Colour Choice (Photo heavy)

I've written a few posts about how to choose a colour for your pet, but this will be the most helpful - as I now have an example in every colour. This post includes lots of large photos so may take a while to load.

I have 13 colours in total, and this should help guide which would be suitable for your pet - of course you can always just pick your favourite And you can always ask if you unsure which colour would suit yours pet.

Under each colour I will summarise what the paint colour is best used for and also whether a photo taken in dark light (like the sort taken inside or on a smart phone) would be suitable.

1) Gold (Yellow Ochre)

The most realistic colour I paint and one of the most popular. It is quite timeless and the perfect mix of traditional and modern. You can see some pencil marks through the paint as it is quite translucent, it is more "glassy" than "creamy" when it is straight out of the paint tube.

It suits almost any animal regardless of colour or type. However is doesn't create the darkest shadows so not really suitable for very dark pets, it could make them look a bit pale and two diminutional.

Colours it suits - White all the way up to Brown, also really suits animals with patches, like a piebald horse.

Colours is doesn't suit - Very dark brown or black.

Lighting in photo - bright daylight to quite dark indoor photo. Very forgiving colour.

Other - Suits people who want a more traditional painting colour, suits any room.

2) Orange (Chrome Orange)

This is a real Orange sorbet colour, very fresh and vibrant. I can get quite rich shadow by double layering the paint. It is another "glassy" paint meaning pencil lines can see spotted occasionally. It is quite a tricky colour to match with a pet, but when it's right it is really really right.

It suits pale animals especially in photos there there is strong directional lighting, such as those taken by a professional photographer with big lights or lovely bright sunlight. It is perfect for animals that are white, cream, peach or palomino.

Colours it suits - white, cream, peach, and maybe a very bright chestnut.

Colours it doesn't suit - Bay horses, brown and black should avoid.

Lighting in photo - Bright lighting, outside daylight.

Other - This colour is perfect for photos where the pet has an expressive face.

3) Bright Blood Orange (Vermillion)

My newest and most unused paint colour. It is a really bright and happy colour. I haven't used this colour in a pet portrait yet, but the background would be quite a salmon pink colour. Covers pencil marks really well.

Would be best suited to a very pale pet, I'm going to test this colour on a white greyhound so the background can be darker than the pet, making it glow.

Colours it suits - White or cream

Colours is doesn't suit - From Peach up to black.

Lighting - bright lighting only, this colour makes beautiful shadows.

Other - Newest colour.

4) Raspberry Red (Cadmium Red)

A really lovely bright colour, perfect for people who want rose pink rather than barbie pink. Pencil lines can see seen slightly through the paint.

It suits smaller pets like snakes, lizards or rodents as detail looks really lovely in this colour. It also suits paler animals.

Colours is suits - Bright coloured reptiles or mammals from white to peach.

Colours is doesn't suit - darker coloured animals

Lighting - no harsh shadows, suits softer indoor lighting.

Other - This colour does now show shadows very well as it is quite a light tone.

5) Rich Strawberry Swirl Pink (Alizarin Crimson)

One of the most versatile colours I paint in, suits any pet, in any colour. It covers pencil lines really well so there is a smooth finish. I love this colour - it is just so SO pink. It has the perfect amount of richness to make nice dark shadows and the brightness for lighter animals too.

Colours is suits - any and every colour animal, might not be light enough for animals that are black and white while in bad lighting.

Colours it doesn't suit - none

Lighting - Any lighting, very forgiving and versatile.

Other - This colour works great for any animal.

6) Magenta

A very bright girly colour. Good pencil mark coverage so there is a nice smooth finish. Has a nice richness without being dark so perfect for darker coloured animals.

Colours it suits - would suit any colour but mid-tone to darker colours would be best.

Colours it doesn't suit - none

Lighting - any lighting, very forgiving.

Other - this colour goes nicely with the Rich Strawberry Swirl Pink and the Purple, so if you want more than one colour these will go together.

7) Purple (Cobalt Violet)

One of the most popular colours I use. Vibrant without being too girly, looks quite modern and polished. The paint stays wet for quite a long time to I can achieve a really smooth appearance by blending the colours. Good pencil mark coverage.

Suits any animal but very pale coloured pets do not look their best in this colour - it is just too dark for them.

Colours it suits - apricot brown to black look amazing in this colour. Pets that have patches like piebald horses or dogs with a lot of different tones in their faces look really nice in this colour.

