The Process
It is worth noting that by providing you with sequential photos you can be guaranteed that the artwork is entirely hand-painted and devoid of any digital imaging or reproduction.
Your input is welcome every step of the way, as this is a team effort and your satisfaction is my reward!
Artwork Stages
Once you have approved the initial composition mock-up, the creative process begins. You will receive a photo at the end of each stage to confirm you are happy with the painting to date, giving you the opportunity to make any changes. Pastel paintings are created using limited layers of pastel to build up the colour and detail, therefore it is preferable to make art changes in the early stages of the work. Making changes on the near-finished portrait is difficult due to the multiple layers of pastel used to obtain the detail and depth of colour. When the portrait is complete I will send you a photo to make sure you are 100% satisfied.
1
Using your photo as reference I firstly create the composition on your selected portrait size. This is a FREE black and white line art mock-up showing you the positioning and any cropping required. This will then be emailed to you for your approval. The mock-up is an important part of the process especially if more than one pet is in the portrait.
2
Now I start painting the detail and adding the first layer of the background. This will give an indication of the colour balance and how your pet looks against the background. I always paint from the side, working across the portrait, allowing you the opportunity to make sure you are happy with the colour and detail before I go any further. Please note that the pet’s detail is still in its’ early phase.
3
This is when the portrait starts to take shape. It is at this stage you will be able to see if the painting is capturing your pets unique personality, features and colouring. It is also a good opportunity to assess the background colour to ensure a harmonious contrast in the final piece.
4
This is the final stage of the process. The finishing touches are applied to the eyes and fur detail, and the background colour is further layered to achieve a rich, tonal contrast. Minor tweaks can be made at this stage but can be difficult due to the medium. Once I have your final approval, your portrait is professionally packed and ready to ship.
Photo-to-painting Examples
The advantage of hand-painting your pet is the flexibility to add detail not seen in the original photo, and the removal of any unwanted imagery.
The Materials
Soft Pastels
My custom pet portraits are 100% hand-painted and my preferred medium is soft pastels. I use only the highest professional quality pastels and pencils, and the finest archival surface – 360gsm Pastelmat paper. The lasting properties of soft pastels far outlast oil and acrylic paintings due to the pure, highly concentrated pigment and absence of real additives. This means your pastel painting will retain its’ fresh, penetrating colours and vibrant tones over a lifetime.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me any time at jmappin@petportraitstudio.com.au
