6 Creative Ideas for Painting Pets
“ask the beasts, and let them teach you”
What do I paint? Pets are an endless source of amusement and love. With a bit of patience, they can be our models. However, pets don’t strike a pose. Animals are challenging subjects to paint. They hide, pounce, and run away. Maybe we should paint their back ends. Pets aren’t interested.
What’s an artist to do?
1. Use your phone’s camera. For this sketch, I captured many photos of Burney the bunny. I didn’t use only one image. They say the master sculptures didn’t use one model. They used one model for hands, one for legs, one for the head, etc. Be selective and creative with the photos you choose and don’t be a slave to your image. Just use the parts of it that are relevant to you. (After all, this is a sketch).
2. Try sketching from real life. Talk about sharpening sketching skills; try drawing a hopping rabbit. Sketching from real life helped me capture this rabbit’s particular personality. He is an entitled bunny. He is royalty and gets things his way. I think that came across in this watercolor journal entry. His frown expresses his typical attitude.
3. Think of creative ways to use exciting colors. Fish and birds come in brilliant colors. Unfortunately, mammals are usually brown, grey, or white. One way to add color to a mammal is to catch reflected light. Highlight color beaming down from the sky. Christmas, Autumn, or Easter decorations offer colorful backdrops. Animals’ eye color can be striking. Highlight the blues, greens, or reds inherent in their eye color.
4. Imagine an animal-related activity. Then inject it into your art creation. By observing Burney’s wild cousins in my garden, I was able to draw footprints like he was running in the snow. Incorporate similar objects like a toy, bed, collar. Include water with fish and reptiles.
5. Add a border. Borders add color and character to your page. Use a color related to the subject you are painting. Add abstract elements connected to caring for your pet. Symbols like dog bones, foot or hoof prints, horseshoes, outlines of plants, flowers, or other accessories highlight the aspect of your creation.
6. Love what you are doing and relax. You are not at work. You are “working for yourself .” If this sketch is fantastic, reproduce it as a full-sized painting someday. Art is not about the end product. As your skills develop, you will hone your style and improve your skills.
Scripture Meditation Verse:
“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them teach you. “Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you.” Job 12-7-8.
Dare to Share:
How have you painted your pets? Do you use photographs or paint from real life?