Colours it doesn't suit - white or cream coloured pets

Lighting - any lighting.

Other - details such as collars or bridles look especially nice in this colour. It is very dark in its rawest form so small details can be very fine tuned.

8) Baby Blue (Cobalt Blue)

A paler softer blue with enough darkness for detail to still come across. A good colour for paler pets that you still want blue, it won't add too much darkness to their colouring. A darker version of this colour is the Phthalo blue at number 11.

Colours it suits - white to brown

Colours it doesn't suit - dark brown or black

Lighting - good daylight

Other - not the darkest blue, but a beautiful tone. Good for photos in strong sunlight.

9) Prussian Blue

Very rich blue with a slightly green tone to it. The darker shadows are very very dark making it perfect for tricky darker coloured pets. It is perfect for animals that are a bit fluffy or those with patches in their coats - such as piebald horses.

Colours it suits - white to black

Colours it doesn't suit - none

Lighting - any lighting

Other - very good for depicting movement or longer hair.

10) Ultramarine Blue (French Ultramarine)

A softer more purple toned blue than the others this is the perfect blue for pets with really sweet faces while still being a rich colour.

Colours is suits - white to black.

Colours it doesn't suit - none

Lighting - any lighting

Other - not quite as dark as my other blues, so if you like softer lines go for this one.

11) Phthalo Blue

A true primary blue, very dark straight out of the tube. Similar in colour to the cobalt blue but a darker version. Really good colour for detail especially eye detail as it adds a lot of depth. Not completely suitable for very pale pets as it can make them too dark.

Colours it suits - peach to black.

Colours it doesn't suit - White or cream

Lighting - any lighting

Other - a darker version of the Cobalt blue, just depends how "dramatic" or "soft" you want your painting to be.

12) Teal or Turquoise (Prussian Green)

I fully admit to this being my favourite colour. I love them all equally, but this one is a little bit more special to me than the rest. Every pet has "their colour" that they just own and my little fat Irish cob completely owns this one. It suits him in every way.

Colours it suits - white to black

Colours it doesn't suit - none

Lighting - any lighting

Other - collar and bridle details look really gorgeous in this colour.

13) Emerald Green (Phthalo Green)

This was a colour I hadn't ever used before, it was sitting in my art box unloved because of my devotion to my turquoise green so when I finally painted these fish in the emerald green I was very pleasantly surprised. It is a really nice jewel green rather than the more "forest green" I had been expecting. It is quickly becoming one of my favourites.

It is really striking and was a big hit at a few of the shows I have done.

Colours it suits - white to black

Colours it doesn't suit - none

Lighting - good outdoor lighting works best.

Other - really suits more quirky paintings because of its bright fun colour.

See more examples on my Facebook page or my flickr page

About the Artist

This is a quick blog about me, my life and how I got into art. It is quite narcissistic and has lots of photos - you have been warned :)



First of all my name is Sophie, I live in essex with my parents, siblings, boyfriend, 2 dogs, 4 cats, maxi cob, corn snake, crocodile Skink and Leopard Gecko.


Me aged 9



I have been drawing and painting for most of my life, being dyslexic meant that colours and shapes have always made more sense than letters and words.


A shetland, drawn by me aged 7


I managed to pass my GCSEs with better grades than expected and finished 6th form a few years after that. I had never considered going to university but suddenly I was presented with the opportunity to do so.



I experimented in my foundation year with colour, sculpture and paint, having stuck to skin tones and graphite due to shyness during school.



After my foundation year, I got into the university I wanted.

In the first week we were asked to do an art exercise - pull an item out of your bag a create a project based on that item. I pulled out a small perfume. I made a project on the impact of smell on memory and nostalgia. I picked a huge metre canvas and started my first oil painting.









I drew and (partially) painted my first animal in 9 years and loved it.

It was another year before I gained the confidence to draw a horse again. I was a weird kid in school - being horse obsessed and having a learning difficulty that meant I was mildly bullied for a year or two. It was enough to knock my confidence, making me stop my constant equine doodles at the age of 11.



My whole year held an art exhibition just before our graduation. Before the exhibition had even opened to the public all my paintings had sold, it was at that moment that I realised more people than just myself and my family (who might be slightly biased...) like my work.

I graduated in July 2013 with a 2:1 and the rejuvenated love of animals, colours and paint.




I am now making the first few cautious steps towards making a career out of making art.

Miniature Portrait Pricing Plan

I have been debating for a while how to encourage multiple sales of my portraits, not because I'm greedy, but because I think they look great as a "herd" like my degree show.



