Hey everyone,
I’ve been working on a couple of pet portraits lately and I’m genuinely thrilled with how they turned out — and thankfully, so are the clients! 😅 It’s always a bit nerve-wracking doing these kinds of commissions because pets mean so much to their owners.
Capturing that unique expression or quirk in a face made of lime plaster is no small task — but that’s the challenge I love most.
I often get asked why I don’t use multiple colours in my work. The simple answer is: I feel colour can actually distract from the detail and depth that’s central to pargeting. For me, pargetting is all about the sculptural relief — the way light and shadow play across the surface. A single colour really helps that come to life. Once you start adding more hues, I think you start to lose some of the magic.
Pargeting is a centuries-old decorative plastering technique traditionally used on building exteriors, but I’ve loved exploring how it can be brought into more personal and expressive forms — like these pet portraits. Each one is entirely hand-sculpted and completely unique. No moulds, no shortcuts. Just lime, tools, and time.
Anyway, I’d love to hear what you think. Thanks for following along and supporting this slightly unusual craft!
Cheers,
James
Lath and Plaster 