Meet Daisy, a delightful and magically gifted Basset Hound. Join me as I guide you through the transformative process of bringing her portrait to life, from initial inspiration to stunning completion.

When I first saw a photo of Daisy, I was inspired to design a Christmas card with her leading the sleigh on Christmas Eve, capturing the Christmas spirit with a sense of wonder.

The nose is always my starting point! It's possibly the funniest feature of a dog's face, but also crucial, alongside the eyes. Eyes expose a pet's personality, evoke emotions, and narrate a story.

The rest of the painting follows naturally. My creative process involves subconscious exploration, which led to incorporating antlers and a red nose. I refine the piece by adding fur and shadows, then take breaks before reassessing its emotional impact.

Daisy is pictured in her festive Christmas harness, her fur combed, coat sleek, and ears brushed. At the sound of a jingle, she looks up in awe and sees Santa, her eye twinkling. The card verse inside reads: Wishing you a Magical Holiday Season.