A little about the artist...
The portraits...
I have always found animals as a refuge from an often harsh world. Having painted them for many years, I am attracted to their innocence, joy and unbridled love of life. I believe eye contact is the key in pet portraits. I can’t speak for other painters, but I always paint the eyes first. They are truly the windows to the soul. If I can capture that essence, I have the spirit of animal looking back at me saying, “Hello. I am here.” I feel a connection immediately. It helps me complete the rest of the painting.
All of my pet portraits are painted on a cradled wood canvas(no need for a frame unless you desire that effect). Each wood canvas is primed in a gesso (which is a chalk like substance mixed with a liquid polymer). The last coat is lightly sanded to produce an absolutely smooth even white canvas, so there is no chance of seeing the thread lines of a cloth canvas in your pet portrait.
