This month Jane Stroud selected Sarah Eden’s dog portrait, Midget, to feature on Leisure Painter’s online gallery page. Sarah, who says she has the best job in the world, describes the way she uses composition to help convey the character of her subject.

Based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, Sarah Eden describes herself as a ‘figurative realist painter’. She specialises in commissioned oil portraiture – of children in particular, but also paints portraits of adults and pets. She uses both traditional and contemporary styles, working from photographs, which she says negates the need for numerous sittings, She is, however, always keen to include narrative objects, which she finds convey a lifelike painting and often help to portray the subject’s identity and personality. Midget just needed herself!

“Midget is one of my latest dog portrait commissions and, perhaps, one of my favourites,’ says Sarah. ‘Although I have my own fairly photo-realistic style with my painting, I always like to paint portrait subjects in a way that best communicates their personalities. For this particular young springer, I was fortunate that my client was happy for me to do something a little more funky and express Midget in her own inimitable way – that is crazy from top to toe! I wanted to show her sense of curiosity by painting her nose as if it were poking out of the painting. My client was keen for me to capture her ‘smile’, which is so typical of Midget. I often paint my backgrounds in flat distempered tones that add purity to the subject and make them ‘pop’. Here I went with a pretty shade of blue/grey to boost the warm russets of her coat.”

Midget, oil on board, (49.5x30.5cm)

You can read more from Sarah in the April issue of Leisure Painter, purchase your copy here.

See more of Sarah's work in the PaintersOnline gallery by clicking here. Or vist her website, www.sarahedenportraits.co.uk.