Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy P. Canty.
Cindy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where I first discovered my love of art. I studied studio arts at Converse University (formerly Converse College), and it was there that my passion for photography and painting began. I later attended Greenville Technical College to study graphic arts, rounding out a foundation that would eventually shape my career.
For many years, my work centered on photographing and painting portraits of people. That changed in 2016, following the loss of my father. Two mornings after his passing, I found myself speaking with a neighbor whose black Labrador Retriever, Stewey, I had never so much as interacted with before. That morning, without hesitation, Stewey walked over and settled himself beside me. My neighbor simply said, “Go ahead, pet him — he wants you to.” The moment I touched him, the weight of my grief eased, as though he had taken on a piece of it himself. That experience changed the way I saw animals, and it planted the seed for the direction my art would eventually take.
In the summer of 2023, I made the decision to start over. I sold or gave away roughly 80 percent of my belongings and relocated to Central Texas — a place I had never lived, with no job, no home lined up, and no connections. It was a leap of faith, taken in trust that God would provide for me, and it set the stage for the business I have built since.
Pets have always held a special place in my heart, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the difference they make in people’s lives. That conviction is what led me to focus my art on honoring them. Rather than a conventional portrait, I photograph each pet myself, then hand-paint the image using a technique that blends modern and traditional oil painting methods inspired by late 17th-century Italian Renaissance art. The result is a portrait defined by dramatic lights and shadows with rich, bold colors — a style that commands attention and gives every piece a timeless, gallery-worthy quality.
I relaunched my business last year. It hasn’t been without its challenges, but it has brought me deep fulfillment, and every commission is a reminder of why I chose this path.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, its been quite challenging restarting my business here. It’s a lot harder when you don’t have any connections, but I”m meeting new people by putting myself out there on a consistent basis. I will persevere because if working to fulfill your dream was easy, everybody would be doing it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My pet portraits are created to fulfill the emotional needs of pet parents — preserving precious memories, offering comfort, and honoring the deep bond between humans and their pets. Each art piece is a tangible expression of love and companionship, made to be treasured.
Every portrait begins with a digital reference image captured during a personalized portrait session. That image serves as the foundation for a handcrafted work of art, blending modern and traditional oil painting techniques inspired by the Baroque period of late 17th-century Italian art. Layer by layer, the piece is built with careful brushwork, texture, and detail, brought to life through dramatic light and shadow and rich, bold color.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe that making sure my customers are taken care of is most important to success. When someone commissions artwork, I make sure my customers are seen and heard. They are included in the creative process so they are receiving exactly what they asked for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cindypcantyphotoandarts.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premiumpetportraitsbycindy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindypcantyphotoandarts
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindypcanty/
