The Portraits
I feel so fortunate to have spent my childhood in nature: playing outdoors, riding horses, building tree forts, gardening, hiking, fishing, and caring for my many pets. I loved people but my animals had a special place in my heart! My artistic talent emerged early as I began drawing and painting those subjects that I loved.
So it is no surprise that, after earning a degree and working in “real corporate jobs” for 18 years, I have returned to my artistic roots, with a deeper appreciation for the sacredness of nature. I enrolled in a local painting class, and when I was offered a check for my first painting, I made a decision to offer my talent to others, and risk the vulnerability of sharing my inner self with the world. When others began asking me to paint portraits of their dogs and horses and homes, I realized that I could spread a little joy in this often harsh world by rendering their memories and treasured connections as fine art.
It is my honor to bring my clients’ beloved pets to life on canvas. Working with them to piece together the best of their favorite photographs, I create highly-detailed, realistic, hand-painted portraits that celebrate the subject’s spirit and often bring tears to the recipient’s eyes.
Using top-grade acrylics on eco-friendly linen, I paint the portrait in layers, from the large areas of color, light and shadow, up to the finest of details. The quick drying time of acrylic allows me to do this efficiently. As the figure emerges onto the canvas, I pay particular attention to the eyes and their expression, keeping in mind what I know about the subject. I relish bringing out the subtle details that make my subject who they are. Although I can never replicate Nature's perfection, I do my best to honor my subject.
"The artist vocation is to send light into the human heart."
-- George Sand
I love the spirit and intelligence of animals!
The Whimsical Collection
It is with reverence for their Divine beauty and a nod to light-hearted fun that I paint the animals in the Whimsical Collection. In a departure from my typically realistic and detailed portraits, these canvas paintings are textured and ablaze in bright, glittered, upbeat colors. They have a modern, contemporary vibe, yet retain many realistic features and often comical poses.
After sketching the figure on the canvas, I sculpt texture onto the sketch to define the animal’s features. Then I apply the various paints and glitter media in layers, while keeping the eyes more realistic and expressive. Where applicable, I continue the painting onto the edges of the canvas, so the buyer has the choice to hang it directly without the need for framing.
As a child, I was passionate about drawing and painting my world of nature and animals. Reluctantly, I put it on the back burner to earn a degree and work in “real corporate jobs” for 18 years. Eventually, I returned to my authentic self, and began honoring the many requests for my realistic pet renderings. These whimsical paintings came from my desire to “loosen up” and render animals in a more modern, painterly way. It is my hope that these light-hearted depictions will spread a little joy in this often harsh world as my small way of giving back.
"The artist vocation is to send light into the human heart."
-- George Sand
Such whimsical personality!