Moose's owner had been looking for years. Years, searching for someone who could paint her partners Rottweiler x Blue Heeler properly and do him justice. When she finally found me, the pressure was on, and I loved it.
Getting the detail right
The Rottweiler shines through in Moose - his owner describes him as their mini Rotti. He is strength and softness in the same face - the dark coat, the warm tan markings, the surprisingly gentle eyes. I worked to capture Moose's actual personality rather than a generic version of his breeds. His slightly twisted snout, his heavy leather collar, and the detail his owner wanted to include most? I added his missing name tag back onto his collar, exactly where it belonged.
That is the kind of small thing that turns a painting into their dog. It is why I ask so many questions before I start, and why I send progress photos along the way, so nothing important gets missed. With a breed as misunderstood as the Rottweiler, that care matters even more.
I wanted Moose to look like the gentle, slightly goofy family dog his owner knew, not the guard-dog cliche people tend to expect.
“You captured Moose's personality perfectly. Money very well spent.”
After all that searching, hearing it was worth it meant a great deal. If you have a Rottweiler, or a mixed breed dog you have struggled to find the right artist for, I would love to be the one who finally gets it right!
