The medium I use in creating my paintings is extra fine, quality oil pastel. I apply oil pastel to heavy weight, textured, acid-free art paper. I begin by making a rough pencil sketch of your animal companion to capture his or her overall shape and proportions. Next, I apply the main colors in the painting using oil pastels. I then use rounded blending tools to smooth and mix colors, and I add shading and highlighting to bring the portrait to life. Finally, I paint the background in a color scheme that you prefer. I do not recommend including background details because it distracts from the subject of the painting, your companion animal.

The entire drawing and painting process is done entirely by hand. I neither use computer technology nor any other electronic device to paint animal portraits.

A Note About Oil Pastels:

Because oil pastel is a medium that never dries out completely, your portrait will need to be protected. It should be kept under glass but not against glass, as contact with glass will ruin the integrity of the painting over time.

The painting, therefore, should be professionally matted and framed under glass. It should be displayed in a cool area out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. If you wish, I can work with you to select mats and a frame for your finished portrait. If you decide to make other arrangements for framing, be certain to work with a professional framer who has the expertise to frame your art correctly and to show the painting to its full potential. You will be investing a significant amount of money for an original portrait and tribute to your animal companion that you will most likely display in a noticeable area of either your home or office, and custom framing will not only play up selected colors in the portrait but it will add to the beauty of your décor.