Wild at Heart Illustration: Saphira

I have had the joy of meeting Mary.

I had her as a client on my waiting list for February 2018. However, my January portrait cancelled due to vet bills. Hey, our fur babies are expensive and unexpectedly so. (Rachel's Chloe) So I offered it to next in line. Mary and Rachel happened to be besties. So Mary jumped on the opportunity to surprise her friend with Chloe's portrait-postponing her spot. Mary is one of those people that you automatically become friends with. Her heart is bigger than her body and it has been a joy to have her both in my pet portrait client list as well as my LuLaRoe VIP Group.

Hearing Mary talk about when she adopted miss Saphira still makes me all warm and fuzzy. I love the "love at first sight" moment between pet and fur parent.

Saphira is an ADORABLE kitty. She is a petite little thing. Pretty green eyes and tiger markings.

I would obviously be drawn to the reference photo with the back light. It is dramatic, it has a wonderful background texture, it is warm and matches the emotion of Saphira's face. Using this photo was special-I love them when they are. This photo is from the day she was adopted. She was sitting on top of Mary and had this look of "are you my Mommy now?" She is relaxed and curious at the same time. The challenge would be adapting the color tone of the sunlight glow on her to be true to color for her fur in natural light. I referenced the other photos for that task. I also altered the photo to black and white to better see where the fur actually stopped and what was light reflecting.

Phase 1: Composition and Sketch

Sketches are always creepy! The purpose of the sketch when doing oil pastel is to create a color by number approach to set up the application. You can't get too detailed with the lines or the blending of the pastel will lose it and could also have the graphite affect the pigment-grey hurts a more vibrant hue like yellow.

Phase 2: Oil Pastel Base

Oil pastel application begins! It is similar to coloring with crayons except the colors are spreadable and can be put down in layers. Layers can be removed with a kneaded eraser. Depending on what colors of the size of the illustration I may merge Phase 2 and 3 together to keep my composition intact.

Base is done. However, the pastels are not put away quite yet. They come back out to strengthen parts where the subject meets the background or to create a deeper shadow.

Phase 3: Color Pencil Detail

Color pencil application begins. I will usually do the eyes first. It sets the tone for the rest of the piece and helps you feel a bit more accomplished! I snapped a pic to show the difference specifically with the eyes. It is so cool! I love seeing the progression and the process at each phase.

This was my first commission where I was not working the full time day job. I was able to work this portrait, sketch others, and work LLR and start a part time gig at a banquet hall as a server for some grocery cash. I was also home with my daughter, Jackie. She is 2 and a half and very interested in what I was up to. I had to come up with ways to occupy her while she was in my studio. She found the roll of bubble wrap from the Bear chalk piece a few times and started coloring when I was working too. She wants to be like Mommy sometimes.

My trusted white color pencil for even more blending.

I used white, cream, and cloud blue for my blending colors. I use Prismacolor Premier is my color pencil of choice. The lead tends to be hard enough that it holds it's own against the pastel with pressure and soft enough to blend in hue.

Silly things like a new pencil sharpener excite me. No, I am not a paid sponsor of Prismacolor.

The difference from Phase 2 to Phase 3.

Phase 4: Stare and Tweak (AKA Crazy Neurotic Jess)

You can see the difference here big time in the ears, whiskers, and scruff line of the chest. The shadows are darker, the lines a bit longer on her fur, the whiskers sand out a bit more. During this phase I triple guess everything and make tiny adjustments that are either brilliant or cause me another 20 minutes plus of work to correct it.