Pet Portraits by Animal Artist Jenny Coates

The photo you choose to transform into a portrait should be chosen carefully. Drawn portraits always look different from photographs, but the pose and perspective will be similar.

Try to imagine it on the wall. Do you really like the pose? Sometimes an odd angle that makes an amusing photograph does not look right as a portrait!

But sometimes, unusual angles make beautiful drawings; like this foal.

Do you have two pets that are inseparable friends? A photo of them playing or curled up together will look lovely - probably better than combining two photographs.

If you can't decide on a photo, show Jenny several and she will try to help. She can also discuss what kind of background elements you would like in the picture.

A Good Photo is...


•	Sharply in focus

•	Evenly lit (no dark shadows or extreme highlights)

•	Showing the animal's face as clearly as possible

Sometimes it is difficult to borrow photographs of a pet, if the portrait is a surprise gift to the owner! Tried and tested solutions include:


•	Pretending that you have a friend who is collecting animal photos for a school project

•	Pretending that you are entering the animal in a 'cute photo' competition

•	Offering to take the animal for a walk/ride/ to play in the garden, and taking some photographs yourself

If none of the photos you already have seem quite right, Jenny may be able to come and take some digital pictures for you. You can then choose one on the spot!