ANNOUNCING A contest in conjunction with PETSWELCOME.COM
You can WIN A PORTRAIT by telling us about a cool place you like to take your pet.
Details at: http://places.petswelcome.com/new-pick.php
You can WIN A PORTRAIT by telling us about a cool place you like to take your pet.
Details at: http://places.petswelcome.com/new-pick.php
Read a funny article about Petimento on the Pets Welcome website... Click here: Win a Portrait of Your Pet!
SOPHIE
Petimento is a play on the word pentimento , which is a painting term that means the image that shows through on the surface of a painting of what was painted at an earlier time. I've always liked the idea of another story coming through ,so to speak. It also implies Memento which is what a pet portrait can be, a memento of a friend and family member. A family's pet is more than a specific breed with certain markings, thats why it's important that a pet portrait should have a good likeness but also have a bit of their story showing through. For this reason I like to hear a little something about your pets when I'm about to start their portrait .
My name is Cara Wood-Ginder. I'm located in New York's Hudson River Valley. I'm devoted to recording our animal friends for their families and posterity. Being a pet portrait painter is a calling that I think is as important as any other in the art world. There is something about capturing these animals that is very satisfying. Each one is different. Dog portraits, cat portraits , cockatoo portraits they all have their stories.
Sophie's people were excited about having a handmade dog portrait of her to hang in their home. She was such a good dog and good at sitting still when her people took pictures of her. Sometimes she would sit on one of her peoples laps which made for a nice relaxed expression.But the time when she just sat there on the grass and looked right at the camera with a curious expression, everyone knew that was the photo that really captured Sophie.
My name is Cara Wood-Ginder. I'm located in New York's Hudson River Valley. I'm devoted to recording our animal friends for their families and posterity. Being a pet portrait painter is a calling that I think is as important as any other in the art world. There is something about capturing these animals that is very satisfying. Each one is different. Dog portraits, cat portraits , cockatoo portraits they all have their stories.
Sophie's people were excited about having a handmade dog portrait of her to hang in their home. She was such a good dog and good at sitting still when her people took pictures of her. Sometimes she would sit on one of her peoples laps which made for a nice relaxed expression.But the time when she just sat there on the grass and looked right at the camera with a curious expression, everyone knew that was the photo that really captured Sophie.
BUSTER
Take Buster for example; he is the manager and director of his people's art gallery in New York. He is usually a calm and dignified presence there. So of course it was important that he have his image immortalized. He was so enthusiastic to participate that every time his people clicked the button on the camera he barked. They were having trouble getting a good photo. He started getting nervous.... it's like he couldn't help himself. He went for a walk to calm down... he had a drink of water. No good. He was getting frustrated and a little embarrassed by himself.... He had a little something to eat. That didn't help. He finally went to his female person and gave her his: will-you-pick-me-up? -look. This, it turned out, was what he needed. Although he wanted to be self-reliant, he had to to admit he needed a little help at that moment. A good quality to have and one we can all emulate.
So here he is, dignity restored, looking quite good in spite of everything he went through to get the shot.
So what if I had to paint out the helping hands....
BUDDY
This isBuddy. He was our cat and he was an athlete. That is why I included his favorite ball next to him. Sometimes you wouldn't see him for quite a while and then, boom, he appeared looking just like this, staring right at you with his ball on his right. We knew we would have to stop what it was we thought we were doing at that moment and play ball with him. It wasn't usually a long session but it could be a wild one full of jumps and chases. With each throw he brought his ball back for another run. It was a soft foam ball so he could grip it gently with his teeth and easily carried it back. How he loved to play ball. Throwing the ball up the stairs is what he really loved. He was so smart because he intensely watched it and calculated the trajectories as it came down and then he flew after it. He looked like a soccer player, dashing up and down the hallway too. He reminded me of a little "jock", with his stocky body and short hair. Twenty or thirty times he'd chase that ball before he'd finally lay down next to the ball and rest and then you were free to go back to whatever you were doing ...after you pet him a little bit.
We miss Buddy.
He was an indoor cat but he looks perfect with a "classical" outdoor background.
We miss Buddy.
He was an indoor cat but he looks perfect with a "classical" outdoor background.
"Petimento is a play on the word pentimento, which is a painting term that means an image that shows through earlier paint... I've always liked the idea of another story coming through, so to speak...." - Cara Wood-Ginder