I've been giving it some thought...

Why would people want to commission a hand-drawn Portrait when they can just get a photograph? 


Well, here's just a few ideas!

• It makes a unique and thoughtful gift ... (gift certificates are available!)
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• Consider a hand-drawn portrait as a complement to your wedding photography!
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• What about a beautiful one-of-a-kind engagement picture?
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• How about a unique embellishment to your wedding invitations?! 
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• Remember: The traditional First wedding anniversary gift is Paper!
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• Celebrate the special moments in your life!

           ***   Weddings   ***   Birthdays   ***   Proms   ***   Graduations   ***   Births 
           Pregnancy    ***   Christenings   ***  Family Reunions    ***      Sports Moments

• Revive your parents' or grandparents' precious wedding photos with a bold modern statement
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• Bride and Mother    ***     Bride and Grandmother
• 
  
• What about your mother as a bride together with you as a bride?!

I still do pet portraits! I'd never give that up!!! But there's just so many other possibilities to explore and I'd LOVE to talk to you about your ideas. 

Cat in the Window

The finished piece. Coloured pencil

I'm drawing this handsome little marmalade fellow as a thank you to Kerry Tibbs, the lady who put me at 100 Likes on my Charmed by Christine Pet Portrait page on Facebook.

Kerry says that he likes to spend his time napping here, so they call him the Cat in the Window.

Sadly, Casey passed away only 2 days after the family picked up his portrait. One of the girls set up a "shrine" for him. His collar, some pictures of him, the portrait. They really loved their little guy. :( 

Bride

Original b/w photo

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

8 hours so far...

Again, the quality of the light affects how the photographs look, but I'm usually in too much of a rush to look around for just the right spot to photograph my work. I'll do better once I'm photographing the finished piece. Promise!

The Bride

Well, as far as the b/w goes, she's done! However, IF I decide to add colour to the flowers, and the fall colours are gorgeous, I'll be able to add them in later. Decisions, decisions.

This portrait was done specifically for the Wedding Show. It's an 8"x10" portrait, worth $300. It's pretty intense work! Usually I'll sit down to work for 20 minutes and come up for air 2 hours later. I've started logging the time spent so I get a better idea of how much time I'm spending per portrait. Sometimes I really don't want to know how much time has passed! 

Stretching is a necessity!!

Thank you so much, Linda, for allowing me to use your very gorgeous wedding photo for this project.

~ Christine Norman, of Charmed by Christine - Pet Portraits

                                                                                               (More than just pets!)

Leah

Original Photograph     

Step 1

Step 2

Close-up of face

I have to apologize for the lighting on the photos. I keep taking them when there's no proper daylight, forget to take another one later... *sigh* Artistic license?

Just started the ballet tutu

So nearly done! Must be careful not to overwork it from here on.
I have to tap back on the top's seams and expand the tonal range throughout.

September already!!! Where has the time gone?!

Apparently I've been busy. Too busy to be on the computer?! *gasp* Yes. I guess so.

Skipping ahead a few months, I've still not completed Zoey and the goldfish. But I painted the bathroom! The turkeys are still hanging out on the easel. But I painted the bathroom!  lol...

I'm gearing up for the Wedding Show in St. John's, NL, which will be held on Sunday, Sept 25th at the Sheraton Hotel. I received a surprise e-mail from one of the organizers asking if I'd be interested in a booth at the show. It seems she'd noticed my Charmed by Christine Facebook Page on a friend's wall and was intrigued by the idea of pet portraiture as it may pertain to a wedding.

Well, I do people, too! The portrait of Karen & Sean was very happily received by the now Newlywed couple. I'm working on a very adorable portrait of Leah the ballerina (Thanks, Kimberly!), and recently began work on my Bride. Thanks, Linda, for allowing me to use your photo for this very gorgeous portrait.

I'm going to post the photographs individually, labelling them "Leah" and "Bride."

I hope you enjoy the progress photos. :D

~ Chris