There is a particular skill in trying to capture the sense of movement in a static image like a painting. It is a problem that, artists who specialise in pet portraits, are only too familiar with. Although, if done the right way, it will greatly increase the success of the image being created. (more…)
Watercolourists creating landscapes, portraits or indeed pet portraits, will traditionally go for a high quality water colour paper as a support. One of the things to consider when buying the paper is what weight to go for. Paper weights, which are calculated in Pounds, are based on the weight of a ream of paper, which equates to 480 sheets. (more…)
Artists producing pet portraits have a few painting surfaces to choose from, but if you’re working with water colours the best option has to be water colour paper. The manufacture of high quality paper for artists can be considered an art form in itself and undertaken by skilled craftsmen. Among the best are those that are hand made and provide artists with a choice of surfaces to suit a variety of painting techniques. (more…)
Easels can help make the life of the pet portrait artist much more comfortable, by offering a secure support for their canvas, at just the right height and angle. All the same, there are a few of varieties to go for, each one designed to meet the particular needs of the artist whether they’re in a studio or outside.
The most versatile is the sketching easel. (more…)
Since the early Renaissance, artists producing portraits in oil (or any other subject for that matter) have traditionally started with a layer of size to seal the natural canvas or board prior to the gesso ground. It’s role is to protect the canvas from the chemicals in the paint that may cause it to decay. Today, if you use an acrylic primer, size is not always required, but it’s remains a good way of protecting the canvas and if you make your own gesso is an essential part of the preparation. (more…)
Youngsters usually experiment a lot with hair color changes, body piercing and tattoos, but there comes a time when all these no longer seem that fun. Unfortunately, you can easier change the look by dropping body jewels than by removing tattoos. Hair and skin grow back and the effects of body piercing wear off in time, yet tattoos stubbornly resist skin exfoliation. (more…)
Whether an artist is specialising in pet portraits, landscapes, or traditional portraits, keeping colours as bright as possible is an important part of producing paintings that appear fresh an clean.
The way in which any colour appears is dependant on the circumstance in which it is seen. The way a colour is seen is effected by the colours next to it and on which it is placed. (more…)
Whether an artist is specialising in pet portraits, landscapes, or traditional portraits, keeping colours as bright as possible is an important part of producing paintings that appear fresh an clean.
The way in which any colour appears is dependant on the circumstance in which it is seen. The way a colour is seen is effected by the colours next to it and on which it is placed. (more…)
Stretched canvas is a very popular option for pet portrait artists as a support for their paintings. All the same, there are alternative 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 some painting techniques, like those used by many pet portrait artists, detail is an important aspect of the finished picture. In light of this, it is crucial to create preliminary drawings, but what’s the easiest way to transfer the finished drawing to the canvas? Historically, artists have employed one of three methods to do this, the following explanations describe the principle behind them. (more…)