Pet Portraits: Winnie the Cockapoo

 Hey Everyone!

As predicted, things returning to semi-normality at work is doing wonders for my productivity. So much so I've got another pet portrait which I can share with you today!

Last time I posted a portrait of Millie the Cockapoo. Today I'd like to introduce you to her equally gorgeous sister Winnie!

Like the portrait of her sister, Winnie's portrait is also A4 in size and coloured in a traditional style using pencil colours.

Now's the time to start thinking about Christmas, so if you know someone who's got a pet they'd like to get immortalise in a piece of original art, then please get in touch!

Pet Portraits - Millie the Cockapoo

Hey Everyone!

How have you all been coping with the "New new Normal" now restrictions are lifted even further?

Work has slowed down for me and is now pretty much the same as how it was before, with the exception of the safety screens at the tills, hand sanitising stations and customers required to wear masks in store... All of our staff members have returned from furlough now too! It's been so good to catch up with them after these 5 long months, not to mention to share the work load out a bit to allow a bit more head space for those that have been back since the beginning of June!

Despite being furloughed for 3 months, after dealing with the trials or returning to retail in the current climate, I am so ready for a holiday!

There is one thing that makes all this better of course, and that's coming home to our little golden boy.. Who isn't so little any more!
Lupin is now 5 months old, 20kg and growing so so fast!

Despite this adorable furry distraction I've still managed to find time to catch up on some drawing!

Paws for Thawt is still posting regularly every Tuesday, and I'm drawing new strips to the backlog every week or so. 
If you haven't already then give it a like and a follow on;
Tumblr: https://pawsforthawt.tumblr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawsforthawt/

I've also had another pet portrait commission come in which I can now share with all of you!
Please meet the beautiful Cockapoo, Millie!

Millie's portrait is A4 in size and coloured traditionally using Pencil colours. What a sweetie!

With work slowing down I've more time to commit to commissions, so if you were looking for an original birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift then get in touch!!

Pet Portraits - UPDATE and even more Maisie

Hey there everyone!

Apologies it's been so long since my last post, returning to work and caring for a new puppy has been keeping me very busy indeed!

Lupin is now almost 14 weeks old and is growing rapidly. His training is coming along nicely, he's going out for daily walks and is good both on and off lead, and I think we've cracked overnight toileting too! *Touch wood!*

Here's a pic just because...

I hasten to add that my partner has been working from home and so is able to look after Lupin while I have been at work! On that note, work itself has presented it's own challenges and frustrations since returning. Retail can be difficult at the best of times but it's even more so right now, thankfully though we've had word that some of the staff still on furlough will be allowed to return soon!
We had been operating with only half the full team in order to reduce exposure amongst the staff, this in turn meant we were all putting in a lot of over-time to cover the hours! However with more staff available to work I will have more days off in the week allowing me the mental space away from the stresses of work to catch up on drawing comics and commissions!!


Speaking of which, there was one more commission I had wanted to share with you!
A recent favourite of this blog makes a return in today's post with yet another portrait in her memory.

Maisie the beloved Black Labrador had 3 unique portraits commissioned, one each for her family members to remember her by, this portrait is the last in that series. You can view the other two portraits here and here.
Without further ado, in memory of Maisie her final portrait...

Just like the others in the series, this portrait is A4 in size and coloured using pencil colours in traditional style. Here is a photo of all three portraits together

If you were looking to commission me for a portrait of your beloved pet pooch, just like these then please get in touch to discuss. As I explained at the beginning of this post I will hopefully be able to commit more time to commissions again very soon!

Pet Portraits - More Maisie the Lab

Hey there Everyone!

Hope you all had a good week and are keeping yourselves occupied whilst Lockdown continues!

