Working Cocker Spaniel portrait - Star's story
Star's portrait was commissioned by her owner, Neil, in County Durham and started with something very ordinary - a screenshot from his phone.
It wasn't a professional photograph, but it had the important bit: Star looked like Star.
Using that image as my reference, I created an original hand-drawn Working Cocker Spaniel portrait in coloured pencil and wax crayon.
Breed: Working Cocker Spaniel
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Medium: Coloured pencil & wax crayon
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Size: A5
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Commissioned by: Neil, County Durham, UK
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Created from: Mobile phone screenshot
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Breed: Working Cocker Spaniel ★ Medium: Coloured pencil & wax crayon ★ Size: A5 ★ Commissioned by: Neil, County Durham, UK ★ Created from: Mobile phone screenshot ★
Getting to know Star
Before I start a portrait, I like to know what the owner sees when they look at their dog.
For Neil, it wasn't just Star's dark chocolate coat or long Cocker ears. Her expression, slight head tilt and the way she looked back at him were all part of what made her instantly familiar.
A few questions before I picked up the pencils helped me understand what needed to feel right in the finished portrait.
From phone photo to portrait
Star's reference was a simple mobile phone screenshot - nothing staged, polished or professionally photographed.
What it did have was the right Star: her slight head tilt, long ears and familiar expression were all there.
That's what made it useful. A good reference doesn't have to be perfect; it needs to give me enough to create a portrait that looks unmistakably like your dog.
Not sure whether your own photo will work? My photo guide should help, or I'm always happy to take a look.
Creating the portrait
Star's dark chocolate coat needed more than one brown pencil doing all the work.
I built it up with layers of blacks, browns and softer greys, leaving lighter areas around her eyes and muzzle to bring out her features.
Her slight head tilt was important too. Together with those long Cocker ears and familiar eyes, it's a big part of what makes the finished portrait look like Star.
Watch Star's portrait come together
The timelapse shows the portrait developing from the first pencil marks through to the finished drawing.
The finished portrait
Once Star's A5 portrait was finished, Neil received a preview before it was carefully packaged and sent to its new home in County Durham.
The finished artwork kept the head tilt, long ears and familiar expression we'd talked about at the start - all the little things that made it unmistakably Star.
What Neil thought
★★★★★
“We couldn’t believe the likeness and how he captured the character and nature of our dog Star. She loves it and so do the kids who want another one now so they can have one each in their bedrooms!
Dealing directly with the artist added to the experience and I loved the way he asked so many questions about our dog so in his words could capture her nature better. Great service would highly recommend.”
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Got a photo that just looks like them?
It doesn't need perfect lighting, a fancy camera or a carefully planned pose.
If you've got a favourite photo where your dog simply looks like themselves, I can turn it into an original, hand-drawn pet portrait with a strong, recognisable likeness.
Everyday photos welcome
Drawn entirely by hand
Preview before delivery