Venchi
Size
24×30cm
Year
2025
Custom Dachshund Portrait in Irchel Park, Zurich
This portrait was designed around all the tiny details that make Venchi unmistakably Venchi.
A beloved Dachshund from Switzerland, Venchi is very much the child of the family. His portrait was commissioned by one of his owners as a deeply personal anniversary gift for her partner, celebrating not only their dog, but the life and memories the three of them share.
That is why almost every element in this painting has a story behind it.
The background is Irchel Park in Zurich, one of their favourite places to walk together with Venchi. Rather than choosing a generic landscape, we recreated a location that already belonged to their everyday life, turning the portrait into a memory of the three of them as much as a painting of the dog himself.
Venchi's look was equally personal.
His owners joke that "Venchi looks best naked," so there was no need to dress him up or turn him into a character. He appears simply as himself, with just his favourite collar included as a small familiar detail.
And then there are the ears.
Venchi has extraordinary long-haired Dachshund ears, with beautiful natural ombré colouring through the fur. The reference photograph we wanted to use for his pose did not show them properly, so the final portrait had to be constructed from several photographs. I recreated the missing ears from additional references and combined them with the chosen pose to preserve one of his most recognisable features.
The painting also includes perhaps the most personal object of all: Venchi's favourite heart-shaped pillow, which he loves carrying around the house.
In the portrait, he proudly holds it in his mouth. I created the pillow with textured modelling paste, giving it a raised, tactile surface that can actually be felt with your fingers. It becomes a small 3D element within the oil painting.
The heart has a double meaning. It is Venchi's real favourite toy, but within an anniversary portrait it also became a symbol of the owner's love for both Venchi and her partner.
A favourite park. His familiar collar. Those magnificent ears. His heart-shaped pillow. None of these details were chosen simply because they looked attractive. They were included because they belonged to him.
The finished painting was accompanied by a custom handwritten note, completing it as a one-of-a-kind anniversary gift.
And Venchi himself apparently had an opinion about the result.
When he saw his portrait, he started barking at it.
Whether he recognised himself or simply wondered why another suspiciously handsome Dachshund had appeared in the room, we will probably never know.
Artwork Summary
Subject: Venchi
Breed: Long-haired Dachshund
Location: Switzerland
Commission occasion: Custom anniversary gift for a partner
Background: Irchel Park, Zurich
Composition: Created from multiple reference photographs
Personal details: Venchi's favourite collar and distinctive long ombré ears
Special element: Heart-shaped pillow created with raised modelling paste
Presentation: Custom handwritten note included
A portrait built from more than one photograph
A custom dog portrait can be built from much more than one photograph. I can combine references to reconstruct a pose, add details missing from the main photo, recreate a meaningful location and include the small objects that belong to your pet's everyday life.
For an anniversary gift, wedding gift, memorial portrait or deeply personal present for your partner, these details can turn a painting into something much more specific: a visual record of the life you have built together.
Because sometimes the most important part of a portrait is not simply getting the dog right. It is getting your dog right. If you have a Dachshund — or any dog — with a story like Venchi's, start your custom portrait here.
Compact, but with a little more room to tell the story
Ideal for a detailed portrait of one pet, a fuller pose or a simple setting around them, while still keeping the artwork intimate and easy to place
True to life portrait, customised to your liking
Handmade oil painting
100% money back guarantee - adjust until it’s perfect, love it or get a refund
📦 Payment and delivery:
Worldwide shipping via DHL
You can pay only 10% now and the rest later, after you’ve received and approved photos and videos of the painting
Payments via Apple Pay, Visa / MasterCard, Klarna, PayPal or direct bank transfer
📐 Technical Details:
High-quality cotton canvas on a stretcher frame
Professional Windsor & Newton oil paints and Gamblin finish
Optional gold, silver, and bronze leaf accents
And by the way, oil paintings are proven to last for centuries.