I've reached a new stage in what we call the "New Normal"...
The shop where I work part-time re-opened it's doors on the 15th June along with many other non-essential retailers. We've opened with reduced staff numbers so although myself and a few others are back to work, about half of the staff remain on furlough in order to maintain social distancing in our small store. This means that although my contract is part-time I'm now working full time hours!
This first week back has been quite a shock to the system, as we're not only adjusting to returning to work for long hours but also to enforcing the new safety measures customers and staff are required to adhere to.

On top of all this, Dan and I welcomed home a new member of our family on Saturday 13th!

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This golden haired bundle of cuteness is our 8 week old, male Labrador puppy called Lupin!
We've created an Instagram account for him, so if you'd like to see how he's settling in in his first week home, and keep up with his adventures, give him a follow!
@Lupin_thelabrador 

With all of this going on I've been delayed in posting this next pet portrait in this little series commemorating the beloved Maisie.

So from one lab to another here's that beautiful old girl in her second pet portrait.

 

This portrait, like the others, is A4 in size and coloured using colouring pencils.
If you missed the first portrait you can check it out here!

I'm going to be taking limited commission requests while I am working full-time and also caring for my young pup. If you are interested in commissioning me at this time please take into consideration that your original art could take longer than usual to complete, especially if you intend to give it as a gift for a birthday or anniversary.
Thank you!

Themed Portraits - The Croods!

Morning Everyone!

Today I'm sharing a commission that was very fun to do, and gave me an opportunity to use pretty much every copic marker colour I own!

Mike, Molly and their girls are big fans of the Dreamworks animated film; the Croods! So here we have probably the most colourful themed portrait I've done to date!

This caricatured family portrait is A3 in size and coloured using Copic Markers.

Pet Portraits - In memory of Maisie the Labrador

Morning Everyone!

The other week I was asked if I could draw a series of portraits of the beloved black Labrador, Maisie.

Maisie had actually featured on this blog once before, many years ago, with her best pal Sunny. They were in fact one of the first pet portraits I'd ever done!! (click here to check it out)
So when her human told me that unfortunately Maisie had been ill for a little while I was both touched and honoured to help build a lasting memory of this special pup!

Sadly, the day that I completed this portrait Maisie passed away...
This makes this portrait, and the ones to follow, even more special. Though I never met Maisie I felt that I knew her, I grew up with Labs and have a huge fondness for the breed.

Thank you very much Lucie and family for asking me to draw these for you guys, I really feel your loss and am immensely touched to be the one commemorating her in these portraits. 

Goodbye Maisie, you will be sorely missed!

This portrait is A4 in size and coloured traditionally using colouring pencils.

Lost Boys Commission

Hey there Everyone!

Today I'm going to be sharing with you a commission I had LOADS of fun with!

Some of you may remember my Inktober 2019 attempt, where I used to official Inktober prompts combined with a horror movie theme and created illustrations in black ink, copic colour and whiteout for every day in October last year.

Well following that challenge I received a request from a friend who had been following my Inktober progress. She too is a horror film fan and wished to see my take on her favourite horror film in this same style!
And so back in Feb I did this Chucky commission for her!

Since then she has felt that Chucky has looked a little lonely hung on her wall by himself and decided that she'd like to own a series of these illustrations featuring more of her favourite horror and thriller films! Which leads me onto today's post!

Say Hello to the night, it's our favourite Lost Boy; David!
Played by Keifer Sutherland in the iconic vampire film Lost Boys

Just like the Chucky commission I did, this one is also 20cm x 20cm and coloured using Copic Markers with whiteout for lightlights!

If you want to check out the my Inktober attempt that inspired this commission then have a scroll of my Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/saradunkerton/?hl=en
Or my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SaraDunkertonArt/

PAWS for THAWT is officially BACK!

WELCOME BACK!
Shortly after Lockdown started I set myself the challenge of getting as far through the Insanity Workout as I could...

And today I completed it!!

In light of that I thought I’d share this strip to kick off the revival of Paws for Thawt! Insanity is 63 days of tough workouts, some days it was really difficult to find the motivation to power through. However by taking it one step at a time, rather than getting overwhelmed, you can accomplish anything! The same can be applied to a lot of other things which are going on right now... Stay safe everyone!


