Charcoal Boston Terrier by Dane Gagnon
You may have read from the, “About Us” section of our site that I, Stephanie, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Having double majored in Marketing and Mass Communication, I was fortunate to meet many fascinating people throughout my journey. Many of those people have unique skills that have allowed them to obtain additional means of income or even to enjoy self-employment. Over the weekend I learned that one of my most creative friends has a knack for pet portraits! So of course, I drilled him about it. After learning more, I realized I couldn’t keep his artistry to myself.
Bio
Local artist, Dane Gagnon, has been drawing since he was young and studied graphic design at UWM. His love of drawing and animals lead him to pet portraits. His works are done in a clean, realistic style and capture each subject in a unique, novel light.
The Interview
BCPS: How long have you been an artist?
Dane: I drew my first picture at 2.5 (my mom still has it) and I haven’t stopped since.
BCPS: What inspired you to do pet portraits?
Dane: I’ve always enjoyed observing and drawing animals and once people started asking for them, it was a no-brainer.
BCPS: What is the most difficult part about creating pet portraits?
Dane: Making sure the portrait truly looks like the specific animal and not just another pug.
BCPS: What do you enjoy most about pet portraits?
Dane: Human portraits are great, but typically only cherished by those close to the subject matter. Everyone loves a drawing of a golden retriever, whether it’s there’s or not — they’re universally loved.
BCPS: What was the most difficult pet portrait you have done so far?
Dane: Probably the drawing I did for my mom of our family dog. Like all my drawings, I wanted it to be perfect and I wanted to capture her exactly as we knew her.
BCPS: Do you have any funny stories about the pets you have drawn?
Dane: Not one specifically, but people often share stories with me about their animals. They want me to know if their pet is funny, laid back or charming. Cats seem to be some of the most comical.
Charcoal Golden Retriever by Dane Gagnon
BCPS: Any advice to pet owners?
Dane: Take more photos than you think you should, especially when your animals are young. You might feel crazy, but they never repeat a stage…and I need good photos to work from :).
BCPS: What is the process for ordering portraits?
Dane: Shoot me an email with what you’re thinking (size, subject matter, when you need it). I like to get a solid idea of what people are looking for, and together we will figure out exactly what you want.
BCPS: How may we contact you with interest?
Dane: Email is best: danegagnon@gmail.com, and I encourage people to check out my blog at dmgportfolio.wordpress.com. There are plenty of samples to give people an idea of the work I do.