Recently my son and his wife had to put down their cat, Mew.  He was not old, he was sick.  The kind of cancer that emaciates-it was not easy to let go, but it was time.  I have so much empathy for them, it doesn't really matter how we lose a beloved pet,  or how long they live.  We never want to do it, they can't be replaced, and we are never really ready for it when it comes, but it does come.

I have talked to people in the past, seen many who have left good-by posts on Facebook as their beloved pets cross that rainbow bridge into animal heaven.  I always wonder, do they already have a portrait to remember them by?

When I was talking to my son about it, he made a comment that I found interesting.  It had to do with this painting I did of Mew back in 2017, when he was in his prime.

16 x 20  "Mew"

Mew liked to hang out in the garden on the swing, it was one of 'his' places.  So, I took a picture of his Majesty one time when he was on it, (sort of falling through the back lol ) and did this painting for the kids for Christmas.  They of course loved it, and were surprised.  

They have enjoyed this painting for the past 5 years, and now when they look at it they are reminded of him as he was at that time of his life.

He said he was glad I did the painting back then, and that they already had it.  The best reason to have a pet portrait done, which will remain a family heirloom for a long long time.

While I am also commissioned to do custom pet portraits once they are gone, remember, you will only have the photos that you took when they were here.  A painting is always better than just a photo, and I can't think of a family pet that does not deserve a custom pet portrait.

Below is Figaro, beloved cat of one of my client's friends.  The gift that she gave her friend on her birthday this year was the painting I did of Figaro, from the only photo that she had:

8 x 10 "Figaro"

I think any time is appropriate to memorialize a beloved pet with a custom pet portrait.  The best time is now while you are thinking about it, get those photos!  You can use them now or later, but at least you will have one when you want it.

I  first was contacted, and my client looked through my work and found what he liked, whether it was subject, basic composition,  feeling, and talked with me about it.  He liked Hereford Bulls in particular.  The first study I did he liked, but he had bought a painting from me previously and it turned out to be too similar.  This is the first 6x12 study:

He mentioned that he wanted the animal to be facing the right, which would be where the front door was in his home where he wanted to hang it.  He also said he wanted it to be approximately 30x60.  I did another study, a great image that I took in Prescott, Arizona on a beautiful ranch.  This study was also 6x12.  As long as I am using my own images I don't mind doing studies until exactly the right one is found, they just become available studies that anyone can have.

This was the next study I did for him:

He really liked it so I did finish it up more:

At this point it was time to order the canvas, he decided he wanted it to be 36x60, this I though was great, it would allow me to make the mountains in the background taller behind the Bulls.

Once the canvas came I prepared it like I usually do, with extra coats of gesso which is a white acrylic painting ground, and got it started.

First I sketched it on the canvas in charcoal, using an image he sent me of his local mountain view and my Bulls.  After thought he decided this looked good proportionately, and I proceeded with painting it.

Almost there! This picture was not of it finished, but the next picture of it hanging in his house is of course finished, and where these Bulls now live:

It looks terrific in this beautiful home,don't you think?  

I'm thankful Andy for the opportunity to work with you on this project, it was great to correspond and chat during the process, and end up with something I am proud of, and you as well.  

So you would like a painting done, but don't know how to go about it?  I have been contacted by a number of people over the years who want a custom painting but are apologetic because they are not aware of the process.  There is nothing mysterious or even special about it, at least not with me.  I just need to hear from you, and I'll walk you through the process like I have many before you, all have been ecstatic with their resulting painting!

Some that I have done have been cows, of course, it's what I am known for.

This was a large custom painting I did in 2016 from a small study that I believe was already sold, but there is still an image of it on my website.  That is how a number of 'custom' paintings happen.  Someone sees a sold painting, often a small study, and likes it, but wants to get one larger.  This happens often.

Some are not cows:

This is my friend Lynn Endicott, the framer/owner of Silver Creek Fine Art and Framing, holding up a custom painting I did of a girl with her horse and dog.  This was done with two separate client photos which were emailed to me.  My expertise is actually working from photos, as a fine artist I do happen to focus on cows as a subject, but really, if you can see, you can paint any subject well.  I loved how my client chose to frame this one.  The framing really brought out the subjects.  Do you have photos you think would make a great painting?  You can email me [email protected] anytime and I will take a look!  Or, comb through my trove of painted works, sold and archives.  If a composition touches your heart let me know and we can talk about doing it larger or different while having the same qualities that you love.

A few years back I was the featured artist at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Trade Show, it was a great experience.  This is the painting I did for that event,  at which I signed prints of it as a keepsake to attendees. First I did a study that showed the basic idea, and we talked about changes.   They really wanted the tall cactus to show it was Arizona, so although I put them into the main painting, I changed the study eventually and it is shown below.

Black and white cows in Arizona, commissioned by NCBA

This is the study I had done now that it has been changed some:

11x14 study "Black Baldy Chorus Line"   is available on my website

I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people in the beef industry, plus did a couple of other custom works, I'll share those in my next post, stay tuned!