Producing Your Perfect Portrait

My particular skill for working in minute detail lends itself well to portrait painting.  Whether you decide on a miniature (2” x 2” image size) or larger size (up to approx 10” x 8”), I take great pride in the fine brush work in each portrait, incorporating fine hairs, whiskers, bridle, collar, etc, as you can see from the images below.  For more sizes and prices visit the Pricing and Ordering page.

(Click here to view a selection of finished portraits with their original photographs)

Once I have initially sketched my subject, I start adding a colour wash.  I will then start painting the eyes in more detail.  I love to spend as much time on the eyes as possible – they capture the real essence and character of the animal I am painting, and I try to reflect this in my portraits.  I feel this is the first and most important stage in the creation of a portrait.  All other details are then painted in and the colour is built up gradually using tiny brush strokes.  Throughout this process I use magnifiers to help me extract every little detail.  The finished artwork has a smooth finish, similar to watercolour.

Bailey's Portrait - An example of work in progress

(You can also view Bailey's finished portrait in Dog Gallery I and in Before and After Examples)

The Materials I Use

Each portrait is meticulously painted using good quality Liquitex Soft Body Acrylic paints.  Most of my portraits (3" x 3" upwards) are painted on off-white textured acid free mount board, but occasionally I use acrylic paper and coloured card.  I like to use raw silk for my Miniature portraits (2" x 2"), which is a buff/beige colour, and the soft body acrylics work really well on the silk.  I use a mixture of medium to very fine watercolour brushes, sometimes as small as 0000.  Pro Arte Prolene Plus Series 007 round are my favourite.  I hope to start using other mediums, such as watercolour, graphite and coloured pencil, and possibly oils, and also other bases for my miniature portraits, such as Ivorine.

Photographs

In order to produce your perfect portrait, I need to start with a selection of good photographs of the subject to be painted.  They should be clear and in focus, and the image of the subject should be as large as possible within the frame of the photo, showing accurate details, such as colouring of fur/eyes, favourite pose etc, plus any other distinguishing features.  Some details can be added, omitted or altered as required, such as collars, bridles, background etc.

Please be aware that the detail and quality of the finished portrait will very much depend on the clarity of the original photographs, and although I use magnifiers with my work, if photographs are blurred or in shadow, or the image is very small, then a certain amount of guesswork will be required to complete the artwork.  Please refer to the section Photographic Tips for more information.  All your photographs will be returned safely to you with your completed portrait.

© Copyright Nicky Jones, Pet and Animal Portrait Artist 1996-2009.  All artwork on this site is protected by copyright law

and may not be copied, downloaded or used without permission from the artist.  All rights reserved worldwide.

57 Selwyn Crescent, Radley, Oxon, UK   Tel (01235) 529895

nicky@faithfulfriendsportraits.co.uk