Keeping Warm

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x6in. - oil on panel

We've had a super mild winter here in Missoula, but right now it's having one last gasp with several inches of snow. Fortunately it's pretty to look at out the window as I nurse the last of my cold. This dog can relate.

Simply Delightful

Click Here to Bid - 8x6in. - oil on panel

This was one of those times with painting where I went into a zone and when I came out there was this lovely dog. It required no thinking or fussing. It's what I call a "paint-gasm." And I live for them. : )

Don't Get Distracted

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

My dog loves to go outside and sniff. She'll wander around happily sniffing every part of the yard, even when it's super cold and we have to just stand there and wait. I say "potty" every few minutes just to remind her of the task at hand. Otherwise she just stays distracted.

So Happy to SEE You

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x6in. - oil on panel

I'm getting to that age where I need glasses to see anything up close. I have yet to come up with a system whereby I carry them around with me, so I will screw up my face trying to see until my hub says, "Oh just use mine!" I suppose it doesn't really matter for dogs to see that clearly. We have domesticated them into (mostly) pure uselessness. Well, I shouldn't say that. They are providers of cuteness and love, which is a lot.

Did You Say Ball?

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I've discovered a new use for my ipad. After I've worked on a painting for a while, if it still doesn't seem quite right, I take a picture of it with my ipad, and put it in an art app side by side with the reference (preferably the same size). My goal is not to make them identical, but often I can see quickly where I might have gone awry with proportion* or value. I might make some adjustments to the image of the painting first, undo and redo until I like it, and then commit to the changes in paint.

*If you use Infinite Painter, you can drag the reference image over the painting image, make it the same size, and hold it with 2 fingers. This makes the top image translucent, and then you can really see any proportion issues.

Oldie

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I thought this was probably a bulldog, but I wasn't sure so I did an image search - on my painting. Boy is it gratifying to have the internet identify it immediately. That means I painted not only something that is recognizable as "dog" but also the specific breed. And all with a stick with some hairs stuck to the end, and some colored goop. : )

Newbie

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

This cutie is looking for a forever home. : )

I'm All Ears

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's one with a similar theme as my last painting. You might think I like sad dogs, but really these last 2 images were just a perfect opportunity for me to dive into all those little bits of fun color, especially in these ears!

I'll Just Be Here

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

Whenever we leave the house, our dog sits and watches the door, waiting for our return. We know this because we have a camera and no matter when we check, there she is. Poor dogs. What goes through their minds? Are they traumatized by this? Thank goodness our dog seems to forget immediately upon our return, completely joyful and ready for a long nap.

Soulful

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

One of the things I've been doing lately that is really helping me, especially with these animal paintings: sneaking up on darks. Basically I am squinting at the dark areas so they kind of run together, and then roughing those areas in with a paint color that is not my darkest color, but also doesn't include any white. I usually do this with a mix of ultramarine blue, cadmium red, and cadmium yellow - which I can lean towards whatever color is there (for example, this guy had more red in the darks). I get the entire animal filled in with other colors before I add the darkest darks wherever they need to go.

Pretty Chill

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Often chihuahua's are nervous little nellies, but this one is pretty chill.

I'll be out of town for the next few weeks. More when I return. : )

Up for Anything

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I recently bought a small, detail brush, after owning pretty much only flats for many years. I asked AI what kind of brush was best for detail, and ended up getting a small round. I still mostly use my flats, but when I do the eyes, the round comes in super handy. Also, I've gotten to the age where when I paint those details, I have to use reading glasses, and something to steady my hand. I was young, and then poof.

You're Leaving, Again?

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

This (above) isn't my dog, but we left ours at home with our son recently when we went on a little trip. I guess she's completely spoiled by us being self-employed and mostly at home, because she went into full pout mode, complete with protest pees. It's ok though - I wanted to replace that rug anyway.
Here's our little princess - >

The Busker's Dog

 

Click Here to Buy for $400 - 10x10in. - oil on panel

This is a slightly larger piece I did recently of a scene I came across last year in Freiburg, Germany. There were quite a few small, awkward things happening in the reference photos, and I used my ipad and an art app to try out alternatives before and while I was painting. For example, the guy on the left was standing right at the edge of the ground shadow, so I moved him forward a little, which involved changing the shadow on his shoes, among other things. I thought the painting would be about the buskers, but when my husband saw it he said it was about the dog. Which, in hindsight, is perfectly obvious.

Ready for my Closeup

 

Click Here to Buy for $200 - 8x6in. - oil on panel

I found the reference for this regal creature on one of the royalty free sites. I don't know what kind of dog she is. Any ideas?

UPDATE: The consensus is - Irish Setter. Thanks, everyone! : )

The General

Click Here to Buy for $200 - 8x6in. - oil on panel

I had the urge to paint some animals, so here goes. I'm starting off with something(one) very serious.

Bring the Dog

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x8in. - Oil -  "Bring the Dog"

Here is another painting from my trip to Europe last month. This scene is one I photographed in Freiburg, Germany. They were pausing on the bank of a little "creek" running through town, with a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating on the other side. I think the little dog was just thinking about lunch.

I am now selling prints!

I'm starting with these five, popular paintings, and will add more soon. I did tons of research and found a gorgeous, heavy weight, matte paper, and bought a top of the line printer. The prints are fabulous! You can purchase them from the new prints page on my website. : )

Pretty Please?

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil - starts at $100

Can you honestly say you would deny any request from this beautiful creature? Yes, I spoil my dog too.

Disappointed

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil - starts at $100

This dog really wanted to go for a walk, but his owners went to work instead. : (

Happy Dog

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - starts at $100

Just a happy dog.