Follow Paws for Thawt on
Tumblr: https://pawsforthawt.tumblr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawsforthawt/

PAWS for THAWT is BACK!

Hey there Everyone!

Yes, that's right!
My little webcomic will be returning to it's weekly Tuesday post as of tomorrow, 2nd June!

For those of you who missed my previous blog post announcing this news (or had trouble reading it because of the technical difficulties and squiffy orientation! Thanks for your patience with that btw!) let me re-cap briefly.

While the country has been on Lockdown I've been keeping myself sane by picking up where I'd left off with Paws for Thawt! I had to put this weekly web comic on hiatus as I couldn't maintain regular updates alongside working on the final issue of MULP: Sceptre of the Sun, I had to prioritise MULP. Despite a short break turning into radio silence for a long period, I was still noting down funny moments and ideas for strips with the intention of picking Paws for Thawt up again when I had the time and motivation.
Well, isn't Lockdown the perfect opportunity to find that time and motivation for a project such as this!? And with the help of Peter Duncan and his SPLANK! 2020 Annual I've been able to get Paws for Thawt back off the ground!

The special digital edition of the SPLANK! Annual 2020 launched on Thursday 28th May!
This all ages anthology collects over 160 pages of amazing comics from a wealth of indie talent and it is available to download for FREE!

Get your copy using these links:

Box of Rain Magazine website - Scroll down to "Download Links".
Get My Comics website - Scroll down to SPLANK! and click the image.

As the PDF is full to the brim with amazing content, please allow a little time for the download to complete.
If you would prefer to flick through the comic's pages before deciding whether to download the whole thing, then you can read it online for a limited time here:
Read Online Here!

Since SPLANK! hit the web it has created a bit of a buzz!
Check out what various news and review sites are saying about it!

DowntheTubes.net - Launch cover
Our friends at Downthetubes, who have posted reviews of MULP: Sceptre of the Sun, once again step up to cover the launch of SPLANK! in the fantastic all you need to know article

Bear Alley Comic Cuts - Interview with Peter Duncan
Steve Holland of Comic Cuts interviews Peter Duncan, editor of SPLANK! via video chat about his motives behind the digital launch of the annual.

DowntheTubes.net - Behind the Scenes Creating SPLANK!
Peter Duncan writes an exclusive behind the scenes account of putting together SPLANK and his drive for awareness for the work of the NHS and the charity he hopes to promote.

If you'd like to contribute to Peter's Just Giving page and help support our NHS, follow the link below:
SPLANK! Just Giving page

Amongst the pages of SPLANK! 2020 you will find featured a few Paws for Thawt strips!
One old, one completely new and the other this pin-up I created to join in the community spirit of the SPLANK! annual and give a shout out to the phenomenal efforts of all our Key Workers during this difficult time!

A BIG thank you to the real heroes of our nation!

You can read all previous Paws for Thaw strips right here:
https://pawsforthawt.tumblr.com/


And you can follow Paws for Thawt over on instagram @pawsforthawt
https://www.instagram.com/pawsforthawt/

Don't forget to stay tuned to these sites for the first strip in Paws for Thawt's return 

coming tomorrow, 2nd June!

SPLANK! 2020: Free digital Download

Hey there everyone!
I've some exciting news to share with you all..

A few weeks ago I was approached by Peter Duncan, Editor of the 2000AD fanzine SECTOR 13 and all round top gent, to contribute some material towards his special digital edition of the SPLANK! Annual!

Cover art by John Farrelly

SPLANK! originally a 44 page collection of comics celebrating 60's power comics and British humour strips, has been revived during this time of Covid 19 Lockdown where Comic Conventions and Fairs have been cancelled and a good proportion of indie comic's creator's income has been lost along with it.
It is Peter's intention, with this all digital edition of SPLANK! to showcase and promote the creators of the British indie comics scene!

