When success can be measured by tears

Over the years I've created countless portraits of people's beloved animals - the dogs, horses and cats who enriched the lives of their humans. I started as a teenager when I ran a classified ad in the local paper and for $25 or so would make a pastel or pencil portrait from a photograph. 

During that period, I made this oil pastel drawing of a collie from a photo I found in an old book. Remind you of anyone?

An unknown collie I drew in 1975.
A premonition perhaps?

A photo of my collie Riley
 taken a few years ago.

That was just the beginning. Here are a couple of portraits I created in the 1980s (with apologies for the image quality; photography technology - not to mention my photography skills - has made remarkable improvements since then):

My career as an artist has evolved and matured but commissioned portraits are still an important part of my art practice. I know many artists who don’t much like working on a commission basis and I understand why. It’s the kind of work that contradicts the typical artistic temperament. For one thing, it involves creating a piece of art about a subject that’s not of the artist’s own choosing. For another, there are often deadlines involved – particularly when the portrait is destined to be a gift – and that can generate the kind of stress that's not conducive to creativity. And thirdly, the artwork has to measure up to the client’s expectations as well as satisfying the artist. It's not the ideal scenario for highly individualistic artist-types who prefer to do things their own way, in their own time, on their own terms! But I feel like I’ve developed strategies that have helped me flourish as a commission artist.

First off, I stick with what I know: animals. In the portrait business that usually means dogs, horses or cats, and these are all critters with which I’ve had lots of personal experience. I believe each and every one of them is special, unique and interesting – beautiful in their own way even when they’re missing an eye or an ear, or when the signs of advancing age or a difficult life are clearly visible. If they pose a particular challenge I embrace it, knowing it will push me to expand my boundaries and encourage artistic growth.

This little Boston Terrier pup was one such project. He had been very, very special but his life, during which he had lost an eye, had been brief. Only a handful of grainy Polaroid photos were available. Sometimes an old-fashioned magnifying glass sure comes in handy!

But you might wonder how I generate a personal connection with animals I don't meet in person. After all, I have talked before about my firm conviction that creating a meaningful piece of art requires an emotional investment on the part of the artist.

In a perfect scenario, I certainly prefer to meet my animal portrait subjects. When that’s not possible, the next best thing is to hear the animal’s story as told by his/her devoted human. I can form an emotional attachment to an animal in the blink of an eye (I’m not sure if that’s a gift or simply a bizarre personality quirk) and when I hear their story I have little trouble making a personal connection. I envision what they were like and what it would have been like to be around them. I can almost smell them and feel the warmth of their bodies! 

A portrait for a long-distance client.
From what I was told about this horse,
I felt like I knew him!

I truly appreciate what each and every one of these animals means to their human(s) and I feel empathy for that bond. Even if my client can only supply a handful of not-so-great photos, I jump in with both feet with the goal of making a perfect portrait. 

From this particular selection of photos...

...and from what I learned from my client about each cat, his/her personality, and their lives together, I created this portrait:

Listening to the stories also helps me get to know my human client and what their expectations might be. If they’ve come to me for a portrait, I know they’ve seen my work and appreciate what I do, so we’re already half-way there! It’s up to me to help iron out the details and also to figure out how to make the portrait perfect. Collaboration is important – both I and my client must be satisfied with the end result. They’ve come to me for my expertise but their input is crucial. After all, I’m making art for them.

The last issue, the one of deadlines, can be challenging. I find the best thing is to be transparent about what’s possible and what’s not, to reorganize schedules as needed, and devote some late-night hours when necessary. Creativity under time constraints is not ideal but it’s a reality of the work. I’m never averse to working hard.

I’m always just a little nervous when it’s time to unveil the finished artwork. Even though I am an emotional person when it comes to animals, I’m often surprised at the depth of feeling my clients display when they first see their animal’s portrait. Very often there are tears. This makes total sense to me when it's a portrait of a dear, departed companion or one who's nearing the end of his/her life’s journey, but when the critters are alive and well with many happy years ahead, I never fail to be caught off guard. However, tears are a sure sign I’ve done a good job! I always keep a box of tissues handy.

It’s not always easy, but art-making has got to be among the most satisfying work there is. When I can bring tears of joy to the eyes of a fellow animal lover, it’s particularly so.

This little cutie is my next subject.
You'll be able to see her portrait in a few weeks' time.

If you'd like to learn more about the portraits I create, visit the portraits page of my website. Over time some of them have been featured in my blog and you'll see them if you read back through the archive of postings. Most notable are Evolution of a Portrait, A Father's Day Gift, Portrait of a Best Friend, and recently My New Friends.