Welcome to Animalportrait.net, here annimals are stars !

Hello my name is Nathalie Boisvert, I'm a pet portrait artist. As long as I can remember I've always loved animals, that's why they are my main subject. Each animal has its own feature, that is what I try to reproduce in my pictures. I can immortalize your pet by hand painting its portrait. Whether you'd like to have a portrait done in memory of your lost pet or you want to offer a personalized gift, or just want to pay tribute to your animal, all I need is a photo on which the animal is well photographed, where I can see its head very clearly. The better the picture the better the portrait.

My portraits are painted on 8" x 10" acid-free watercolor paper, one animal by portrait on a white background. If you have several animals to paint and you want them to be together, you can bring them together by framing them with a matboard that has more than one hole in it, or I can make a photomontage of the scanned portraits, print it in a photo laboratory in 11" x 14" format, you then have the print of the photomontage, plus your originals portraits. Here are some examples of photomontages :

• Send me an email to know my availability. You can send me your picture by email, please without modifying the resolution, if it's digital or by normal post service if the picture is a print.
  
  
• Once I receive the picture, I will contact you to let you know that I have it and I will start to paint the portrait (allow approximately 4 weeks per portrait).
  
  
• When the painting is done, I'll digitize the portrait so you can see the finished work. And I will be sending you a PayPal request of payment.
  
  
• Upon receipt of the payment, I'll send you the portrait and your picture (if you have sent me a print).
  
  

PHOTO TIPS:

It is sometimes frustrating to take an animal picture, you get better results by making short photo sessions in a familiar environment, take several pictures each time and with a little patience you will get "the photo". Here are some useful tips:

-- If you use a digital camera, take your photos in high quality and large format.

-- Most of the time, natural light usually gives the best results, so try to avoid using a flash, if you cannot go outside, take your pictures near a window. Avoid that the light source comes from the back of the animal, that'll produce too much shadow in the face and we lose details. Too much sunlight will alter the colours and increases contrast. A slightly cloudy day can give good results. For black animals try a combination of natural light and flash. Make tests to find out what you prefer.

-- Position yourself at the animal's level, if necessary sit or lie down on the floor! Do not take the animal from too far, it must occupy a large part of the photo. If you use the zoom press your elbows on the ground or along your body to keep steady or better, use a tripod. Take the head from different angles, you choose the one you prefer.

-- Let your pet act as naturally as possible in order to capture his personality and his true expressions. Use treats, toys or sounds to attract attention and varying poses.

--But the most important is to have fun!