Do it, her work is lovely and not expensive.

What a gorgeous poodle! I think a portrait would look fabulous above the fireplace. I'd be partial to a whimsical one.

My brother has done many pet portraits - all cats - and we have a few of them in our house. I think it is especially personal if you know the artist. My brother also used to paint cat portraits on T-shirts. After his cat phase, he did mostly self-portraits, but I liked the cat portraits better.

I also vote yes!

I think whimsical, too. A classic one wouldn't be as much fun.

We had an artist friend do sketches of our two and she also did several watercolors. I would not hesitate if I were you!

I met the artist today and arranged to have a portrait done. I've got to send a few photos. I also asked her if she could paint this of my grandchildren -- yes! I've asked her to paint it first because I may give it to my son and his wife.

Forget the art, I want the real poodle, gorgeous!

The painting of my grandchildren was finished and given to my son and his family for Christmas. The artist's work turned out great. She says she'll have my poodle painting finished in about two weeks. She's so sweet, a young mother who lives with her parents, a block away from me.

Wow, the artist did a great job! I love it. What a special gift for your son's family.

This is the artist. https://www.tessastudios.com

dyh, the painting of your grandchildren turned out great! Can't wait to see the one of your poodle.

Update! Tess finished the painting of Brie. She just sent this photo.

It's meant to be a "cutie" (not serious) portrait. I think she did a great job -- I gave her photos of Brie with a more "casual" groom cut instead of the big pouf.

dyh, I'm so glad I found this. I couldn't remember who started the thread, but fortunately I bookmarked Tessa's website and using her name, I found this using GW search.

The portrait is adorable. It sounds like you like it. Is it a good likeness of Brie? Only a mom can answer that.

What a fun, sweet portrait! I just love it.

Well, it's too small for over the fireplace and the background color a bit too strong for that wall, compared to the SW Tidewater ceiling. It's the largest Tess will paint, and she said she'd never painted a dog this large. I was sitting on the sofa, not standing, to take the photo.

I think it will hung on the blank wall viewed from my dining room into the back hallway.

Is it 24x30? That seems to be the largest she offers for pets. Is it the flat or deep?

I’m not sure about it being too small for your fireplace but I like the color in your room.

So cute! Her prices are really reasonable.

Linelle -- yes 24x30 on a deep canvas.

How did you decide on the background colors. Did you hope it would be more to your liking with your existing blues?

I would love a painting of my two cats. I don’t have the perfect image of each of them in a single photo, but I have two separate photos that I’m hoping she’d be able to combine as one.

Did you get any rough preliminary sketches with colors to okay?

I sent Tess three photographs and told her what colors I like. She sent back some color examples of paintings, and I selected aqua/mix. She didn't send sketches back to me.

I think ir's a lovely piece and, as anele said, it will work if matted and framed. The colors appear to go well with your ceiling color.

It's an oil painting --

I've framed oils (and have two very large ones that are framed), but I've never added a mat to an oil painting, only to watercolors.

I'll have to research mats for oil paintings. Oils aren't supposed to have glass on top.

The frame below is 3" wide, and I have another huge oil with the same frame in my living room.

Anything wider than 3" may overwhelm the painting. That would still make it only 30" wide -- and my fireplace box width (the tiled part) is 39" wide.

I think it could work if you added some taller, more substantial items on either side of the painting to sort of fill the empty space.

I see your point about the mat. Do you have anything else the same size (30”) to test out? ETA You have a lovely home (and grandkids and dog)!

I think it's starting to grow on me. I moved the other art critters (Cotterill Bronze frog and the steampunk bird (cloche) closer.

At night, it looks better with lamplight. It's still propped up, but I attached the wire to the back. I don't want to put a hanger on the wall until I'm sure.

I'm glad it's growing on you. It looks amazing in your beautiful room.

One more thing: Does it capture Brie's unique look?

She looks more like her puppy self more than her 5 yo self. I didn't ask for a "classic" portrait -- I asked for 'cutie' that is more fun.

Very cute. My son did one for a friend and it's difficult to capture the personality of a pet when you don't live with them.

Good job.

You have a beautifully decorated home (and a darn cute doggie).

The paintings are wonderful! I like the one of Brie propped. You could always layer another piece of art with it. I did this in laundry room on a table with good results.

Guests from Alaska came for breakfast this morning. They didn't even mention the painting, and they love Brie and other dogs. It must not have looked odd to them!

dyh, I find it odd when guests (either family or friends) visit and don't comment on something new or meaningful to me. I don't mean something small or easily overlooked, but a new portrait of Brie right over your fireplace?!! I get that it didn't look odd to them, but I would not have been able to contain my delight over the painting.

I have a Waterlogue'd portrait of my cat Bessie in my guest bath. I think it's totally adorable and hard to miss. In the 3-1/2 years it's been there, one (1) person has remarked on it. She loved it, and I told her that she was the first and only person who ever said something about it. She was shocked.

It just goes to show that you need to decorate with what you like, not what you want others to respond favorably to.

This couple had never been to my house, so they don't know what's new or not. They're looking to relocate when they retire and were most interested in my renovations of an old house. They were all about the details of the kitchen, baths, floors, walls, wiring, etc.

Yeah, but still. If it's an animal, and one I know, I cannot contain myself.

Guests always want to sit in the chairs in front of the fireplace, so their backs are to the portrait!