About Pet’s

Pet portraits make perfect gifts for pet lovers, and it was a joy to see my friend’s reaction when seeing the artwork I’ve created. Some friends have asked for prints, which I do also.

Here’s what I consider when taking on commission work:

- I look for several pictures to establish the pet’s eyes, personality, and fur colour. Pictures tend to dull colours, so multiple pictures help to establish truer values, especially for pets with white or black fur.

What can you do when taking a picture;

-Natural lighting is best for taking pet photos. It highlights fur colour and texture better than a flash.

- Get on the pet’s eye level to avoid distorted perspectives and to fill about half the frame.

- Show details of the fur texture and unique markings.

What I do when using reference photos;

-I often use one for the pose and another for the lighting to create the best possible image.

-I start with a “value study” to identify the darkest shadows and lightest highlights before applying colour.

-I also use quick, geometric sketches to map out shapes before starting the detailed painting.

I’ve shared just a few of the 50+ portraits I’ve completed, each with its own set of creative challenges and rewarding moments.

One of my biggest ongoing challenges last year was actually posting on social media! So I’m really pleased to have got this blog out and hope that it gives a little more insight into my world.

Looking ahead, I’m grateful to have several commissions lined up and can’t wait to see how they’ll continue to help me grow me as an artist. If you’re following along or discovered my work more recently, thank you for joining me on the journey.