Sadie Lady (2024)

Sadie Lady was painted in 2024 as a companion piece, celebrating a living presence rather than remembering one. Created for my partner’s dog, the work captures her strength and alert curiosity while preserving a softness that speaks to trust and familiarity.

The composition frames her mid-motion, surrounded by vivid greens that echo the outdoor world she belongs to. The light strikes across her face and harness, revealing texture and warmth, while the background dissolves into expressive brushwork that feels alive and spontaneous. The portrait aims to convey not just likeness, but vitality — the sense of movement held still for a moment of appreciation.

In contrast to the quiet tones of my memorial works, Sadie Lady leans into brightness and energy. It’s a study of character as much as anatomy, a reminder that portraiture can celebrate joy and companionship just as powerfully as it can preserve memory.

Painted digitally using layered oil-style brushes and wet blending, Sadie Lady combines controlled realism with impressionistic texture. The palette was built around complementary hues — warm sienna and rose against cool viridian and olive — to enhance contrast and depth. Subtle directional strokes across the background mimic the play of light through foliage, adding movement and atmosphere. The choice of a loose painterly finish preserves immediacy, reflecting the subject’s liveliness and grounded warmth.