Lucy: Custom Yorkie Dog Oil Painting

This original 25x25 cm (10x10 inch) oil painting is a cozy, heartwarming tribute, hand-painted on a premium square wood panel as a special holiday surprise.

A Comforting Tribute on Canvas

This commission holds a very special meaning. The collector wanted to surprise her daughter, a fellow painter, with a holiday portrait of their sweet senior dog, Lucy. Because the subject was dealing with long-term illness, capturing her exact warmth and character was incredibly important to me. We chose a beautiful photo of Lucy relaxing on her favorite soft bedding and went with a perfect square 25x25 cm format to ensure her sweet face and resting posture remained close to a natural, intimate scale.

To fit the quiet, mellow decor of her room, I designed a background filled with rich teals and soft turquoise tones. This cool, structured color blocking creates a gorgeous backdrop that allows Lucy’s coat to take center stage. When painting senior pets, I look for all the hidden light in their fur; I layered subtle lavender, soft pinks, and warm peach tones into the highlights, using deep blues and rich violets to craft the shadows. Applied thickly with visible brushstrokes, the final result is a texturized, light-filled keepsake built to be cherished forever.

Why I love this commission

• Meaningful Holiday Gift: The portrait serves as an enduring family keepsake, honoring a beloved senior companion in a vibrant, timeless way.
• Color-Blocked Backdrop: The blend of rich teal and dark green shapes gives the composition a modern frame while keeping the overall mood quiet and calm.
• Thick Tactile Texture: Heavy impasto brushstrokes perfectly capture the soft, layered volume of her coat on a studio-prepared wood panel.
• Luminous Highlight Work: I spent extra time building up the highlights in her eyes to give her expression a clear, alert, and loving presence.

Technical Details

• Original Oil painting by Alai Ganuza
• 25x25 cm (10x10 inches)
• Handmade, prepared wood panel
• Certificate of Authenticity (COA) included
• Worldwide tracked and insured shipping via FedEx