The Creative Process
Creating meaningful and lifelike portraits of your beloved pets or captivating scenes of wildlife is not just a job for me—it's my passion. I pour my heart and soul into each piece of artwork, striving to capture the unique personality, spirit, and beauty of every subject.
Watch the video below to see what our creative process looks like together.
Be sure to pause the video so you get a chance to read it all!
Where creativity meets clarity, and vision turns into something tangible.
This is a collaborative process, not a hand-off. We start with your idea, your story, your subject, and we build from there. References are discussed, expectations are set, and decisions are made early so the work stays focused rather than drifting.
You’ll see how sketches evolve, how details are refined, and how feedback shapes the final piece at each stage. Nothing is rushed, nothing is guessed. The goal is simple: to translate what you see in your head into something real, accurate, and meaningful.
This is what working together actually looks like.
The Nitty Gritty of my Personal Process?
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I firstly establish the colour foundation
I begin by choosing the paper background that best supports the subject’s natural colouring. This sets the overall temperature and mood of the piece and prevents me from fighting the surface later. The paper becomes the quiet middle tone everything else builds on.
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Before drawing, I decide on a limited set of colours that will carry the entire portrait. This includes which pastel pencils and PanPastel tones will be used and, just as importantly, which ones will be left out. A controlled palette keeps the work cohesive and focused.
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I start with precise pencil work to establish anatomy, proportions, and form. At this stage the drawing needs to stand on its own without softness or detail. If the structure works here, everything that follows becomes easier and more intentional.
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Once the structure is secure, I layer PanPastel to unify values, add subtle colour transitions, and establish light. This stage is about depth and realism, not surface detail.
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Details, textures, and final adjustments are added last. I refine only what strengthens the portrait and stop once the character and likeness are fully present, without overworking the surface.
More about my process here
What I offer & What you Receive
