Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait, "Noah" In Progress

"Noah"
Detail In Progress

This picture was with the studio lights on. Again the sepia warmth of the incandescent lights.


"Noah" 14X14 In Progress

The full picture here was real light, studio lights off. Cameras do funny things with light and smartly pick up everything.

By the way, I previously referred to a certain slobbery look about Noah and, I have heard through the grapevine that, Noah was a bit insulted by this adjective. He has passed along the information to me that he is a gentleman and never slobbers, so I must apologize for the reference. In defense, I have to clear up what I was thinking when I made the reference. I was looking at "floppy jowls" when I said "slobbery," which, in all honesty, is something I am sure I am getting myself the older I get. Since I don't slobber either, I must extend my apologies to Noah and won't ever mention that again. :-)

I hope you enjoy watching "Noah" emerge. I'll keep you posted. :-)

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait

"Noah" 14X14

First stage painting.... as far as I got today with Noah. Amazing what difference from just the sketch. More tomorrow...

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait

"Noah" 14X14

Just the beginning.....I always start with a sketch, drawing being the foundation of any good painting. The canvas is actually white but the incandescent lighting here on a gray cloudy day has made the camera turn it all to a sepia tone. (I think the shadow must be me taking the picture) The square format just seemed perfect for a Boxer, reflecting the solid strong demeanor a Boxer conveys.
Noah is a big slobbery and adorable, lovable White Boxer. This particular pose expressed so much dignity to me. He has quite a personality and is adored by his owners. I love the mark just below his left eye. He's going to be a lot of fun to paint....tricky, but fun!!! :-) Stay tuned.

Daily Painting Botanical, "Crimson Pansy"

"Crimson Pansy"
10X8
Oil on Board
Available
Click on picture to enlarge it.

I haven't painted flowers for a couple of months now, being busy with portraits. However, October here is the time to plant Pansies. Bless their hearts, they last all winter and keep a smile on no matter what the weather. Actually, this year we are experiencing a serious drought, so the pansies are a bit of a splurge and I bought fewer this year than usual. This is what they look like in my rock garden. I especially love the crimson ones for their cheerful bright color against the ground.

Daily Painting, "Old Brown"

"Old Brown"
5X7
Oil on Gessoed Board

The miniature show is coming up. I'm not sure this scale is quite small enough, but he was on my agenda to paint, so this is the attempt. As some of you know, those who read my blog, this gorgeous creature visited out backyard this past summer. He landed just outside my studio and stayed there for almost twenty minutes while he tried to find his midnight snack. We think Mr. Toad was the mark, but he didn't show up, so Old Brown finally gave up and took to the trees again. We certainly enjoyed his presence. For years we have heard the owls in the trees at night, but have rarely gotten even a glimpse of them. This was quite a reward for us. :-)

Now I'll be looking for the right frame for him and get him ready for the show.

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper"

"Chipper"
14X11
Oil on Canvas Panel
Commissioned by Owner

Finished! And now he will be drying before the final coat of varnish..and then the frame and then, and then, Christmas present for a happy wife!!! I'll post him over on the Painted Dog, too.

There has been a long heavy discourse about the act of Daily Painting and Painting A Day over at the Google Groups....enough to make someone crazy actually. I consider myself among the Daily Painters. To me the term means discipline and refers to those, including myself, who are striving to achieve the highest quality paintings of mostly contemporary realism mixed with some expressionism and impressionism, and mostly of still life with some landscape thrown in for good measure. This discourse has had me wondering if I can count myself into this 'discipline' or 'movement.' The other day I thought I was just going to go away and slit my throat. (artists sometimes do feel that dramatic about their work.) Fortunately, I have decided I am very much a part of this discipline and will continue forward, striving to complete each painting in the spirit of Daily Painting, whether I finish one painting a day or not. I, frankly, don't wish to be drawn into a tug of war over what is and what isn't worthy for a particular movement. My discipline is internal and I love sharing my work with those who watch my blog and collect my paintings.

So enough about that....and onto the next painting. I am really happy about Chipper and hope his owners will enjoy owning this painting!!

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper"

Detail of Chipper's Face

Chipper is still In Progress....I am still working on him from the shoulders down and will eventually go back over all of the background. As I often do, especially for commissioned pieces, I have quickly put him into a frame just to get an idea of the total look and see if I am happy so far....hoping the client will like to see him framed when finished. I like this frame around him and it may be the one to fit him in the end. He looks like a very important fellow in this gold frame. :) Back to work now......

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper" In Progress

"Chipper" In Progress
14X11
Oil on Canvas Panel










I'm starting to think I may have to re-think the Daily Painting nomenclature. I'd rather not, because I love the ideology. (at least what I thought it was) And it has given me impetus to push myself harder and farther. There are those calling themselves Daily Painters who are cranking out quickies....daily.... little ones, some with details or without, some with one object or two or three, some with great skill or not. The paintings I am referring to are little...most are 5X7 or even less. And the ones who are cranking these out and selling them on eBay or from their blogs are getting this done with incredible speed. Most of these paintings are finished in three hours or less. This could be really discouraging to people like me who are painting with everything they've got, yet with life interfering in the most insidious ways.

