Milo is a young male boxer and apparently quite a character.  Milo lives in Pa.  This is an 11 x 14 oil on canvas.  

Layla

Layla is 11 x 14  - the portrait was a 30th birthday surprise gift from a guy in Denver who really loves his sister!

Dex with his Kong

Dex's owner (in Houston) said he was the best dog he's ever had.  He said he was intense and loyal, and that he would run thru a wall to fetch his Kong toy (foreground).  It was my pleasure to honor Dex with an oil painting.  Long Live Dex!

I met Darla's owner a few years ago when I was visiting her restaurant.  She is a great chef!  We struck up a friendship and also an art consignment deal.  I exhibited my paintings in her restaurant.  A few years later when her beloved dog Darla passed she asks me to do a portrait of her.  Darla is 11 x 14 oil on canvas.

I met Elle at a friend's Christmas party a few years ago.  She was very friendly and sweet.  When she passed my friend ask me to do a portrait of her for Elle's father's office.  I was happy to do it.  Elle's portrait is 11 x 14 oil on canvas.

A Cat named Goat .......pet portrait 11 x 14 oil

I received a call from a potential client who found me on a web search for pet portrait artist.  She explained she has a friend who loves her cat so much that she would like to have a portrait of it to give to her friend as a special birthday gift. She had a deadline of 2 weeks.....whew, ok no problem for me usually.  As I've said before I'm a fast painter so I went for it.

She let me do my thing with the design, but the cat portrait is based on a photo of her friend holding Goat.  (By the way I found out that Goat means greatest of all time.)  This cat must have some attitude.  ok - I better paint a hell of a painting for a cat with a name that means "greatest of all time"!  As you can see I had a little fun with the design!

GOAT the cat is 11 x 14

Sally's sister Daisy - pet portraits by mike brouse

I painted Daisy's sister Sally, a terrier, about 7 years ago.  You can read Sally's story on this blog.  Daisy's mother contacted me again to paint her new dog Daisy when Daisy turned 5 years old.  Daisy is a beautiful purebred white labrador retriever.  I got to meet Daisy prior to painting her.  I try to do this if the client is local to the Boulder, Colorado area.  What a wonderful warm personality.  A real sweetheart!  I soaked her in and took some playful reference photos of her.

The portrait was a surprise father's day gift from Daisy's mother.  I try to make these paintings affordable for most people because they make such great gifts.   The 11 x 14 of Daisy was $350 oil on canvas.  Daisy's mother chose the background because it represents her back yard.  Daisy spends a lot of time back there.

Daisy is 11 x 14 oil on canvas

Chicken is Little (11 x 14 oil) sensitive dog portrait by Mike Brouse

I have been doing pet portraits continuously for about 14 years now.  I work from good reference photos of the pet.  I have done pet portraits in small and large sizes and for people all over the USA.  Kevin called me last week from Denver.  He wanted to inquire about 2 portraits of his sisters dogs for her birthday. My first thought was "very sweet"!  What a guy who loves his sister!  Then I asked when his sister's birthday is and he told me it's in 10 days.  Two oil portraits in 10 days..... and he wants them framed too.

Luckily I was between commission projects so I said I would try to make it happen.  I am a fast painter so I can usually finish a portrait in 6-8 man-hours, but it's pretty intense work.

So Chicken was first up.  Here he is as an 11 x 14 oil on canvas  - I charge between $350 - $475 for an 11 x 14 depending on how quickly the client wants the painting, and also if they want it framed or not.

Chicken the dog is 11 x 14 oil on canvas

Painting Horses with Emotion by Mike Brouse

Horses are wonderful subjects for painters, poets, artists of all types have been drawn to these mysterious beasts.  Below is a sample of  works from this ongoing series of  horses. Link to my website.  Some of them are sold, but there are still some that are available as of Dec 2013.   I'm adding to the series all the time since horses are one of my favorite animal subjects. 

I really liked this poem about the horse by Sarah Katy Williams



Night Visitor 16 x 18 - Acrylic on canvas

"I am the Horse"

He stands proud, head held high majestically

Viewing me with reasonable suspicion



My scent fills his nostrils as he breathes in deep

He bows in acceptance and his trust is won

I reach out to touch his shimmering mane

As his soft muzzle brushes my cheek with hot air

I mount him, marvelling at the strength,

The intimacy of a closeness so rare.

As we take to flight the wind borders our path

Exhilaration and adrenalin floods me

His firm muscles beneath me pulsate

And his wild instincts tell him he must flee

I am comforted by the rocking rhythm

His pounding hooves hypnotise me



I am possessed by awe and childlike wonder



This mystical beast and I unite in harmony

We are one, he is me and I am the horse

 

 

Some samples of my paintings below.  







SOLD - Green Grass - 20" sq - Acrylic on canvas

 

 

mike brouse, Pet Portrait Artist in Boulder, Colorado

Five Dogs - 20 x 48 Oil

I really like meeting your dogs.  I enjoy the challenge of creating an impressionistic oil painting of your best friend.  A five dog painting is especially challenging.  This painting will clearly light up any room!

Here's a nice quote from a recent article about my work:  "His vivid and sensitive pet portraits give him special satisfaction to create on commission, as cherished mementos for pet owners. “My goal is for the animals to be expressive and communicative, and for there to be a sense of movement – as if they could get up and walk away.” Mike isn’t shy about talking about some of his “secrets” for creating his animated portraits. “I focus on brush movement, mixing cool with warm colors – which creates a push-pull ‘dance’ for the eye, and I use tiny dots of red and blue in the eyes and nose.”

Olivia 16 x 20 Oil

I usually paint my dog portraits on thick canvas, and then frame them in a contemporary dark floater frame. 

Tootie - 16 x 20 - Oil

Contact me for more information.

Nick & Snooks - 12 x 16 - oil
Yes, I do cats too!