
Oil on linen – 25 x 36 inches – Private Collection
When the reference photo arrived by email, Mike had written above it, “I trust you can improve on the background.” I certainly hoped so! The puppies were in a bright, white box, indoors, with a chain link fence behind them, all taken with a flash. To be able to use the photo, I knew I’d better keep the lighting pretty flat. Putting them outside on a gray, overcast day with the light just a bit brighter on top of them and a touch darker below seemed to give the little ladies a good home.