Welcome! On this page you'll see more sample watercolor pet portraits by Janet L. Wissmann.
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FIGGIE - GOLDEN RETRIEVER WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
THE MAGIC OF TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR
I have chosen transparent watercolor as my medium for animal portraits because of its many qualities which enhance the furry and feathery texture of animals. Although it is a difficult medium by many standards, I have found it to be worth the trouble because of the beautiful effects I can achieve.
Transparent watercolor paintings are often very light and washy when the paints are applied quickly and loosely with big brushes and lots of water. My technique is a little different. I DO begin by blocking in the shape of the animal with a light wash or two, but then I
switch to a hair-by-hair approach as more and more layers of paint are added. Each additional layer of paint is a bit darker than the previous layer, and this slow layering of paint is what gives the painting its depth and clarity. A finished portrait may have as many as twenty layers of paint in the darker areas and one or two layers in the lightest areas. White paint is almost never used except for highlights in eyes or whiskers.
The slow, gradual build up of watercolor layers may be very time-consuming, but it is also very rewarding, because the depth and clarity that result make the subject seem three-dimensional and lifelike, velvety and rich. I hope that by studying my paintings you will agree that watercolor is a beautiful medium and is perfectly suited to the portraiture of animals. How to commission a painting of your pet »
"JASPER" - BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG
click the 2 detail pics to enlarge ↓
"MAXINE" - TORTOISESHELL LONGHAIR CAT WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
This painting is a real beauty, full of the many colors and layers of a tortoiseshell.
Click on this closeup picture to enlarge:
THE MEDIUM OF TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR - - Transparent watercolor is a beautiful, clean, vibrant medium in which the pure white watercolor paper is actually visible through all but the final layers of paint. There is no white paint! The multiple layering of transparent watercolor pigments is a slow and tedious process, but the result of that patient work is an exceptional depth and clarity that beautifully shows the soft textures of fur and feathers.
How to commission a painting of your pet by Janet »
"MISSY" - TOBIANO MARE WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
Click pictures below to enlarge!
MAGGIE - BORDER COLLIE MIX ---------------------Click detail pictures to enlarge ↓
I offer two sizes of watercolor portrait.
Click on this picture
to compare the two sizes.
Golden Retriever - an example of larger size portrait painting
The Golden Retriever painting, below right, is the larger of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 16x20". The painting is double-matted with dark rust suede top mat, and framed with a 20x24 satin black aluminum frame.
Click on the picture of the Retriever, then click on it once again to enlarge it greatly and to see the details.
This painting of the tortoiseshell cat is the smaller of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 10x12". The painting is double-matted with a moka suede top mat, and framed with a 16x20 satin black aluminum frame.
A few more:
"LOLA" - THOROUGHBRED HORSE WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
Click on the detail
picture to enlarge.
If you like horses,
you might want to
buy one of my horse
prints, here»
KEIRRA - CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG MIX
Click on detail pictures to enlarge them.
MACDUFF - OTTERHOUND WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
I offer two sizes of watercolor portrait.
Click on this picture
to compare the two sizes.
Golden Retriever - an example of larger size portrait painting
The Golden Retriever painting, below right, is the larger of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 16x20". The painting is double-matted with dark rust suede top mat, and framed with a 20x24 satin black aluminum frame. Click on the picture of the Retriever, then click on it once again to enlarge it greatly and to see the details.
This painting of the tortoiseshell cat is the smaller of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 10x12". The painting is double-matted with a moka suede top mat, and framed with a 16x20 satin black aluminum frame.
___________________________________________ PAGE _ 1 _ 2 _ 3 _ 4 _ NEXT »____
FIGGIE - GOLDEN RETRIEVER WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
THE MAGIC OF TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR
I have chosen transparent watercolor as my medium for animal portraits because of its many qualities which enhance the furry and feathery texture of animals. Although it is a difficult medium by many standards, I have found it to be worth the trouble because of the beautiful effects I can achieve.
