To the Beach!

I don't normally take on pet 'portraits', as it's really not my 'thing', but this one was a bit irresistible! The customer has walked along this section of beach with her dog on lots of occasions and wanted a painting of him in his element - carrying sticks from the water of the beach below Covesea in northern Scotland. It's a beach I know well, and have painted before, and I was attracted to the possibilities of splashing in the bright,clean water. So the dog is tearing out of the surf with a big stick, making plenty of splash. I hope I've caught the essence of him, if not the detail, and I enjoyed the unusual angle of placing the viewer in the sea with him! hopefully you can feel the surf and the sunshine in 'Blue Skies and Happy Days!'