Speed, as some of you know, is not my strongest suit. Meticulous care is more my domain. I also have other obligations that pull me away from my painting lately in a way that is aggravating the hell out of me, but nonetheless must be done. I would like to paint 8 or 10 hours a day. But that is not going to happen this week. Maybe next week....but we'll see. I do paint almost every day, and when I am not painting I am thinking about painting even though I am doing other things.

Here is Chipper after two sittings, yesterday and today. And I'm not sure I'll get back to him before Sunday. GRRRRR. Can you tell I'm just a little testy about that?

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper" In Progress

"Chipper" In Progress
14X11
Oil on Canvas Panel

Just getting this guy off the ground today. I sketched him in loosely with a charcoal pencil and then, because his fur is various shades of white and grey, I toned the background with a neutral acrylic. As I worked around his face I decided to get after the background more quickly with the dark oils in order to get a better perception of mid-tones with Chipper's fur. This is so far done with fairly thinned out oils in order to lay in some of the darker tones before I go further. I am wanting to bring in some of the reds and golds in the carpet to liven things up and give him some more contrast. At this point I am always asking myself if I can do justice to the subject...because there is a lot yet to do. Chipper is fun to paint..such a cheerful little guy.

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper"

"Chipper" Prelim Drawing
9.5X7
Charcoal Pencil on Watercolor Paper

I have to be one of the luckiest people on earth. Well, nevermind that, but I do feel very lucky to have the privilege of doing what I love to do. Chipper is the next dog portrait. He's a Westie of special character and as you can see he is a happy little fellow. He sports a black sweater with a star on the front, not to mention that darling smile!

I am just getting started on his portrait. The painting will be 14X11 This is a smaller freehand drawing I did this afternoon, which I like to do to get the feel of the values, study the nuances, and generally give myself the deep breath treatment before I dive into the paints. Too much fun!!!

I am also posting the progress on him on "the Painted Dog" blog, which you can access on the right of this one.
Stay tuned!!!

Daily Painting, Framing Matters

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready....

As I mentioned previously, there is a local guild show coming up. I've spent some time the last few days agonizing over which pieces to enter. My husband had his say in the matter, as did several other family members. And here are the three we collectively decided upon. The Peony is the largest. It is 16X12. The Hydrangeas is 9X12. And the Apple...entitled "Sustenance" is 8X10.

These are standard sizes, and standard is what I generally try to adhere to in order to make framing an easier matter. Framing can be expensive and I spend a great deal of time and effort to find the best frames I can find at affordable prices. (affordable prices being subjective.) I love frames. I could eat them up if they are nice ones. It is actually fun to search them out. More fun when I find the ones I like. I have the curse my mother used to call, "Champagne taste on a beer budget." So that makes it even more challenging. I have to say though, that a frame can make or break the painting. The wrong frame can just wreck the look, deaden the colors, or flatten it to death. But the right one can enhance, brighten, and give the painting more depth. It's so great when you find the right one!!! Don't give up until you do it right. It's like the icing on the cake..... :-)

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three"

"Ella at Three"
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click to enlarge the picture.

At last. The morning was taken by going over the background entirely in order to dull it down some and give the whole painting more depth. I think, if I look back, this painting has taken me the better part of six weeks. More than I anticipated, but not having done a portrait in oil prior to this, I guess I really didn't know what to expect.

Just to add to the story a bit...the chair is a family heirloom. It is part of a set of six curly maple chairs that were in my mother's family, three generations back from her life. They were among some of her favorite possessions and I am privileged to be the keeper of them now, before passing them along to the next generation. It's kind of fun to commemorate them in this painting along with the adorable grandchild that my mother didn't get to see. Hopefully, I have connected the chain of our family while painting this.

Local guild shows are coming up fast, so I'll be working toward those for the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

Click to enlarge the picture.

As you can see, this is still on the easel. Today I finished the bottom of her dress, the bottom right side of the chair,and tweaked the shadows under Paddinton. Except for going back to work the background more, I believe I am actually about at the end. I am very pleased with the way the dress turned out. After painting a few hours on it today and not getting it where I quite wanted, I remembered about Ariane Beigneux again...that she had used a palette knife. So I grabbed one and started in with it on the fabric of the dress. I have to thank her for this...never having used one before, I found it to be very helpful and achieved the look I was wanting.

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

I worked on Paddington Bear, some of the chair and the lower part of her dress today. Her dress is still being worked on..shadows under Paddington are not finished. But... Thought you might like to see Paddington close-up to cheer your day!!
It's getting there. Trust me!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

This is definitely becoming the 'Ella Marathon." I don't know how many layers or how many brush strokes cover this girl's face, but I just keep tweaking here and there until I think I might have it right. Then I look at her the next day and .. low and behold I find myself with my brush in my hand to darken this or lighten that or curve her cheek more or define her nose and mouth again. Anyway, here is today's adaptation. And of course I think I am done with her face again...until I look at her tomorrow. These pictures are not doing justice to this painting either. Actually, the close up one just to the left here looks about right. Will try to fix that tomorrow, too. Yikes!