Beverley J. Hanna- Original Pastel "Small Victory"

There is a wonderful song by Garnet Rogers called "Small Victory", about the rescue of an old mare, a racer past her prime, and her happy ending. The song so moved me that I did this portrait of her last "Small Victory".

This is typical of the style of pet portrait which I am most often asked to do for commissions. Working in layers, I create these pieces with sharpened pastels and pastel pencils to create a full range of values from darkest darks to lightest lights, resulting in an image of near-photographic realism.

For pastel commissions, I require at least four photos of the animal, since usually, one doesn't have enough detail for me to create an accurate portrait. In many cases, if the animal is available, I will take the photos I need myself, since that way, I can be sure of getting all the visual information required. If the pet has "gone to the Rainbow Bridge", I sometimes have to improvise with reference books, consulting with the animal's owner to make sure we get it right.