Izzy: Custom Dog Portrait Oil Painting

I painted this 8x8 inch oil portrait to capture a loyal companion, created as a comforting reminder of home for a student heading off to college.

Refining the Profile and Posture

I wanted to make sure this portrait focused entirely on the sweet, alert expression of the subject. During the sketching phase, we decided to remove a front paw from the composition to keep the focus cleanly on the head turn. I also used the green background paint to slightly reshape the profile of the snout, ensuring it looked perfectly natural and matched her true features. It was a wonderful process of refining the fine details until the likeness felt completely right.

To make her warm, brindle fur pop, I chose a vibrant green hedge background underneath a soft blue sky. The contrast brings out the rich browns and golds in her coat. I applied the professional oil paint thickly with visible, energetic brushstrokes on a handmade wood panel, giving the ears and fur a beautiful, tactile quality. The custom-patterned collar and her pink flower tag add a lovely, personal touch to the final artwork, making it a truly special keepsake to carry to a new apartment or dorm room.

Why I love this commission

• Clean Head-Turn Focus: By removing the front leg, the composition focuses completely on her large, expressive ears and alert gaze.
• Vibrant Outdoor Palette: The bright green and blue background serves as a lively backdrop that makes the warm brindle coat stand out.
• Thick Tactile Texture: I applied heavy layers of oil paint to create a rich, painterly surface that highlights the handcrafted look.
• Personal Accessories: Including the specific collar and pink flower tag ensures the painting feels entirely unique and full of personal history.

Technical Details

• Original Oil painting by Alai Ganuza
• 20x20 cm (8x8 inches)
• Handmade prepared wood panel
• Certificate of Authenticity (COA) included
• Worldwide tracked and insured shipping via FedEx