How It Works

Your completed picture is a medium that utilizes and preserves the details of a photograph with a unique artistic painting style that focuses on capturing the characteristics of your pet. This medium is referred to as an overpainting, this technique applies the paint directly on a photograph.

I offer three types of pet portraits:

• TRADITIONAL (Painting/Photograph Overlay)

• MEMORIAL PAINTINGS

My “Memorial Paintings” process includes mixing small amounts of your pets remains/ash into the paint used for the painting of your loved pet. The memorial painting incorporates the physical presence of your pet by binding their ash within the paint, this is accomplished with a very small quantity of ash, large amounts are not necessary to achieve this.

Collect as little as ¼ teaspoon and no more than ½ teaspoon. Ash should be placed in a sift proof inner container, (a self sealing/zip-lock sandwich is recommended for this). For extra security the sandwich baggie should be sealed then placed into a second baggie. Write your name, pets name, phone number on one of the baggies before placing in a shipping package.

I always attempt to use all the ash but any remaining ash will be returned with the painting.

• TUFT PAINTINGS

My Tuft Paintings incorporates your pets strands of fur into the painting by accentuates and adds to the overall aesthetics of the finished piece. The fur strands add to the motion or patterns of your own pets coat/appearance, or as whiskers, part of a bushy tail, curls, etc.

Collecting the fur does not need to be exact, a good guideline is a pinch of fur between your thumb and a finger. I use between 25 -30 strands.

If your pet has very short hair a good guideline is 2-3 pinches. Very short hair is often used as a fur texture that mimics your pets.

I have completed Tuft Paintings of pets that have already passed. Owners can often collect fur from a pet brush, pet bed, etc. If the amount of fur is limited I can still incorporate into the painting in a meaningful way.

It is important when choosing a photo to send one that it focuses on only your pet as it is their memorial. Please do not include pictures of your pet with people, my work focuses on the pet as a portrait and as the sole subject in memorial paintings. Your pet should fill the majority of the picture. The finished work will have a simplified background and minor changes that are intended to bring expressiveness to your pet. Often I will email a couple simple questions about the photo and occasionally I will ask for additional pics which helps me clarify details (such as eye color if not clear in the photo I am working off of.

I prefer to rely on the owner(s) who was closest to the pet to participate in the memorial process by providing information in the “Pet Social History”. This information helps me s the artist understand what made your pet unique and who your pet was. The “Pet Social History” will be emailed to the customer. The Pet’s social history will tell and preserve you (and your family’s) time together and memories of your pets individual personality. The “Pet Social History” will be attached to the backside of the painting as part of the memorial. If you have any detail or special instruction please specify by email to: neallawson@bindingimpressions.com

Gallery depth wrapped canvas with painted edges look beautiful on walls with no frame.