Shih Tzu (Bertie)

I travelled by train up to London, from my home in Devon, to meet Bertie. I was met at the station by Bertie’s chauffeur, who took me back to the house to collect him for his walk. I then drove to one of the local parks, and while Bertie enjoyed exploring the area, I followed along behind, like a one-man paparazzi, taking hundreds of reference photos. Now you might think that Bertie could be a bit of a diva, but no, he was a perfect gentleman, full of character, very well behaved and utterly charming. What a lovely little dog! I all spent a very enjoyable couple of hours together, while I got the necessary reference for my sculpture. Then it was back down to Devon to begin work. Because this is a life-size sculpture, I was able to really go to town on his fur. Shih Tzus are know for their splendid coats, and I wanted to do justice to Bertie’s glorious coat. I particularly enjoyed sculpting his perky tail. His owners were absolutely delighted with the finished bronze, as am I. I feel that I captured his charm and character perfectly.