Transparent watercolor paintings are often very light and washy when the paints are applied quickly and loosely with big brushes and lots of water. My technique is a little different. I DO begin by blocking in the shape of the animal with a light wash or two, but then I
switch to a hair-by-hair approach as more and more layers of paint are added. Each additional layer of paint is a bit darker than the previous layer, and this slow layering of paint is what gives the painting its depth and clarity. A finished portrait may have as many as twenty layers of paint in the darker areas and one or two layers in the lightest areas. White paint is almost never used except for highlights in eyes or whiskers.
The slow, gradual build up of watercolor layers may be very time-consuming, but it is also very rewarding, because the depth and clarity that result make the subject seem three-dimensional and lifelike, velvety and rich. I hope that by studying my paintings you will agree that watercolor is a beautiful medium and is perfectly suited to the portraiture of animals. How to commission a painting of your pet »
"JASPER" - BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG
click the 2 detail pics to enlarge ↓
"MAXINE" - TORTOISESHELL LONGHAIR CAT WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
This painting is a real beauty, full of the many colors and layers of a tortoiseshell.
Click on this closeup picture to enlarge:
THE MEDIUM OF TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR - - Transparent watercolor is a beautiful, clean, vibrant medium in which the pure white watercolor paper is actually visible through all but the final layers of paint. There is no white paint! The multiple layering of transparent watercolor pigments is a slow and tedious process, but the result of that patient work is an exceptional depth and clarity that beautifully shows the soft textures of fur and feathers.
How to commission a painting of your pet by Janet »
"MISSY" - TOBIANO MARE WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
Click pictures below to enlarge!
MAGGIE - BORDER COLLIE MIX ---------------------Click detail pictures to enlarge ↓
I offer two sizes of watercolor portrait.
Click on this picture
to compare the two sizes.
Golden Retriever - an example of larger size portrait painting
The Golden Retriever painting, below right, is the larger of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 16x20". The painting is double-matted with dark rust suede top mat, and framed with a 20x24 satin black aluminum frame.
Click on the picture of the Retriever, then click on it once again to enlarge it greatly and to see the details.
This painting of the tortoiseshell cat is the smaller of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 10x12". The painting is double-matted with a moka suede top mat, and framed with a 16x20 satin black aluminum frame.
__________________________________________________________________
Janet L. Wissmann, Watercolorist
Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin __ph. (608)624-5511 _9am-9pm Central Time Zone
home page - see more at janetwissmann.com >>>>>>>>go>>>>>
__________________________________________________________________
Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin __ph. (608)624-5511 _9am-9pm Central Time Zone
home page - see more at janetwissmann.com >>>>>>>>go>>>>>
__________________________________________________________________
A few more:
"LOLA" - THOROUGHBRED HORSE WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
Click on the detail
picture to enlarge.
If you like horses,
you might want to
buy one of my horse
prints, here»
KEIRRA - CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG MIX
Click on detail pictures to enlarge them.
MACDUFF - OTTERHOUND WATERCOLOR PORTRAIT
Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
I offer two sizes of watercolor portrait.
Click on this picture
to compare the two sizes.
Golden Retriever - an example of larger size portrait painting
The Golden Retriever painting, below right, is the larger of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 16x20". The painting is double-matted with dark rust suede top mat, and framed with a 20x24 satin black aluminum frame.
Click on the picture of the Retriever, then click on it once again to enlarge it greatly and to see the details.
This painting of the tortoiseshell cat is the smaller of the two sizes I offer. The painting surface and the white area is approximately 10x12". The painting is double-matted with a moka suede top mat, and framed with a 16x20 satin black aluminum frame.
__________________________________________________________________
Janet L. Wissmann, Watercolorist
Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin __ph. (608)624-5511 _9am-9pm Central Time Zone
home page » see more at janetwissmann.com home page » »
__________________________________________________________________
Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin __ph. (608)624-5511 _9am-9pm Central Time Zone
home page » see more at janetwissmann.com home page » »
__________________________________________________________________
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Paintings by Janet L. Wissmann © 1983-Present. All rights reserved Copyright shall at all times remain vested in the Artist. No part of the work may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, printing, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the Artist's express written consent.
