Welcome to our latest blog post about the beautiful oil portrait of Sarah the Poodle. Tracey Maguire has ony just dealt with the passing of Lucy which you may remember that we painted only a few months ago. Sadly Tracy Maguire contacted us once again, this time to commission a portrait of Sarah. The last of what she lovingly called their “Three Musketeers” — Curly, Lucy, and Sarah. We had recently completed Lucy’s portrait, and although we never imagined hearing from Tracy again so soon, we understood just how important this next piece would be.
Sarah was a sweet and spirited rescue who shared 12 wonderful years with Tracy and Paul. Despite the health challenges she faced from her previous life, she lived every moment with joy — always smiling, no matter what she was going through. Tracy told us, “Sarah had a tremendous smile. Always. Even when getting her medical treatments… there was her smile.”
Just like Curly and Lucy, Sarah had a vibrant personality and a love for dressing up, so it only felt right to paint her in one of her favourite outfits. A festive Fourth of July costume, complete with a hat and fluffy ears (which Nicholas carefully evened out to keep the balance of the composition just right!).
The painting was created at 16 x 16 inches, matching the previous portraits, and framed to suit her cheerful energy while still keeping the trio visually cohesive. When Tracy saw the finished portrait, she wrote,
“When I opened your email and looked at Sarah’s smile, I cried. It was a very emotional moment. As always, Nicholas has done an amazing job capturing her image and we’re grateful.”
Up-close with Sarah’s Portrait
We have included a few close up photos of Sarah’s portrait below. You can see Nicholas’s hand and brush at work, giving a lovely sense of scale and texture. You can really appreciate the detail in her expression, the vibrant colours of her costume, and the care taken in painting every soft curl and sparkle in her eye.
A Joy to Paint
Poodles have such expressive eyes, gentle curls, and elegant postures — they are an absolute joy to paint. Sarah was no exception. From her bright personality to her soft fur and colourful costume, every brushstroke was a tribute to the love and care she received in her second life.
Dear Melanie and Nicholas,
Thank you for finishing Sarah’s portrait and framing. My husband and I are thrilled with the results. When I opened your email and looked at Sarah’s smile, I cried. It was a very emotional moment. As always, Nicholas has done an amazing job capturing her image and we’re grateful! Go ahead and ship. You have our okidoki! As always, thank your kind thoughts and for the lovely painting of our Sarah.
Yours,
Tracy Maguire
Finally, we hope that you have enjoyed reading about the Oil Portrait of Sarah the Poodle. If you haven’t seen Lucy’s portrait, you can read about it here – Oil Portrait of Lucy the Poodle. Also if you are interested in commissioning your own pet portrait, whether in memory of a beloved companion or to celebrate the one by your side, you can visit our website to learn more. www.pet-portraitartist.com
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