GIRAFFE PAINTING
The Giraffe
Painted in 2026 using acrylic on canvas, this piece gave me the chance to try something completely different with the background. I’d never used such a deep purple before, but I wanted a colour that would really make the subject stand out. Multiple shades of purple were used rather than multiple different colours.
A giraffe felt like the perfect choice to add to the foreground, as its warm yellow and golden tones sit opposite purple on the colour wheel, creating a bold contrast that immediately draws your eye. I also experimented with a new type of acrylic pouring paint for the background and, unlike many of my previous pieces, I chose not to add silicone oil to create patterns. Instead, I let the paint settle naturally, giving the background a smoother marbled finish. The painting took around four sittings to complete, allowing me to gradually build up the detail and texture in the giraffe’s face. It was a piece I genuinely enjoyed working on from start to finish, and I’m particularly pleased with the surprised expression.
HIRE A PET PORTRAIT ARTIST
About the Artist
Every painting begins with an abstract background, built through layers of colour, texture and expressive marks. Once the composition feels right, I paint the animal, using reference photos as inspiration while adding my own creative interpretation to capture its character rather than simply copying the image.
I enjoy experimenting with different tools and techniques, allowing each piece to develop naturally.
VIDEOS OF MY PAINTINGS
Follow me on Facebook
Want to see how my paintings are made? I make videos of me creating my paintings, from the pouring paint backgrounds to the tiny details in the facial features of the animals i paint. Scroll through my recent posts on Facebook here and see how my artwork is made.
To enquire about exhibitions, commissions and more, send an email to: emmareayartist@gmail.com