This is my first animal portrait commission she's named 'Hope'. The client loves his horse but like so many people takes rotten photos so I had to pull together several ref. photos to try and get a good likeness and colour match. I have cheated a little by putting her against a black background and in strong light and contrast. The Reference photo was in strong winter sun so it brought out the red in her coat. I hope the client will like it. Not the best of Photos of the painting, I keep getting white spots like stars when I use the flash, drove me mad at first then I realised it was the crystals in the pastel.