Saturday, July 31, 2010

Buddy is finished!

After a few finishing touches this evening, "Buddy" is now complete.  I am very pleased with the way he turned out, and I think he will be a good example of my work to display at art shows.

Now to decide on my next project.... hmmm.  I have downloaded several pictures from the Wetcanvas website in the last couple of days, and at this point, I am leaning towards doing another still life. Then again, I may surprise myself and go in a completely different direction.  We shall see.  :-)

Here is "Buddy", painted in oils on a 12 x 16 stretched canvas.




Thursday, July 29, 2010

Almost there...

I am almost finished with "Buddy".  Phew!  Why is it I like the little details so much?  ... the small hairs on his muzzle ... saliva bubbles on his tongue and lower lip .... moisture highlights in his eyes.  These are all the crazy  little details that cry out to be painted!  I have been working on him for several hours today completing those crazy little details.

I cut 2/3 of the hairs off of a Loew-Cornell 7350 Liner brush so that it only has about 4 or 5 hairs left on it.  Yep, I am a glutton for punishment, but I think that was the tool I needed to get those tiny details. 

I still have to finish the details on his collar and add a few more hairs to his muzzle.  Other than that, I think he is finished.

Hope you enjoy seeing the progress.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The boxer continued...

Well, "Buddy" is coming along nicely, though a bit slower than I would have liked.  I fiddled with his mouth during art class today.  There are a lot of weird little details there, and it helped to have a second set of eyes looking at it.  Here he is...  Hopefully tomorrow I can get him finished.

Boxer 1 in Oils

I decided last week that I needed to create a dog portrait to keep on hand to use as a sample at my art shows.  So far, all the great ones are commissioned pieces that have already found new homes to go to.  Hmmm... who would I choose?

If you have been watching my recent posts, you have already met my little buddy "Boxer 1" through a pen & ink that I drew. This little guy has so much personality in his face, and great coloring as well.  Would he be the one to inspire me? Yep!  "Buddy" is the one!   (Am I the only one out there who talks to their paintings and gives them names?  If so, we may have to find me some medication. )

Anyway, I started him yesterday evening and worked on him late into the night.   After a wonderful breakfast of homemade waffles made by my loving husband (Thank you, Darling!) I got back to work.

My studio is not yet completed, so I am currently working with a makeshift set-up in the guest bedroom.  Here is what it looks like... I apologize for the glare on the painting.  I have a better close up of it to follow.  I really like using my laptop to display the reference photo as I paint.  It allows me to zoom in and see the littlest details.

Here is the close up of the painting so far....  Hopefully I will be able to finish it this afternoon.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

View From Mitchell

Today we took Shannon up to Mount Mitchell.  For those of you who aren't familiar with it, Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. We love going up there during hot summer days.  With an elevation over 6000 feet, the summit is always several degrees cooler than it is here at 3000 feet.  We hiked from the parking area up to the summit, then around an "easy" trail called the Balsam Trail.  Obviously the "easy" only applies to people who are under 55 or physically active.  Since I am neither, I found it a bit strenuous.  I will definitely need some Tylenol tonight for my knees.

Of course, Bert and Shannon decided that they wanted more hiking, so they hiked the Old Mitchell Trail.  They hiked a mile down to Mount Craig and back. While they were gone for two hours, Libby (my cocker spaniel) and I decided to hang out at the picnic area. Libby rested under my bench while I drew the following picture.  I call it "View from Mitchell".  Of course that isn't the most creative title, but it is accurate.

I think I am inspired most by the different textures in this vista... the hardness of the rocks against the softness of the shrubbery...the gnarled and weathered trunks of the dead trees balanced against the feathery softness of the pines...and the soft, velvety look of the mountains in the distance.  I especially liked drawing the dead, storm damaged tree trunks.  Storm clouds were also rolling in, and I tried to capture them with my pen.

I hope you enjoy seeing my latest creation.  I was able to finish it just as it started to rain.  Libby and I gathered up our belongings and headed for the covered picnic cabins.  We were dry and doubly blessed as well!  Some other picnickers who were leaving gave us some fresh cold watermelon.  Yum!

As always, limited edition, numbered and signed prints and note cards are available of my pen & ink drawings.  In many instances the originals are also for sale. 

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Beginning of a new series...

Today I started my first installment in a new series of pen & ink drawings focusing on horses.  I haven't decided what to call it...any suggestions?

I started this one this morning while at an art show at the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace Historical Site.  The crowds were not as large as I had hoped, but I was still able to make some great contacts.  This one isn't finished yet,  but it is progressing well.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

"Faithful Companions" - Boxer

When I saw this dog, I knew this little guy had to be a part of my "Faithful Companion" Series.  Who could possibly resist that face?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

"Faithful Companions" - Golden Retriever revised & Sheltie

I just wasn't happy with the Golden Retriever.  I tweaked it some during art class this week.  (It does help to have a second set of eyes look at it.)  Here is the revised version.


In addition, I have completed the fifth installment in the "Faithful Companions" series. 
This sheltie looks like a real sweetie.