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Patricia Leslie
Richmond, CA
(510) 527-3273

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Patricia Leslie

I am an animal portrait artist. I include the term "portrait" in my self-description, because I see every animal as a unique individual, with a personality which shows in his or her face and expressions. I find animals endlessly enjoyable to study in detail, and to reproduce artistically. While my personal history is deeply bound up with dogs, my feeling of kinship with the entire animal kingdom is the driving force behind the development of my style and thematic choices. My goal is for each portrait to communicate each being's unique individuality, and innately spiritual nature.

My style is realistic, though not as detailed as photo-realism. Because I have been fascinated throughout my life by the beautiful faces of animals, I always allow the facial expression to dominate both mood and composition, and the majority of my portraits are tightly focused on "head and shoulders" views, so that the expression in the eyes dominates the piece. My style ...        > Read morealso incorporates an imaginative setting or backdrop which reflects my intuitive sense of the individual animal's personality. It might be an impression of greenery or sky, of drapery or cushions, of beach or hills.

The majority of my work is done on commission, for people who want a special portrait of one or more special animals in their lives. I work in watercolor, ink, or black ink combined with watercolor. My ink drawings can be in a single color (usually black or sepia), or full color. Watercolors are always rendered in full, true-to-life coloring.

Since animals will not sit still for the time it takes to create a detailed piece, I always work from one or more photographs. For nearby commissions, I can travel to the client's home to take photographs, for a modest fee. For memorial portraits, or clients outside the Bay Area, it is necessary to have an existing clear image which shows off the face and eyes, and provides accurate coat or feather color information. Photos may be transmitted by email for long-distance commissions.

My rates always include mounting and matting. High quality, acid-free matboard. Beveled cuts. Starting price range, single animal:
35-81 sq" (5x7-9x9) $150- $250
90-168 sq" (9x10-12x14) $200-$400
182-324 sq" (13x14-18x18) $350- $800
342-528 sq" (18x19-22x24) $600-$1200
(complex backgrounds or multiple animals will run higher)
ALSO PLEASE NOTE: I will be taking a sabbatical from art, including from taking new commissions, throughout 2011. This is because I want to focus myself more fully on writing novels. Watch this site for an announcement when my first book goes to print, and a link to a separate page which will have a lot more information about my novels. In the meantime, my art cards will continue to be available at RabbitEARS Pet Supply, 7523 Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito, CA. I am also starting to make some of my art available on T-shirts and canvas bags, online at Cafe Press.

Styles: Pen & Ink, Portraiture, Watercolor

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