Certain pet owners treat their household companions like royalty, so it only made sense for Melissa Hartley to illustrate members of the cat species in regal attire. From tigers and lynxes to leopards and domesticated breeds, Hartley renders them all in these surreal portraits that present the feline creatures in a very humanoid manner. And if that isn’t reason enough to browse this gallery, Hartley’s painting technique is so superb that you’d think the faces in these portraits were photo manipulations.
Melissa Hartley is based in Sydney, Australia and is a self-described, "artist, graphic designer, cat lover, tea drinker, Francophile, movie and music lover with a terrible sweet tooth." Her artwork is realistic while retaining a painterly style, but it’s her unique concepts that truly set her apart from other illustrators in the industry.
Feline Royalty Renderings
Melissa Hartley Depicts Members of the Cat Species in Regal Clothes
Trend Themes
1. Regal Pet Portraits - The trend of creating regal portraits of pets provides an opportunity for artists and illustrators to tap into the pet owner market.
2. Humanizing Animals - The trend of humanizing animals through surreal and realistic depictions opens up opportunities for pet product companies and advertisers.
3. Hyper Realism in Art - The trend of hyper-realistic artwork gives artists an opportunity to showcase their talents by creating lifelike portraits of their subjects.
Industry Implications
1. Pet Products - Regal pet portraits can be turned into prints and sold to pet owners, or used as a marketing asset by pet product companies.
2. Advertising - The humanizing trend of animal depictions can be used to create emotional connections in advertising campaigns.
3. Fine Art - Hyper realistic artwork like Melissa Hartley's regal pet portraits could be sold to collectors in the fine art industry.