Once I started this commission painting pet portrait I could not put my paintbrush down. The mass of fluffy fur was an excellent emailed photograph to paint from because the colours and textures could really shine. It was a large painting, well my largest watercolour size anyway, 16″ x 12″ which also helps when getting in lots of details. I began with the eyes to get the warm character of this lovely puppy dog, then gradually filled in the rest. I made the neck fur, near the collar strap, too dark – so as I went on I lifted some colour and it balanced out again. Later I added fine detail such as the cute bendy whiskers and more layers of paint on the eyes. Such a beautiful dog to paint and I will miss looking at those doe eyes as the painting whisks off to Berlin to its new home. Peanutbutter dog commission copyright Artist Sophie Huddlestone.