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 AN ANIMAL 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