'Abby'
Portrait of a beloved rescue dog on her favorite beach in
Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware
Abby
18" x 24" oil portrait on canvas
by Ellen Rice
18" x 24" oil portrait on canvas
by Ellen Rice
Abby's adoptive dad came to me a couple of months before Christmas, wishing to have a portrait painted of their late dog, Abby, as a surprise for his wife.
I advised him that it might be better to have her involved and that instead of a painting, he present a card saying he was having Abby painted, but wished her input.
After the holidays, they visited with me in my gallery and we went over photos in his wife's computer, as I listened to her hopes for the painting.
One of Abby's favorite places to walk and play was a nearby beach. Many emailed photos came my way after that, from which I made a pencil drawing of scene's layout and Abby's position on the beach. I sent photos of the progress of the painting throughout the painting process since the couple live several hours away.
Two months after I started painting Abby, I watched gratefully as the wife saw the painting in person for the first time. She cried out, walked over with tears flowing and hugged her Abby.
This portrait was painted with a multiple glazing technique where each color glaze painted must dry at least two days before going on to the next. When a painting painted this way is viewed in person, there is dimension and luminescence that's unparalleled.
Portrait likenesses are always guaranteed. As in the case of painting Abby, I often work from a distance, but of course when it's possible I love to see and photography my subject(s) in person.
My desire is that I bring out not just a likeness, but capture the heart and soul of each human and pet I paint.
I advised him that it might be better to have her involved and that instead of a painting, he present a card saying he was having Abby painted, but wished her input.
After the holidays, they visited with me in my gallery and we went over photos in his wife's computer, as I listened to her hopes for the painting.
One of Abby's favorite places to walk and play was a nearby beach. Many emailed photos came my way after that, from which I made a pencil drawing of scene's layout and Abby's position on the beach. I sent photos of the progress of the painting throughout the painting process since the couple live several hours away.
Two months after I started painting Abby, I watched gratefully as the wife saw the painting in person for the first time. She cried out, walked over with tears flowing and hugged her Abby.
This portrait was painted with a multiple glazing technique where each color glaze painted must dry at least two days before going on to the next. When a painting painted this way is viewed in person, there is dimension and luminescence that's unparalleled.
Portrait likenesses are always guaranteed. As in the case of painting Abby, I often work from a distance, but of course when it's possible I love to see and photography my subject(s) in person.
My desire is that I bring out not just a likeness, but capture the heart and soul of each human and pet I paint.
~ Ellen
