Busy, busy, busy

Yet again it's been ages since I've updated my blog....sorry!! As well as being pretty busy with commissions, both Mum and Dad have been in hospital on seperate ocassions and very sadly our youngest Maine Coon, Finn, was taken ill very suddenly and unfortunately we had to have him put to sleep at the end of August. So life has been very hectic and stressful for a while.

I've been working on alot of portraits that have to be kept under wraps for a while but here are three of my recent pieces that I can show you.

First is Lily a beautiful chocolate English Cocker Spaniel. Lily was commissioned by some of the staff from Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire for Lady Cholmondeley's 90th birthday. She was delighted with the portrait and it now hangs in the Library at the Castle.

LILY - ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL



Indy and Dory were commissioned by the same client. She wanted them on individual portraits and I completed them a few weeks ago.

INDY - HUNGARIAN VIZSLA



DORY - LURCHER TYPE

Some of my recent commissions.

CHARLIE - SPRINGER SPANIEL
This is a memorial portrait of Charlie who sadly passed away a few weeks ago. it was quite a large picture at 15x18 and I was very pleased with the finished result, as was my client. The photo that I worked from was of Charlie after he had been for a dip in the sea. This is the first time I've drawn 'wet look' fur.



PEGGY-BORDER COLLIE/LURCHER
Peggy was one of my 'secret' commissions. She was given as a gift last week and now has pride of place on the lounge wall in her new home. I loved the angle of this piece, looking slightly up at the subject, which worked well.



ROLLO-SPRINGER SPANIEL
This is the second portrait I have completed for this client. The first also being a Springer called Digby who was Black and White. Another 'secret' birthday commission.



DACHA-SIBERIAN HUSKY
Dacha was the winner of the Buxton pet show 2010 and I donated a portrait to the winner. I've only just completed it as Dacha has been troubled with illness this past year and her owner was waiting to get a 'happy' photo of her for me to work from. She went to her new home last week.

MINSTREL-HORSE
This piece was quite a challenge as out of all the animals I do I am less familiar with horses. Four people commissioned me to do this portrait as a Birthday gift for their friend.

Lance

Long time no blogging again......sorry. Time is just running away with me. I've still been working on 'secret' commissions until this one of Lance a stunning Border Collie. I've really enjoyed doing this portrait as the photo I had to work from was amazing. He'll be winging his way to sunny California very soon.

Next it's another 'secret' portrait and then it should be a Husky and then a Springer Spaniel, both of which I can show.

Some of my framed portraits

Here are some of my framed portraits that I have displayed in my home. Quite an awkward shot to take and some , unfortunately, wouldn't fit in the photo.

Stuff

Well I've finished the Border Collie/Lurcher portrait and the lady who commissioned me is over the moon with it, so much so she wants her own dogs doing( the BC/L is for a gift). I'm really pleased with it and can't wait to show you all, but I'll have to be patient :-))

Next is a horse. The photos are fab and I should be starting it shortly but again I can't post progress pics as that is also a surprise gift. I may do some breed examples in between using the ref. photos that I took at Crufts. I did outline an Italian Spinone a while back so might finish that one.

Apologies for the lack of blogging but I just haven't had time. Below are the portraits I have worked on.

Ghyll - Smooth Haired Collie
Bumble - Pomeranian
Honey - Boxer

My next commission is a Border Collie/Lurcher cross. Unfortunately I can't show progress pics as it's for a gift.

TYSON AND HONEY FRAMED


HONEY WITH HER FRAMED PORTRAIT


HONEY


BUMBLE


GHYLL FRAMED

GHYLL

Kolo

This is Kolo a very handsome Rottweiler. I've been under a bit of pressure to complete this one as time was very short and I've had to fit him in between other commissions. I also found it quite a challenge with his muzzle to get the colour right. Anyway he's completed and delivered and my client is thrilled with him.

Ruby and Oscar

Here are a couple of portraits that I can now reveal. Firstly a double portrait of Ruby an English Cocker Spaniel. Her owner had looked through my website and liked the idea of two different poses of the same dog on one portrait. Secondly we have Oscar who is a JRT cross. A great photo to work from and a great pose too. Both portraits were well received.

I've just completed a Rottweiler which I can't show just yet. Next is a Smooth haired Collie which I'm hoping to outline today and then I'll probably start to fill in the colour tomorrow.

I'm really hoping it's going to be a nice weekend so that I can crack on with the gardening. I made good progress with it last week so I'm hoping to finish off this weekend. I then need to get some seeds planted, busy, busy, busy.

Hope alls well with everyone.

A couple of examples

Between commissions I have done a couple of breed examples. The first being King George a Boston Terrier and then a Saluki(sorry no name for this one) I really enjoyed working on a non commission for a change....no pressure:-))

I've also set up my store with Zazzle. A range of items are available with some of my pet portrait designs. The range includes Mugs, t shirt, keyrings, badges etc. Stop by and have a look. www.zazzle.co.uk/jopetportraits

What have I been upto???

Gosh I didn't realise it was so long since I had posted anything..................sorry!! First things first. I can now show you one of my commissions so here she is, Panda, a stunning English Bull Terrier. She was a joy to do and was well received by her owner.

I still can't show you my other commissions until later this month so watch this space.

I went to Crufts on Friday and had the best day. Trouble is it's so vast you just can't get round everything in one day. I like to look at the breed rows and we probably only managed to get round a third of them. I did get some good photos though so that I can work on building up my breed examples on my website. My Auntie was showing her dog but we didn't get there in time to see her, anyway he's a Smooth haired Collie and he came 2nd in the puppy class so that was a good result.

Flo finished

I've finished Flo today subject to her owners approval. I'm just waiting to hear if she's happy with her. Sorry the white on her neck is a bit glaring but I've had to use the flash and it's come out really light.

Next commission is a Cocker Spaniel but I won't be able to post any progress pics as it's for a surprise.

Flo

Here's todays updates of Flo. She's progressing well and her owner is very pleased with her so far.

Flo

Here's my next commission. Flo, an English Springer Spaniel. I've actually made good progress on this today. The light was really good this morning although it's fading now and is quite dull so I think I'll pack the pencils away until tomorrow.

Lily finished

Here are the rest of Lily's progress pics and her finished. It's taken quite a bit of work on her muzzle area with the grey flecks in her fur. My client is pleased with her and she will be going to her new home on Tuesday.

Lily

Here's todays progress on Lily. I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped. Hopefully more progress tomorrow.

Lily

Whilst waiting for photos of the English Springer I got another commission so I've made a start on that one instead. This is Lily a Border cross. A more senior lady of 15 years who I had the pleasure of meeting on Saturday. She's a lovely girl and very friendly. She posed well for her photo shoot, with the aid of a biscuit for distraction. It was nice to actually meet one of my subjects, and her Mum and Dad, in person as most of the contact I have with people is via the internet.

Hopefully they'll be more progress pics tomorrow.

Pip

This is my boy Pip. I've been meaning to do his adult portrait for ages and just haven't got around to it. Anyway here he is in a typical pose he adopts when you're talking to him.

Next portrait is either going to be another person practice piece or an English Springer commission.

Oliver

I started this little chap as a practice piece ages ago and never got round to finishing him. Anyway I completed him yesterday. He's called Oliver and he's a King Charles Spaniel. I've really enjoyed working on him as he wasn't a commissioned piece so no pressure :-))

Don't forget the '£20 off any portrait' offer finishes on the 15th January.