"That looks just like a photograph!"

This sounds like a huge compliment, and I certainly take it in the positive spirit in which it is intended ( I believe it's positive anyway); however, that is not usually my goal. Photography is an art unto itself - one I have no skill in - and I have enormous appreciation for it, but photo-realism is not what I'm after when I do a painting. My goal is to capture the gesture and spirit of my subject as well as its physical appearance while also showing brush strokes, emphasizing some details while simplifying others, sometimes exaggerating the range of colors, and using other techniques that signify the artwork as a painting and not a photograph. My style differs from painting to painting as I feel called to depict each animal in its own right and character, and I always hope my clients feel that it looks like their beloved pet. I also hope they feel that each painting has an expressive quality that truly captures the essence of their furry friend while resulting in a timeless piece of art that they keep for years to come.

#petportraits #customdogpaintings #commissionedpetportraits #ilovemydog