Horse Portrait Artist in Northern Virginia

My favorite thing to do as an artist are horse portraits. This handsome guy is an 18 x 24" pastel drawing. I completed this portrait by using over 5 photo sources and references!

Interested in getting your own portrait done? 8 x 10" portraits start at a mere $60!
Email me for more information at kcampbellartist@hotmail.com

Pet Portraits by Northern Virginia Artist Kelly Campbell

Pencil drawing, client had me change the clothes into show clothes

watercolor dog portrait

Acrylic cat portrait

As a northern Virginia artist, one of the things I love doing most are pet portraits. Over the years I have been asked to do all kinds of dogs, kitties, and horses-- unfortunately most of them under sad circumstances as a memory of a pet lost. Some though, have been as gifts to celebrate the living.

Want a portrait of your own? My 8 x 10 single subject portraits start at only $60.

please take a look on my website for more samples of my work and to contact me.

Kate Pastel Portrait

As a portrait artist in northern Virginia, sometimes I need to do something to help me remember that art isn't just my job, it's my passion. I have decided to do a series of celebrity portraits from my favorite tv shows.

Some of you might remember seeing my "HOUSE" portrait I did of Hugh Laurie a couple weeks ago-- well here's the second in my series of celebrity tv stars. Evangeline Lily who plays "Kate" on LOST.

This portrait is available for purchase in my etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15335886

Prints will be available soon!

Model Madness 4- Alison

(View my previous posts to read more about my model photo shoots for my jewelry line OfNatureDesigns.)

Meet Alison:
Alison is wearing my Guitar String Rings (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14263604)

"Cherries" interchangeable briolette Hoops (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14407454)

and Key West chalcendony Necklace

Model Madness Part 3: Nikki

(View my previous posts to read more about my model photo shoots for my jewelry line OfNatureDesigns.)

Meet Nikki:

Nikki is wearing "Like Little Jewels" Chrysoprase Earrings (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14832140)

and the Small Mod Bird Necklace (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14313863)

You can view more photos of Nikki on her Myspace page: www.myspace.com/ladygwenavear

Model Madness part 2- Jenny

As I've stated before, not only am I an artist in the northern Virginia area, but I also have started my own jewelry line-- OfNatureDesigns: affordable, nature-inspired, handmade, most of it one of a kind. I sell my jewelry in my studio Kelly's Artbox in Occoquan, as well as online on etsy.com

I decided to take my branding to the next step and hired a few beautiful faces to help give my jewelry it's "identity".

You met Julia in a previous blog, over the next couple of days I'll be posting some of the other photos I've taken of the other models. Today meet Jenny. Jenny is wearing my guitar string rings (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14422559)

Fall Mums necklace, and Swallow's Treasure Necklace (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13735397)

(Thank you girls for all your help and smiles!)

Portrait in Progress

When I do a portrait there are quite a few stages it goes through. I thought I'd go ahead and write about it, to help those who are not artists visualize the process.

Stages:

1. Preliminary drawing- I draw out the portrait on tracing paper first. It is much easier to erase on tracing paper than on canvas. Plus, any pencil will mix with your paint and grey it out.

2. Transfer to canvas. Notice how clean it looks.

3. Laying in basic colors, aka the "ugly stage". That painting will stay in this phase for a while before evolving into a recognizable piece of art.

4. Adding detail and form, background first.

5. Adding detail and form to the subject.

6. Adding the final touches to the subject.

7. After it's fully dry-- varnish it!