best capture your dog's personality, essence, spirit&ldots;the photo that most says to you, "that's my boy, or girl!"
I also need to know what all sides of your dog looks like, so send me other photos, as well, that show him from all sides, if possible. They don't have to be "great", just descriptive.
If you are going to take photos especially for this project, then here are some ideas:
The best photos are usually taken outdoors with the sun angle on one side or the other, as in the morning or afternoon, but not high noon. That way, the light will be hitting his face and body from primarily one side and the other side will be in shadow. That helps give dimension to the photo and the subsequent painting.
Get down on your dog's level to take the shots instead of standing over him and looking down on him. (There are exceptions to this suggestion, of course. Great photos can be taken from any angle.)
Try and get the whole dog in the shot.
The background doesn't really matter.
If it's an indoor shot, try and take it without using a flash, if possible.
Toys or other favorite dog items are great in the picture, too.
If sending me digital photos, please size them to about 8 x 10 or (1024 x 768 pixels) and send them on High resolution. If sending regular photos, package them so the Post Office can't bend or mutilate them (they try!) and I promise to return them to you unharmed.
You choose the size of the painting and the type of canvas.
I'll do a 5 x7 on an archival canvas or linen-covered board. I can't get as much detail into a 5 x 7 as I can a larger format, but I can certainly do a nice job of capturing your dog's portrait on that size. Many of the paintings you see on the site are 5 x 7's. They arrive unframed and must be framed before being hung on the wall. I recommend a nice photo frame purchased from your local Hobby Store. Remove the glass, discard, and insert your painting and either replace the backing and set it on a table, or have the Hobby Store add a wire to the back for hanging on the wall. Or do it yourself. Very easy and inexpensive.
For an 8 x 10 or an 11 x 14 you have a choice:
Either a "wrapped" canvas, which means the sides of the canvas are wrapped around the canvas frame (which is deeper than a traditional canvas), and painted. It can be hung on the wall without a frame. This is a more "modern" look.
Or I will paint it on an archival canvas or linen-covered board, which must be framed, for a more traditional approach. Again, I recommend a nice photo frame at the local Hobby Store.