With a profound love for both art and animals, artist Rebecca Wang has pursued her passion for creating an impressive range of vibrantly colorful pet portraits and animal paintings. Rebecca has an exceptional eye for detail and this is effectively conveyed in her unique pieces. As you browse through the images below, I think you’ll agree that Rebecca’s very own style effectively embodies her fondness for the natural world. Rebecca’s body of work is quite diverse and her need for creativity speaks for itself.
Rebecca, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us and thank you so much for all your thoughtful responses. You are an extraordinary artist and someone who is definitely worth following. You have given the readers an opportunity to glimpse into the mind of a person who truly enjoys what they do.
If you’d like to learn more about Rebecca or if you are interested in purchasing one or more of her striking pieces, please visit her website as well as Etsy, FineArtAmerica/Pixel, Zazzle, and RedBubble . You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Can you please tell the readers a bit about yourself?
I have always had a deep love for art and animals, and combined my two passions into my current career. In the past, I have held many different jobs working directly with animals. I always wanted a career working with animals. I have wanted to be a veterinarian, a biologist, and a zookeeper at various points in my life. In high school, I was a veterinary assistant, helping to care for pets that were boarding. In my early college years, I worked as a pet groomer. Afterward, I returned to the veterinary field to work as a Licensed Veterinary Technician for over 14 years. Due to health reasons, I had to quit. I was fortunate that I was able to turn to art as my next career. I infused my love for animals with my love for art. I primarily create pet portraits on commission and also create original colorful animal art on the side. I do not have a formal art education; I am entirely self-taught. I have been creating art professionally since 2007, and pet portraits since 2017.
Where is home?
I currently live in Tennessee, in the United States.
How did you discover your passion for your work?
I have always loved drawing since I was in elementary school and kept interested in it as I grew up. I mostly drew as a hobby. I loved drawing all sorts of animals and creatures, especially dragons. One of my friends told me once that my artwork would look awesome on a tee. I was able to find stores online to allow me to sell my artwork on prints and products. Doing so allowed me to have the extra income to fuel my art career. In 2017 another friend asked me to paint a portrait of her pet, and that kick-started my pet portrait career. I get a real sense of achievement when someone commissions a pet portrait, or purchases one of my products from my store. They had the option to go with any number of other artists but they chose me, and that really motivates me to want to create more artwork.
What does your art mean to you?
Art means a way for me to express myself, and to bring joy to those who love my art through original paintings and merchandise. I love being able to create unique artwork that everyone can enjoy. I primarily paint for myself, and if other people love it that is even better! I take each painting as a challenge and am always learning and improving my skills.
What drives you to create; does it satisfy a need or passion?
I create for both reasons. As mentioned above, I started out just drawing and painting for myself, and I was able to share my art with others through my online stores which further motivated me to continue creating. But I also love what I do, and I love establishing my own style and making my customers happy. I have two types of works that I create: my commissioned pet portraits and my original paintings were done for myself. The pet portraits are done for the customers, but I take it as an opportunity to advance my skills. My original art is created for myself primarily, and for products in my stores.
Which art movements are you most influenced by?
I am influenced by many art styles. The psychedelic art movement of the 60s is a big influence. Contemporary artists are also a big influence. Impressionism, realism, fauvism, and pop art are all influences as well. I combine many art styles into my own unique blend.
What types of mediums do you work with?
I primarily work with acrylic paints on canvas for my pet portraits and acrylic paints on wood panels for my originals. In the past, I worked mostly with colored pencils and pastel pencils on paper.
What is the process you go through when creating a piece?
My process is similar whether I am creating a pet portrait or an original artwork. I work from photos, especially for my pet portraits. Often, I will pick out one photo to use as the main reference, and a few others to use as secondary references. I rarely use the photo exactly as it is. Occasionally, I can use one single photo for the portrait. Most of the time, however, I will composite the photo using pieces of the other photos to fill in missing details. Reasons for doing this are if the main photo is too blurry or dark, or missing key features. I will also correct any foreshortening or proportion issues. I will also consider the composition and alignment of the portrait on the canvas. For example, if it would look better in a vertical or horizontal configuration, where to crop the photo, etc. This is all done in the sketch phase of the painting. Once the sketch is done to my and my customer’s satisfaction, the sketch is transferred to the canvas using graphite paper, and then I start on the painting. I will paint the background first to get it out of the way. The first thing I paint on my portraits is the eyes. The eyes have to be right or the portrait will fail. Also, as they say, eyes are the windows of the soul, so I tend to put the most detail there. Then I move on to the other facial features like the nose, mouth, and ears, and then finish out the face. Then I move onto the body. Once that is complete, I paint the sides of the canvas, sign it, and write the pet’s name and date on the back of the canvas frame.
How do you know when a piece is complete?
I know it is finished when I sign it! LOL! I finish when I feel like continuing further would mess up the painting, and I have nothing left to add.
How do you go about pricing your work?
I use the area in square inches of the canvas as a base, then multiply by a set amount. The price is higher for detailed backgrounds, more than one pet on a canvas, and different materials.
If there was one thing you would want prospective clients to know about you, what would it be?
I would want them to know that I am open to painting anything you want! I would love the opportunity to paint different species besides dogs and cats!
Where do you currently display your art? How can people purchase one or more of your pieces?
My original paintings (not commissions) are not for sale. My original art is created just for myself, and I scan them to sell as prints and merchandise. Pet portraits are purchased on commission and are shipped to the pet owner for them to display in their home. If a customer wants a print of my artwork to hang on their walls, they can get one at my FineArtAmerica store. I offer my art on many different types of wall art, including framed prints, stretched canvas, metal, acrylic, wood, and tapestries. My artwork is also available for purchase on many gifts and products, including the following: throw pillows, cell phone cases, vinyl stickers, fleece blankets, shower curtains, coffee mugs, jigsaw puzzles, stationery, magnets, keychains, apparel, ornaments, tote bags, towels, coasters, drinkware, spiral notebooks, and much more!
Are there other mediums of art that you would like to explore and experiment with?
I would like to experiment with watercolors in the future since it is notoriously difficult medium to master.
What do you think the future holds for you? Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
I hope I am still doing pet portraits and creating unique original artwork!
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