Paint a Pet participants Sasha Corder (front) of Detroit, Johanna Seidel (back row left) of Dearborn, Kimberly Comer of Lincoln Park, Amber Roy of Ypsilanti, and Jeanette and Jeff Fowler of Brighton show their finished paintings April 24 at Dearborn’s Padzieski Gallery.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Whether fur babies are feline or canine, they hold a special place in the hearts of owners, as was abundantly evident during an April 24 Padzieski Gallery Paint-a-Pet workshop.
Artist Sasha Corder of Detroit, who was painting her dogs Lady and Finn, said this is the second Paint-a-Pet workshop that she and her mother, artist Sunshine Durant, have held.
“It’s fun, they are easy to paint and you can get a little wild with it,” she said. “You can make it realistic or pop art, and kind of play with the colors or textures a little bit and it still turns out really cool.”
Corder said participants emailed a photo of their pets before the workshop, and the facilitators sketched a pencil outline of the pets on the canvas.
She said participants then follow a step-by-step process, using acrylic paint, filling in the background first, then the pets, during which more instruction is provided.
“You learn how to mix colors, mix paints, how to add texture and some intro skills,” Corder said.
Artist Sasha Corder (left) of Detroit and participant Amber Roy of Ypsilanti work on paintings of their pets April 24 during a Paint-a-Pet program at Dearborn’s Padzieski Gallery.
She said the bond people have with their pet spurs on their work.
“It gives you more motivation to make it look exactly how you want it to look,” Corder said. “I think when you are painting something that’s inanimate or somebody else’s you don’t know their personality, so, when you’re trying to capture that personality in paint it can be frustrating, but it also can be really rewarding if you do it right.”
Next to Corder, art student Amber Roy of Ypsilanti was working on a painting of her cats, Phil and Lily.
“I’ve always wanted to paint these guys, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to have some structure behind the process, rather than just go at it by myself,” she said. “Sunshine is very informative, she knows a lot, and it’s fun to paint your pets.”
Fellow cat lover and participant Johanna Seidel of Dearborn, a first-time painter, said she found the opportunity to learn to paint an animal intriguing.
“Getting the colors to look good – getting the right colors – is what I feel is the most challenging,” she said. “And it’s definitely not as easy as I thought it would be.”
Participant Johanna Seidel of Dearborn works on a portrait of her cat April 24 during a Paint-a-Pet program at Dearborn’s Padzieski Gallery.
Seidel painted a feral cat she had fed for six years.
“He has since moved on, and I wanted him to be remembered,” she said. “That’s why I chose to paint him, and it’s always fun to try something new and challenge yourself.”
Husband and wife team Jeff and Jeanette Fowler of Brighton, who have dabbled in painting classes in the past, were both painting their new puppy, Rosie.
“It’s not stressful – it’s just new, and it’s a different style of painting,” Jeanette Fowler said. “As long as it kind of looks like a dog when I am done, I am OK.”
Jeff Fowler said that while his wife was the impetus behind their attending, he admitted that Paint-a-Pet was enjoyable.
“It’s more fun than you would think, and it’s not like a fine, real-life drawing or painting,” he said. “It’s more or less abstract, so, close counts, right? It’s really all about just having fun and trying stuff, and if you don’t screw it up too bad, Sunshine will try and help you fix it.”
Participant Kimberly Comer (left) of Lincoln Park works on a painting of her dogs April 24 during a Paint-a-Pet program at Dearborn’s Padzieski Gallery.
Fellow dog lover Kimberly Comer of Lincoln Park was painting her dogs Moxie and Buddy.
She said she studied video game production while in school, but it has been a long time since she has done any painting.
“I’ve been wanting to get my dogs painted, so I thought I’d give it a go,” Comer said. “It’s a nice, fun way to meet people, try something new and meet cute puppies.”
Comer was referring to Durant’s puppy, Veruca, who attended the program to inspire the participants and add to the fun factor.
For more information about upcoming events at the Padzieski Gallery, go to padzieskigallery.org.
Participants Jeanette (front center) and Jeff Fowler (right) of Brighton show the photo and the beginnings of the pet dog paintings April 24 during a Paint-a-Pet program at Dearborn’s Padzieski Gallery.