A Sweet Disposition - original upcycled vintage art

"Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog…. In fact, more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent. The tail I could live with. But the fleas? They're murder." —Sirius Black

This portrait is of Sirius Black, transformed into a great black dog. I imagined how he would look if he had lived beyond the stories, hair greying but his eyes still kind. 

This is the third of my transformation animation paintings (See Common Garden Rat) … I painted it starting from the human form, and then painted right over top of each stage to gradually morph it into the sweet dispositioned dog. 

BUT! My camera roll was full, so towards the end of hours of painting, the recording failed and I did not capture the transformation animation! I was so disappointed. But… I enjoyed every minute of it, was a lovely experience looking into Sirius’s kind eyes as he transformed, and I grew as an artist through the process. 

The original portrait print of Beethoven may or may not have been cut out of a book! The original portrait print of Beethoven may or may not have been cut out of a book! (I also used other old portraits from the same book of Beethoven as the bases for my transformation paintings featuring the four friends, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot & Prongs)  

Magical Map : To tie the series together of the portraits of the four schoolfriends, I used their magical map as backing on each of the framed paintings. The map connects when you put them all together. You might be able to spot me walking around the halls as well! 

“A Sweet Disposition”
altered painting by Heather Castles

27 x 26 cm (10.5 x 10 inch) painting on vintage print
32 x 34 cm (12.75 x 13.25 inch) custom made frame from reclaimed frame
Black matte, non-glare glass.