The Matriarch of the Family

I urge people to take many photos of their loved ones. Good photos are essential if you want to commission a posthumous portrait. This applies to dogs as well as humans. I've had to turn many people down because they didn't have a decent reference. Photos taken out side in the shade are the absolute best.

Sometimes I'll try a flash photo if the subject is especially interesting and that's how I came to paint Molly's grandmother, the matriarch of their family. The reference looked like it was taken in a dark reception hall but the contours of the subject's face were pretty clear so I thought I might be able to pull it off. I was pleased with the way the portrait came together.

The Matriarch 11" x 14" 

Oil on linen