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Oil pet portrait of a bullddog puppy

Sue Linton Quality Portrait Artist

keep their memory alive  in an Heirloom Portrait !

Pastel Portrait of a pony

Please plan ahead if you are after a portrait for a special occasion.

I am often booked several months in advance.

I like to have a few months to create your special memory.

I don’t mass produce. Every portrait is created to be a great likeness and really capture ‘life”.

Extra time will enable me to supply you with  the best portrait possible !

Scroll down to see both a detail and a viewing distance photo of  a Pastel and an Oil.

The difference between a Pastel and an Oil painting

Both Pastel and Oil make lovely portraits and the artist quality paints and pastels I use ensure that with proper care your portrait will last for generations.

The easiest way to describe Pastel is that they are  an artist quality chalk – much softer , vibrant and luscious than schoolroom chalks. They are sticks. Pastel can be applied like a drawing or sketch with some of the tinted paper showing through or applied more thickly like a painting.

Pastels have vibrant colours. Unlike Oil paint where I use brushes and can mix any colour I want with Pastels I have to choose a colour that is closest to the colour I need. I can modify it a little but I can’t get the myriad of colours I can with Oil. This is especially true of dark colours. Pastels don’t have many really dark colours to choose from.

Scroll down to see both a detail and a viewing distance photo of  a Pastel and an Oil.

Oil Portraits

Portrait of a Rottweiler dog

In this Oil portrait of Chloe Angela allowed me to use many and varying colours for the black parts of her coat. Using this method it is easier for me to get a 3D effect and have interesting closeup colours.

In the Oil portrait of the horse below I have once again used many different dark colours. It still looks like a black horse but So much more interesting!

Oil Portraits

Oil portrait of a black horse

Pastel portraits

 How does that effect you ?

With Pastels there are not many really dark colours for me to use.If your pet is black I am restricted in my choice.

With Oils I can mix very dark blues , reds, purples , greens to really add life to your portrait.

When viewed your pet will still appear a dark colour / black but when viewed closely it will have many interesting  subtle colours .

No animal is jet black. Artists actually call black a dead colour because it doesn’t have any interest compared to a really dark mix – blue/black , purple / blue etc.

Looking at your black pet out in the sun you will see the sunlit areas of their coat are really pale blue / greens / purples etc.

When  I use all these colours in your portrait your pet actually looks  more alive and realistic than if I had just used black!

If you prefer me to use black let me know  – It’s your choice..

Pastel Portraits

Pastel pet portrait of a dog

In this Pastel of  Rambo I used black for the darkest colours but many  colours in his lighter areas.

Pastel Portraits

Patsel portrait of a rottwieller dog

Remi- Gail was happy for me to use colour in her portrait of Remi.

One way to make a Pastel portrait of a dark dog more interesting is to use dark blues rather than black. This also makes it easier for me to use colour to  make your pet stand out from the background – to be the star of your  portrait!

 If your pet isn’t black I  am not as restricted with colour although I can always  create more colour variations within an Oil Portrait.

Pastel needs to be framed under glass with 2 mats to stop the portrait touching the glass.

Unframed Pastel is very fragile and can be smudged.

Don’t worry! If you purchase an unframed Pastel I freight your portrait in a padded carton with a clear window. It is protected but you can see your portrait. Just leave it in the package and give it to a framer who can take it out as  he frames the portrait.

Once framed and  on the wall your portrait can last for centuries.

Oil Portraits can be supplied as a Gallery canvas painted around the sides ready to hang or Custom framed.

Framed Oils are created with canvas glued to a board and are very durable.They don’t need to be framed under glass so you don’t need to worry about reflections in the glass.

Gallery wrap canvas’s are wonderful once hung on the wall just take care  transporting them and be careful to top load them. Don’t place anything on top of them as it may cause an indentation ( fiaxable ) or a puncture in the canvas..( not so good).

A Custom Framed Oil
A Stunning framed Oil portrait painting of an Arab horse Aphrodites

Pastels need to be overpackaged  to avoid glass breakage when couriered. I include an MDF sheet over the glass area and a thick eggshell foam layer to cushion the portrait from shocks. They are then packaged in bubblewrap and cardboard. This means Pastels are a little more to freight.

Oils are a bit less to courier as they don’t need as much packaging. They are generally not framed under glass and are created on solid canvas boards which are quite sturdy. Oils on Gallery wrap canvas’s are a little more fragile but courier well with just layers of bubblewrap and cardboard.

Oils are great for getting gloss on a horses coat and black /white animals..

Actually I love oils for any subject! lol’s

All portraits have an ideal distance for viewing and my portraits are designed to look at their best hung on the wall. This is generally about 2m away unless the portrait is very large and then it may be designed to be viewed further away.

Closeup Oils have a smoother more refined  appearance than Pastels .

They’ll both look great on your wall!

Pastels are great for shaggy pets or long haired ones. They can be used for glossy horses but I prefer Oils.They tend to have more of a drawing /sketch look from closeup and look great on the wall!

A Custom Framed Pastel
A 40 x 50 double portrait compact full body poses
detail of a pastel pet portrait

Detail of a 20 x 25cms image size Pastel portrait of Jack

Detail of an Oil pet portrait

A closeup of an Oil Portrait Of Chloe

These photos are a general guide. This portrait has a shaggier effect than a lot of my oils .I vary each portrait  to best suit each photo. Pastel or Oil portraits will vary a little depending on whether the animal is shaggy or smooth coated and the style I use. 

The portrait from veiwing distance

Jack as he will look  at viewing  distance on the wall.

The portrait from veiwing distance

Chloe viewed from the distance you will see her on a wall.

detail of a pastel pet portrait

Detail of a 20 x 25cms image size Pastel portrait of Jack

The portrait from veiwing distance

Jack as he will look from viewing  distance on the wall.

Detail of an Oil pet portrait

A closeup of an Oil Portrait Of Chloe

These photos give you a general idea.Chloe’s portrait has a shaggier effect than a lot of my oils . I vary each portrait  to best suit your photo.

Pastel or Oil portraits will vary a little depending on whether the animal is shaggy or smooth coated and the style I use. 

The portrait from veiwing distance

Chloe viewed from the distance you will see her on a wall.