"Better Than Diamonds"

"Better than Diamonds"     

Fancy and I

Back in the earlier part of this year, I received an email with a pic/saying on it that said "Who ever said that diamonds are a girl's best friend....never owned a dog" (no author name). It was a pic of a little girl with her dog. I loved it, but wanted to personalize it. 

Well, around the first part of Oct., Jon, Fancy, and I were visiting Jon's long time friend, Skeet, who is now living with his daughter, husband, and a lot of animals, on a ranch near Wallis, Tx..  I saw a scene that was perfect for what I had in mind. I set it up, and Linda took the photos. Found my favorite and cropped it. Viola!!  I love it. It is now hanging in my studio--and I feel a painting coming on!!

p.s.  I also took a lot of good reference photos. 

"Lunch in the Garden", WIP #5

After a nice weekend, I am back in my studio, ready for the challenge ahead.  I did manage to peak at my WIP--to make sure it was still there :). bit really to see if anything jumped out that didn't look right.  My main work, now, is the background.  Found the left side of my brain arguing with the right, saying…"you know you've got to paint all those leaves, and in detail…", with a response from the right…"no, I don't--just make it look like I have."  That's an accomplishment for me, since I am a very detailed person!

I want to say that practice makes perfect, but let's keep it at better.  Starting to get a hang for the background.  I think I could do a BlueMist flower blindfolded.  I put a photo of the WIP in my ValueViewer app. and, to me, it looks good, but I'm still learning about how to apply Notan--so, I will say "based on my knowledge".

To Be Continued….

"Lunch in the Garden", WIP #4

I decided to do background from top to bottom.  I can keep track of my color trail and put the flowers in where I want them.  The flowers are named "Gregg's BlueMist" and have been told they are like a "high" for the butterflies.  They can, also, have a blue violet cast to them.  The day I took the referance photos, the garden was full of butterflies and they were all over the flowers.

I have decided to plant a butterfly garden in the spring and will be sure to include the BlueMist.  Have also read, they like zinnias and dill.  Just think of all the referance photos I can take!

To Be Continued...