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This fun painting is a commission by Jenn, one of my longtime students. Jenn requested me to paint something for her parents' 45th wedding anniversary, which fall on the Christmas day. She sent me many pictures with the proviso that her parents would enjoy the camel/desert painting the most. So instead of the traditional portrait, I chose the figure in landscape for the project although the faces would be tiny. 

The reference picture was taken in Morocco. During the family's vacation they took an outing to the desert for a camel ride. Jenn said she was scared, but her dad was in bliss. She even asked me to paint his eyes closed to emphasize his utter enjoyment! 

Every now and then I paint pets for clients, and "Bailey" is the latest. He is a 8-year-old Goldendoodle who is loving and follows his mom around. He is sweet and loves to stay active. In the reference, the background was almost the same color as his fur. Not good! I changed it to green to suggest the grass for this active guy. I hope the portrait makes a lovely Christmas gift.

I think I captured the determined gait of three children who were hurrying to get to some serious digging to build a sand castle.