Realistic Oil Painting of a Puggle and Toy

We are thrilled to share one of Nicholas’s latest pet portraits, a realistic oil Painting of a Puggle and Toy – Gabby and her Lamp Chop. Gabby is a beautiful Puggle, who Nicholas portrayed with her much-loved Lamb Chop. This was a truly special commission for us to complete for Gabby’s family who love her dearly.

A Special Commission for a Cherished Companion

We first heard from Sonny, who lives in the USA with his family and their beloved dog Gabby in 2024. His email described how he had first discovered our work around Gabby’s 10th birthday and also how he had always envisioned having a portrait of her. Now at 13 years old and still in great health, Gabby was the perfect subject for an oil painting by Nicholas that would take pride of place on a dedicated wall in their dining room.

Sonny’s message included this….

“My name is Sonny… I live in the USA, with my [family] and the love of our lives, our dog, Gabby. I’d like to commission an oil portrait of Gabby. Your work is the best I’ve seen anywhere! I first discovered you around Gabby’s 10th birthday. She is now 13 and in great health. We have a dedicated wall in our dining room waiting for this portrait!”

Gabby is a Puggle with a mix of Shih Tzu and Pekingese, which gives her such a unique and expressive face. Sonny had no specific deadline for the portrait, which we are always relieved about as we are busy with our commissions all year round. So he just wanted to secure a place in our commission list. Which we did!

One special request from Sonny was to depict Gabby with the black fur she had as a younger dog. Over the years, her face had gradually lightened, turning from deep black to soft white. However, Sonny wanted to remember her just as she had been in her younger days. Luckily Sonny had one particular photo they loved of Gabby when she was younger which we based the painting on, ensuring the portrait reflected her as Sonny and his family remember her.

The Painting Process

Nicholas painted this 20 x 16-inch oil portrait on Winsor & Newton linen canvas using traditional oils, ensuring the highest quality and durability. The process as usual, began with an underpainting which you can see below, to establish the values and composition.

He then carefully started to build up the layers, painting the background and then the undertones of Gabby’s face and body. You can already see though that Nicholas is painting in the direction of fur to create the three dimensional form. The undertones will then be refined with a layer of detail on top.

As you can see in the photo below, Nicholas has started adding Gabby’s eyes and also adding more detail around her face. Still a long way to go, but it’s coming together well.

Completed Painting Plus The Famous Lamb Chop Toy

One of the most lovely elements of this portrait is Gabby’s beloved toy – Lamb Chop. Do you remember Lamb Chop? This puppet, originally made famous by Shari Lewis in the 1950s, holds a special place in many hearts. I actually had one myself when I was little, a family member hand knitted it for me and I still have it to this day. So it was wonderful to see Gabby’s connection to it. The texture of the toy and expressive face all adds character and personalisation to the portrait.

Below you can see the finished portrait and you can scroll down to see some close up photos too. We hope you like it as much as we do! Note also, all of the lovely whisps and fine whiskers around Gabby’s face. Taking time over the final details really does help to bring it all to life.

The Lamp Chop close up. Such a cute face!

Here is a close up photo of Gabby’s head along with Nicholas’s hand and paintbrush. This helps to show the scale of the piece too. Aren’t her eyes just totally adorable.

Our Lovely Clients and The Big Reveal

One of the most wonderful moments in our work is seeing our clients reaction when they receive their portrait. Sonny sent us a wonderful photo of his family with Gabby and the finished painting. Their smiles say it all! It’s a joy to know that this portrait will be cherished for years to come.

Testimonial

We always appreciate hearing from our clients, and Sonny emailed when he saw photos of the painting – plus when he sent the amazing photo too!

Hi Melanie, This portrait is wonderful!!  Nicholas is amazing.  No alterations needed.  Thank you so much.  I am so excited! Best,  Sonny

OK, we finally had my dad take a pic of the whole gang! 

Framing the Portrait

Once completed, the painting was beautifully framed by a framer local to Sonny, adding an elegant finishing touch. The classic black and gold frame complements the soft, natural tones of the portrait, making it a stunning centre piece for Sonny and his family’s home.

Realistic Oil Painting of a Puggle and Toy Completed!

This commission was an absolute pleasure for both Nicholas and I to work on and we hope that you have enjoyed reading about it and seeing the photos. Message us if you would like to commission a realistic pet portrait in oil, and we will create something truly special for you. Visit our website to find out more about our custom pet portrait process.

Thank you, Sonny, for allowing us to paint Gabby and share her story! And thank you for everyone who read to the end!

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