Canvas Pet Parrot Portraiture

Companion animal portraits are a joy to create. There's a sweet collaboration between the companion's owner and myself. Sharing favorite photos of their beloved and talking about their personalities. A portraiture isn't about an exactness to likeness, although this is an objectiive, it is an exactness to character that wins the day.

Choose photos the show personality as much as likeness.

It is better to have 10 photos of personality filled action photos of your companion than 2 photos of them sitting still for likeness. A good artist will always get the likeness, but we need help finding the personality you know so well. Whether a wink in the eye, a lean to their stance, or a tip of the head. It is there the real likeness lives.

The following photos step-through the evolution of the art.

A sketch rarely has the perspective layout mixed in. Once we find our subject and how the painting will look in general, I then work in one or two vanishing points to add to the work. That will be transferred onto the canvas itself, keeping me honest as I paint for light or shadow.

I'll lean out of the light and shadows to make sure the subjects are front and center, to the point of breaking a few rules. Because end of day, this is about the subjects and places they hold in their families hearts.