Getting the right Photo
Not all great photos make good paintings. The painting is only as good as the reference photo! (well, mostly) I can do a lot with a little, but it helps immensely to have the right photos to work with. I typically like to work with 4 or more photos so I can get a good idea of the animal’s personality and see them in different light to get a better sense of the proper coloring. I wish I could meet every animal I paint in person! Wouldn’t that be a dream? <sigh> If only I had the time and resources to take all my own reference shots. But alas, sometimes the subject I’m painting is no longer with us and in that case I will do the best I can with the photos provided.
BUT if possible, here are a few pointers to getting the best reference photo for me to paint.
Get down on their level
Photos from above (from your point of view) are not the most flattering and usually you end up with a truncated animal with tiny feet. If you get down on their level, it will be a more natural pose for them and will look better in a painting.
No Flash
Use natural lighting, if possible. The flash tends to wash out all the great details that make your pet unique. Go outside, in their natural habitat! Or at least get close to a window on a sunny day (if perhaps you have an indoor cat). The more photos I have in natural lighting the easier it will be for me to see your pet’s true colors.
Be candid
Try to take photos of them not looking at you. I know! Easier said than done, especially when you’ve now gotten down to their level and it’s time to play! Some of the best moments are when they don’t notice you looking at them. This is not a hard and fast rule… Sometimes the best photos of them are when they are super attentive and staring at you with those big brown eyes and you just melt. This is why you send me lots of photos.
Bribe them (Treats!)
Get them into a sit-stay position with yummy treats! This might be easier to do with help from a friend so the photo isn’t taken from above (see #1)
Details
If there are any distinguishing markings, please let me know! Some photos may not show exactly what you see everyday in your own pet. If the eyes are a special color green, or there is a spot on their chest that you really want to be included, do tell! Some photos may not have the right color but have the form and expression perfectly. This is where the benefit of multiple photos come in. I can use the pose and expression from one photo and the color and markings from another. \
be patient
Sometimes it takes time to get just the right photo. Sit on the ground with the animal, have them get comfortable and wait. Wait for them to stop jumping on you, excited that you’ve come down to their level. Wait for them to get back to “normal”. Wait for them to calm down and relax.
artistic license
Let me know if there is something fun or different you want to include in your portrait! I have this thing called an artistic license, and I can use it WHENEVER I WANT. Do you want your dog to be the captain of a ship? Or you’d like to make your cat purple. I can do that. I can make your pet be anything you want. I have a license.
The big picture
Keep the photos at the highest resolution possible. If photos are taken on your phone, email them or text them at the largest size possible. When you email a photo from a phone, it will typically compress the photo to save space. I’ve found the best way to keep the highest resolution is to text it to me directly.
Living large
Get up close! A few photos of the face, close up will help with the details I need. When you are standing even ten feet away, the photo itself is mostly background and only a fraction of the picture is your pet. This may make for an interesting photograph, but not a great pet portrait. I want to get to know your pet! So get up close and personal and show me the cuteness that is your most beloved companion.
many hats
I am able to do all sorts of commissions, not just animals! (I do not do people portraits. People are a whole different ball game, and I'll leave that to the experts.) But I can do a still life of your favorite family heirloom, or an illustration for a book cover. I am also a graphic designer who makes logos and knows the ins and outs about printing. Have a question? Just ask.