Process
During my senior year at Appalachian State University, I started to take my many years of photo replication to an abstraction level. I did this by loosely sketching multiple images of one subject and layering them into a digital composition.
Eventually I started adding shapes and florals to the layering compositions. These aspects were often times derived by the owner and the dog’s personalities. This also would widely affect the color palette for each individual piece.
The concept of lines became very important during this process. Sketch lines were purposefully left showing through to add to the layering affect, but also to add different areas of density and movement. I would follow through with some lines with paint to either cover, compliment, or further add to the abstraction.
The only area that was ever “fully” painted was the primary figure, specifically the face. This figure was decided during the layering process within Procreate.
Overall, this process allowed me to experiment with the subject matters I love, flora and fauna, while bringing the subject matter of animals into the spotlight of portrait painting. Elevating animals to a comparable status as humans, which have dominated the art culture since ancient times.