In this all ages, bumper edition of the anthology you will find over 160 pages of awesome comics from a whole host of fantastic creators! Along with handy adverts and links so you can easily find more of your favourite creator's work online!


So what are you waiting for!? Go ahead and download your free copy right here!

Box of Rain Magazine website - Scroll down to "Download Links".
Get My Comics website - Scroll down to SPLANK! and click the image.

As this PDF is full to the brim of amazing content, please allow a little while for the download to complete. If you would rather just have a flick through before deciding whether to download the full file, then you can read it online for a limited time!
Read Online Here!

Art by Joseph McCafferty 

As well as an attempt to showcase and promote the wealth of talent who have contributed to this annual, Peter has also instilled a very strong message of support for the tireless efforts and astounding work of the NHS and other Key Workers during this difficult time.
On top of this Peter has set up a Just Giving page in support of NHS Charities whose staff and volunteers are caring for patients with Covid 19.

Numerous creators, who's work feature in this issue, participated in showing their appreciation for our Key Workers by contributing artwork to the cause.
If you would like to make a contribution to this very worth while cause then you can do so with this link!
SPLANK! Just Giving page

So in light of all this awesome news, you're probably wondering where I come in exactly?

Well over these past 70+ days of Lockdown I have been busy scribbling away and preparing a revival of my own...



YES! I'm really pleased to announce that PAWS FOR THAWT is BACK!!!
And is featured in this issue of SPLANK!!

Paws for Thawt was the anthropomorphic semi-autobiographical webcomic, where I cast myself, friends and family as animals, in a series of one page strips re-counting funny moments and relatable experiences I'd encountered.
Unfortunately that hiatus was longer than I ever intended due to a variety of different reasons. Despite not actually putting pencil to paper during this break, I was always noting down funny moments ever with the intention of picking Paws for Thawt up again!
I started posting one strip every week back in in June 2017 (feels like an age ago!) and for a while maintained regular posting of a strip a week alongside illustrating issues 4 and 5 of MULP, as well as working part-time. But in April 2018 I had to put Paws for Thawt on a hiatus and make work on MULP my priority while I finished the final issue.

After being put on Furlough from my part-time job, I made a decision to make the most of this time and pick up where I left off!
So when Peter asked me to contribute some material to SPLANK! I leapt at the opportunity to not only support his great effort in promoting indie comic creators and show my appreciation for the NHS and Keyworkers' efforts during this time, but to also aid in the re-launch of my lil comic!!

Paws for Thawt will be live again as of the 2nd June, and will be posting regularly again every Tuesday for as long as I can keep churning out strips! But in the mean time, check out SPLANK! to see the featured strips, two of which are completely new!

You can read all previous strips here:
https://pawsforthawt.tumblr.com/
And you can follow Paws for Thawt over on instagram @pawsforthawt
https://www.instagram.com/pawsforthawt/

Pet Portraits - Double Trouble

Good Morning Quarentiners!

The sun's come back out and it promises to be a scorcher today!
I hope you're all able to get out, find a green space, cleanse your mind, relax and enjoy! It's been a long couple of months so do what you can to help keep yourself centred during these trying times.

One of the things that's been massively helping me lately has been working on this recent Pet Portrait commission!
Yes, Lucy's pair of rescue dogs, Buddy and Charlie are back once more for a double portrait featuring the two of them together! Lucy is going to have quite the shrine to her beloved pooches, this one will be hung between the two solo portraits I completed previously (to be reminded of those, click here for Charlie, and here for Buddy) and I cannot wait to see the end framed result on her wall!

So without further ado, you know them both pretty well by now, Buddy and Charlie!

This, like the other portraits of these two, are traditional in style and coloured using colouring pencils however this one is A3 in size!

Below I've added the reference photo that I used for this piece, behind the scenes though it took many attempts for Lucy to catch them together for this photo! Well done Luce! Thanks for asking me to draw your handsome bois!

