Pet Portraits and Hand Pulled Original woodcut relief prints. Dog - Cat- Horse- Award winning Animal Artist Robin Zebley

DOG - CAT - HORSE PORTRAITS AND PRINTS

PORTRAITS and ORIGINAL HANDPULLED WOODCUT ANIMAL PRINTS

WELCOME to my online pet portrait gallery! I'm American Animal Artist, Robin Zebley, drawing dogs, horses and cats from coast to coast. I'm so glad you've decided to visit! My portraits are hand drawn

and painted the old fashioned way from your photos. Please scroll down to see more samples, and visit all the

pages. Pictures do take a bit to upload, so please be patient!

"Robin, IS THIS A PHOTOGRAPH? Or is it oil paints?"

No, it's my style! Brutus, above, and most of my color work is in vibrant professional grade colored pencil on paper. I love colored pencil because

I get color with incredible detail. Reflections off toenails, whiskers, twinkles in the eye..all possible and all make for an incredible likeness!

"I can't believe it! This looks just like him!"

I NEVER get tired of hearing this reaction when my customer receives their portrait! It is the likeness, of course, that

makes a portrait a treasured keepsake work of art. I have always been able to do portraits that "look like" the subject! My customers

tell me I not only caught the "outside" likeness of their pet..but their inside...their personality, too. Before I start on your dog's

portrait, I'll ask you to tell me something about him...so he's not just a face to me, he's a real, live pet, full of character! Shy, silly, protective..whatever their personality, I want it to shine right through their eyes.

"What is your technique?"

I start with a tiny sketch in color. I want to make sure I have a pleasing composition and that the background works

with the subject. Then, I sketch it lightly on artists' acid free paper, and block in the colors and values. "Blocking in" is

simply laying down the major shapes, with no details. From a distance, it looks like your pet, but up close, almost like

an abstract of him.

"Then What?"

Then the personal detailing with the eyes. It amazes me every time, when the animal�s eyes start to �look back�

at me! I feel like I get to know them! I feel like they're almost sitting with me in my studio, watching me, while I work on

the rest of their portrait! Next, I build layers of color all over, progressively adding more details at all times, keeping your

pet's likeness and personality in mind. It's so much fun for me to watch paper and pigments turn into a personality filled

portrait of someone's Best Friend! I will always include a favorite toy, scarf, or collar, if you'd like.

Finally, the finishing touches: (whiskers!), spray with a fixative and mailing to you! Check out the reflection of those

toenails, and that spark in that eye ("are we ready yet?"). These are the kinds of details I love to portray.

"How do I commission a portrait of my pet?" Please click on the "Ordering & Pricing" button

at the top or the bottom of this page, for info on the easy steps to get started. Or CUT and PASTE my email

into YOUR email program: robinzebley@gmail.com