Creating custom pet portraits is one of the best parts of my work, as a pet portrait artist. It is such a rewarding job, to create something so personal for a pet owner, and to celebrate the uniqueness of the pet. Pets are so individual, and I love to find out about their personalities and traits, that make them who they are. This is an important part of the process in creating a custom pet portrait, to capture those small details that make a big difference!
I have created many realistic pet portraits over the last few years, and labrador portraits are a popular request, since they are such wonderful family pets. I have to admit that these are my most favourite dog breed, as I owned a labrador for 15 years, and she was the most loving and loyal friend.
This portrait of Lucy, is one that I created as a special keepsake for the family. I was lucky to be given a photo that would allow me to capture all the details, including the red collar, though sometimes I will leave these out of a drawing if required. This custom pet portrait was a larger size, that enabled more detail to be drawn, so the best result could be achieved. Areas such as the eyes, gums and collar detail can be emphasised.
This portrait was also framed, with the owner's choice of frame, which is always a treat to produce that finishing touch for my portraits.
One of my recent black labrador portraits, showing that typical look of a labrador, is shown below. This one was not a custom pet portrait, but an online tutorial which I created for my monthly tutorials offered on Patreon. This drawing allowed me to demonstrate how black fur is made up of so many colours, and how the shine on the labrador smooth coat is created.
If you would like more information about my custom pet portraits, please pop over to my commissions page, where you can also find photo tips for the perfect portrait.