website. Assuming that you or a friend might be interested in ordering a
, I'd like to tell you about my work.
In 1990 I was living in Maine, drawing for myself many of the animals I saw--on farms, in fields, in the homes of friends--until it was suggested that people might be willing to pay for a portrait of their beloved animal. That was the beginning of my career as a Pet Portrait artist.
I occasionally create other works using permanent markers or acrylic paints, but my Pet Portraits
are drawn exclusively with pencil--Prismacolor
pencils, to be specific. They are rich in color, available in an astonishing variety of shades, and can be manipulated into portraying every kind of texture--short, long, or curly coat; leather or cloth collar; teeth, tongue, and the insides of ears; etc.
The paper I choose to draw on is 100 pound Bristol Vellum. There is also a Smooth option, but I prefer the results I achieve with the Vellum texture.
My usual procedure, when someone orders a Pet Portrait
from me, is to request several photos of the animal, showing details like coat color(s), length of coat, facial expressions, and any other information the client would like me to include. The photos may be sent to me via the U.S. Postal Service, but I prefer email (as do most of my clients).
I normally don’t include background details in my portraits, preferring to focus all the attention on the animal.
After I have drawn the portrait, I email a scanned copy of it to my client for approval, and will make any adjustments requested, if possible. (It is easier to add than to subtract color, due to the intensity of the Prismacolor shades.) I have very occasionally
needed to do what I call a "do-over," when I have made a mistake (recognized by either my client or myself) that cannot be corrected on the original drawing. I do not charge for a do-over, when the responsibility is mine.
When my client has approved the drawing, I coat it with a fixative to protect it, and prepare it for mailing. (If my client lives in the Tampa Bay area, personal pick-up or delivery may be arranged.) I do not mat or frame my drawings.
See my CONTACT Page
for information about sizes and prices.