Barbara Hands Dog Paintings

Watercolours

German Spitz Klein
German Spitz Klein
My method of watercolour painting is traditional, based on the same methods used by the artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. No white or body colour is used to highlight or accent my paintings. I work onto high quality heavyweight white paper, usually Aquarelle. This is a quality paper specifically made for watercolour paintings.

Border Terriers
Border Terriers
The best paper for painting dogs, I find, has a slight texture to it. This allows a great deal of coat detail to be put into the painting of the dog. I do like to do a fair amount of drawing on the paper before starting to paint. The media that I use for the paintings is of the highest quality available. Artists' watercolours have a higher lightfastness, but care should always be taken when hanging a watercolour as strong sunlight can cause fading even when the best quality materials are used.

Oil Paintings

West Highland White by Barbara Hands As with my watercolour paintings, I use only the finest quality materials for my work. I aim to produce a work of art to endure the generations. Oil paints are high quality artists variety and are painted onto linen canvas with strong wooden stretchers. An oil painting is not affected by sunlight to the same extent as a watercolour painting and therefore would usually be less affected by extremes in climatic conditions. Oil paint does take many years to dry completely and during this time can absorb smoke etc from the atmosphere and I would advise avoiding a smokey room during this time.

Original Art

This web site is mainly a showcase for my Limited Edition Prints. Many of the originals from which the prints were made are available to purchase and from time to time, I will put up individual original oils and watercolours for purchase. Most originals are sold ready framed and can be shipped worldwide. Please contact me if you require any details on availability of the originals of prints. I would be most happy to send details of availability, size and costs etc.

Commissions

Commissions can be accepted from anywhere in the world as I work from client's own photographs. During the working of a painting I send regular reports showing the progress of the painting.

Scottish Terriers by Barbara Hands Paintings can be head and shoulders portraits or full dogs in a simple landscape or more complex settings of gardens or your favourite views, or one in keeping with the breed of dog.

The price for a commission will depend on the size and complexity of the work you require. Commissioned works start at 16" x 12". Very large works would be removed from their stretchers for shipping. Prices would start from £225 plus shipping for a head and shoulders portrait in oils or watercolours of this size.

A recent departure from dog portraiture is house portraits. If you don't have a family pet but live in a house of interest why not commission an oil or watercolour of that instead?