Maggie Clough Pet Paintings

If you live anywhere near Toronto today, you know that Spring is in the air. It feels good, also to know Summer is on the way. To get us in the mood, here's a happy guy enjoying summer his favourite way. This is ROPER whom I painted last year for his family, so they'd always remember those great days. Have a great weekend all, and of course feel free to share ROPER... Oil dry brush painting 10" x 14" See more

Here's a sweet face to help you start your day. This is ELLA , a darling little guinea pig girl very missed and now honoured by her family. In her 'mom's' words, " She was four years old. She managed to fight through all her complications with the awesome love and support of her mama and papa. She was a tough cookie. We will forever miss her cute face and her fighting spirits." I suggested showing Ella in her own little space with things she loved. Ella's 'mom' provided me w...ith a pic of her favourite blanket and I created a composition also including her other favourite thing, dinner! Such a sweet little energy and a delightful portrait to do, enjoy! Oh! and.. the little leg stretched out? This is a sign of a relaxed and happy guinea girl ;) (see Ella's reference photos in the comments area) ELLA Oil Dry Brush Painting 10" x 14"

I'm now free to share with you my dry brush painting of sweet little Yorkie girl CHLOE. Painted as a memorial for Chloe's 'mom' for her birthday, I hope it's helping her smile and remember all the love her little girl brought her. Thank you Canada Post for whisking it to B.C. from Toronto in just 7 days! Enjoy, and feel free to share (see Chloe's reference photo in the comments area)

I'm often asked if I paint people and the answer is yes, as well as almost any subject you'd like painted. Would you love a portrait of yourself or another with a pet? No need to have that one perfect pic, I can create one composition from separate compatible pics. For this painting, I took multiple shots, used one of the man Jack but swapped in one of the pup Riley with a better angle. Send me your best shots, I'll show you how we can create a portrait you'll cherish forever. JACK & RILEY Oil Dry Brush Painting 12 x 16 inches

KOBY Oil Dry Brush Painting 10x14 inches This is KOBY, whom I painted in pastel for my client, then in dry brush just because I wanted to see him in this style as well, with all the contrasts and markings in his fur. I always say get down to your pet's height to take pics, but capturing them in a relaxed moment like this looks very natural and super cute!

Before Christmas I had the pleasure of painting this lovely 'Golden' girl Marlee, and it was especially fun as it was a surprise for her 'mom' who had been following my work. She was very touched and had these words to share. "What a beautiful portrait of my lovely pup, Marlee. It is a wonderful reminder of all the lovely walks shared, evenings with her by my side keeping my feet warm, and excited greetings after a long day at work. She is loved and missed and it’s so nice to have this great piece that captures her spirit so well." Marlee's portrait is painted in pastel, 12" x 16"

A dry brush portrait from a couple of years ago, this is the adorable SHADOW. I loved the gentle mood and look in his eyes. It also shows how well suited dry brush is to portraying the rich subtleties of texture, detail and light so realistically. Enjoy, as always feel free to share

Great news today, I am able to ship portraits again! With cases of Covid-19 on the rise I've been offering only 'curbside' pick-up at my Pickering Ontario location, but I've now found a shipper who will do contact-free pickup and deliver right to your door. Did Santa bring you just everything you'd have liked? If not, maybe it's time to take matters into your own hands ;) ;) ;) (if you think you might like a portrait, just message me your email address and I'll send you full info). A portrait from a year or so ago, this is Eko, a handsome Mallinois boy. Painted in my rare oil dry brush technique, EKO is 10" x 14".

Here's a friendly face to bring you a smile today, this is MADDIE! Pictured at the water where she loved to be, Maddie's portrait was a gift for her 'dad' as a remembrance of their special girl. In their own words.. "Our Maddie girl was a rescue from a marriage split up..she was the sweetest dog ..never barked..but made her presence known thru her eyes and actions..we didn't think of her as a "dog"..We treated her like our own child..we we're blessed to have her for 13yrs..it broke our hearts when she left us..but now through the magnificent artistry of Maggie..she'll always be just a glance away in our living room" Aww nice- thank you! I hope it will bring back sweet memories and smiles for years. Enjoy, and as always feel free to share Maddie is painted in pastel on Pastelmat paper, 10" x 14"

This adorable Puggle (pug and beagle) girl Phoebe is the light of her 'mom's' life, so a portrait of her was clearly the perfect Christmas gift. PHOEBE is painted in my oil dry brush technique, 10 x 14 inch. Enjoy, and as always feel free to share

Now that gift portraits have been opened and it's safe to share them here, here's a sweet face to help see you into 2021. This is JERSEY, painted in pastel on Pastelmat paper. Enjoy,and as always feel free to share :) HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my friends and followers! Please remember tonight to drink and wander about your own home responsibly. May everyone enjoy good health, easier times and many blessings in the new year. Maggie

I'm so happy to be able to share with you a new dry brush portrait of lovely Sheltie girl TESS. This portrait a very thoughtful gift for Tess's family after her recent passing; her 'mom's words best describe the lovable soul behind those gentle eyes. "Hard to put into words what she meant to us. You’re right, she was truly a sweetheart, those eyes said it all, not a bad bone in her body, so many people loved her. She was such a sweet and quiet girl, quiet can be unusual for a... sheltie, but maybe for her it was because she lived with two old retirees . She never barked, and she would be constantly by our sides. When we took her for walks it was always so funny to watch her reactions if someone passed us by without acknowledging her. She would look up at us as if in utter disbelief, a look of don’t they know how special I am, don’t they want to get to know me?. Well ... we did, and we were so lucky to have her in our lives for the short time that we did , and we will never forget her." Please see in comments for how nice "Tess" looked all framed and ready to hang :)

Merry Christmas and peace to all... and remember...

Like Maggie's portrait (previous post), here's another example where the original image underwent quite the transformation to arrive at the final result. In this case all the desired elements were there, but being a candid pic with a lot of content and not staged to become a permanent portrait, it looked quite honestly rather cluttered and chaotic. I kept the essential elements but reworked them into a balanced, organized composition that first off featured IZZIE, displayed important details (like BEST IN SHOW!), and that invites your eye to move through and take in the details while being comfortable to look at for a long time. Enjoy, as always feel free to share.