subject: How Painters See their Subjects [print this page] There is a challenge to every portrait painter to please the beholder but there is also the challenge to fix a typical posture not to mention other details that capture the subject and brings it to life on the canvas even through the tiniest of brush strokes. What satisfied customers have said about a female portraitist is that she is capable of bringing her subjects to life. Although the faces in her portfolio are not human ones even if they are relaxed, alert, aristocratic, moody, sensitive, and happy.
The artist specializes in portraits of animals, especially horses, dogs and cats, although she says she would like to try painting any kind of animal. In a studio in her home in the Maplewood section of the borough is where this tall and slender woman does her work. She has always loved animals, and so about five years ago she thought why not put the two together.
At first she almost always painted animal's heads, but lately she has been doing the entire animal, as in her current project, a horse running across a field. Even if the typical portrait is of a single animal, she has been able to make more than two and for her they make for interesting compositions. Her clients tell other people about her painting their pets and then these people ask her to paint more than one of their pets.
One woman commissioned a portrait of each of her three wolfhounds. Similar to people, there are differences here. Considering that she goes to dog and horse shows, she always has her business cards, camera, and portfolio. It is in animal portraiture wherein you do not have a model that will hold still and pose for you and so it is necessary to have a knowledgeable use of a camera. What she uses for the portraits are the pictures she takes of her subjects usually using one or two rolls of film. In a way to see the true color of its coat and to perceive its character, she finds it important that time is spent with the animal and it is handled if possible.
Aside from this she also likes to see how the owner is with the animal and vice versa. With their view of the animal and my view of the animal, I try to capture it as closely as possible. The conformation of the animal should be presented correctly and when it comes to a portrait a key feature that conveys the personality of the animal is the expression in its eyes.
Considering show animals, conformation is important. Aside from being familiar with a lot of animals you should also know what kind of conformation is correct. There can be great satisfaction in animal portraiture. The reason why he was not able to stop chuckling and shaking his head at the unveiling was because he was pleased.
There are those who order them as gifts for animal lovers and there are some people who commission portraits of their own beloved pets. Experts say that there is often the thought that the portrait will be a special keepsake after the animal dies. Considering that there are photographs which are good enough for an artist to use it will be easy for them to make portraits and she was able to paint the portrait of a deceased pet.
What she uses are pastels, oils, and pencil. The way she works is by doing one project at a time. Never does she give time frames for any artist dies not work well when put under pressure. In a month, she can do one or two portraits. She does not work on the weekends to give herself time even if she does try to paint everyday considering how painting can be exhausting for the painter and so she takes a break after finishing each painting.
