Hands' Private Life. Resting

from my blog:

Anyone who knows my best friend Chester the Manchester Terrier, has probably never seen him truly at rest. Our energetic boy is famous for being a speedy runner and a loud alarm barker. 

However, he has always been the greatest cuddler and a long sleeper, especially now that he is approaching his 14th birthday. Paul and I feel fortunate to cuddle with him, as he is quite selective about his friends and the places he chooses to relax. 

I have enjoyed thousands of precious moments holding him, petting him as he relaxes beside me, often resting his head on my lap and falling asleep. It makes me so happy to have him close.

I always wanted to capture such a scene in a painting. Over the years, Paul has taken many photographs of Chester sleeping beside me, so I only needed to select a few as references. 

To begin, I quickly painted a small study, just 15 x 10 cm. I was satisfied with its composition and lighting, so I thought it could serve as a good starting point for a larger painting….

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