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Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

French Bulldogs

I'm embarrassed to show this one.  It was commissioned over two years ago, and I kept putting it off.  By placing it on my website, I managed to "guilt" myself into finishing it.  Almost every artist I know has a few pieces that, for one reason and another, keep being put on the back burner. 

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Here are some of the photos that were sent to me from Australia by my friend and owner of these adorable French Bulldogs.  The youngest one, Xena, is all grown up now and is a regular on the show circuit.

Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

The dogs' owner Kim e-mailed me over a dozen photos of the dogs, and I've used most of them.  As you can see, there is very little detail in the eyes of Gizzy on the left, and Boof's ear doesn't stand up, the result of a surgical procedure a few years ago.  It's great to have other photos to use for reference.  Sometimes it's necessary to look up breed details in specialty books and magazines, if the subject of the portrait is no longer living.  Fortunately, Kim sent me lots of references.

Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

I use Carb-Othello pastel pencils to get the kind of detail my clients require.

Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

As I am right-handed, I work from upper left to lower right, in order to avoid smudging the pastel.

Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

Once the first layer of pastel is laid down, I spray it with a workable lacquer fixative.  Because the fix darkens down the lights and midtones, I have to go back in and rework those areas.  At this stage, I add in most of the fine detail.

Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

Once the second layer has been done, I give it another and final spray with the fixative.  Again, the lights darken down, but the final coat of pastel is almost all whites and light colours.  The last thing to be done is the whiskers, the highlights and the signature.  The speckles and dark spots have now disappeared, and the work is ready to frame.

Beverley J. Hanna - Work in Progress 'French Bulldogs'

The finished product.
It has been scanned and colour-corrected in order to make prints, and the original carefully packaged and shipped to Australia, where it will hang in a place of honour (at least I hope so!).

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Estimated Selling Price :  $1,500.00 CAD   ($500.00 per animal)
Estimated Completion Date:  Completed      Prints are available, 8x10 & 12x15

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