Custom Pet Portrait (Almost Finished)

Almost done! Finish line is approaching...stay tuned! ;)

"Chip," Chocolate Labrador Retriever Painting in OIL by Lara Harris

"Chip" 5"x 7", oil on canvas
(SOLD, thank you!)
10% donated to
Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue

This is 'Chip,' a beloved Chocolate Lab owned by Janet Hug. I will be adding his story once I hear back from Janet :o)
(Update: Here is what Janet had to say about her beloved 'Chip'...)


Lara, I can't thank you enough for the beautiful painting of my treasured and much beloved Chocolate Labrador, Chip. He was my faithful and devoted companion through many boat rides, walks, evenings laying at my feet, observing simple chores around the house, countless meals in the kitchen and rides in the car. He touched my heart and soul and knew exactly how I was feeling at every moment. He was that special dog that everyone wishes they had forever. I was blessed to have him by my side for 10 glorious years.

Thank you, Janet Hug

Last of 3 Black Lab Paintings: Meet Bebe!

This is the 3rd and final painting in the Black Lab Trio, Bebe, a Black Lab Mix adopted by Patty Defee in Alabama. It was a true pleasure to work with Patty and to spend some time getting to know her sweethearts! 10% of the proceeds of the trio will be going to A Place to Bark in TN, a no kill foster and adoption rescue dedicated to the welfare of animals founded by Bernie Berlin .
If you would like to be a part of my Painting a Pup a Day project feel free to drop me an email and I can send you my current price list as well as put your name on my waiting list. 10% of each portrait goes to one of the dog rescue groups I work with on a personal basis or thru the artists group Art 4 Critters.

2nd of Three Dog Paintings Complete!

This is the 2nd painting of three completed for my customer in Alabama! Her name is Taffy, just like one of our dogs! I love painting senior dogs, their faces have so much character....it's like they have hidden stories to tell. Taffy's eyes are so soft and expressive. I bet she is a real sweetheart! Stay tuned for painting #3 which will complete the trio! Can't wait to see how all three paintings will look once they are grouped together! If you would like to be part of my Painting a Pup a Day project feel free to send me an email at Loveall4Him@aol.com I would be more than happy to add your name to my current waiting list!

One Down, Two to Go!....

I thought it would be fun to share the 1st of 3 paintings I have been working on this week. This is Ozzy, a Black Lab mix owned by Patty Defee. She owns three dogs, all of them rescues, all of them black, and of course, all of them dearly loved! I am now working on her dog, Taffy....and how cool is it that we also have a 'Taffy'?:o) Stay tuned!

The Canine Trio: Bebe, Ozzy, & Taffy

So, yet again do not adjust your screen! What you see are not three completed paintings, but rather the beginning stages of a triptych if you like. Some may find the way I paint a bit crazy, but hey it works for me so I'm sticking with it! I generally start out each painting with a very rough sketch in paint, and then I block in color as you can see here. Then I go in for the details, usually starting with the eyes which I find to be one of the most important parts of any portrait. From there I work on the nose and mouth, and finally the ears and fur. I often feel a bit like a sculptor when I paint, which may sound a bit odd, but that's how I feel with each painting. I think this is why when I start with a blank canvas I cannot wait to cover it completely with blocks of color. Once the white is covered , I begin 'carving out' the image through many brushstrokes and layers of paint. Stay tuned for the finished pieces!

If you would like to be a part of my Painting a Pup a Day project, feel free to send me an email to Loveall4Him@aol.com and I would be happy to send you my current price list and put you on my waiting list. 10% goes to one of the many dog rescue groups I work with. My work is currently in private collections throughout the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Once Upon a Time There Were 3 Little Dogs....

Well after being under the weather the past couple of days I am back in the studio and ready to unleash my creative juices! This is a shot of the very beginning of three commissioned pieces I am doing for a customer of her three adorable dogs, all rescues she has taken in and adopted. There is Bebe, Ozzy, and she even has a Taffy like we do! I cannot wait to get going on these as I think in the end they will make an awesome grouping to hang on her wall! Stay tuned!

If you would like to be a part of my Painting a Pup a Day project please feel free to drop me an email at Loveall4Him@aol.com . I would be happy to send you my current price list as well as put your name on my waiting list! 10% of each painting goes to one of the many dog rescue groups I currently work with!

Painting #6, "Boomer," Yellow Labrador Retriever Painting in Oil

Painting 6,"Boomer," 5"x 5"x 1 1/2",oil on canvas (sold)

photo reference: Ray Horwath (Flickr id:rayh1995)

10% of the proceeds will go directly to Waggin' Tails Dog Rescue in Michigan

This is my 6th painting for my Painting a Pup a Day project of "Boomer", a sweet-faced Yellow Labrador Retriever owned by Ray Horwath. It reminded me a bit of our Yellow Lab Mix, Jedha who is equally as lovable I'm sure. This is what Ray and his wife shared about their precious Boomer:

"They say that the “runt of the litter” is always the last to be picked, but in our case, he was our first choice.
As you can see from Boomer’s expressive eyes, he is truly a gentle soul. The unconditional love he shows for everyone is amazing. He has never met a stranger….everyone is a potential partner in play.
Boomer (whose real name is Spartacus, Hillview’s Boomer Dog!) has one favorite summertime hobby…..figuring out how to get into the pool, which we wisely gated! Woe to the person who accidently opens the door to the house a little too wide when there’s people swimming. We have found out the hard way, it takes boomer about 1.4 seconds from bursting through the door until splashdown! It takes substantially longer to get a lab out of a pool.
Like all of our pets, Boomer has become a much loved member of the family….complete with sleeping on the couch and bed privileges! We look forward to many more years of love and adventure with “our” Boomer."

I loosened up a bit more on this piece, a goal of mine for this project. I read something recently by one of my favorite artists, Karin Jurick, in which she was saying how she was finding herself almost 'drawing' a painting she had been working on vs. actually 'painting' it. That really struck home with me because I think I tend to do that as a painter. As an artist, I started out primarily drawing, and now I tend to approach my paintings in much the same way I would a drawing, but painting should be a bit looser. The paint should be applied with a bit more freedom...have some movement and life to it, so hopefully I have achieved this with this piece. I hope to paint this way as I continue on this journey, although I have a feeling it is going to take some time...