Join artist Kerri Dixon each week for a down-to-earth, inspiring chat about all things art—from creative confidence and pastel tips to studio routines, selling your work, and finding inspiration in everyday life. Whether you're a hobby artist or dreaming of going pro, grab a cuppa and tune in for practical advice, real talk, and a supportive creative boost every Tuesday!
Tuesday Art Chat Podcast | Pet Portrait Series – Part 1
Have you ever been asked to create a pet portrait but weren't quite sure where to start? How much should you charge? What if the reference photograph is terrible? And should you take a deposit before you begin?
In this episode of the Tuesday Art Chat Podcast, wildlife and nature artist Kerri Dixon shares her experiences creating commissioned pet portraits, including the lessons she's learnt from years of working with customers.
From a much-loved Labrador painted using a tiny, faded photograph to two cats that are still missing their whiskers more than ten years later, Kerri shares some memorable stories alongside practical advice to help you approach art commissions with confidence.
Whether you're considering your first commission or have already completed a few, this episode will help you understand what's involved in creating artwork for customers while still enjoying the creative process.
Why you don't have to accept every commission you're offered
Choosing good reference photographs and knowing when to say no
What information to collect before starting a pet portrait
How to price your artwork and value your time
Taking deposits and setting clear customer expectations
Why showing customers the ugly stage isn't always a good idea
Preparing, packaging and delivering your finished artwork
Using customer testimonials and finished portraits to attract future commissions
The importance of keeping the joy in your art
This is the first episode in our three-part series about pet portraits and art commissions.
In Part 2, we'll explore how to find customers for your pet portraits, including ways to promote your artwork and attract people who appreciate your skills.
The Creative Barn Membership
Develop your animal drawing skills with step-by-step tutorials in soft pastel, charcoal and graphite.
https://the-creative-barn.newzenler.com (https://the-creative-barn.newzenler.com)
Join Kerri on an Art Retreat in France – October 2027
Imagine spending a wonderful week creating art, learning new techniques and exploring beautiful France with like-minded artists!
We'll also be working on a special pet or animal portrait throughout the week, so you can bring along photographs of a much-loved animal and create something truly personal.
There are still places available!
https://uptrek.com/retreat/animals-objects-and-storytelling-in-soft-pastels-retreat-artist-kerri-dixon-france (https://uptrek.com/retreat/animals-objects-and-storytelling-in-soft-pastels-retreat-artist-kerri-dixon-france)
Have you ever accepted an art commission? Was it a wonderful experience, or did you learn a few lessons along the way?
I'd love to hear your story!
About Your Host
Kerri Dixon is an Australian wildlife and nature artist and educator who loves helping artists develop their skills, build confidence and rediscover the joy of creating realistic animal art.
Through her Creative Barn Membership, Tuesday Art Chats and art retreats, Kerri brings artists together to learn, create and share their love of art.
Happy creating!
Kerri
3 Nov 2026
4 Things Every Wildlife Artist Should Know
Have you ever spent hours adding beautiful details to a wildlife drawing, only to stand back and feel that something just isn't quite right?
Sometimes creating more realistic artwork isn't about adding more detail or buying better pencils. It's about understanding a few important fundamentals that can make all the difference.
In this episode of the Tuesday Art Chat Podcast, wildlife artist and educator Kerri Dixon shares four essential things every wildlife artist should understand to help create more realistic animal drawings and paintings with confidence.
The secrets to realism: Why realistic wildlife art is about much more than drawing every individual hair or feather.
Understanding values: How lights and darks create depth and form, and a simple black-and-white photo trick to check your artwork.
Choosing reference photographs: What makes a good wildlife reference and why the wrong photograph can make your artwork much harder than it needs to be.
Choosing art supplies: Why you don't need every pencil in the art shop to create beautiful artwork.
Kerri also shares some of her own experiences creating wildlife art, including lessons learned from taking reference photographs and working on commissioned pet portraits.
Want to put these tips into practice?
Download Kerri's FREE Wildlife Artist's Starter Pack, featuring four practical guides:
Realism Cheat Sheet
Value Scale Worksheet & Demonstration
Reference Photo Guide
Essential Equipment List
Download your FREE Starter Pack here
In This Episode, You'll Discover:Free Resource – Wildlife Artist's Starter Pack. https://the-creative-barn.newzenler.com/fp/wildlife-artist-starter-pack
About the Tuesday Art Chat Podcast
Join Australian wildlife artist and educator Kerri Dixon for relaxed conversations about wildlife art, drawing techniques, creativity, art supplies and building confidence as an artist.
Whether you're picking up your pencils for the first time or rediscovering your love of art, you're always welcome.
Learn more about The Creative Barn: https://www.thecreativebarnmembership.com (https://the-creative-barn.newzenler.com)
Explore Kerri's artwork: https://www.kerridixonart.com (https://www.kerridixonart.com)
Happy creating!
27 Oct 2026
Meet the Masters: Briton Rivière – The Man Who Painted a Dog's Love
Have you ever looked at an animal painting and felt an instant emotional connection?
That's exactly what happened when I discovered the beautiful paintings of Victorian artist Briton Rivière (1840–1920).
Known for his extraordinary ability to capture the loyalty, personality and emotion of animals, particularly dogs, Rivière created paintings that went far beyond technical realism. His artwork told stories of companionship, devotion and the special bond between animals and people.
In this episode of the Tuesday Art Chat Podcast, we're stepping back in time to discover the man behind these remarkable paintings.
From spending hours observing lions at the zoo to bringing dogs, horses and even pigs into his studio, Rivière went to extraordinary lengths to understand his subjects.
We'll also explore some of his fascinating preparatory sketches, including beautiful studies of puppies and lambs created with coloured chalks on buff paper — a technique that will feel very familiar to today's pastel artists!
The touching story behind Rivière's painting Sympathy (1877).
How he captured emotion through animal posture, expression and composition.
His extraordinary patience studying animals from life.
What his original sketches reveal about anatomy, gesture and realism.
The similarities between his coloured chalk studies and modern pastel techniques.
Why understanding your subject is more important than painting every individual hair.
How we can bring more storytelling and emotional connection into our own wildlife artwork.
His interesting advice about working on several paintings at once.
One of the things I love most about Rivière's paintings is that he didn't need to exaggerate an animal's expression to create emotion.
A dog sitting quietly beside its owner could tell an entire story.
And it's a lovely reminder that realism isn't just about making an animal look real — it's about making it feel alive.
So next time you're choosing a reference photograph or planning a painting, ask yourself:
What do I want someone to feel when they look at this artwork?
Discover The Creative Barn
Would you love to improve your animal drawing and pastel painting skills?
Inside The Creative Barn, my online art membership, you'll find step-by-step wildlife art tutorials, practical lessons and a supportive creative community to help you develop your skills and enjoy your artistic journey.
https://www.thecreativebarnmembership.com (https://www.thecreativebarnmembership.com)
Learn More About Briton Rivière
If you'd like to explore some of the historical sources mentioned in this episode:
1896 Illustrated Interview with Briton Rivière – The Strand Magazine (https://www.victorianvoices.net/ARTICLES/STRAND/1896A/S1896A-BritonRiviere.pdf)
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Questions about Tuesday Art Chat with Kerri
Who hosts Tuesday Art Chat with Kerri?
Kerri Dixon and Kerri host the show. Published by Kerri Dixon.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Tuesday Art Chat with Kerri take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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