staffs

Wonderful, you've caught their expressions just right. Maybe the background is a little too busy for my tastes but then I always struggle with backgrounds and rarely get hem right!

I just love your style of painting dogs Claire. I struggle to paint them in watercolour but you have managed in all three paintings to capture their characters and expressions. Well done!

These great dogs have acquired a completely undeserved reputation, thanks to being taken up by young men who think they make them look hard: in fact, a softer, dafter, more affectionate dog is hard to find, provided it's treated properly. They were once renowned for being good with children - may those days come back and the breed be rescued from stupid owners (though I once made a fuss of a Staffie, and out of the corner of my eye watched the youth who owned him: he couldn't help himself, as his dog went into 'more, more strokings' mode, a smile of joy spread ear to ear ... maybe there was hope for both of them). You've caught their intelligence and charm here, and their strength and dignity, in your characterful painting.

Lovely portrait, really well executed.