painting retta

PORTRAIT FOUNDATIONS

How to Commission a Custom Pet Portrait

What Does a Custom Pet Portrait Cost?

Can You Create a Portrait from Old or “Bad” Photos?

Storyscapes

Signature Portraits

Memorial Portraits

What to Look for in a Pet Portrait Artist

The Commission Process

Framing Your Painting

The Portrait Gift

UPCOMING EVENTS

Featured

Beyond the Photograph: A Hybrid Artist Workshop (Charlotte, NC)

Jan 27

January 27, 2027 – January 29, 2027

Beyond the Photograph: A Hybrid Artist Workshop (Charlotte, NC)

January 27, 2027 – January 29, 2027

Hybrid Artist Workshop – Charlotte, North Carolina

January 27-29, 2027

This Hybrid Artist Workshop is a three-day, in-person experience for photographers who want to explore painterly, mixed media artwork using a hybrid workflow that blends modern digital tools with traditional finishes.

Co-taught with Judy Reinford, this workshop focuses on transforming existing photographs into painterly, art-forward pieces through intentional compositing and creative decision-making. The techniques taught are not subject-specific and can be applied across a wide range of photographic work, including pets, people, and fine art imagery.

In the classroom, Judy leads instruction on using Photoshop and generative compositing tools to enhance photographs and build cohesive foundations designed for print. The emphasis is on control, artistic intent, and creating images that translate successfully into physical artwork.

The workshop then moves from screen to canvas. I guide participants through materials, preparation, and hands-on acrylic embellishment, adding texture, depth, and a hand-finished quality that elevates the final piece into a mixed media artwork.

This workshop is limited to fifteen participants, allowing for meaningful interaction, guided instruction, and collaborative discussion while still providing individual support throughout the process.

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January 27, 2027 – January 29, 2027

NEWS & ARTICLES

Featured

November 13, 2026

Twenty Years of Pouka

November 13, 2026

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November 13, 2026

Rotation is Back! The Wacom Art Pen 2 Review

November 11, 2026

Rotation is Back! The Wacom Art Pen 2 Review

November 11, 2026

When Wacom discontinued the original Art Pen, digital painters were pretty upset about it. It was a niche tool, and rotation sensitivity isn't something every artist needs, but for those who relied on it to simulate the natural behavior of flat brushes, calligraphy pens, and felt markers, there was nothing else like it.

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November 11, 2026

September 16, 2026

THE PORTUGUESE WATER DOG

September 16, 2026

Explore the history of the Portuguese Water Dog, from its work aboard Portuguese fishing boats to its near disappearance and eventual revival.