I’ve been painting animal portraits in Atlanta, Georgia for 6 years. I know! That’s a long time. I guess time does fly when you’re painting cute pets all day. Here is my humble list of the types of animals I get the most excited to paint when they appear in my inbox.
1. Black Cats
Top of the list has to be the stylish queen, the very embodiment of Bast; BLACK CATS. Chic, and sleek! I love painting black fur. Black is a shade that can support any other color. So I get to play with the lighting effects that must be implemented to do this iconic figure justice- Lest they be but silhouettes. They really do blend into the shadows, don’t they? I tend to favor blue and purple paint set against those jewel toned eyes. What a treat!! Of course their expression must match the magical reverence we hold for our beloved felines. There’s also something just so cute about the little void no matter what setting we find them. Black laundry pile? White sheets? The sink? Yes, I guess they belong there after all. Black cats really are the most fun animal for me to paint, full stop.
2. Boston Terriers
Speaking of working with black, the black and white face of an angel; the Boston Terrier is my second fave! Just look at those eyes, such yearning! I have a soft spot for terriers, ok we’ll be honest and call it a love/hate relationship! They’re just too smart for me, I’ll admit it. Boston Terriers are very sharp dogs. They are energetic and so adorable. They run circles around me and do so with beautiful muscular design and expression of pure love and joy. These lil athletes’ faces have very fun shapes to draw and shade. Black and white and pink and brown, ice cream colors, you know? We can let them bathe in neutrals, bolds or pastels! I suppose I’m a sucker for a guaranteed cool palette.
3. Snakes
Listen, I have a phobia or two but SNAKES are not one of them! I love these gorgeous danger noodles. They have cute little faces and make such impressive subjects. I do find them to be incredibly complex, like all scaly creatures. They have intricate and unique patterns, and the way their form is structured is unlike any other pet you could paint! I like the way acrylic paint works with this type of portrait because you can really build on the effect. Scales require you to see fine details in 3d which is a huge challenge, but a fun one! I try to simplify the effects because I could probably spend days attempting to perfect just one serpentine face. Look at that sweet reptile painting, don’t you just wanna boop that nose?
4.Horses
Every so often I get to let down my mane and paint a horse! I’m not necessarily a full fledged horse girl because I’ve never ridden. But I did spend a semester in The Horse Lover’s Club in 9th grade. I love horses. Yes, they are majestic, impressive and fun to paint! They can be a task to take on but I don’t find them overly difficult. Just… well as pretty as a countrycore moodboard! The biggest plus is that horse portraits tend to look fantastic if you do it even slightly well. All of the portraits I’ve done of horses are serene and pastoral, they relax me with their fabulous energy. While it takes a bit of extra effort to make sure the background is just as alive as the horse, it’s always worth it.
5. Long Haired Cats
Yes, another cat. Let’s face it. I AM a cat person. Long fluffy fur is so nice to paint. It requires a soft touch. What we’re going for is the creamy texture that makes you wanna just reach out and stroke the canvas. Felines are naturally striking; in their long haired form, it imparts a luxuriousness they wear with perfection. And I get to paint that perfection! Or at least attempt to reach it. These are the real pets that leave your clothes and furniture with an extra layer of hair that pet owners are known for. They must be brushed regularly so it’s fun to create a Himalyan cat portrait, thinking about how much they must shed to look so good. I like the challenge of creating that beautiful tactile look of that downy cheek fur and wispy ears. Just oh-so-petable and soothing to look at!
