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CHOOSING A PET PORTRAIT ARTIST
17th January 2011
Choosing a pet portrait artist isn't easy. Not
only is there the initial cost to consider, but there is the type
of painting to go for and the decision on how your pet should
look. This article is aimed at demystifying the experience so you
can be confident in choosing the right artist for you.
There are also a multitude of pet portrait
artists out there all plying their trade on the internet. They
offer a range of services from oil, acrylic and watercolour to
graphite and pastel mediums. Some will frame your portrait for
delivery and others will leave it to you. However, the first and
most important decision is to find a pet portrait artist whose
style you most like, whether it's their watercolour or pastel work
or their individual technique.
You'll know instinctively who can reproduce the
best likeness of your pet but - and this is the second most
important point - most artists work from supplied photographs, so
make sure that you have quality photos of your pet to send. Your
favourite snap of Fido might not be suitable for your chosen
artist to work from. It may be too blurred or simply not do him
the justice your artist wants to bring out in their work. If you
don't have a really good picture, think about obtaining some fresh
ones. Your chosen artist can always advise you.
As a general rule, try and get three or four
images pointing out which one is most true to your pet's colour.
Try to avoid a really sunny day when the pictures are taken as the
sun will cast dark shadows on your pet and will distort the
colours. Likewise avoid a really dull overcast day. Ideally, take
your photographs with your back to the sun and at their level
rather than looking down to avoid any distortion or an unnatural
pose. Make sure they are facing the camera if you want a head or
head and shoulders pet portrait and try to get as close to your
pet as possible whilst staying in focus.
At this point you will also want to start
thinking about the size of your portrait and of course this is
where price really comes in. Other factors need to be addressed
here too, like if you want more than one pet in the portrait, do
you want a plain or themed background, or do you want it framed?
Taking size first, apart from your budget,
considering where your pet portrait will hang is really important;
you don't want a large picture dominating a small room. On the
other hand, you need to choose a size that best portrays your pet.
Ideally you wouldn't really want the subject in the portrait to
cover less than the area of an A4 sheet of paper and if you want
more than one pet captured think bigger definitely.
The background you choose is a matter of
personal choice, but an important decision nevertheless. It is a
big cost factor too. Some plain but complimentary backgrounds can
be very effective and a good artist should create a three
dimensional portrait of any animal. But a flat background is only
two dimensional and well, flat! My personal opinion is that
there's nothing like a natural setting behind any pet portrait
and, whilst more expensive, it will really bring the portrait to
life.
Framing is a difficult one. Different artists
will charge different prices. My best advice is to get a quote
from your chosen artist and then your local picture framer. Also
take into account that delivery charges will be cheaper for an
unframed portrait. Obviously, if you find a huge difference in
cost the decision is made for you, but ultimately, if there's not
much in it price wise, there's nothing like unwrapping a beautiful
framed picture delivered to your door.
My best advice to anyone looking for a pet
portrait is to do your research. There's not much point in getting
competitive quotes from different artists. Whilst commissioning
artwork should be like any other purchase, as I pointed out
earlier, you will quickly decide who you want to do business with.
If that is the case then make sure you discuss all the points I
raise above to ensure you get the perfect pet portrait.
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