I’m going to do this one in 2 sizes – one to keep and the other to give to the owners as a joint 50th birthday present.

Harry with his ‘I’ve been really naughty’ face on! I can’t help thinking that this dog looks like Billy Connolly (Scottish comedian) with his little goatee beard!

This time I experimented by under-painting loosely in acrylics in pastel tones that I intended would show through the brush marks made in oils over the top.

“I found the clue to her character on the crossword puzzle page… from that point onwards she developed a ‘Sherlock Holmes’ / detective kind of persona! It seemed to fit with her intense quizzical stare.”

Mysia is polish for mouse! Isn’t she beautiful? I was really happy with the looseness of this painting.  Once I’d done the eyes, I switched to a ¾” flat brush and just went for it!

Those curves! - like the French curves used for technical drawing- they are all different radius’s and blends.

Wise, Gentle, Performer

My sister has a soft spot for this little guy...he’s old, blind and deaf...his name is Paddy (she calls him Paddy-Wack!) ...she describes him in three words as having a ‘lust for life’.

Described in three words as a ‘handsome trouble-maker’!

I asked if they’d prefer me to paint from a picture where the her tongue was not hanging out – but apparently she always looked like this – so there you have it!

Responding to the Instagram #artdare theme ‘Caught in the act’.