Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIP 6

Now I'm posting the penultimate WIP. Here I'm starting to think about the background for Miami's painting and have come up with an idea..... 

I've also started to put a little movement into his coat. In the reference photos his coat is perfectly groomed with not a hair out of place but I decided that in the painting he would be standing in a gentle breeze. 

I hope you're enjoying this journey in the making of a painting. 

Anne

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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIPs 4 & 5

American Cocker Spaniel - Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

Here are the next two WIPs. The changes in the body coat are I think obvious, but perhaps less easily seen are the changes in Miami's head which are more subtle. At this stage although I'm concentrating on Miami himself, I'm also turning lots of ideas for a suitable background around in my mind. I was still very undecided at this point!

Anne

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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIPs 2 & 3

16" x 20" oil on canvas

The next 2 photos show the progress of Miami's painting. I always start with the eyes first although with very little detail. Just as I would dislike a dog with no eyes to look back at me, I find detailed eyes in a somewhat blank canvas rather disturbing! You can see that I've done a fair amount of work on Miami's head in the 3rd WIP although it was at this stage still far from finished.

Anne

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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIP 1

American Cocker Spaniel -Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

Crufts Best In Show 2017

20" x 16" oil on canvas Work In Progress

I've been asked if I could explain the process of creating Miami's portrait, so will start with the first work in progress photo and an explanation of the steps involved.

I was sent some photographs of Miami by the Kennel Club and out of these selected several to sketch to see which I liked best. Eventually I chose one photo of his head and a different one of his body which I felt would work well. At this stage I wasn't sure of the background and had lots of different ideas floating around which I'll discuss later. So here is the beginning stage of Miami's painting.

Anne
info@azpaintings.com

Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

American Cocker Spaniel -Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

Crufts Best In Show 2017

20" x 16" oil on canvas

I was honoured when the Kennel Club approached me once again to paint last year's Crufts Best In Show winner. This painting was presented to Miami's owners, Mike Gadsby and Jason Lynn of the Afterglow Kennels, at Crufts Dog Show last weekend. They will be receiving a limited edition print of the painting and the original will be hung in perpetuity in the Kennel Club in London. 

I am now delighted to introduce the American Cocker Spaniel - Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink. Such a stunning dog! Shown here in his full show coat, his owner/breeders cut it back after his Crufts win and he now lives on with them as a loved pet. 

info@azpaintings.com