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| Danny Wallace with Guinness / oil on canvas / 24x18 |
My daughter is a Manager for Price Waterhouse Coopers in the San Jose, CA, office where Danny Wallace is a Partner and is her boss and mentor. He has been so very supportive and kind to her that she wanted to do something very special and unforgettable for him. She had recently shown Danny my website where he spent a lot of time looking at the paintings and told her that he loved my work. So after discussing it with her staff, she asked me to paint his dog Guinness as a surprise gift for Danny. I was delighted and could not wait to do it. Of course, I did not know at the time that Guinness was a gigantic all black Newfoundland with volumes of thick, black fur! During the time that I was working on this very joyful project, Guinness was sadly diagnosed with osteosarcoma and quickly underwent surgery - amputation of a front leg. And so this portrait took on a very special significance in the middle of painting it. After it was completed, sealed and dry, I framed and shipped it off to California. Yesterday afternoon my daughter and her staff presented it to Danny. I am very happy to say that he just loves it and couldn't wait to call me on the phone to tell me.Guinness is doing well now and Danny is delighted to have the portrait. I was on absolute pins and needles awaiting his reaction and could not be happier. Now I can breath again!
truly wonderful dog portrait.
ReplyDeleteHi, Gina! Thank you so much!
DeleteSusan, how could Danny not love that gorgeous portrait??? You filled it with so much character. And I am glad to read that Guiness is doing well after his surgery. :)
ReplyDeleteKathryn
Danny says I really captured Guinness - that thrilled me since I had to use 4 reference photos to come up with this painting!
DeleteSuch a beautiful post, Susan and so happy Guinness is doing well!! You did an AMAZING portrait of him... very realistic and LOVE how you painted his fur.. You can see how pleased Danny Wallace is with his friend!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that Danny loves it! Thanks, Hilda!
DeleteWhat a wonderful story Susan, and a wonderful painting of Guinness. Poor Guinness though. that truly is a great painting Susan. All the best.
ReplyDeleteVic..
Many thanks, Vic. I really had fun doing this one. Before I began, I mixed up a bunch of different blacks - that was a learning experience!
DeleteWow! What a wonderful painting and dear story. People and their pets. He definitely hired the best daughter to surprise him with her mother's work!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzanne. My daughter was so excited. It really made me happy to be able to make her happy! That was the best part of doing this painting!
DeleteAsolutely love the painting of Guinness so full of character. I'm sure Danny had a wee tear in his eye when he was presented with it...smile!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth, and thank you for stopping by my blog. I just heard yesterday that Danny's wife loves the painting as well and they are now trying to figure out where to hang it. I hope they send me a photo once it is decided!
DeleteIt is a wonderful story. I was sorry to hear though that Guinness suffered a painful tragedy. What a ray of sunshine your painting must have been to his owner. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it seems these incredible animals are prone to this type of cancer. But I was heartened to hear that he is doing so well.
DeleteAlmost nothing is more daunting than painting black animals. Beautiful portrait and post.
ReplyDeleteI agree! All that black fur! Thanks for stopping by and your kind words, Mary.
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