Photo PORTRAITS

Being asked to paint another person’s pet can be very flattering, yet it can also prove to be a double-edged sword. When selecting a reference image for our own paintings, we can judge what gives us the best and most interesting subject. Yet when faced with a photo of a beloved pet from an outside source that may not contain the information needed, the results can be less appealing and can often trip us up. I find the best way around this problem is to ask for a selection of images, then explain why you have chosen your particular view.

Painting an animal portrait from a compromised reference photo is fine for pleasing a doting owner, but if you want the resulting painting to appeal to a wider audience, the reference image has to contain information that