Portraits of Wildlife
Animal illustrations are my favorite theme. I love drawing wildlife portraits—they’re amazing subjects, and lemurs are a top choice.
“Lemurs are not pets!” You can often see this slogan in events or organizations dedicated to lemur conservation. It’s true—lemurs are wild animals and are absolutely not suitable as pets. Each year, the last Friday of October is celebrated as World Lemur Day. In 2023, I was honoured to be invited by the Lemur Conservation Network to design the logo for World Lemur Day, and I was one of the host artists creating a series of Lemur illustrations for their Art Challenge.For this series, I used a variety of mediums such as coloured pencils, oil pastels, and fine liners. The star of my artwork was the crowned lemur. I chose this species because of its clear gender differences, which is unusual in lemurs. Most lemurs don’t show obvious visual differences between males and females, but in crowned lemurs, males have a black crown and orange face, while females have an orange crown. Their distinctive look made the illustrations more interesting. They are one of the smaller species of lemurs and have an adorable appearance!
Crowned Lemur Couple 
Crowned Lemur Mom & Baby Over 100 species of lemurs have been discovered, and new species are still being found. One of the largest among them is the Black and White Ruffed Lemur. They have a striking appearance and are also known as the “singers” of the lemur family, often making loud, resonant calls.
Here is the link to see my whole series of lemur illustrations
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyyPTa8OXjw/An Exceptional Way to Create a Portrait
I created this fictional portrait in an exceptional way, like experimenting. It took an unexpected and exciting turn. It started with light ink sketches of a set of still objects and drew five pieces for them from five different angles. After cutting them out, I began rearranging the pieces like a puzzle, trying to see if something new would emerge from the fragments. The whole process felt like I was revealing hidden images, it needed my imagination to add on(it would be easier to see something when your eyes are half-closed). Suddenly, new shapes and ideas came to life before me.
One particular arrangement caught my attention—it resembled the king from a deck of playing cards. I followed that lead and began sketching the profile of a man, adding a mustache to complete the look. But then, something surprising happened. As I drew fuller lips, the figure started to change, and before I realized it, the man had transformed into a woman. The shift felt so natural that I embraced it, giving her soft, feminine features, expressive eyes, and a romantic hairstyle.
The ink I used for this piece was Moon Palace Sumi(Amazon), a renowned high-quality Japanese brand, which you can buy on Amazon. I’ve been using it since elementary school for my Chinese calligraphy homework. It has a smooth texture and no unpleasant smell, and the most magical part is the way the colour shines once it dries.
Using this ink was a lot of fun, especially experimenting with the different rendering effects. The most challenging part of the process, though, was controlling the ink’s flow. If I wanted to add darker layers, I had to be patient and wait for each layer to dry first. It added an extra layer of complexity to create surprising results!
This ladybug is originally a basket that stayed on the woman’s nose, perfectly matching the floral background. Since my skills are still developing, I applied a lot of ink to it, but the colour didn’t darken as much as I expected. That is what I mentioned above you need to wait for it to dry before adding another layer. However, the darkness turned out to be just right! If there were a more obvious contrast, it would compete visually with the woman.
Unexpectedly, the entire layout reminded me of Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s famous artwork, ‘Spring’ (1573)(Louvre) .He was known for creating imaginative portraits made entirely out of objects such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and books.
By the time I finished, the portrait had taken on a life of its own, as if the final image had always been there, waiting to be uncovered. That unexpected twist made the process feel more like a discovery than just a creation—and I loved every moment of it.
The Features in my Pet Portraits
Personality
At Jessie K’s Pet Portraits, I believe every pet deserves a special portrait that truly captures who they are. Here’s why my custom pet portraits are a perfect choice for your furry friend:
Quality and Care, Every Time
I put my heart into each portrait, ensuring top quality with every drawing. I’m dedicated to providing the final piece isn’t just beautiful but something you’ll cherish forever.Hand-drawn Pet Portraits, One-of-a-Kind Art
All are hand-drawn pet portraits, making sure every piece is unique. No templates, no shortcuts—just an authentic, custom drawing that brings out your pet’s personality in the best way possible.Customized Backgrounds
Want something extra special? I’ve got you! I can personalize the background to match your pet’s personality—whether it’s a pretty floral scene, a cool abstract effect, or something serene and peaceful. It’s all about making the pet portrait yours.Hand-Drawn Pet Names
To make your pet’s portrait even more personal, I can add their name in a hand-drawn style. It’s a sweet little detail that makes the picture more meaningful and memorable.
Pigments
I primarily create pet portraits using wax pastels and coloured pencils. The wax pastels I use from Caran d’Ache NEOCOLOR are exceptional:
Superior Pigment Quality
Caran d’Ache is known for its rich, highly concentrated pigments. These pastels create bold, vibrant colours that stand out on the paper. And unlike other pastels that might fade, NEOCOLOR’s excellent lightfastness means the colours will stay just as bright and beautiful for years.Water-Soluble Flexibility
What makes NEOCOLOR II pastels even more unique is their water-solubility. I can blend them with water to create beautiful watercolor effects, giving me the flexibility to offer different styles—whether you want something bold and detailed or soft and painterly.The Acid-Free Paper
I use acid-free drawing paper for all my portraits, ensuring that your pet’s artwork will stay vibrant and stand the test of time without fading or yellowing.My First Pet Portrait…the Beginning of my Path
This is my very first pet portrait, and I couldn’t think of a better subject than Floppy, my second dog. He’s gentle, kind, and has this incredible way of caring for each and every one of us. We all love him and treasure the joy he brings to our family. I definitely want to create a hand-drawn portrait for him!
For this portrait, I used a mix of wax pastels and colored pencils. I’ve fallen in love with the texture of wax pastels—they let me play with bold and soft strokes, helping to bring out all the emotions that make Floppy so special.
