Why Pet Portraits?

Roamer and Huck with Daddy

So why after five years of art school did I decide to set out on my own and do pet portraits? I've always loved animals and grew up with a dog in the house my whole childhood. I purchased my first turtle the summer after graduating high school (who I still have 18 years later) and there started my love (infatuation even!) with the little critters. They are full of personality and are just awesome pets.

I've done various jobs here and there to pay the bills since being out on my own and after college, however one year I signed up to be a leadout at the local greyhound racetrack in Sarasota, FL. I remember my first day there in training (the dogs were training too!) when all the kennel workers brought out the greyhounds to get weighed in as they would before the real races. Not sure how many dogs there were, but there were a lot all at once, and that was my introduction to greyhounds. At first sight these gorgeous hounds took my breath away, and I fell madly in love with the breed over the course of the season. I went on to work in two different kennels at the Bonita Springs track and then back at the Sarasota one, where I adopted both of our boys you see pictured here. These are simply the best breed of dogs I have ever known; they are so special and unique!

I first began my portrait business during the year before I was married. I wanted to create something I was passionate about (animals), while at the same time making other people happy (doing portraits of their pets!). I find great joy in doing this, and it is especially rewarding when I do a portrait of a beloved pet who is no longer here and to see the happiness the portrait brings to the owner. 

I first started out only in scratchboard, but now have added a fun medium, colored duct tape to make my Ductanimals. The scratchboard results in a beautiful, traditional portrait, and is a sturdy, Masonite board that has been coated with white clay and then layers of black India ink. I use special metal tools to scratch out the drawing and details, the use colored India inks to make a full color portrait.  I use the colored duct tape in layers and cut out particular pieces to make a more modern and fun portrait of your pet. 

I am working on another medium as well which I hope to introduce soon that will be smaller in size than the other two. Any of the mediums can be commissioned to be your own particular pet, but I also make premade Ductanimals and will be doing the same with the new medium as well. 

You can find my work on Facebook or at http://holdstillpets.webs.com/