My realistic art style often gets mistaken for a photograph and, while that is extremely flattering, it does lend itself to the big question… “Why should I commission a portrait of my dog or cat when I could just print out the photo? Here are my Top 5 reasons for commissioning a portrait of your pet… 1 The majority of pet portraits I am commissioned to do are in honour of the life of a companion no longer with us. As a pet owner and animal lover myself, I know only too well the grief associated with the loss of a beloved animal and coming to terms with that grief can be just as difficult as it is for any member of the family. Many people find having a commissioned portrait of their dog or cat in their home brings some comfort and sharing their stories with me helps to keep those happy memories fresh. 2 Often the best photos we take of our pets are not posed or taken in a professional photo shoot, they are the everyday photos we snap quickly to remember a sunny day out at the park, a weird pose or a funny thing our cat or dog has done. These images are packed full of personality and character but they might be blurry, have distracting backgrounds or poor lighting, they just wouldn’t be suitable to print out and frame but they capture that perfect moment in time. That’s where I can help. It is true that these photos are not the best for me to work from but I can often use them for the pose of the portrait whilst taking colour information, detail and markings from other more detailed photos you have. I can also incorporate, alter or even remove elements such as a favourite dog toy, recreating areas which have been cut off in the original photo or removing cat & dog collars and horse tack. Combining multiple pets together in one portrait is also possible and it’s this ability to be a “human photoshop” that can make a hand-drawn traditional portrait much more personal, flexible and unique than a photograph. 3 Buying a gift for someone who has everything? A commission slot for a pet portrait can make an incredibly thoughtful and unusual gift for an animal lover. It may be for someone who recently lost a pet, a gift for a special occasion (a wedding gift is a lovely idea especially if the couple have their own pets, they can be combined into one portrait) or perhaps it’s just because you know how much they love their companion animal and you want to give them something that will be treasured for a lifetime. Gifting a pet portrait is incredibly easy and you don’t even have to get all “secret squirrel” trying to get a photo of your giftee’s cat or dog on the sly as I offer physical gift vouchers for the full value of a portrait. This means you can still have a fantastically unique (and lusciously packaged) gift but the recipient can choose their own favourite photo and what size will best suit their home. Sounds like a win/win to me! 4 I’m not a fan of decorating, I can’t think of anything more boring than painting walls. If you feel the same way, then a great way to bring some visual interest to an unloved wall is by hanging a piece of original art, especially if it’s of a subject close to your heart. Whether you have a mansion or a studio flat a beautiful hand-drawn portrait of your pet makes a fantastic focal point for your home. Getting up close to see the detail really shows the time and effort that’s gone into creating every piece. Each one is as special as your bond with your pet and the larger you go, the less wall you have to paint. You can thank me later. 5 In March 2020 my theatre job disappeared overnight so I had to turn my side hustle into my main employment. It meant I finally had the time to concentrate on levelling up my artistic skills. During those scary and uncertain days I was truly lucky to have the time to draw and improve. It gave me a focus, a reason to get up in the morning (or early afternoon) and helped me to protect my mental health when it seemed that things would never be normal again. I am eternally grateful to all my clients when they support my art. It truly makes a difference when you buy from an individual as opposed to a faceless multi-national. We are able to give you a more personal connection and experience tailored to your needs. We care about you and we care about the quality of our products so you receive something utterly unique and not mass-produced. Small businesses need you and your support so thank you from us all :) If you’d like to find out more about pet portraits, get a quote or buy a voucher then please get in touch with me
Email me at [email protected]
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AuthorArla Kean - Equal opportunities animal lover Archives
June 2022
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