Why Paint Pets?

 I’m often asked why I paint pet portraits when there are so many  online digital art options for people. The simple answer is, personalization.  It’s easy to find a lookalike image online, but it’s not actually exactly like your own pet. As an artist, I can create a painting of your pet that is undeniably your pet. It’s all about the details.
I actually started creating pet paintings from photographs about a decade ago for friends who were looking for a very individual, personal portrait of their own pet that they could not find elsewhere. Once I started, I found there were lots of people that wanted the same thing, and groups of friends would band together to buy a portrait as a surprise for a friend.  I also discovered it gave me great joy to paint these pets. I have had cats, dogs, horses and birds as pets growing up, so animals have always been a huge part of my life. Today, dog owners are my main clients.
My method is to have my clients send me good quality photos, taken outdoors, so I can literally see every hair placement on their pets’ face. My paintings are very realistic and I focus on the face.  Every animal is different. I have painted numerous paintings of the same breed for example, and I can tell you that none of them look alike when you get down to the details.

I then ask for ‘character’ photos so I can get a feel for the personality of their pet. For example, is this a dog that loves to hike and jump in streams or one that loves to sleep in front of the fire? Is this a cat that loves to sit a the table with you, or one that hides nearby and only comes out when your guests have left? The personality helps to inform the type of painting I will create.

I will sketch the animal a few times in my sketch book to get a feel for the lines and angles, I then hand draw the image directly on to the canvas, and before painting in acrylic. The drawing is absolutely critical. It has to be as accurate as possible. This is where the skill comes in. To me, drawing is like a puzzle, you work at it until the pieces fit. Once I’m happy with the image I can start to paint. I prefer to have a month to complete a painting because after each step, each line and each layer of paint,I like to take time to do a compare and contrast with the photo. It is very important to
Once the painting is complete I ship or hand deliver to my clients. Shipping is absolutely nerve wracking because I have sent something unique and irreplaceable out there and I am always on edge until I know it has been safely delivered. I do ship overseas, and thankfully I have never had a lost painting. Hand delivery  to dog owners is one of my favorite experiences though because suddenly I have the actual dog running toward me that I have never actually met, and it is as if my painting has suddenly come to life! And of course, if I get happy tears from my client, I’m on top of the world. check in with the image to adapt or correct any areas that are not accurate enough. Painting is problem solving, and to me it’s all consuming and difficult and wonderful. 

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