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Resting

 
After Struggle

Anyone who knows my best friend Chester the Manchester Terrier, has probably never seen him truly at rest. Our energetic boy is famous for being a speedy runner and a loud alarm barker. 

However, he has always been the greatest cuddler and a long sleeper, especially now that he is approaching his 14th birthday. Paul and I feel fortunate to cuddle with him, as he is quite selective about his friends and the places he chooses to relax. 

I have enjoyed thousands of precious moments holding him, petting him as he relaxes beside me, often resting his head on my lap and falling asleep. It makes me so happy to have him close.

I always wanted to capture such a scene in a painting. Over the years, Paul has taken many photographs of Chester sleeping beside me, so I only needed to select a few as references. 

To begin, I quickly painted a small study, just 15 x 10 cm. I was satisfied with its composition and lighting, so I thought it could serve as a good starting point for a larger painting.



Then, the struggle began. I chose to paint a larger painting on canvas, 40 x 50 cm. After a week of nearly daily work, I was on the verge of finishing when I noticed significant mistakes in the forms and anatomy of the subjects. As a result, I made the decision not to try en correct but to destroy the thing by removing the paint and starting all over. It was unfortunate for Chester, as I was quite satisfied with how his portrait had turned out.  

Two weeks later, after distracting myself with studying and painting landscapes and with the new exhibition, I felt ready to engage with this painting again. 

I took additional reference photos, experimenting with different perspectives and lighting. This time, I focused more on the overall composition, as well as the figure's posture and expression. However, during the progress, I still wasn’t satisfied with the painting as a whole, and I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn't until I received some invaluable advice from Mireille, an amazing artist, and from my talented "students", that I finalized my choice for the perspective and shadowing. I am grateful to them, as constructive criticism is a wonderful way to learn!  


This will be another one in the series Hands' Private Life. Let's call it "Resting". 

Oil on canvas 40 x 50 cm, alla prima, limited palette.

View the finished painting in my gallery.

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