OIL PAINTINGS
It’s difficult to be in front of a camera (especially when 6 months pregnant!) and Aaron really helped make me feel more comfortable. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into what’s hanging in the studio, and what I’m working on!
Thank you Aaron!
Lucy, oil on aluminum, 3″ x 4″
I enjoy the searching process in a commission: finding out what my patron likes in my work, how they see themselves or their loved one, how I see them, and how I can portray that. The back-and-forth collaboration that finally materializes in a painting is such a rewarding experience, and I am so thankful for each person who gives me the opportunity to do such satisfying work.
From Carrie:
I absolutely love it! Thank you so much. I can’t wait for my parents to see it!
Later she let me know that her parents loved it too. Thank you, Carrie!
Creating a pet portrait that communicates its personality is often a collaborative process with the owner that knows and loves them best.Leo was an ideal model for a pet portrait painting. He’s a very sweet and patient kitty that loves to be photographed. I spent an evening with him and took dozens of photos and I thought I had several that captured his happy personality. But for Liz, his owner, there was something not quite right, though we couldn’t pin down what. Two months later, Liz sent me more images of him, showing a very different kitty. His coat changes throughout the seasons, and it was now in full fluff! This was her Leo.
Leo, take one
It’s often hard to describe the little details that express the personality of a loved one, but you notice when it’s not there. Most artists have you approve the final design before they being painting and if somethings doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to let the artist know. It’s much better to rework the initial design than have an unhappy patron.
Want to learn more about the painting process? Take a look at the underpainting for Leo and see more detail and in-progress images on Instagram. And if you look closely in the wood chips, you’ll find a little friend hiding on a leaf.
Please take a look at my commissions page for information about commissioning your own portrait and visit the pet-portrait and portrait gallery to see more examples of past commissions.
I’ve been commissioned to do a portrait of The Bride of Frankenstein from the 1935 film starring Elsa Lanchester. The commission was influenced by a current body of work that I call Mismatched Portraits, and my fabulous patron, Jennifer, who is also an artist, invited me to compose it any way I liked.
This portrait marks a handful of firsts: my very first blog post, the first painting I completed this year, and, most importantly, my very first commissioned horse portrait.
Lisa, Shiloh’s person, is a close family friend. She and my mom are next-door neighbors in my hometown in Ohio, and it was through that connection that this painting came to be. Shiloh lived just a few doors down from Lisa at a little stable tucked away almost in the middle of the neighborhood. Unless you knew it was there, you’d never guess a horse pasture was hidden behind all those houses.
On a trip back home to visit family, my husband and I met up with Lisa to photograph Shiloh. With their help, I captured the reference images I needed to bring this portrait to life.
Although I’d painted plenty of portraits of people and I’ve painted several animals before as personal work, this was my first time taking on a commissioned pet portrait. I grew up around horses (we had five when I was a kid!), but somehow I had never painted one until now. Spending so many hours with Shiloh’s likeness in my studio reminded me how much I love painting animals, and it’s opening a new door for my work.
The finished painting was carefully varnished, framed, and then shipped to Ohio.
I’m deeply grateful to Lisa for trusting me to capture her very special friend. I’m also thankful for her unknowingly nudging me onto the path of pet portraiture.
You can see more recent examples of my work in the Pet Portrait Gallery.