Step by Step: Abbey #1
Step by Step: Abbey #Finish
Welcome to the first Installment of my Pet Portrait painting, Step by Step Blog! How did I get from the blank canvas on top to the finished Portrait under it? Well, that is what I am going to show you throughout this Blog series. Many if not most, or all of you who may want to commission me may wonder how your beautiful Portrait gets so, well, Beautiful! How did Cy do it? The answers lie in this Blog series. I will be showing you step by step how I paint a Portrait. Thanks to Dan AND Abbey for giving their blessing on this project, you can read Abbeys official Blog post here if you just scroll down.
Every one of the Blogs in this series will feature a number of pictures taken during the execution of this Pet Portrait Painting of Abbey. I will also explain what was going on at each stage depicted.
For today other than introducing this Blog project to you, and giving you the start, and finished product pictures, I want to explain briefly what needs to happen even BEFORE I can start a painting.
First after being commissioned I need reference material, Pictures of the animal. for a local client, I will visit the pet and its owners, and will take many photos. I will then print out a contact sheet and will revisit the owners and we will decide together on the exact picture we want to paint from. These visits are also important so I can learn about the animal, and can get a feel for their demeanor, personality etc… I also will take a close look at their coat, and eye color and any other physical characteristics that my camera may not pick up on. Also the final composition of the piece needs to be discussed, what will be in the background?, any props or toys?, color schemes etc… For an out of state client I will be dependant upon the pet owners to provide me with as much of this info as they can. Including a number of good photos.
I want everyone to read about all of this pre-painting work because it is just as important as the actual execution of the piece, but before the piece can be started, all of this research and effort must take place to ensure an accurate and important Portrait.
Thank you for reading the first intallment of my Pet Portrait Painting, Step by Step Blog. On Abbey #2 we will start working on the canvas! Please share this with any of your art or animal loving friends, thanks, Cy
