New portrait: Homer, the jet-setting Golden Retriever

After a brief stint in customs, Homer’s portrait made it safely all the way to Milan, Italy! And now that Vanessa has unwrapped her belated birthday gift from her (very thoughtful) husband, I can finally unveil Homer’s gorgeous, larger than life mug. All nine square feet of it:

Homer | 36 x 36in | Jan 2010

Hi Aimee,
Thank you so much for your good humor, your patience and your assistance in getting ‘Homer’ to us safe and sound. It has been a pleasure to ‘work’ with you over the past couple of months. Most of all, thanks for your hard work and artistry in producing such a magnificent portrait. When I saw the photograph of the portrait which you sent to me I thought it was great. When I saw the actual portrait itself it was really fantastic. – Bill

Dear Aimee,
Thanks from the bottom of my heart for one of the most wonderful birthday presents I could have wished for. The ‘new Homer’ will be treasured as a family heirloom. (I hope the ‘old Homer’ doesn’t get too jealous!) – Vanessa

Homer started out like all my portraits: on the floor.

Homer's humble beginnings

Then up on the easel he went.

There's that grid again (if you can see it)

One of my fav parts of painting: the initial painted sketch

The final background will be green, so in goes red first

Darkest areas go in first

Homer's Joker phase. (Purple and green.)

Warmer tones going in

First actual Golden Retriever-ish hues

Let there be light!

End of Joker phase

Warm coat colors go in. Homer's starting to look more like Homer.

A greenish background will compliment Homer's coat color really well.

Ended up chosing a bluish-green background. He's almost there...

Homer's final portrait. Signed & ready for it's voyage to Milan.

And here’s his portrait is arriving at Bill & Vanessa’s front door…finalmente! (All images compliments of Homer’s blog.

It's like he knows what's in there

The always important grass smell check

Awww. Good dog.

A-hem...how long do I have to sit here?

Birthday girl says time to crack it open!

Happy client and well-behaved (if not bored) Homer

One more look before taking it inside

Safe & sound: Homer, Homer's portrait and the photo I worked from

If you’d like to get to know Homer a little better, check out his blog. He’s always up to something.

And if you have your heart set on nine square feet of your own dog’s mug (or two or 20), check out my website www.aimeehoover.com and send me an email.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

-Aimée

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To view dozens of dog (and a few cat) portraits, please enjoy a tour of my online gallery at www.aimeehoover.com.