My Father Didn't Strut - original upcycled vintage art

"My dad didn't strut" --Harry 

This portrait is of James Potter, transformed into a stag. I wasn't planning on doing his portrait when painting animated portraits of the three school friends who met up in the third HP film. But, the series felt like it wasn't complete without painting his portrait in his memory! 

This is the fourth of my transformation animation paintings (See Common Garden Rat, Professor and A Permanent Change) I painted it starting from the human form, and then painted right over top of each stage to gradually morph it into the strong, proud stag. Who didn't strut... obviously.

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) The vintage print was glued to a white canvas, and then the transformation painted, with his antlers growing beyond the original portrait frame. I don't think it's necessary to frame it, but you can if you wish. 

“My Father Didn't Strut”
altered painting by Heather Castles
paper and paint on 40.5 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 inches) canvas.