Welcome to my latest blog post of the most gorgeous full body Cocker Spaniel pencil drawing. It was a pleasure to work with Dan on this commission. He contacted me in January and wanted a pencil drawing of their beautiful Cocker Spaniel, Molly, as a surprise birthday gift for his wife, Louise. The chosen reference was taken during Christmas and it captured Molly perfectly. Dan mentioned how much he loved that photo and hoped to base the portrait on it.
We chatted back and forth and Dan shared extra images of Molly to help with the finer details. Her little tuft of hair on top of her head was important to include and I was delighted to add that in. I always say that these tiny features help to capture the true character of your dog so it is important to let me know all about them.
Dan decided on a full-body drawing, which worked really well with Molly’s sitting pose.I suggested a more square format, around 10×10 inches, to suit the composition. Dan happily agreed, noting he’d get it custom framed, so the non-standard size wouldn’t be an issue.
The Finished Drawing
When the drawing was complete I took plenty of photos for Dan to see. Taking photos of my drawings don’t really do them justice, they are much more delicate and natural in real life. I sometimes feel, especially with an iPhone it can make them look a little harsh. However Dan wrote this ….
“Absolutely perfect. I love it. Thank you so much. It catches the look she gives us so often. Can’t wait to give it to Louise.”
Packing the Portrait
I packed the portrait and sent out just in time for Louise’s birthday. Packing the drawing is one of the most important stages of any commission. I find it presentation and packaging of the portrait is really important. So its really important to take great care when wrapping each drawing and Molly’s portrait was no exception.
I always wrap the drawings in cellophane, then carefully wrap in turquoise tissue paper then finally place in a black presentation box. Also finished with a ribbon to match.
Inside, I included a thank-you card, care instructions, and a postcard featuring some of our lovely past clients with their portraits. It’s important that each parcel feels special to open, almost like unwrapping a gift, which in this case it truly was!
Happy Clients
A few weeks later, Dan kindly shared some photos of the portrait beautifully framed, alongside Louise and Molly. It’s always such a joy for me to see the finished portrait in its new home, especially alongside the dog it represents. Dan wrote…
“We will do thank you. The company we used for framing was The Framery on Sharrowvale Road in Sheffield. Really helpful staff picking a soft black frame as not to detract from the drawing.”
Dan and his family had Molly’s portrait professionally framed by The Framery. They chose a beautiful soft black frame that perfectly complements the pencil tones without drawing attention away from the artwork itself. The Framery offer a remote framing service too, which means clients from anywhere in the UK can take advantage of their expert advice and high quality finish. If you’re looking for a trusted framer for your portrait, both Dan, Louise, Molly and myself can highly recommend them!
Tips For Taking The perfect Cocker Spaniel Reference Photo
Cocker Spaniels are known for their elegant, feathery coats and beautiful expressions. A full body pencil portrait gives you the chance to capture the whole character of the breed like Molly here, not just their face, but also their full being. Think about what makes your Cocker Spaniel unique and how you want to capture that in a portrait. Is it their cute face and eyes? Their full body? I’m ready..stance? A particular expression? The reference photo makes a huge difference to choosing the kind of portrait, size and shape that you might like.
Here are a few suggestions to help when you take photos…
- Natural daylight is best. Try taking photos outdoors or by a window.
- Get down to your dog’s eye level.
- Try to capture their varying personalities —relaxed, playful, curious, or regal.
- Avoid using filters or zooming in too much as it can affect the detail.
Dan’s photo of Molly was ideal. It was taken during a quiet moment at home, lit naturally, and perfectly framed. It gave me all the details I needed to bring her to life on paper.
More cocker spaniel portraits
Thank you for reading my blog post about Full Body Cocker Spaniel Pencil Drawing. If you love this drawing, take a look at some of my other spaniel portraits, in particular the one of Moo The Cocker Spaniel. Each portrait is unique and tailored to the dog and family. I always work closely with my clients to ensure every drawing is personal to them. From choosing the right size and composition to capturing those all important details, everything is tailored to your dog and your home. If you would like to read more about me and my process, visit my Commissions Info page. I am very much looking forward to working with you soon!
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