Welcome to our latest blog post about a special commission of two beautiful Labradors. We were absolutely delighted to hear from Peter in Switzerland, a returning client who has commissioned several portraits from us over the years. From pencil drawings to pastel paintings, we have had the privilege of capturing his beloved pets in various mediums. This time, Peter requested two oil portraits of his wonderful Labradors, Candy and Flynn, each at 12 x 10 inches.
Beautiful Labradors Candy and Flynn
Peter first reached out while both Candy and Flynn were still together, sharing their lives as the best of companions. He wrote to let us know that Candy was still doing well but that at her age, every moment was precious. Flynn was always by her side, full of energy and loyalty.
“Flynn is a wonderful Lab, and he and I spend as much time together as we can. Candy is more the homely type and enjoys the garden very much.”
It was clear that these two dogs were not just pets but family members, each with their own distinct personality and place in Peter’s life. We set to work, ensuring their portraits captured their individual essence, painting them with meticulous attention to detail.
Hand Painted in Oils – The Perfect Medium for Labradors
Oil paint is an ideal medium for Labrador portraits, as it allows for rich depth, softness, and realistic fur texture. Labradors, especially in chocolate and golden tones, have coats that reflect light beautifully, and oils provide the perfect way to bring that to life. As you can see first was Candy’s portrait and Nicholas created a neutral background to allow Candy to stand off of the canvas with her beautiful chocolatey colours and tones.
We packed the portrait in a presentation box, as you can see below, and it was ready to send to Peter and his family.
A Special Commission – Flynn’s Painting
Here you can see the finished painting of Flynn. Nicholas painted Flynn with a rich garden scene behind to allow for the lovely light golden hues of Flynn’s coat to stand out.
The warm rich tones of the foliage and ground behind really match in well with the light warm colour of Flynn’s coat. All of the tones and hues work well together and the overall painting is very natural. Eeven down to the background matching Flynn’s nose!
Each portrait was packed carefully and you can see Flynn’s portrait with the packaging below. The portrait is placed in a presentation box. Our portraits are always wrapped in cellophane to protect them, then tissue paper and tied with a ribbon.
Once the paintings were completed, Peter wrote back:
“Wow – Candy looks lovely. Thank you ever so much for doing some extra work on Flynn. We will be very happy with the two paintings of our beloved dogs.”
A Heartfelt Goodbye to Candy
Shortly after we completed the portraits, Peter shared some sad news with us. Candy peacefully passed away at the age of 14 ½ years. She lived a wonderful, long life, full of love and companionship, but her absence left a deep void.
“Flynn, for the first time in his 10 years, is a single dog, which is not so easy for him. Now, after two months, he feels a bit better, but he still occasionally sits out in the garden and seems to wait for Candy to come back. This breaks my heart.”
Losing a beloved pet is never easy, and it’s moments like these that remind us just how meaningful pet portraits can be. They hold memories, emotions, and a tangible presence of a pet who has left an irreplaceable mark on our lives.
We truly appreciate the honor of creating Candy and Flynn’s portraits for Peter, knowing that these paintings beautifully tribute their time with him and his family.
A Beautiful Display of Memories
Peter kindly sent us a photo of Candy and Flynn’s portraits displayed in his home, alongside previous artwork we created for him. Seeing our paintings framed like this is incredibly special. It’s wonderful to know that these pieces will be treasured for years to come. We would also like to thank Peter for allowing us to use his portraits and photos to create this blog post – A Special Commission Of Two Beautiful Labradors.
A Special Commission Of Two Beautiful Labradors
Labradors are one of the most beloved dog breeds in the world, known for their loyalty, intelligence, and affectionate nature. Whether they are golden, chocolate, or black, each has a unique personality that shines through in their expressions.
They are also fantastic subjects for oil portraits because their coats have such beautiful natural variations in tone and sheen. The depth and layering of oil paint allow us to bring out the rich warmth of golden Labs, the deep glossy texture of chocolate Labs, and the sleek elegance of black Labs. If you’d like to see more of our dog oil paintings, visit our Dog Oil Portraits Gallery.
Commission Your Own Pet Portrait
Finally, we hope you have enjoyed reading our blog post about A Special Commission Of Two Beautiful Labradors. If you are considering a portrait of your Labrador or any other pet, we’d love to create something truly special for you. Contact us here to discuss your pet portrait commission. Browse more of our Oil Pet Portrait Stories on our blog to see more paintings. We’d love to create a piece that you’ll treasure forever.
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