Holly

This is a painting I have done for my friend who has this gorgeous little Bichon Frise/ Shih Tzu cross. We first saw her when she was a tiny puppy... she's still tiny but fully grown now. She just looks like a painting in waiting so this is my effort. I have tried to get an impression of her rather than a photographic likeness but the feeling is I have captured her. It is "Holly" I was delighted to hear when I showed it today so am relieved about that!!

I took this to a workshop yesterday and one of the members said to me... "You see I don't see all those colours in that" to which I replied... " No neither do I... the secret is choosing a palette which will compliment the subject and sticking with it... she is such a girly dog, though has eaten one of the workmens' lunch out of the foil pack today so not such a good girl!!! I chose opera rose, indigo, transparent orange and I think a touch of burnt sienna. I tested the combination it using my planet idea and liked and thought it would work for her. The blue was dark enough when mixed with the other colours to give me some good rich darks which I needed in this even though she is a white dog... here is the reference I used

I know this isn't an absolute likeness but I was looking to capture the "essence" of her so am hoping that's what I've done and my friend likes so am happy!!