Nice technique. It would be cool if the background hinted at some kind of setting.

I like it! Especially for "just experimenting" it's pretty darn good!!! I like the background - makes me think of a studio shot, with the "simple" background. Was that in the photo you used as reference?

The only two suggestions I have is move the dog up a bit, putting the head closer to the top of the image, I would LOVE to see a bit more of the dog's body. Also, maybe leave off the red collar? Collars are so..."formal"....and dogs always look better without them. If you wanted to devote more time to the image, a bit of tweaking on detail on the ears and such would help, but otherwise, I love the whiskers Not too often remembered on dogs...

Overall, great job!!

I like your painting experimentation. You are very skilled from the look of this painting.

I agree with christinee that the dogs head is so close to the bottom border that it almost creates a strange tangent.

The photo I used was a shot I took while hiking with my dog, Rosie. the background in the original is much different. There is a lot of trees on a bright sunny day.At first I had the whole thing in there, but decided it looked too much like the photo. I wnated to go for a somewhat "heroic" look, I thought it was somewhat funny.Anyway I agree with cristine's comments, too close to the bottom, and lose the collar. Thanks.

I happen to know Rosie and I think her personality has really been captured in the eye.

Nice work!