My painting of Shadow is one of a matched pair of portraits, both of adorable Keeshonds and both done in my charcoal style. I confess, I wasn't really familiar with this breed until I got this commission, but I understood immediately what I was dealing with when, in the course of doing some research, I came across someone who described keeshonds as "pomeranians on steriods"--very apt! I found their coloring lent itself very well to the desaturation of this style, not to mention making their eyes so brilliant in that dark mask.

The pair of portraits like Shadow and Raven cost $225.