When my wife was pregnant with our little boy, I made a narrative illustration of us standing in the snow, waiting at the mailbox for a "delivery" as our Christmas card/baby announcement. I had my paintbrushes in hand. She had her pregnant belly. And our bouncy black dog was excited to see what was in the mail.
When I posted it I received a massive outpouring of love toward it, along with requests from people to illustrate their family. So a few paintings later I had a huge portfolio full of family illustrations. Now I work with people around the world constructing personalized quirky artworks for their families as keepsakes/snapshots of a particular moment in their lives.
As for my work process, I email clients a chiseled questionnaire designed to extract the most important details about their bond with each other. Their answers provide the content for the illustration. I love combining my passion for painting with getting to know each family and their unique story. And finally, I use a pencil and watercolor on Arches watercolor paper for all my illustrations.
More info: jrutlandcustoms.com
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Cheating with mechanical leg when you drink alcohol... "guess I forgot how to dog..."
Aww. This might be the sweetest--just because a family can be a man and his dog.
This family went to a lot of places in the world and probably helped a village get their very own elephant.
Whoa, the style of this one is so different from the others--less cartoon and more portrait--is this an early one?
I love the Crock & Hippo dance detail on top of the tent, from Disney's "Fantasia"! <3
So sweet--whose are those tiny little hands? (it doesn't matter, but it does beg for a backstory!)
So wonderful! You've captured the essence of the people as well as their families' so well. These brought back some fond memories. Thank you for sharing!
Those are wonderful and really well done, so please, continue do to them no matter what. I think people really really really appreciate them.
I feel like I was just introduced to them all. Super enjoyable post. Great work, jarrett!
Thank you! What an amazing compliment!
Load More Replies...So wonderful! You've captured the essence of the people as well as their families' so well. These brought back some fond memories. Thank you for sharing!
Those are wonderful and really well done, so please, continue do to them no matter what. I think people really really really appreciate them.
I feel like I was just introduced to them all. Super enjoyable post. Great work, jarrett!
Thank you! What an amazing compliment!
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