Artist captures perfectly posed pets
 

Kim Martin can bring a client's deceased pet to life with only a pack of pastels and paper.

The Thornton resident captures the animal's essence in still life to help a pooch or feline live on for their owners.

"People love their pets and this kind of immortalizes them when they die," Martin, a professional pet portraitist, said from her home studio. "It's a neat way to keep the memory of that pet around long after."

What started as a hobby drawing her own pets in her early childhood has morphed into an exciting career move for Martin.

"I've drawn animals my whole life, and, at age 12, it became a huge passion for me," said Martin, who has reserved her vendor's spot at Kempenfest this weekend. "I kept drawing as a hobby all these years, and finally decided to start doing it as my work."

But Martin doesn't just put her pastels to work for pets who've passed on. She's happy to create a picture of a client's furry friend who's alive and well, too.

And one commission she's been at nearly a year holds historical significance to one famous Canadian.

Martin has been hired to create a portrait of Sir Frederick Banting's beloved border collie, Marjorie. The Canadian medical scientist, who discovered insulin, removed the dog's pancreas back in the 1920s to test the insulin on her.

Banting's family approached Martin last November about the piece, but they could only provide two poor-quality photographs of the pooch for her to use.

"It was a cold call from Frederick's nephew, Bob, who said he liked my work and had an idea for a portrait of Marjorie," Martin said. "I didn't mind at all, and it's exciting because Sir Frederick was a very important man in Canadian history.

"But, I'm having a really hard time with this piece, because there's not much detail in those photos," she added. "I've decided I'm doing it in sepia tones but it's just taking me longer."

Martin is one of this year's featured artists at Kempenfest, taking place along Barrie's waterfront all weekend. That's not bad for a first-timer.

"It's so wild and exciting for me, especially since I've never done (Kempenfest) before," Martin said.

"I really need the exposure and I wanted to stay local and getting to be in these events is great. I'll bring my camera so I can meet with and photograph potential client's pets down there."

Martin said she hopes the festival will help land her more business, even thought she's already got 13 commissioned pieces on her plate.

She said she knows her clients love her pastel portraits, and she just adores creating them. And she came by her favourite subjects naturally.

"We always had a house full of animals and I have a thing for drawing pets," Martin said.

Martin is also helping another organization at Kempenfest. She's donated a gift certificate for a free pet portrait and frame to Furry Friends animal shelter's booth to raffle off.

"I absolutely love that shelter and I'm going to help them out on an ongoing basis," she said.

For more information on Martin's pet portraits, visit www.kimmartin.ca.

To learn more about Kempenfest, visit www.kempenfest.com.

ncruickshank

@ thebarrieexaminer.com (posted Sat. Aug 1/09)