About Drawing The Dog

Hello!
My name is Jennifer Farley and I am the artist behind Drawing The Dog. I am an illustrator, children’s book author and graphic designer.

I live in rural Ireland with my husband, Jason. We currently have two gorgeous rescue pupsters – a Yorkie called Albert and a Miniature Schnauzer called Betty.

There are over 400 recognized breeds of dogs in the world. They come in all shapes and sizes and each has its own unique set of characteristics that set it apart from the others. And of course, the mixed breeds – the gorgeous, beloved mutts.

This website started as a personal project for me to draw every dog breed. I started the project after my Dad died, and one of our dogs, Otto died very shortly after him. I found drawing dogs, more than anything else I draw as an illustrator, to be relaxing, meditative and just fun during some fairly bleak times.

This project also allowed me to do something many illustrators can’t do when they get established. And that is to draw in any style I want. As a children’s book illustrator, I have a recognised style I maintain, but with the dog stuff, I can use ink, digital, crayons, basically whatever I feel like. And as a graphic designer there are so many design genres I’m interested in, that I can now apply to my doggy drawing work.

The American Kennel Club currently recognises 195 breeds. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale is the World Canine Organisation and it recognises 354 breeds.