Animal Pet Portraits in Pastel by Carol Santora - Nationwide

Using your favorite photographs or ones that Carol has taken, you will work closely with her when she creates the perfect composition for that unique pet portrait. Pricing is dependent upon size and number of subjects. Portraits come matted & framed.

Carol’s goal is for you to be completely satisfied. I paint most mammals and some birds... If your animal is not listed here, please get in touch!

Please contact and book me on Petworks. Thank you.

ARTIST STATEMENT:
The process of portraying the theme of horses continues to evolve in my work. I want my art to retain a sense of experimentation, and working in a series I can focus on a particular way the application of paint reveals the desired outcome or a ‘happy accident.’ A variation of the process motivates the next series of paintings.

As an Expressionist animal painter, I seek to capture the essence of my subjects, whether they are my own horses, pets or other domestics and wildlife. I render my impressions, emotions and responses to animals through my own eyes. I go beyond portraying reality and may distort some elements in my work for emotional impact; I create mood and incorporate my feelings and ideas through the use of color, texture, line, and mark-making. I filter out superfluous details and simplify my subjects, striving to portray the animals’ spirits and souls, energy, and physical presence.

As my career and reputation have advanced, the core group of animal subjects I paint has grown to include horses, dogs and cats, cows and sheep, and select wildlife such as the great cats, moose, and bear. I think it is imperative to study the animals I paint and work from my own reference material. Over the last 40 years my work – medium and style – has evolved and grown, having worked in many media including oil, watercolor, printmaking, mixed media and collage, and developing a divided passion for painting in acrylic and soft pastel, and most recently revisiting oils. My color palette ranges from vibrant, non-local color to dramatic black-and-white and muted color pieces.