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Galgo with a Pearl Earring by Louise Charles-Saarikoski

9/27/2019 1:50:28 PM | By Louise Charles-Saarikoski | Comment on this

We recently moved house and during our move I gave myself two projects to work on knowing it would be difficult to concentrate, but wanting to be as productive as I could while going through such upheaval.

The first was quite straight forward and I painted it without doing much planning before hand and the second was this painting: Galgo with a Pearl Earring a 35 x 27 cm oil painting on stretched canvas.

It was an interesting project to try to recreate the brushstrokes of Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer in his beautiful painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring (c.1665).

I have seen a great many versions of 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', many of which include dogs. So I decided could do my own version and include my own adopted galgo Espanol as the 'Girl'.

Like you, I have many hundreds of photographs of my dog on my phone and it was quite easy to find a photo at the correct angle for the portrait. I enjoyed the challenge of fitting her head under the headscarf and deciding where the all important pearl earring should hang.

While working on the painting I kept it on display in my studio window and it was interesting to see the attention it got from my neighbours and passers by, some of whom I saw do a 'double take' as they walked passed. Happily one of those passers by sent an email asking if they could buy it. One of those occasions when a painting is sold whilst 'still on the easel'! :)

If you would like to order / commission a painting please get in contact by email: [email protected]

There are now fine art prints available of this painting. You will find more information here >>>

Choosing the best photograph for a portrait commission

9/16/2019 1:57:38 AM | By Louise Charles-Saarikoski | Comment on this

Potential clients often send me many photographs for a portrait, which is great, but then ask me to choose the best! This is impossible as usually I never meet my subject, and I will never know them as the owner does, so I do not know which is the best. I could give my opinion which is the technically the best photograph for the purpose: good sharp image, showing eye colour and other important features, taken outside in good daylight, 3/4 view of the subjects face so typical of a portrait etc, etc. If there happens to be this type of photograph among the 100's kept on a mobile phone it still may not be the 'best one'!

I always advise my clients that when commissioning a portrait they should select photographs that show the true personality and character of their dog, only they can do that not me.

My client with this of 'funny girl' Rea got it spot on The reference photograph was not the best, in fact it was a photo of a photo because the original could not be found. However, I was supplied with so may other photographs that I could use for getting the details right and I am glad we went ahead with this where Rea's quirky side shines through.

If you would like to commission a painting please contact me via email: [email protected]