Choosing the right photo
A good portrait requires a good photo. The lighting, the angle, and the expression on the animal’s face can all dramatically change how your animal is represented. As the artist, I can only depict what I am able to see.
Below are examples of three photos and their subsequent paintings. These portraits are all of the same cat but the environment and poses led to very different representations. For reference, all of these portraits are on 5″x7″ canvas.
Example #1 – Full body, with dark red background and shadow.
Because of the angle at which Ms. Kitty was sitting, the shadow was an important addition to accurately represent her likeness. This is a full body portrait with indoor lamp lighting. On the 5”x7” I wouldn’t want to shrink the image further as I would lose even more detail in the face. Oh, and she’s doing a weird thing with her foot because she’s a weird cat.
Example #2 – Head & shoulders, (ear cut off), with light blue distressed backgrouns
Ms. Kitty is lit by an indoor overhead light. She’s looking back over her shoulder and appears alert and interested. Because of the angle, you don’t get a good look at the markings on her chest, but her face markings are clear and accurate. The placement on the 5”x7” canvas was based on the image, cutting off on the canvas where it does in the photos.
Example #3 – Close up, face & paws, green grasslike (blurred) background.
Ms. Kitty is outside on the lawn, lit by a sunny day. Because of the lighting and angle, her face appears much lighter than in the other two portraits. While we don’t see her eyes, we see her bliss.I had considered adding detail of the grass to this image, simply because she is interacting with it. As the client planned to display the three paintings together, she preferred a blurred background so the three paintings remain in a similar style.
Mainly, you want to make sure that all the elements you would like in your painting are included in the photos you provide.