This montage pencil drawing of Fiston commissioned from France was one of my most beautiful commissions to date. It came all the way from France, where Maryse contacted me to create a very special gift for her son Laurence, a tribute to his beautiful Bichon, Fiston.
“I would like to offer my son a pencil drawing of his dog Fiston,” Maryse wrote.
“There is a picture that I found captures very well their connection… I was hoping that the one I like could be the central one, with others of Fiston alone around it.”
The photo she referred to showed Laurence holding Fiston in a gorgeous moment between the two of them. Full of warmth and love. She sent a wonderful collection of images showing Fiston through the years, including an adorable puppy photo that we both agreed simply had to be included.
Montage Portraits – A Unique Way to Tell a Story
Montage drawings are a beautiful way to celebrate a pet’s full personality and life. Not many artists offer this kind of composition, but it’s become something I’m known for. These portraits allow me to combine different moments into one piece. From playful puppy days to quiet cuddles, walks on the beach and everything in between.
This format is especially powerful when a client wants to commemorate a pet who has passed, or give a deeply personal gift just like Maryse did for her son. You can see another example of a montage pencil portrait I created in this blog post – Cat Pencil Pet Portraits – Gili’s Montage.
Including People in Pet Portraits
Although my passion lies in drawing animals, I do sometimes include people in my montage portraits. I generally avoid full-face portraits, as I like to keep the focus on the pet. But when a person is included in a natural, affectionate moment, like Laurence and Fiston, it adds a beautiful addition.
In this case, Maryse chose a very moving image of her son with Fiston for the central part of the montage. It perfectly captured their bond without drawing attention away from the other images. It’s a balance I always try to maintain. the people complement the portrait, but the animals remain at the heart of the composition.
Designing Fiston’s Montage
Once I received the photos, I created a mock-up showing how the montage might look. I selected my favourite images that I felt would work together well as a montage drawing and showed Maryse the design. Maryse loved the idea and especially liked the inclusion of Fiston as a puppy.
We agreed on a 20 x 16 inch format, which gave enough space for multiple studies without feeling crowded. I then began working on the drawing, carefully blending each image with soft shading to connect them naturally. Something that’s difficult to show in the design, but really comes to life in the final artwork.
Custom Framing and a Personalised Plaque
Maryse mentioned that her son lives in London, so I arranged to have the drawing professionally framed before delivery. She was drawn to minimalist styles and natural tones, and I suggested a soft grey frame with a light mount to suit modern interiors. It complemented the pencil work perfectly.
She also requested a custom engraved plaque for the frame:
“Fiston
16 January 2007
‘You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.’”
Such a beautiful sentiment. It made the finished piece even more meaningful.
Framed Portrait in Laurence’s Home
A short while after delivery, Laurence sent over a photo of the portrait in its new home. It was wonderful to see it framed and proudly displayed in his London home. There’s even a soft reflection in the glass of the original reference photo, a full-circle moment.
Maryse wrote:
“Thank you sooo much. I really love the drawings. So precious and know my son will love it. He was very touched and happy about it.”
Would You Like a Montage Portrait of Your Own Pet?
Montage drawings are ideal if you want to capture different stages of your pet’s life in one artwork, or highlight their many sides, from playful to peaceful. Whether it’s for yourself or a gift for a family member, I’d love to hear your ideas and help bring them to life. You can find full details on how to commission your own portrait on my pencil portraits website.
Thank You for Reading
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post about the Montage Pencil Drawing of Fiston Commissioned from France. This was such a meaningful commission and I’m so grateful to Maryse for trusting me with it.
If you’d like to discuss a montage portrait of your own pet (or pets), please feel free to get in touch and send over your favourite photos. I’m always happy to help with ideas and layouts.
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