Hilary Niles

h@nilesmedia.net

When it comes to pets, painter Elizabeth Stewart can't get—or give—enough.

Last year, Stewart started donating pet portaits to the New Hampshire SPCA's annual fall fundraiser, Auction for the Animals. This year, she's offered auctiongoers two commissions, plus a portrait of Shadow. He's a homeless Lab/Cattle Dog mix who has become a long-term resident of the animal shelter, and somewhat of a mystery.

Stewart, who specializes in animal portraits, learned about Shadow this summer. Looking ahead to the auction, it occurred to her that instead of donating a painting she had already made, she would create a new portrait of one of the animals needing homes. She called the Stratham-based nonprofit to share her idea.

They loved it, and knew just who should “sit” for the job. Shadow had been there since June 2, and quickly became a favorite of both staff and volunteers. “None of us know why he hasn't been adopted,” says NHSPCA's Tanner Clark. He's big, she admits, but he's housetrained, enjoys his training sessions, and is “a real sweetheart of a dog,” Tanner says. Still, he's the one who's been there the longest. Stewart was in.

As a self-taught painter, her style is unique. She usually starts by meeting her subjects, then working from a photograph of them. As she lays pencil then paint to blank canvas or clayboard, Celtic patterns emerge—in the fur of a cat, the coloring of a dog, the foliage of a fig tree, even the beard of a lobsterman in one of her pieces. It's an interpretive process that strives for a balance between aesthetic and accuracy.

And in Celtic Pets, her new series of pet portraits that includes “Shadow,” personality is the primary goal. The format is close-up, on square self-framed surfaces of varying sizes (depending on the animal). Encompassing only their faces, Celtic Pets started as a simple exercise. When Stewart realized how successfully she was tapping into the animals' personalities with this tighter focus, and also how much she enjoyed it, she turned the exercise into an entire series of its own.

“I'm finding a great deal of fun in seeking out dogs and cats of varying colors and breeds to expand the series,” she says. In the process, she's become very busy filling orders for commissioned portraits, as well. Of course, she's also including more portraits of rescue animals like Shadow.

“Hopefully,” Stewart says, “his portrait will raise money for the incredible work they do [at the NHSPCA], and hopefully it will help Shadow get a home!”

“Shadow” will be unveiled Friday, Oct. 16, at Wentworth by the Sea Hotel and Spa, where Auction for the Animals takes place. Tickets are still available from the NHSPCA. In the meantime, many of Stewart's other works are on display in the gallery at 100 Market Street in Portsmouth, through Oct. 26.

The auction and 100 Market Street exhibit are only part of what has been keeping the Kittery Point resident busy in 2009. Last spring, her commissioned pet portraits grew into a business and website, where she showcases her work and sells a line of giclée prints and greeting cards. Stewart was also married this year. She and her husband, singer Steve Carrigan, are expecting their first child together next winter.

Amidst all this activity, Stewart is still available for custom pet portaits for the upcoming holiday season. To contact Elizabeth Stewart, call (603) 828-8656 or visit www.elizabethstewartart.com.