We have just received our second portrait from Naomi, and can’t recommend her highly enough. The attention to detail in Naomi’s portraits is amazing, and yet again she has managed to capture our beloved pet’s nature perfectly. Thanks once again.
About Arlo
Arlo's cosy hiding place
Arlo’s Antics
Before I started work drawing Arlo, I asked Rob to give me an insight into Arlo’s personality. I really had to chuckle when Rob described Arlo as “absolutely nuts!”. He has all the energy you’d expect from a little kitten, and more. With absolutely no fear, Arlo loves to scale to the highest heights of the household furniture. The more precarious and wobblier the better! Every little nook and cranny needs thorough exploration. Sometimes he’ll strike gold and find himself a lovely warm cosy den for a nap. Suitcases and shopping bags are particularly desirable.
Arlo also loves his cat naps and chill time. These are very important to recharge for the next adventurous excursion. He loves to stretch out on something soft and fleecy, preferably in the sunshine or by a cosy fire.
Crafting the perfect portrait of Arlo
Rob sent me a lovely selection of photos of Arlo to look through. We discussed various options and chose a reference photo of Arlo which captured him in a rare moment of calm! He had the most adorable expression on his face. His bright green eyes shone out with a mixture of contentment and pent up energy, ready for the next bout of excitement. We knew it captured him wonderfully, would make the perfect portrait.
The reference photo showed him snuggled in the arms of Caroline against her fleecy dressing gown. Knowing how much Arlo loved his fleecy blankets, I decided to include the fleece of Caroline’s dressing gown in the portrait, but make it look more like a blanket instead. The background colour was chosen to give the portrait an added sense of warmth and to bring out the pink tones in Arlo’s ears and paws.
Arlo’s finished portrait
A gift to treasure forever
Arlo’s portrait was to be a complete surprise for Caroline. I kept everything firmly hush-hush, and made sure not to post any progress images on my social media before the portrait was gifted.
Caroline’s birthday surprise was a fantastic success! She was completely over the moon with her special portrait of Arlo. It made for a fabulous gift, and is something she can cherish forever. Rob and Caroline had Arlo’s portrait professionally framed and it now hangs side by side with their portrait of Lily, their cocker spaniel.
Putting the finishing touches into Arlo's portrait.
