Life & Work with Shannise Finn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannise Finn. 

Hi Shannise, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Hi! My name is Shannise, and I’m the artist behind Hound & Hue. I am a self-taught artist, New Zealand-born and currently residing in Columbia, MO. I specialize in oil portraits and my subject of choice is the beloved pet.

I moonlight as a professional dog groomer locally, and at home, I have three very special pets of my own. I’ve got Luna – my sassy American Eskimo Dog, Hera – a loyal Standard Poodle, and Jiji – a very chubby, spoiled black cat who found and subsequently adopted me on his own accord one chilly winter day in a grocery store parking lot.

My journey started after receiving a set of oil paints for Christmas a few years back. I painted a portrait of my own two dogs to test them out and shared the process and finished product to Instagram. Soon after, I had requests from other pet parents to render their furry friends and ultimately Hound & Hue was born.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not! I am still very much learning how to paint and every portrait teaches me something new. There have been times where I have put several months into a piece only to throw it away and start all over again. Painting individual pets present a challenge that the “essence” of that animal needs to be captured, which can be tough when you’re working from nothing but a digital photograph. I find that really connecting with the owner and hearing about what makes their pet truly theirs really helps me understand and in turn paint the unique and ever-changing personalities of my subjects.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I paint custom pet portraits, specializing in oils. An animal has to be enormously special to somebody that they would commission to have an oil portrait painted of them. I want to be able to provide that “renaissance feel”, the same feeling you get when looking at oil portraits of kings and queens long departed. I strive to provide a truly bespoke and luxury piece to last throughout the years and keep the memory of their pet alive – to enjoy both while they are here with us, and forevermore after the pet has heartbreakingly and inevitably moved on.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Compassion and a true understanding of the bond between a human and their dog. I could not do what I do if it wasn’t for the fact that I have my own pets. I draw from the bond I have with my own dogs to be able to paint what I do. I paint to keep the memories of pets who have passed bright and burning for the owners that have been left behind. I feel it’s an honor to be trusted to paint the thing that is often the most near and dear to people’s hearts.

For many of us, our animals are the cornerstone of our hearts. Our pets enrich our lives beyond explanation. Here at Hound & Hue, I want to capture the very essence of these incredible companions within my portraits. I want to create a bespoke keepsake for you that will last a lifetime, bringing you warm smiles and fond memories for years and years to come.

I strongly believe that each individual pet, in their completed masterpiece, should look like “The Most Important Pet in the World.”

Because let’s face it, that’s exactly what they are.

Pricing:

• Portraits starting at $350+

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: houndandhue.com
• Instagram: @houndandhue