January 5, 2008
In Memory of Samson, Golden Retriever
Memorial Portrait of Samson, Golden Retriever, Susan Donley, 2007. Oil Pastel, 9×12 inches. Commissioned Portrait, Private Collection.
Samson’s human dad Joe Mannato called me the day Samson died to commission this portrait. It touched me to become such an integral part of someone’s mourning process.
Besides capturing that winning Golden smile, the challenge with this portrait was to render the wonderful over- and under-tones that make Golden Retriever coats so beautiful. How do these dogs manage to be blonds and redheads simultaneously? It’s Golden magic!
Joe wrote me……on seeing the approval scan I emailed him:
Oh Sue you brought tears to my eyes, it is so incredible. This is a gift tome, so go ahead and post it on your website [before Christmas]. Thank you sooooooo much.
And after he received the real thing in the mail:
Sue the portrait is amazing! Thank you so much, you brought tears to my ears. I can never truly express how I feel in words.
I hope the portrait has helped Joe in the healing process by bringing back warm memories of this beautiful dog.
Art details: Sennelier oil pastel on Art Spectrum tinted primed pastel paper. Oil pastel with solvent under-painting.
Beautifully done, as always!
Comment by Flickr: Robinson Artworks — December 10, 2007 @ 2:19 am