The first Swallow

I saw the first swallows arriving in Somerset last week while out walking Tilly in the fields. It was a fine afternoon, briefly between showers. A small group of  4 or 5 were skimming across the fields taking advantage of the sunshine and picking up the odd insect to get their strength up for bringing a new brood into the world. It is difficult to believe that they had just completed a huge marathon all the way from South Africa.

Boxer Blaze

This is my latest commission. Her name is Blaze and sadly recently passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Luckily I had a great photo to work from which made my life so much easier, and her owner happy that I could do a good portrait for her.

Please people, if you have a beloved pet, take loads of really good photos while they are in good health, you may not want a painting now but you never know how you will feel when they go.  I have had to turn down a number of commissions because of really terrible photos and it is too late to do anything about it. The disappointment is sad to see.

Measures A4 and is done on maize Pastelmat using coloured pencils and solvent.