Cocker Spaniels got their name from hunting woodcock, "cocker" from "woodcock." They were bred in England and Spain (the word "spaniel" comes from "Espanol") to flush birds from dense undergrowth. That required a small, agile dog with endless enthusiasm.
The enthusiasm hasn't faded. Neither has the tail wagging.
The Ears Are the Portrait
Cocker Spaniel ears are long, silky, and set low. They frame the face like curtains framing a stage. In a oil portrait, they do something no other breed's ears can do: they flow into the composition. The silk of the ear blends with the velvet of the robes. The curl at the bottom echoes the scrollwork on the portrait.
American Cockers have a rounder skull and heavier coat than English Cockers, so the two varieties produce quite different portraits. Both beautiful. Just different shapes.
The Happy Face
This breed smiles. Actually smiles. The slightly upturned corners of the mouth, the soft round eyes, it all adds up to one of the warmest expressions in portraiture. In a painting, a Cocker doesn't look stern. They look content. Like royalty who actually enjoys the job.
Colour for Days
Solid black, golden, liver, red. Parti-colour in black and white, orange and white. Blue roan, orange roan, liver roan. The roan patterns create a textured, painterly effect that looks like dry brush technique. Beautiful stuff.
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