Dogs Are Always The Answer (for me)
If someone asked me if I was only allowed to draw, paint or make art about only one subject, forever here after, what would it be?
Dogs, everytime.
I surprised myself with my answer in all honesty. It came out so fast and clearly that later that day, I began thinking about my response.
Dogs, always dogs.
I began painting our friendly woofers in 2016, ten years ago now. I downloaded a course on the ancient desktop computer we had. It was brilliant and I wish I could still dip into it. In the course, an American lady with HUGE bouffanty hair, wearing a jersey covered in dogs, began sharing how to capture our canine friends on paper or canvas.
I wish I still had access to that course now, it was brilliant - she was brilliant. I watched, stopped, drew, painted, then watched some more.
My subject (of course) was Barney, my much adored, now 13-year-old Cocker Spaniel. I’ve painted him many times over the years, a selection of a few of his paintings are below.
Drypoint Print, 2020
Oil Painting 2024
Acrylic Painting 2016
Drypoint Print 2015
Oil on Canvas 2026
After capturing Barney’s likeness (I love that term - a likeness) I shared my painting with him on my newsletter. People began asking me to paint thier dogs and so began my dog portrait business, www.ipaintdogs.com
Wow, that was a beautiful business to have and for the following four years, I painted many dogs from all over the world. Carl and I even became registered dog boarders. This made sense as I was looking after dogs as I painted them, so we though why not turn it into a by-the-book thing.
By 2020 (excuse the pun) I was becoming a bit exhausted and dogged-out. We had a very tough experience when one of the dogs we were boarding became seriously ill, another decided to run off on a walk (both were fine), but both of these things left me very shaken.
At the ripe old age now of 55, I can see that I was doing too many commissions, not charging enough, and not doing enough ‘pleasure painting’ alongside my dog portraits.
I stopped making paintings and went back to my printmaking press for almost a year to recoup, recharge and refind my hand in making work away from dogs - this worked a treat.
I didn’t return to painting our four-legged friends for another 3 or 4 years, other than the odd one here and there to keep my hand in and my skills up.
Thank you for reading all about my dogs. Barney sends his love. He is currently chowing down on his toy rabbit by my feet, freshly fed, walked this morning, and simply happy to be here. We have so much to learn from them.
Much love
Sam x
