Cubpup

The brief:
Client wants a portrait that exemplifies his connection to both the Bear and Pup communities.

The wrinkle:
A pup mask obscures most of a man's face. This is doubly problematic because the client in question has a exuberant nature that comes through in the source reference.

The solution:
The fix is twofold. Paint the subject hyper-realistically in the style I'm known for. However with the pup mask go in the opposite direction. Lean into a graphic depiction of the mask, utilizing it's white negative space against the Bear flag graphic. Secondly, play with transparencies.

The result:
A fully realized portrait where a key component of the subject matter's identity doesn't obscure the client. Instead that element becomes intriguing and invites the viewer in.