Dog Portraits – Bernese Mountain Dog Oil Portrait of Yogi
Welcome to our Bernese Mountain Dog pet portrait of Yogi, hand-painted in oils by Nicholas Beall. Nicholas is a professional dog portrait artist who has been commissioned by clients worldwide for over 20 years. He specializes in traditional oil painting, which captures fine fur detail and soft lighting beautifully. All portraits are created in Nicholas’s woodland garden studio here in the UK, a peaceful and inspiring space. Accepting a limited number of commissions each year, Nicholas was delighted to paint Yogi for clients Shane and Nikki – read on to find out more.
About the Commission of Yogi
This portrait of Yogi the Bernese Mountain Dog was commissioned in 2017 by Shane Maliteare as a surprise birthday gift for his wife, Nikki. Shane worked closely with us to take the perfect reference photo – a relaxed outdoor setting with soft morning light. Rather than a studio-style portrait, he wanted something more natural and expressive, so he photographed Yogi out on one of their early walks.
Shane chose an 18 x 16 inch canvas so the painting would stand out in their living room – a size that worked perfectly for Yogi’s composition. The finished piece was sent to Canada and was incredibly well received. We were thrilled to receive not one but two heartfelt testimonials from Shane and Nikki, which you can read below.
The Painting Process: Early Stages
Client Testimonials
“Our boy is a super star! Nicholas has captured this perfectly for us and words cannot describe how much having this portrait of Yogi in our home means to our family. Thank you so much – we are truly touched.”
– Shane, Nikki, Jordyn, Liam and of course Yogi xo
“I don’t feel thank you is enough. I have tears in my eyes – the painting is absolutely stunning. You’ve touched my heart in a way words just can’t describe. This will bring us comfort for years to come.”
– Nikki Pavsic
The Painting Process: Mid-Stage Details
How It Works: Commissioning a Portrait
If you’d like to learn more about the process of commissioning a portrait, our guide walks you through everything step by step—from choosing your favorite photo to seeing the final painting come together.
The Painting Process: Close-Up Details
Bernese Mountain Dog Portrait Framed
Here are a few photos of the finished portrait framed. The elegant dark frame with its subtle gold edging complements Yogi’s rich coloring and brings the whole piece together beautifully.
The Finished Portrait: Framed & Ready
Next in the Gallery
Click below to view our next dog portrait – a classic English Bulldog in oils.
Client Photo: Portrait in Situ
This fantastic photo shows the portrait of Yogi on display. We absolutely love seeing our work in situ – it makes our website feel truly personal, and we’re so grateful to clients for sending photos like this.
Client Photos: Portrait Displayed
