ElliotIn Private collection

Acrylic on board
14 ½ x 12 inches

Capturing the character of an animal is always a challenge but one I really enjoy, and doing this portrait of Elliot the horse was a particular delight.

Acrylics are ideal to use for animal portraits, as you can build up the light hairs on dark background, dark hairs on light background that is the form of the animals body. And that is how you get the tiny nuances that make the character of the animal too. I like the bit of flicked paint around his mane, that makes him look like he's moving slightly, and the white blow of air below his mouth, that makes him look alive and breathing.