Frequently Asked Questions:
Are your paintings made on a computer?
For traditional paintings on canvas, No. DawgArt is created traditionally from beginning to end. Subjects are painstakingly sketched out in graphite on a triple-primed canvas. They are then lovingly painted by hand in vivid color with brushes and acrylic paint. The result is a totally unique painting that captures the personality of your pet!
I have recently added digital art to my offerings. They are made in a similar process, with layers of glazes added to a digital canvas, but in a different style from my traditional work. Those are created with a stylus (digital paintbrush) on an iPad using the drawing software Procreate. Both styles of art are available here.
Where did you learn how to paint like this? Are you a trained artist?
As far as DawgArt goes, I am self-taught. I started creating DawgArt as a fluke in 2001. My next-door neighbor asked me to make a painting of her dog that matched her house. Her house was painted in every color of the rainbow! Since I was self-taught, I didn't really know what I was doing, so I just tried to swallow my uncertainty and paint.
Today, each painting is created through an intuitive process. I put the sketched out canvas on my easel, squeeze color onto the canvas and just start painting with colors I feel good about. Since I do very little planning for each piece, aside from blocking out time, every painting is an adventure.
I graduated cum laude from Utah Valley University in 2013 with my Bachelor's of Fine Art in Illustration. Through all my years of study at UVU's illustration program, I have grown immensely as an artist, and my process in creating DawgArt has become more streamlined and intentional. But I still approach each painting as an intuitive journey, focused on creativity and the final goal of making each client smile. So I say I started self-taught, and then became trained.
Why do you choose such crazy colors? Is this how you see the world?
Color has always been fascinating to me. Rainbows are my fave! I believe color, more than anything, can help communicate the soul of a thing. So I choose vivid color to express the happy, goofy, soulful, and vibrant personalities that can be found in companion and wild animals. Customers tell me, "It looks just like my pet!"
What inspires you?
I see beauty everywhere I look. The natural world, animals, people, art, music and literature all inspire me. The relationship that people have with their animals is also a beautiful thing to me. I try to capture that relationship whenever I go to the canvas. Another thing that motivates me is animal advocacy and charity work. I am inspired by rescue and sanctuary stories, conservation work, and compassionate living.
Is DawgArt the only thing you make?
I am actually quite a varied artist. I bounce around between different projects and sometimes have a hard time pinning myself down. DawgArt is the most consistent thing I have ever done, besides photography, but I also work in dry media, collage, digital, comics, writing, and music. You can find my other creative endeavors by following my personal page on Facebook. (Try to find it.)
Thinking about buying some DawgArt? Keep reading!
Can I get a painting of my pet done?
Yes! Simply click here or email me at dawgart.info@gmail.com. The commission process is easy and fun! At the end of the process you will have beautiful artwork to add color and joy to your home.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the medium, the size of the canvas, and how many subjects you want me to paint. For more info, click here.
Do you paint from photos?
Yes. Photos taken outdoors, in good light, with no flash are best. They must be of a high enough quality that I can use them as reference. High resolution, good detail. If you have a photo of a pet that has crossed over the rainbow bridge, send it to me and I will let you know if it would work. All hard copy photos used in the commission process are returned with your finished painting. For examples of photos I like, please click here.
Why do your paintings cost so much more than your prints?
Prints are reproductions of actual paintings, they aren't original artworks themselves. When you buy a print from anyone, you are buying a picture of a painting. The painting itself is much more valuable and took much more time and effort to create. It is unreasonable to ask an artist to create an original painting for the same amount that you would expect to pay for a print. Digital artwork commissions are the same. If you are paying someone to make a custom piece for you, please don’t expect to pay the same price you would pay for a reproduction.
I want a painting done, but I don't want these crazy colors. Will you paint natural colors for me?
Nope. Arbitrary color is part of my style. When you commission a piece of DawgArt, this is a main part for which you are paying your hard-earned money. If you want natural colors, there are thousands of artists you can find online that do that kind of work. That being said, you can choose your palette, to a point. And I have painted in more subdued colors for clients in the past.
I want a painting, but I have a very specific idea of what I want. It has to be perfect! I am planning on asking for extensive changes. Will you work with me?
I want to make artwork that inspires, brings joy, and captures the soul of your pet. As I am an artist, my paintings are my artistic representation of the subject. They don't look exactly like the subject, down to the finest detail. That being said, after I hear what your project is and get a sense of your energy, I will decide if it’s possible for me to work with you, but please know from the beginning that every set of revisions will accrue additional hourly charges above the base commission price. If you are a client that feels you need to be a part of every step of the creative process, please find an artist that thrives with this kind of situation. I don’t.
I’m a pet influencer. I don't want to pay for a painting. If I send you a photo, will you paint it for free and I can shout you out on my social media accounts?
Where did you learn how to paint like this? Are you a trained artist?
