Sunshine's Rawr: Custom Shih-Tzu Maltese Mix Oil Painting

This original 8x8-inch oil painting captures a hilarious and joyful expression, hand-painted on a premium canvas as a bright reminder of home for a student heading to college.

Translating Color and Light

I absolutely adored working on this piece because Sunshine has the most amazing personality. The collector, a design student heading off to university, wanted a portrait that captured her dog's quirky "rawr" expression to bring comfort to her future dorm room. To honor her name and signature style, we decided to swap out a standard backdrop for a luminous, glowing lemon-yellow gradient. This warm choice provides a beautiful visual contrast against her fur tones.

When painting grey or white coats, the secret is pushing the color temperature. I used cool, deep blues and soft lavenders to sculpt the volumes of her fur, letting warm creams and peachy highlights catch the bright light. I also decided to switch her vest to a vibrant emerald green to tie the entire chromatic composition together perfectly. Applied thickly with energetic brushstrokes, this painting is a joyful, high-contrast keepsake built to bring a burst of happiness wherever it hangs.

Why I love this commission

• Expressive "Rawr" Dynamic: Captures a completely candid, goofy mouth-open expression that shows off the dog's true spirit.
• Luminous Lemon Background: The glowing yellow gradient honors her name, creating a powerful contrast that makes the figure pop.
• Rich Color Adjustments: Shifting the grey fur to cool blues and the vest to emerald green creates a highly sophisticated palette.
• Dorm-Ready Heirloom: Built on a sturdy, hand-prepared support and finished with a clear varnish, making it an ideal companion for a new space.

Technical Details

• Original Oil painting by Alai Ganuza
• 20x20 cm (8x8 inches)
• Professional oil paint on premium canvas
• Certificate of Authenticity (COA) included
• Worldwide tracked and insured shipping via FedEx