Angela Lowery, Owner of Artsy Angie Creations
Angela Lowery is a local artist who has found a niche in painting vibrant custom pet portraits. Using acrylic paints, Lowery captures the personality and quirks of each pet she paints, creating pieces that are as unique as the furry friends they pay tribute to. While Lowery typically receives requests to paint dogs and cats, she doesn’t shy away from any task. She has showcased all sorts of animals in her work—from dogs and cats to reptiles, chickens, hamsters and more.
To check out more of Lowery’s work, check out @artsyangiecreations on Facebook and Instagram. Lowery accepts commissions online at artsyangiecreations.myportfolio.com.
DTC: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your professional background?
AL: I’m originally from Miami, but I have lived in Pensacola for 21 years. My family moved here to be closer to my extended family when I was 7 years old. I am a cat mom of three. I am married to my high school sweetheart and expecting a baby boy in March this year. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of West Florida (UWF). I pursued the degree as my love for art has been lifelong and mostly self-taught. I wanted to expand my talents further under the incredible professors in the art department. I studied figure drawing, metal and wood sculpture, ceramics and techniques to refine my painting skills..
DTC: What first inspired you to start creating, and how did you find your niche in pet portraits?
AL: I started pet portraits as a gift for my parents and my now-husband, capturing all of our animals. I painted each pet on individual 4×4-inch canvases and turned them into ornaments for Christmas in 2019. After sharing my work on social media, friends and family began reaching out in January 2020, asking me to paint their loved ones’ pets as gifts. I continued with this niche, as it not only brought me joy but also helped me during painting critiques in my painting class at UWF. Over time, more people discovered my work and reached out for paintings of their beloved pets on canvas. I have loved painting every piece since!
DTC: Tell me a little bit about the different types of pieces you create.
AL: Magnets are my most affordable piece and have the quickest turnaround time of the pieces I offer. I place an adhesive magnet on the back of a 2-inch by 2-inch canvas. Then, I paint the portrait and apply finishing varnish for completion. Magnets can be completed in one day and shipped out or picked up one to two days later.
Ornaments are my most popular option around the Christmas season. I take a 4-inch by-4-inch wrapped canvas, paint the portrait and apply finishing varnish. Once the varnish is dry, I glue a gold loop string and a thin cardboard piece with my logo on the back to keep the ornament from being punctured on the back since I use wrapped canvases. Depending on the queue of commissions, ornaments can take about four to seven days for shipping or pick up.
Standard canvases are chosen by the person getting the commission based on either the budget or size desired. They can choose from a wrapped or flat canvas in various sizes. Turnaround times vary, depending on the size of the selected canvas.
DTC: Can you take me through your creative process and describe what goes into creating one of your pieces?
AL: My process depends on the photo reference(s) provided by the person wanting the commission. I often start by putting the photo reference into Photoshop and cropping it to the size of the canvas; then, I print the photo out. If the person has commissioned multiple pets on one canvas, I create a photoshopped photo of all pets together to fit the desired canvas size and then print it. Once the photo is printed out, I use tracing paper to trace the image and transfer it to the canvas. At this point, my canvas has a coat of paint applied. It is either the desired background color of the person commissioning it or the color choice has been left to my artistic discretion. I transfer the overall shape of the pet onto the canvas and paint it white as a base to finish transferring the pet’s features. I work in layers throughout the piece, starting with the base colors of the pet(s) and gradually building up to finer details, finishing with elements like whiskers or a collar.
DTC: Is there anything else you’d like to add, or that you’d like readers to know?
AL: I’m always here for all pet portrait needs, whether your pet has been over the rainbow bridge for years or if you want your earthside pet on canvas just because. While my portfolio is mostly cats and dogs, I would love to paint more reptiles, chickens, birds, horses, and more. I’m always up for a challenge when it comes to something I’ve never done before!
