The Weimaraner (2024)

The Weimaraner was painted as an independent study exploring the balance between realism and painterly abstraction. The breed’s naturally sculptural form lends itself to study — the soft fall of the ears, the reflective surface of the coat, and the dignified tension of its posture. This painting seeks to capture that distinctive elegance while retaining the spontaneity of brushwork that defines my animal portraits.

The piece is as much about tone as anatomy. The subtle interplay of warm browns against a cool, olive background creates harmony without rigidity, allowing the subject to emerge softly from the surface. The lighting isolates the head and neck in a way reminiscent of classical portraiture, drawing focus to the eyes — expressive yet unreadable, poised between alertness and introspection.

In this way, The Weimaraner becomes both study and character piece: an examination of grace, loyalty, and restraint through paint.

Painted digitally with a layered oil-painting process, this work employs broad, gestural underpainting combined with refined glazing to model the delicate sheen of the fur. Highlights were applied sparingly to preserve the natural matte of the coat, while subtle directional strokes in the background suggest energy without overt movement. The result balances structure and texture, creating a portrait that feels both deliberate and alive.