Pencil

Pencil drawings? really help to capture the detail of the animal. As an artist I strive to create the effect of realism and pencil really allows intricate detail to be captured. The graphite can be used to create tonal values, from black to white and all the vast shades in between. I always use a top quality hot-press paper to assist the working and the presevation of the piece. The finish always looks professional and unique.

Click on image of elephants in pencil to see large size drawing

Watercolour?

Watercolour is a softer technique, again I like to work to a very high detail, and watercolour paint helps create a really good 3D effect where the goal is to make the pet or horse portrait life like. The subtle translucency of watercolour is sometimes enhanced with gouache paint so that I can really bring out the fine characteristics of the animal I am painting. The finished article will be colourful and a very real depiction of the chosen animal.

Click on image of staffordshire bull terrier to see large size watercolour painting

Click on horse image to view full size

Pastels?

Pastels are a much looser medium to work in because of their nature. Pet portraits in pastel tend to be much more stylised representations of the dog, horse or other pet. You also cannot put as much time into a pastel portrait because you cover the paper much quicker than with pencil or watercolour. So even though there will be a number of layers of pastels built up to get the effect, they are faster to do. For this reason they are less expensive for the same size sheet of paper. The paper is an interesting difference as I always use the very expensive textured pastel paper as it not only gives a better effect, but holds the pastel better over time. This is important as a powder medium pastel will tend todrop over time - the cheaper the paper and the less care an artist takes the more it occurs. As long as you are aware of its disadvantages, it is a great medium for the more artistic pet portraits, and where you may have only a very poor quality photograph to work off with little detail it can be the best option.