Acrylic Paint Parties

One of the most popular painting and sip events is the painting of your pet. For me, it is living the best of both worlds, I love pets and love sketching the “paint your own pets” for events. It is my two favorite things! Meeting each of you and hearing about your pet’s story is truly a rewarding experience! Selecting the best pet photo can feel overwhelming, because I am sure you have several, just like me! I need all 150,000 photos of my dogs and cats!

A few things to keep in mind when selecting your pet’s photo. Does it show all the features of your pet? Is it a close-up or are other items in the picture competing with your pet? Is the photo in focus? Was it taken in good lighting? While photos of your pet can make award winning photography, it might not be the best choice for a paint and sip portrait.

 I wanted to offer a few tips and tricks below on how best to submit a pet photo for a paint and sip. I am not a photographer by any means, but I can help you achieve a purrfect photo for painting your pet.

 First, if you are struggling to find the best photo…Take a NEW one! High resolution works best!

• Have treats on hand, be patient and have fun so you can capture your pet’s personality.
• Make sure the lighting is good so that all the features in the pet’s face can be shown.
• Get down on the same level as your pet. Lay on the floor or make sure you are at eye level.
• Avoid shooting from above as it tends to distort your pet’s features and this can make the painting feel less connected.
• Focus on the eyes- the windows of their soul! Make sure the pet’s eyes and face are clear.
• Click away! Keep clicking! Take several photos in a row and select the best one. Close-up pictures work best, and I may ask for more than one photo to aid in the sketching and color-matching process.
• Avoid sending photos where ears and legs are cut off or simply crop the picture, so it shows only the face. If you want to send a full body shot, include the entire pet in the frame. Do not edit as this can distort the details I need to sketch your pet.
• Most importantly, have fun! Capture your pet’s personality and if there is anything special about your pet’s character, be sure to let me know! I can more easily identify the pet if you tell me its name & breed.

I hope these tips and tricks have helped. The next step is to advise if you would like collars or tags removed in the sketch and select a background color. I will certainly take some creative liberties, if a tail is in an area that looks like a fifth appendage, I will leave it out.

Some things to consider when choosing a background color; Keep in mind where you will be hanging your pet’s portrait in your home- will the background color work well with your décor? Also, keep in mind the color of your pet- you certainly would not want a black background if your pet is all black. Is the dog or cat wearing a pink color? Match the color of the collar to the background for a uniformed look or choose cooler, softer hues for female versus warmer masculine colors for males. Blue is the most popular default background color but do not be afraid to experiment! After all, this is your chance to make the pet portrait your very own!

 In addition, your pet does not have to be a traditional dog or cat. We have painted horses, alpaca’s, guinea pigs and even a flamingo for private and public events.

This next section is a recommendation only. If you have recently lost your beloved pet, my deepest sympathy for your loss. Take time to grieve and although you might want to paint your pet’s portrait. Please wait!

Painting your pet is an emotional process and I have found after doing several years of pet events, that if it is too soon, it might not turn out exactly the way you like it. You might feel frustrated with the painting process or feel that you haven’t given your pet ‘s memory justice. I have also found this with my own pet paintings. I do not want to discourage you, because painting is extremely therapeutic and it has helped me cope with the loss of several pets throughout my lifetime. During this time, I painted many interpretations of heaven and dogs with angels. I want painting your pet to be a positive experience and one that you will want to continue until you have painted all your pets.

Therefore, I strongly recommend and urge you to please wait to paint your pet. I am always available to help on a zoom call, and I am willing to walk you through the process when you are ready.

For those of you that have painted in memory of your beloved fur baby, it was hard not to cry. I know! Sometimes I tear up when you tell me it is a pet that has passed away and it is not even my pet!

 A pet portrait is a beautiful tribute to ALL the pets that leave pawprints on our hearts forever.

Seeing your pet’s come to life on the canvas with your paint and your love- makes me super proud! Did I mention this was one of my favorite classes? I cannot wait to paint pets with you. Keep an eye out for events in your area or host your own private party. As always, Thanks for allowing me to be part of capturing your pet’s personality!