Pet Portraits

PET PORTRAITS “A WORK OF ARF”

A Shaggy Dog Story in Not So Many Words, 24" x 24", Zann Hemphill (experimental oil)

Throughout history, humans have commissioned great artists to paint portraits of their beloved animal companions. Noble hunting dogs, feline companions, and equine mounts have long been the subject of portraiture for centuries. While the tradition of individual humans posing for intricate classical portraits has since fallen out of favour, pet portraits are now more accessible than ever.

Pet portraits often involve the owner sending a reference photograph to an artist who recreates the photo in their own unique artstyle. These portraits are a wonderful way to commemorate a pet that has passed or to feature a stunning original piece of artwork in your home.

Following are profiles of Canadian pet portraiture artists:

Zann’s St. Bernard mix puppy, Peaches.

Zann Hemphill is the Emily Carr graduate and expert painter behind Paws by Zann, creating custom pet portraits in stunning realism. Zann began creating pet portraits with pencil crayon and charcoal at the age of 13. In 2012, she switched to oil paints and never looked back. She paints out of her home studio in Lantzville on Vancouver Island, shipping her work across Canada, the US, and occasionally to the UK. Zann works closely with pet owners to bring photographs of their animals to life by capturing mood, lighting, and emotion with delicate love. Her oil paintings highlight each individual pet’s personality and unique expressions through keen detail, from mischievous glinting eyes to cheery dangling tongues. In her own words, “I’ve seen the impact pets have on their people, and I believe caring for an animal is one of the best things any human can do for their own wellbeing. My goal is to capture a moment of that happy friendship on canvas.”

16" x 20" Border Collie portrait, Zann Hemphill

You can view Zann’s experimental dog artwork in person at the Van Dop Gallery. Check out painting demos, examples, and other goodies from Zann here.

Cool Holiday

Five amazing artists from around British Columbia have created a calendar of handmade animal portraits. Now you can celebrate local pets and artistic talent on your walls too! Pet Portrait Art of BC 2021 Calendar

Portraits by Jeni Mckay

Jeni Mckay is a Vancouver artist specializing in acrylic on canvas inspired by both animals and the natural landscapes of British Columbia. She utilizes the emotions of animals to create fun and often surreal portraits, from cats in hats, to dogs in Hawaiian shirts, to roosters in space. Her work captures animals in realistic detail depicted with a unique narrative flair. For instance, a pup seated outside a brewery with an ale, sporting a stylish jacket and scarf. Jeni seeks to convey the emotional bonds between people and their pets, illustrating the similarities between us and our beloved animals. She also raises money for the SPCA annually by doing paintings by donation.

Follow Jeni on Facebook and Instagram, purchase her prints on Society6.

Alannah Leach is an Ontario artist who can't believe it's already been over a decade of drawing pets for clients! Her work can be found on Alannimals.

“It still means so to me that people entrust me with keeping their pets memories alive through pencil and now sporting them on their clothing. I absolutely love being around animals and learning about their quirks or general lifestyles. If you ever need someone to talk about your pets with then just send me a message. Can't wait to see your photos and learn about your pets! ”

Portraits by Alannimals