Whether an artist is specialising in pet portraits, landscapes, or traditional portraits, keeping colours as pure as possible is an important part of producing paintings that look fresh an clean.
The appearance of any colour is dependant on the circumstance in which it is seen. The way colours are seen is effected by the colours adjacent to it and on which it is set. (more…)
Stretched canvas is a very popular option for pet portrait artists as a support for their paintings. Nonetheless, there are substitute supports that can be just as worthy when you don’t have any canvases to hand. Wood has traditionally be used as a support for oils and indeed, is one of the earliest forms of support for painting. (more…)
With a few painting techniques, similar to those used by many pet portrait artists, detail is an important part of the completed picture. In light of this, it is always recommended that you create preliminary drawings, but what’s the easiest way to transfer the finished drawing to the canvas? In past times, artists have used 3 methods to do this, the following explanations describe the principle behind them. (more…)
For a great many artists, including those who specialise in pet portraits, stretching their own canvas not only saves money on commercially prepared canvases, but also provides them with a better quality result. Generally, commercially prepared canvases tend to be quite light weight with just the minimal number of primer layers needed. When we prepare our own canvases we select the quality of canvas, stretcher bars and primer that suits our painting style, so creating something that will work perfectly with our finished painting and greater chance of surviving in good order. (more…)
Whether we paint pet portraits, family portraits, landscapes, or house portraits, we all like to believe our pictures will endure the test of time. Using a high quality linen, that is properly prepared with several layers of gesso on both sides and stretched over kiln-dried hardwood stretchers, they can last for centuries . However, with the best will in the world, it doesn’t matter how well you prepare a canvas, it will always be vulnerable to damage through accidental pressure on the canvas causing dents or even rips in the surface. (more…)
Even with an ostensibly simple picture such as a pet portrait, an effective composition is crucial for the completed painting to work. As with so many aspects of the painting process, the way it is approached is what singles out the great painters. Often, good composition is the result of a natural process: when the painter creates a picture that is pleasing to the eye is is most probably down to the fact that the artist has ended up with a composition that conforms to traditional rules. (more…)
When starting a painting artists, including pet portrait painters, will employ an array of different techniques to achieve various visual effects on the canvas. These techniques have been known to artists since the Renaissance and have terms that identify them. Underneath is a brief list that mentions these terms and the principles upon which they’re based. (more…)
Like all artists, pet portrait painters like to economise when they can and will always take the opportunity to save money. Water colours, whether they come in a tube, or in pans, can be expensive to buy. You can create your own paints quite easily, and saving yourself money along the way. (more…)
There are many materials that can be used as a support, but the pet portrait artist has to consider what will be the best material to give his or her painting longevity. Much will depend on the type of paint being used, oil and acrylic tend to be a more flexible medium so can be applied with reasonable confidence on fabrics that have been properly prepared. More brittle mediums such as tempera, gouache or pastel, require a more rigid support such as prepared boards. (more…)
With most artists and crafts people, pet portrait artists are a thrifty bunch and, if it is possible to save a bit of money by making their own materials, they will certainly do so. As with paints, pastels can be very expensive to buy and the best ones always seem to run out more quickly however, it is possible to make your own at a fraction of the price of shop bought ones. It is also possible to achieve better results, often manufactured pastels lack the intermediate greys, grey-greens and the half-tone required for rendering flesh colours. (more…)