Pet Portraits - Charlie the Rescue

Hey there Quarentiners!

Hope everyone's keeping busy, keeping safe and keeping well!

I'm certainly being kept busy over here with the sudden rush of commissions!
Considering I've been on furlough from my part-time job for the duration of Lockdown, I cannot express how grateful I am to everyone who has put in a request for some of my original art!

You are actively helping me, more than ever, to survive on the day to day. Not only with the additional income, but also mentally! You guys are keeping me sane, so thank you!

Today's post will be following on from the previous one somewhat...
As well as commissioning me to draw a portrait of her dad and their new rescue dog, Charlie, as a birthday present (click here to take a look).
Lucy has also decided that Charlie needs his own solo portrait to go with the portrait I did of Buddy, her first rescue dog back in 2015! (click here to see that one)

If you follow that link to take a look at Buddy's portrait, you'll see that Lucy and I have chosen a reference photo of Charlie similar to that of Buddy in order for me to create a matching piece that will complement each other nicely when hung on Lucy's wall!

This traditional styled portrait is A4 in size and done using colouring pencils.

Do you have a special furry friend that deserves a portrait like this? Drop me a message and we'll get it done!

Stephen and Charlie - Pen and Ink portrait

Hey there Quarentiners!

How's everyone holding up?
I can't believe it's been around month since I last posted on here and we're still on Lockdown, where did April go!?
Despite finding it hard to keep track of time, I've continued to try and regularly work on something special for you all (when my studio space isn't hosting web meetings for my partner who's working from home!)
I hope to be able to reveal more about that very soon!

For now though I'm able to share with you the first in a series of commissions featuring just the best boi!
Lucy commissioned this piece as a birthday present to her Dad, but she got too excited and gave it to him early! So here we have Stephen with rescue dog, Charlie!

Happy birthday for the 17th Stephen! I hope you like the portrait!
This commission is A4 in size and done using pen and ink with a black and white ink wash.

If you know someone who would love a portrait like this with their furry friend then please get in touch!

Themed Portraits - Iron Man and Sleeping Beauty

Hey Everyone!

I hope that all of you are keeping yourselves safe and sane during this unprecedented time!
While the country is on lockdown, I plan to use my new found spare time to pick up an old project I regretfully put aside for longer than I anticipated.
Hopefully I can keep myself motivated throughout this madness to come out with something exciting to show you on the other side! *fingers crossed!*

For now though I've something very special to share with you!

Even through all this doom and gloom, we must remember that the world ticks on and there is still love and joy to be found every day! So, today I'd like to wish two people a very Happy Birthday!
Twins, Klay and Imogen are 4 today!!

Here they are as their favourite Disney and Marvel characters; Iron Man and Sleeping Beauty commissioned by Nanny Pen!

Though I imagine you two aren't spending your birthdays how you had planned, I hope that you both have an amazing day doing all the things you love at home with Mum and Dad!



This commission is A4 in size and coloured using Copic Markers.

Do you know a small person who would love to see themselves as their favourite character like these two!? Just drop me a message to make it happen!

Cheesy Love - Valentine's Themed portrait

Morning Everyone!

I mentioned previously that I had a few commissions waiting to be shared, well now that the day of romance has been and gone, I can finally post this Valentine's pic full of puns!

These two anthropomorphised characters featured on this blog for a Valentine's illustration last year! (see it here) Now a year later, Giraffe and Otter make another appearance sharing another of their favourite pursuits; Cheese and Wine!

The brief included the use of the phrase "I Camembert to Brie without you" while the characters are covered in cheese fondue!
No, I don't think it can get any Feta than this!
Its a Gouda thing they asked someone who loves cheese puns to make this Grate work of art!
Emmental ya, these two were made for each other!
(okay that's enough..)

Happy Valentines you crazy pair!!

This commission is A5 in size and coloured using Copic Markers!


Do you have an animal character you'd like to see re-created in an illustration like this, then get in touch!!