How animals inspire artists
Art provides a means of expressing our imagination from things we see, places we visit, from ideas and dreams, and from the work created by other artists who inspire and stimulate us to grow and improve our skills.
Artists have to be organised in the way they compose their art into compositions, how they use the different elements and mediums, and how they break down images of the world into their paintings.
For the realist, animal and nature artist, the driving force behind art is to express the emotion of the animal, or a realistic interpretation of nature being the motivating factor. Art is a combination of deliberately arranging elements that appeal to the artist’s senses and emotions and from those creative impulses, a painting is created. Creating art always takes something from the artist but also provides learning from each painting completed.
Inspiration for me comes in different forms: sometimes from something I have seen walking in the woods and fields, a bird in the garden a sheep in a field, something on television, from a book I have read, a vision I see in my mind’s eye. A general sense of how the result will look and then I begin with big shapes (usually the subject of the composition).
I always draw an outline, to map out a painting before adding colour, then build up the layers. Often, I will take a photo of the painting on my iPhone before it is complete, so that I can see all the faults and then correct them and finally complete all the details in the painting.
One of my favourite breeds of sheep is a Suffolk. They have no horns and have black open faces, black legs and white woolly bodies. Here is a photograph I took of this friendly sheep near my home.
Suffolk Sheep - photo taken in field near my home
And here is my interpretation of this lovely breed of sheep.
“Poignant Suffolk Sheep”, Original Oil Painting by Patricia J Valenti
Suffolk sheep are intelligent and calm natures, are sensitive and quiet and learn quickly. With patience, you can make a connection with them as you can see from the photo below.
This sensitive Suffolk Sheep connecting with humans
The Suffolk is a British breed which originated in the late eighteenth century in the area of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk. Their dark, velvety faces and deep, sensitive eyes make them a lovely subject to paint.
“Poignant Suffolk Sheep” displayed on kitchen wall, Original Oil Painting by Patricia J Valenti
I hope you enjoyed this article. Studying and painting any animal helps you connect with them. You can learn so much and they will often surprise you in unexpected ways. The more you connect, the more you will want to connect. It tests your values and not to just see them as for food or wool for your clothing. The more I learn about animals and how intelligent they are, the more vegetarian I become.
‘Love, Joy, Create’ Blog – My love of nature inspires my art practice. Learning from nature, seeing animals and birds fills me with joy. Please follow along with me and create your own inspiration for your art by learning about nature and the world around us. art@patriciajvalentiart.com
Patricia Valenti is a representational contemporary fine artist and life-long painter, based in Kent in the UK, beginning her artistic studies as a young girl. Her passion for nature and the beauty of animals and wildlife can be seen in her work, transforming familiar animals and wildlife into stunning, realistic interpretations with emotional impact. Her walks around the surrounding countryside near her home inspire her work.