Oil

I strive to create painterly pet portraits. I believe this style is what sets me apart from other pet portrait artists. I find what makes a painting beautiful is the presence of the artist hand. This human touch brings life to the painting as each brush stroke is laid onto the canvas with care. I blend loose brushwork with a realism that creates an impeccable likeness of your pet while also celebrating the paint as a medium of expression.

Oils are painted on professionally stretched canvas in standard sizes and may be hung with or without framing.

Watercolor

I like to celebrate the medium of watercolor by using transparent washes built up with delicacy and attention to detail while still remaining loose and free. There is much to be said for the beauty of watercolor portraits.  There is an intimacy and elegance that the medium gives to a painting. A tone of something precious that should to be cherished much like the pet that is being portrayed. I have always been especially fond of watercolor and believe that it makes captivating and wonderful portraits. 

Watercolors are painted on Strathmore Illustration board cut to standard sizes and should be framed under glass.

Pencil

I find that a combination of loose and highly detailed rendering is the most engaging and interesting way to draw. When you keep the gesture of the portrait loose and then focus in on the details of the face and extremities it helps to create a lively and interesting drawing. I like to think of it as something similar to what you might find in the traveling sketchbook of an accomplished artist.

Pencils are drawn on Strathmore Illustration board cut to standard sizes and should be framed under glass.

Photo Reference

I recommend that you take advantage of the benefits of digital photography by shooting many photos in order to find the few shots that best capture your pet. When taking pictures it is always better to get down to the animal’s eye level to give a better idea of what your pet really looks like. I have included and example on the right to help illustrate this angle.

Also, please pay attention to the lighting. Your pet looks best when the light is coming from in front and at an angle and not behind so that they’re facial features are easier to see. It is best to use natural light if possible and avoid using a flash because it washes out the color and shadow shapes that help to create a painting with depth.  The only exception to using a flash should be if you have a black or dark furred pet where using a flash can help to define the highlights that are often lost in standard photos.