At £200 a pop, this is a pricey option.

So I have listened, sketched and practiced to develop a series of smaller sized portraits.

The practical information about sizes can be found here.

The Prices.

10cm - £20


15cm - £25


20cm - £30

I have also started to slowly incorperate "real colour" back into my portraits since they look very nice next to a bright coloured portrait of the same animal as seen here.



However these take much longer to complete so the real colour portraits are 50% more expensive. I also only offer real colour on these three sizes.

Real Colour Prices

10cm - £30

15cm - £38

20cm - £45

The Deal

When you buy three (or more) portraits you get 10% off the total.

This include the larger portraits I have been doing previously.

Examples



15cm+15cm+20cm = £80-£8=£72 in total




10cm+10cm(real colour)+20cm = £80-£8=£72 in total

Miniature Oil Paintings

I have decided to develop a slightly new idea for my portraits. I have used much smaller canvases.

10cm



15cm



20cm



These new paintings are really great fun to do, since I can finish a couple everyday, so I get to enjoy lots of colours and lots of different animals. They are also, in most cases, inexpensive enough that you can have a small collection of them without breaking the bank.

I tested the sizes and colours on my own pets, funny looking bunch that they are.



I also experimented with using "real" colour for the first time in a long time to depict my little Maisie's brown nose. I have also finished my hore in teal, a tribute to the very first colourful portrait I ever made.







Photographing these paintings took longer than usual because I had a little helper...



The price explanation can be found here

Hamster Painting

I have decided to branch out a little, in animal size and canvas size.



This little hamster portrait is only 10x8 inches meaning it is a lot more manageable for peoples homes and provide the ideal pop of colour. I also like it because it gives owners of more unusual pets a chance to have their portraits painted.

June Portrait Competition

What you will win:

The winner will receive a free portrait of their horse or pony.

Details

It will be in any single colour they choose.

The portrait will be a "head and shoulders" painting of one horse or pony.

If the winner wants more than one portrait I will offer very good discounts for the winner.

The portrait will be 18 x 22 inches.

See here for example work.

How to enter

Like and share my facebook page.

How do you know if you are the winner?

The winner will be announced on the 24th of June on my facebook page.

The winner will also receive a facebook message by 1pm.

Golden Horse Painting

I have completed a painting of a Arabic horse in Yellow Ochre so that it looks golden.

It has given my an idea to perhaps use gold leaf when painting horses with bridles, so details like bits and buckles show up.

Ill test it out in the near future.



I painted this for my first exhibition with my university, so it's pretty exciting.

A few more pieces of art work

Decided to use pretty colours.

"Pink Chestnut" - August 2012

"Purple Bay" - August 2012

Not the most inventive titles, I know but hopefully that'll come in time :)

I read that you should properly date your pieces and title each piece, even if it is titled "untitled". Hence the dates and titles.

See more examples of my work on my facebook or my flickr account

Hurrah! Yet another horse painting!

And hurrah indeed for unneeded exclamation marks.

I finally mastered orange in my quest for owning a rainbow menagerie of horses.





In other news I have created a new website showcasing my work, obviously it is a work-in-progress but if anyone is reading this you can have a gander here.

http://sasawtell.wix.com/sophieamyart

It takes a little while to load but its hopefully worth it.

See more examples of my work on my facebook or my flickr account

Yet Another Jewel Coloured Horse

I have completed two new paintings; one is much more successful than the other. The blue one which I am posting at the bottom of this post and a sunny yellow/orange one.

Im thinking of posting a kind of goal driven to do list. Hopefully if anyone comes across my blog and reads it they'll have advice for me. Hopefully from people who have been there and done it, or who are going through a similar process.

I'm going to tick off the smaller goals as I post.

I also need to start my dissertation planning. I think I know what to write about, but I'll keep this blog updated about the research.

So yes. In the meantime heres my cob painting.

See more examples of my work on my facebook or my flickr account

Preview of my Jewel Coloured horses.

Baby Blue Mohawk. Thinking that white/grey horses will be done in this blue, or a light mint green. Basically I'm avoiding any paint with red undertones, as it could look a bit girly and Mo is anything but girly.

And also my baby boy, Jacko. I felt he should have a butch teal tone to show off his cute wall eye. he's back/very dark bay.

second post of the day :) I have completed another painting of a bay that's too wet and shiney to photograph.

See more examples of my work on my facebook or my flickr account