As far as DawgArt goes, I am self-taught. I started creating DawgArt as a fluke in 2001. My next-door neighbor asked me to make a painting of her dog that matched her house. Her house was painted in every color of the rainbow! Since I was self-taught, I didn't really know what I was doing, so I just tried to swallow my uncertainty and paint.
Today, each painting is created through an intuitive process. I put the sketched out canvas on my easel, squeeze color onto the canvas and just start painting with colors I feel good about. Since I do very little planning for each piece, aside from blocking out time, every painting is an adventure.
I graduated cum laude from Utah Valley University in 2013 with my Bachelor's of Fine Art in Illustration. Through all my years of study at UVU's illustration program, I have grown immensely as an artist, and my process in creating DawgArt has become more streamlined and intentional. But I still approach each painting as an intuitive journey, focused on creativity and the final goal of making each client smile. So I say I started self-taught, and then became trained.
Why do you choose such crazy colors? Is this how you see the world?
Color has always been fascinating to me. Rainbows are my fave! I believe color, more than anything, can help communicate the soul of a thing. So I choose vivid color to express the happy, goofy, soulful, and vibrant personalities that can be found in companion and wild animals. Customers tell me, "It looks just like my pet!"
What inspires you?
I see beauty everywhere I look. The natural world, animals, people, art, music and literature all inspire me. The relationship that people have with their animals is also a beautiful thing to me. I try to capture that relationship whenever I go to the canvas. Another thing that motivates me is animal advocacy and charity work. I am inspired by rescue and sanctuary stories, conservation work, and compassionate living.
Is DawgArt the only thing you make?
I am actually quite a varied artist. I bounce around between different projects and sometimes have a hard time pinning myself down. DawgArt is the most consistent thing I have ever done, besides photography, but I also work in dry media, collage, digital, comics, writing, and music. You can find my other creative endeavors by following my personal page on Facebook. (Try to find it.)
Thinking about buying some DawgArt? Keep reading!
Can I get a painting of my pet done?
Yes! Simply click here or email me at dawgart.info@gmail.com. The commission process is easy and fun! At the end of the process you will have beautiful artwork to add color and joy to your home.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the medium, the size of the canvas, and how many subjects you want me to paint. For more info, click here.
Do you paint from photos?
Yes. Photos taken outdoors, in good light, with no flash are best. They must be of a high enough quality that I can use them as reference. High resolution, good detail. If you have a photo of a pet that has crossed over the rainbow bridge, send it to me and I will let you know if it would work. All hard copy photos used in the commission process are returned with your finished painting. For examples of photos I like, please click here.
Why do your paintings cost so much more than your prints?
Prints are reproductions of actual paintings, they aren't original artworks themselves. When you buy a print from anyone, you are buying a picture of a painting. The painting itself is much more valuable and took much more time and effort to create. It is unreasonable to ask an artist to create an original painting for the same amount that you would expect to pay for a print. Digital artwork commissions are the same. If you are paying someone to make a custom piece for you, please don’t expect to pay the same price you would pay for a reproduction.
I want a painting done, but I don't want these crazy colors. Will you paint natural colors for me?
Nope. Arbitrary color is part of my style. When you commission a piece of DawgArt, this is a main part for which you are paying your hard-earned money. If you want natural colors, there are thousands of artists you can find online that do that kind of work. That being said, you can choose your palette, to a point. And I have painted in more subdued colors for clients in the past.
I want a painting, but I have a very specific idea of what I want. It has to be perfect! I am planning on asking for extensive changes. Will you work with me?
I want to make artwork that inspires, brings joy, and captures the soul of your pet. As I am an artist, my paintings are my artistic representation of the subject. They don't look exactly like the subject, down to the finest detail. That being said, after I hear what your project is and get a sense of your energy, I will decide if it’s possible for me to work with you, but please know from the beginning that every set of revisions will accrue additional hourly charges above the base commission price. If you are a client that feels you need to be a part of every step of the creative process, please find an artist that thrives with this kind of situation. I don’t.
I’m a pet influencer. I don't want to pay for a painting. If I send you a photo, will you paint it for free and I can shout you out on my social media accounts?
Maybe. I have painted free for influencers in the past. Some of them followed through on their promises and some haven’t. If you have a wide reach (50-100k+) and can promise a permanent post, tagged in the caption and the image, as well as a mention in stories, I would consider it. Painting for “exposure” is something I would consider a marketing investment, but do keep in mind that artists have to eat too. This is my livelihood and how I provide for my family. If you wouldn’t pay a dentist in “exposure,” why would you offer that deal to an artist?
If I own a piece of DawgArt, do I also own the rights to reproduce that image?
No, you don't. I own the rights to my artwork, even if you paid me to make it. If you would like to reproduce my images in any way, you can contact me and we can discuss compensation. Of course, if you want to take pictures of your painting with your dog sitting next to it, hanging in your living room, etc., that is fine. I would love to see how you have displayed your DawgArt and will add it to my website to show it off to other people!
