Bespoke Pastel Portraits Hand Drawn North Devon
A bit about me.
Hi, I’m Tracy Barker! 🐾 I’m a UK-based portrait artist from North Devon, specializing in capturing the true soul and character of your pets using premium soft pastels on Clairefontaine Pastalmat.
Using classical techniques, I build my portraits from deep tonal foundations to give them an incredibly soft, lifelike, three-dimensional depth. From soulful eyes to the softest fur, I hand-craft timeless memories of your beloved companions that you can treasure forever.
The Artistry Behind the Canvas
Every single portrait I create is hand-drawn using premium soft pastels and pastel pencils on either luxury Hahnemühle Velour paper or Clairefontaine Pastelmat.
Following the time-tested traditions of classical masters, my creative process always begins by mapping out the black-and-white tonal values first. By focusing entirely on the exact relationship between light and shadow before adding a single layer of colour, I am able to build a rock-solid, three-dimensional foundation. This ensures that the final artwork doesn't just look like a flat photocopy—it has real weight, structural bone accuracy, and a lifelike presence.
Celebrating the Members of Our Family
Whether I am drawing the heavy, relaxed wrinkles of a sleepy puppy, the alert look of a faithful gundog, or a heartfelt memorial piece to keep a late companion's memory alive forever, I pour love and absolute precision into every stroke. Our pets are true members of our family. A custom portrait is more than just a drawing; it is a timeless celebration of the beautiful bond you share.
All of my paintings are expertly crafted from your digital photographs. If you are ready to transform your favorite memory into a stunning piece of original fine art that brings joy to your home, please send me a message through my Contact Page. I would be absolutely honoured to work with you.
What do i need do to start the process?
Send me a no obligation message about your requirements, all my paintings are done from digital photos.
Good clear photographs are all that is needed to create a lovely portrait of your beloved pet, i can give you an indication of time scale and pricing depending on how you would like your portrait to look, head and shoulders, full body, background etc ..
Payment is upon completion once you are happy, although i do ask for a non refundable deposit to start of £20.
The pastels used in my work
Soft pastels
Unison soft pastels are renowned for their, rich, buttery texture, minimal binder content, and exceptionally high, pure pigment load, resulting in, intense, vibrant, and, lightfast, color. , they are handmade in Northumberland, UK, they are highly, blendable, and, versatile for both, detailed, work and, broad, strokes
Faber- Castell Pitt Penicls
Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils are preferred for their oil-free, highly pigmented formula, Ideal for artists needing control, they allow for easy blending, offering a clean, precise, alternative to traditional pastels for detailed work. they are easy to smudge, and minimal dust makes them perfect for fine detail, Jackson's Art notes, they are excellent for building complex textures.