Pet Portraits: fine art to treasure fur-ever. Who is the BEST pet in the world? It is the one you share a life with.
Quinn Sweet as Blueberry Pie (Pastel) 9"x 11"
Quinn Who Has Been Sleeping in My Bed (Pastel)
Commissioning your own portrait is a unique process that requires preparations from both the artist, that's me, and you, the collector. We collaborate to create a personal story, selecting the right photos that capture the unique character of each pet. Your involvement is key to creating a truly personalized masterpiece.
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| 2018 Originals photos from Peter Hempel, Brooklyn, New York, USA |
Peter Hempel had been gifted two previous pet portraits in 2008 by his then-girlfriend & actress Pam Grier. These two pet portraits featured rescue kitty Washington on his favorite bed sheets. Peter contacted me via email and began the creative process of selecting various photos. He requested that the new bed sheets be part of the background design featuring his new rescue kitty, Quinn.
Peter and I emailed back and forth until the two photos that worked as a set were selected. Next, a quick sketch with the background and sample color palette used in the portrait will be approved by Peter before the painting begins.
After Peter agreed to all the ideas and sketches, the next step was to create a painted underlayer that would eliminate the whiteness of the archival UART pastel sandpaper. This blocking in color will make a vibrating color difference for the final layers.
I use PAN PASTEL to create the first layer, blocking in the basic design, and then use alcohol with a brush to dissolve the pastel into a paint that will stain the pastel sandpaper.
I will keep my collector, Peter, updated as I progress through the process by photographing the various stages, so he can be a part of the visual process and see the transformation to the final stroke of pastel.
Using an impressionist method of short, broken brushstrokes, I crush soft pastel into the rough surface of the sandpaper. To view an impressionist painting up close, you will see the variety of colorful strokes. However, when standing several feet away from the same painting, the surface is now visually blended with the eye.
To read more about Impressionism, its history, and art...
Quinn's fur in real life is a vibrant mix of warm and cool colors, with yellowish eyes reflecting the room's light sources. I aim to capture this dynamic essence in the pastel painting, layering the fur and eyes with a rich palette of colors. The pastel leaves chunky bits on the surface, creating a visually exciting texture that brings the painting to life.
Creating visual texture with pastels is a meticulous process. I use a variety of colors to layer the fur and eye surface, including pink, purple, orange, yellow, and a hint of red beneath the neutrals of the fur. The pastel leaves chunky bits on the surface, adding to the artwork's visual texture.
I use a variety of high-quality pastels, including Schminke, Terry Ludwick, Dianne Townsend, Sennelier, Unison, Mount Vision, Rembrandt, Holbein, Pan Pastel, and pastel pencils. Each brand offers a unique texture, color, and the ability to create dynamic textures on the surface. This variety ensures that the artwork is of the highest quality and truly unique.
I love connecting with the pet through the stories shared. I look at the poses in the photos that convey something unique about the character of that pet, while evoking the spirit of Quinn, with the hope of expressing that personality through paint. I am amazed at the variety of gorgeous markings on Quinn's fur and the intricate pattern on the bed sheets.
After the pet portraits were approved by Peter, it was time to wrap them up with framing instructions for his professional framer. I wanted to pack it well and set the portraits in a way that would allow Peter to view the pastel, keeping it firmly in place until the framer gets the pastels into their frames.
Peter was sooooo excited that day he received the portraits and was off to his framers the very same day! He took a few photos to share the beginning of the framing process, coordinating with his previous portrait of Washington from 2008.
Testimonial from Peter Hempel 2018
The art is now framed and displayed on Peter's walls, featuring both the 2018 portraits and the 2009 portraits together in one room. I love the gold leaf framing and the wide, double neutral mats that feature the artworks exquisitely!
Go to the Pet Portrait Gallery page:
To view more pet portraits...
To read more about commissioning your own pet portraits:
Until NEXT TIME... love mother nature and honor the pets who share their lives with us!
Meow Minaz
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| Washington Please! 2008 |
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| Washington Nap Time 2008 |
Peter and I emailed back and forth until the two photos that worked as a set were selected. Next, a quick sketch with the background and sample color palette used in the portrait will be approved by Peter before the painting begins.
I use PAN PASTEL to create the first layer, blocking in the basic design, and then use alcohol with a brush to dissolve the pastel into a paint that will stain the pastel sandpaper.
 |
Start of Quinn pet portraits with Pan Pastel dissolved with alcohol to make the pastel stain the cream-colored Uart pastel sandpaper. |
I will keep my collector, Peter, updated as I progress through the process by photographing the various stages, so he can be a part of the visual process and see the transformation to the final stroke of pastel.
Using an impressionist method of short, broken brushstrokes, I crush soft pastel into the rough surface of the sandpaper. To view an impressionist painting up close, you will see the variety of colorful strokes. However, when standing several feet away from the same painting, the surface is now visually blended with the eye.
To read more about Impressionism, its history, and art...
Quinn's fur in real life is a vibrant mix of warm and cool colors, with yellowish eyes reflecting the room's light sources. I aim to capture this dynamic essence in the pastel painting, layering the fur and eyes with a rich palette of colors. The pastel leaves chunky bits on the surface, creating a visually exciting texture that brings the painting to life.
Creating visual texture with pastels is a meticulous process. I use a variety of colors to layer the fur and eye surface, including pink, purple, orange, yellow, and a hint of red beneath the neutrals of the fur. The pastel leaves chunky bits on the surface, adding to the artwork's visual texture.
I use a variety of high-quality pastels, including Schminke, Terry Ludwick, Dianne Townsend, Sennelier, Unison, Mount Vision, Rembrandt, Holbein, Pan Pastel, and pastel pencils. Each brand offers a unique texture, color, and the ability to create dynamic textures on the surface. This variety ensures that the artwork is of the highest quality and truly unique.
I love connecting with the pet through the stories shared. I look at the poses in the photos that convey something unique about the character of that pet, while evoking the spirit of Quinn, with the hope of expressing that personality through paint. I am amazed at the variety of gorgeous markings on Quinn's fur and the intricate pattern on the bed sheets.
After the pet portraits were approved by Peter, it was time to wrap them up with framing instructions for his professional framer. I wanted to pack it well and set the portraits in a way that would allow Peter to view the pastel, keeping it firmly in place until the framer gets the pastels into their frames.
Peter was sooooo excited that day he received the portraits and was off to his framers the very same day! He took a few photos to share the beginning of the framing process, coordinating with his previous portrait of Washington from 2008.
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Quinn Portraits at the framers in New York! |
Testimonial from Peter Hempel 2018
The art is now framed and displayed on Peter's walls, featuring both the 2018 portraits and the 2009 portraits together in one room. I love the gold leaf framing and the wide, double neutral mats that feature the artworks exquisitely!
 |
FRAMED Quinn: Sweet as Blueberry Pie and Washington, PLEASE! |
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FRAMED Washington Takes a Nap and Quinn: Sweet as Blueberry Pie! |
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FRAMED Quinn: Who Has Been Sleeping in my Bed? |
Go to the Pet Portrait Gallery page:
To view more pet portraits...
To read more about commissioning your own pet portraits:
Until NEXT TIME... love mother nature and honor the pets who share their lives with us!
Meow Minaz
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