Residing in San Clemente, I’m an artist who seeks to express the very soul of a wide range of domesticated animals in my watercolors-on-board. It is the focus of my art business, Soulful Pet Portraits. Drawing animals was my favorite subject throughout high school. I took a class with my dad and learned to paint three-foot-square male and female portraits. At Cal State Long Beach, and in my studies abroad in Florence, Italy, I enlarged my painting skills painting landscapes and figures. But animals were always my true love.
An observation by Trisha McCagh in The Animal Whisperer inspired me as I developed my personal passion for animals in my art: “Animals are the bridge between us and the beauty of all that is natural. They show us what’s missing in our lives, and how to love ourselves and others more completely and unconditionally. They connect us back to who we are, and to the purpose of why we’re here.”
One day a friend asked me to paint her pet dachshund, Roar. Desiring to give my friend the best possible interpretation of her beloved pet, I recalled the loving relationship between my friend and her dog and the impact that love had on my friend’s feelings and behavior. I became even more alert to the different relationships that all kinds of people have with their pets. As I studied those relationships, I found that pet owners felt that the love they received from their pet was of the purest kind, since it was unconditional: animals know no evil, jealousy or discontent. They share every part of their owners’ lives with them and go through every trial with them. I believe the relationships that humans develop with their pets teach valuable lessons concerning how all of us can learn to appreciate the human relationships we have.
As more and more collectors of my work began to provide photographs requesting portraits of their beloved pets, it was these observations and feelings that began to fuel my passion to describe not only the outer appearance of these special creatures, but their emotions. To do that, I decided that I would learn to paint the eyes of her models as “windows to the soul,” and it would be there – in the center of the face – that I would see and portray each pet’s particular personality. I changed my color palette to reflect the subtleties of fur patterns and lighting and became a student of reflected light and the modeling of three-dimensional form. I began to use archival materials, such as Ampersand boards made of high-density aspen fibers, and gouache paint (opaque watercolor) from Holbein and Winsor-Newton. Different brands and types of varnish were explored, until just the right sealant was found. Presentation of the final artwork is of primary importance to me, therefore I employ sturdy, high-finish framing and ship my work (with a thank-you note) in secure packaging.
At art fairs I display my work in a professional booth, with giclee reproductions, business cards and contact information. My website is continually being updated, at www.soulfulpetportraits.com. Always ready to accept new commissions, and eager to work with anyone who loves God’s special creatures, I have begun expanding my work to painting commissioned portraits of infants, children, and other figures as well. You can book me on Petworks here. Thank you so much.