Jack: An Original Commission
Andy Barclay, already a two-time commissionaire, wanted a 12x10 inch canvas of his mother's recently deceased Jack Russell as a gift for her upcoming birthday. The backstory of how and when Mrs. Barclay got Jack provided me an explicitly emotional context within which to create my portrait. This was a bonus because the only photograph Andy could give me as a basis was of limited image quality and in which Jack only constituted an eighth of the frame.
She took Jack on directly after Andy left the nest, got married and started his only family. Most of us are aware of and had some experience of parents whom, far from expending their reserves of parental affections at the point when their children leave home, pour themselves into a new baby (a pet most likely, especially if they don't have grandchildren yet). Jack became a new, surrogate son. The grossly unfair "spec" of time that we have with our beloved pets is made that much more poignantly painful when they were the recipients of our parental pinning too. It's heart-wrenching! I can tell that even without being a parent yet myself.
"Definitely off a dark canvas" I though instantaneously. This will represent the despair and anguish of the loss. I also had the idea his head appearing to pop into the image frame; leaning into the canvas from the imaginary "area" to the right of the canvas. I think that this adds an active dynamic to the piece; it helps the subject interact with the portrait within which he resides, rather than remaining a passive subject, caught in paint against his will.
After applying some slightly coloured undertones to the fur, I finished it off with a bright titanium white that is admittedly brighter that Jack would have been. I wanted to imply a ghostly, angelic, otherworldly atmosphere. I thought that would be pertinent and powerful. In hind sight, it was. I think Jack glows. And with the sincere, knowingly-wise and gentle eyes, I'd like to think that Jack will provide some comfort and he watches on protectively and lovingly.
