Alcapone and Kaylee

Alcapone and Kaylee Pastels  51cm x 41cm 

I thoroughly enjoyed doing this portrait of Brenda Marais' Alcapone (on the left) and Kaylee. Their portrait will join her other Rotties on her wall.

Digger, my childhood substitute
showjumper

Alcapone's photo posed a bit of a challenge. I remember drawing a Schnauzer years ago, but I could see his eyes in the supplied photo. Always tough tackling a portrait where you can't see the subject's focal point. The eyes are the first thing you search for when you see a pet portrait. Since this is a fairly typical pose for Alcapone, I was grateful that his photo was sharp, making it easier to draw from.

The agility element of this portrait was a fun to add. It ties the two dogs together nicely. I wanted to capture the excitement of this little dog, doing what he enjoys. I think I did, in the set of his ears, the tops are tipped back slightly as he sails through the air.

This reminded me of my first dog, a Lab called Digger who I grew up with. I was a horse mad kid, galloping everywhere, even when I wasn't on my pony. Making my dogs jump when I couldn't do so myself was an obvious thing to do. 

This was way back in about 1983, long before dog agility turned into the exciting crowd pleaser we know it to be.

I wonder if there were other girls who built obstacles out of garden furniture and expected their dogs to get clear rounds while turning a deaf ear to their parent's complaints about absent wire chairs.

Serene Sovereign

Serene Sovereign - Pastels 65x50cm

Cally Olver’s gorgeous mare  Serene Sovereign. 

Cally describes her as: “My first love, I had her since she was 3 for 13 years. She passed away from colic exactly 3 years ago this month. It’s taken me this long to bring myself to finally commission her portrait.”

Thanks Cally, for trusting me with your mare’s portrait. I'm honoured that I can create a portrait for you to  remember her by.

Gorgeous Goldens...

Eugenie Chopin's Angelique

Vivienne Owen's Jamie

Amigo and Allie

Liezel Mortimer's Dylan

Amigo 

Goodbyes

Coco - 41x30cm pastels

As animal lovers we know that we are likely to outlive our four legged companions. Despite knowing that, when the time comes to say goodbye to the animal who has been a constant in our lives for years, the pain is almost unbearable.

My cousin lost her dog Coco to cancer recently. This is her portrait. Michelle saw a tiny malnourished puppy at the SPCA 12 years ago. She knew she couldn't go home without the pitiful bundle and so Coco became one of the lucky ones. She lived in a home where she was doted on and loved. She shared an incredibly deep bond with my cousin, which of course, made saying a final goodbye devastatingly difficult.

I said a very sad and reluctant goodbye to my beloved horse Flying Promise. He'd been struggling with a series of health problems for the last couple of years. It's a long story, but in short, I'm incredibly grateful for having spent the last 5 months of his life caring for him myself and not having to depend on someone else to do a good job.

It was an honour to know and love this kind and gentle Thorooughbred. I'm really going to miss him.

Abbey, Charlie and Jonty

Abbey: 41x30cm PASTELS

Charlie: 41x30cm PASTELS

Jonty: 41x30cm PASTELS

The latest additions to my portrait dog gallery are Kim Jury's good looking furries.

Sadly Jonty is no longer with Kim.

I'm really pleased with how these turned out, Kim gave me some awesome photos, 

which always makes my job easier :)

You are so talented they are perfect… Many thanks, you have captured him (Charlie) beautifully, thank u sooo much.

Kim Jury

Six or Nix

Six Or Nix: Pastels - 41x30cm

I first met Six Or Nix on a Tellington TTouch workshop in 2001. I'll never forget turning around to see him standing on his hindlegs – he was straight up in the air – with fellow TTouch Practitioner Lindy Dekker holding on at the other end of his leadrope!

Six belonged to Megan Jackson, another TTouch Prac. He was one of the early participants to attend our clinics here in South Africa; he was also a talented showjumper.

Drawing portraits of animals that I know have passed on can be tough for me as an artist, animal lover and all round sensitive person (or Highly Sensitive Person). However, when I'm commissioned to do a portrait of an animal I've known who has crossed over, it's a bittersweet experience.

As an animal lover, connecting with animals I meet and get to know is as normal for me as it is to meet a friend and enjoy their company. Each animal has a personality and they leave an impression on me long after we've gone our separate ways. Six was no different. I could feel the bond he shared with his human mom Megan and I knew how important he felt with his small herd of mares. Beneath all of that was the wisdom that he shared with Megan's clients.

As a kid, I'd wished that I could draw really good pictures. When I fell in love with horses, age 10, all I wanted to do was draw them all the time. Those early seeds of what become my passion has become an important part of my life. 

I am deeply honoured and grateful when friends and clients trust me with the memories of the animals who have shared their lives with them. 

Teddy and Beth

Smiley Beth on the left and Teddy on the right

I lived with Teddy and Beth for a couple of years. True to the lovely nature of the Labrador, they got on just fine with my 3 hounds, although there was always competition for space on the bed. Four Labs, a Jack Russell and two sleeping humans just didn't fit!

Teddy was the scariest dog on the block and alerted us to would-be burglars one night - we knew not to open the door because he was doing his most ferocious I-WILL-EAT-YOU-IF-YOU-COME-THROUGH-THIS-DOOR routine.

Gentle and kind with the kids, they are best friends to Charlotte and Devon.