Lily Nellist

I’ve been surrounded by art my entire life, and for me, it’s a way to express myself. When I create art, I enter a zone where nothing else matters except for the act of creation itself. I enjoy the process of making art, using charcoal or graphite for my realism portraits and experimenting with alcohol inks, Pyrography, and other mediums. My goal as an artist is to capture a recognizable feeling or experience that resonates with people. I believe that art has the power to connect people on a deep and meaningful level, and I hope that my work can contribute to this sense of connection and understanding.

As an artist specializing in pet portrait commissions, I utilize graphite, acrylic paint, Pyrography, and alcohol inks to create highly detailed, realistic works that capture the unique personalities and features of each animal subject. My graphite portraits begin with a base sketch and incorporate a range of values to create texture and depth. For my acrylic paintings, I use a graphite sketch as a guideline and build upon it with paint. Pyrography, more commonly known as wood burning, begins with a light pencil sketch onto wood before using a specialized tool to gradually burn values into my wooden substrates. My use of alcohol inks is more intuitive and spontaneous, with a focus on allowing the medium to guide the final result. I pay particular attention to the eyes of my animal subjects, which I believe are windows to the soul. Ultimately, my art is a representation of my personal perspective on the world, and I hope that it resonates with those who share a similar view.