Chihuahua relaxes in the evening with cigar and bourbon.

Meet Oscar, an Apple Head Chihuahua who oozes sophistication. Don’t be fooled by his small stature – his personality more than makes up for his diminutive size.

This little guy is obviously a connoisseur of the finest bourbon, and he loves an occasional cigar too. See how he rocks that haute couture red dressing gown? Is it a Prada? A Saint Laurent? … he won’t tell.

Once in a while, if he is so inclined, he will move to the sounds of jazz singers Diana Krall, Michael Breckner, and Samara Joy. Mostly, he just likes to lounge around on a soft blanket while waiting for his favourite person to come home from work.

Oscar, the Chihuahua, painted by Louise Primeau
Oscar, the Apple Head Chihuahua within a white matte ready to be framed by the client.

The ask leading to Oscar’s portrait.

My client sent me photos of the Chihuahua which she wanted me to paint holding a cigar, and a glass of bourbon. In addition, there had to be a way to suggest music. She also wanted a candle in the portrait but I felt it was going to be too crowded. I added the yellow in the background to evoke the warmth of a glowing candle nearby.

Louise with the whimsical pet portrait of a Chihuahua.
Whimsical pet portrait of Oscar ready for delivery.

I admit that I love the playful theme of a dog impersonating a suave gentleman. This portrait combines elements of realism (the dog’s face) and fantasy (the drink, the cigar, the dressing gown).

But the real reason it has charmed me is two-fold.

First, as a dog owner, we always wonder what our dogs are up to when we are away.

Oscar’s owner is a nurse who has a camera recording Oscar in the living room while she works at a local hospital. She always leaves music playing for Oscar. One evening, the neighbour (my client), checked on Oscar and saw he was quite comfortable with a fluffy blanket on the sofa. As she listened to the soft music, she imagined him relaxing with bourbon and a cigar.

Second, the dressing gown reminded me of an incident that happened a few years ago in Spain.

My friend and I were in our Torremolinos hotel and we had to go down a floor to get ice for our drinks. On our way back, we didn’t have our keys so we started knocking rather insistently and loudly for our hubbies to open the door for us. However, we forgot that we were on the wrong floor.

Well, I am sure you have guessed the next part – a very sophisticated, older gentleman came to the door in a satin dressing gown. I think he was having an afternoon ….????...nap, of course! (What were you thinking?)  We apologized profusely…

When I paint, my mind travels everywhere in time and place! As I painted Oscar, I remembered that incident in Spain.

 

The client’s search to find an artist who would accept this commission.

When I met the client to deliver the commissioned portrait she related her long search to find an artist who would accept the commission.

Brown bag for painted portrait.
Brown bag for painted portrait.

I was surprised that many artists had refused this commission.

She even called the local School of Art, but they never called her back. When she described the portrait she wanted painted, I was happy to work on this commission because it was very different from all my other commissions. My last pet portraits dressed like Oscar were a pair of cats, Cheddar and Azara in 2019.

And this is what I like about being a commissioned artist: I never know what the ask will be. Some clients have very specific requests while others leave all the decisions up to me. I enjoy that variety.

In fact, this one commission gives me ideas for future whimsical pet portraits. One more item to add to my long to do list this year!

The client's reaction to Oscar's portrait:

"I delivered Oscar to my friend this afternoon. She loves it...she was sentimental over it.  She said it looks exactly like him...that was the plan. He is already framed and she wants to put him in a prominent place in her home where she can see him all the time. Many thanks for this."

"With an open heart and a big smile on your face, embrace every experience life sends your way, whether good or bad. By doing so, no experience will ever be wasted." - Vishen.

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