Painter Patrick Saunders Takes Greatest in Present  

Meet our “Greatest in Present” winner and his beloved canine, Betty. Plus: Discover his work. 

Greatest in Present Winner

“Betty was a Keeshond/Shepherd combine,” says painter Patrick Saunders. “She ought to have acquired quite a few awards for her emotionally shifting portrayals of canines in want. On this scene in our Brooklyn yard, Betty performs the a part of a canine with no bone, even though she had devoured a whole bone in record-setting time moments earlier. Simply out of body, her brother, Barney, supplies her with all the motivation mandatory, as he gnaws on a bone additionally given to him simply 5 minutes prior.

“Irrespective of the topic, whether or not an animal, a panorama or a floral, my method is precisely the identical,” Saunders continues. “The secret’s to not paint a canine or fur or any particular ‘factor,’ however moderately shapes, values and colours. For a extra spontaneous really feel, I by no means draw traces or sketch out my topic first, however all the time begin with broad strokes of shade. Whereas it’s doable to work from life, animals not often cooperate in that regard, so I’m additionally lucky that my spouse, Kimberly, is an completed pet photographer with a few years {of professional} expertise.”

Why It Stands Out

“I like the vitality on this portray; the energetic brushwork pulls every little thing collectively. The random use of shade within the background isn’t random in any respect and is simply sufficient to maintain it fascinating. The sunshine is distinctive, and the drawing hits all the correct marks. Adore it.”—Johanne Mangi, Juror 

Meet the Artist

Patrick Saunders is a San Antonio-based artist who travels globally, creating positive artwork and instructing. His work are grounded in private experiences and direct interplay. After graduating from the Kansas Metropolis Artwork Institute (KCAI), Saunders spent a decade as an artist at Hallmark Playing cards earlier than returning to KCAI to just accept a college place instructing illustration, portray, animation, and net design. Educating led to a job provide in promoting, the place, as a worldwide artistic director, he led groups of selling professionals in New York, San Francisco and throughout the globe, producing campaigns for shoppers similar to Colgate-Palmolive, Entire Meals, Hill’s Pet Meals, Revlon, Southwest Airways, Tom’s of Maine, and Kellogg’s. 

In 2013, Saunders left the business world behind to pursue a full-time profession as a painter. He’s steadily acknowledged for excellent work, incomes awards from the Oil Painters of America, the Portrait Society of America, the American Promoting Federation, the Worldwide Academy of the Visible Arts, the Society of Illustrators, and Communication Arts. Most not too long ago, he was the recipient of the John Steven Jones Award on the thirty eighth annual Bosque Artwork Traditional. His work has been featured in and on the duvet of quite a few international publications. He has received awards from each nationally acknowledged plein air competitors, together with Plein Air Easton and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Affiliation. Saunders is a Grasp Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a Signature Member of the Portrait Society of America.

VISIT THE ARTIST’S WEBSITE 

Recommendation for Animal Artists

“To present animals a way of life and motion, their portraits ought to all the time have the sensation of a fleeting second, as in the event that they’re about to instantly soar out of body,” Saunders says. “It’s not in regards to the velocity of portray, though generally it might probably seem that it was painted quickly, however moderately the accuracy with which every brushstroke is utilized. Unfastened by no means means sloppy.”

Discover Extra of Saunders’ Work