"I Love Ya, Bro."

Also known as Creed.

Pastel, 10"x8"

This past summer, my niece, Brooke, showed me some photos of a boxer dog she absolutely adores--Creed.  His owner is a friend of her and Clay.  This was one of those "I have to paint this dog".  The look on his face was so enticing and I loved this coloring.  He is a Fawn Boxer dog.  Brooke contacted Creed's owner, who sent me more pics and gave me permission to paint him.

The one photo that had the look I wanted was not good for referance (too dark in background, and the light source washed out his coloring).  However, the other photos gave me good referance on coloring, and I did my usual research on getting to know my subject matter better.  I am finding out that by researching about my subjects involves me more with my paintings.  I hope I get to meet Creed some day.  He was a joy to paint!

Enjoy!!

Here are some work in progress shots.

Transferred my design and started working on the darks. 

Started on his eyes and lighter colors.

Working on lighter and medium colors to get my form.

Playing with background.

 Finished.

I Listened Again

"Chillin' Out", Pastel, 8"x8"

Previously On May 7, 2017, I posted a blog on "It Pays to Follow That Inner Spirit".  Well, it happened again!  Just about three weeks ago I made plans to enter "The Three Alpacateers" in an upcoming show at New Braunfels Art League Gallery.  Two days before submission day, I was looking at the paintings I had hanging in my art show room, when "Chillin' Out" caught my eye.  The theme of the show is "Artoberfest"(i.e. Octoberfest).  Yes, I felt, I should enter this, also--the praying mantis is sitting on a beer bottle.

Great News!!  Not only did it receive an Honorable Mention, it was also purchased as the show started.  Needless to say--I did a happy dance!!  The "Artoberfest" will be showing Oct. 5 - Nov. 13, 2017, at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery, New Braunfels, Texas.  

Thanks for reading.

"The Three Alpacateers"

Pastel, 8" x 10", on gray pastelboard

AKA Lucy, Tina and Al Pacasso :)

A customer acquaintance took the referance photo on her phone while at an alpaca ranch in the midwest.  I loved it the minute I saw it and asked her if I could paint it.  She kindly sent it to me and I sooo loved painting it.  Thank you Connie!

I decided to have some fun with it, so I asked my sister and niece to each name one of the alpacas.  Yes, I do get involved with my art work!

Below is some of my work in progress.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading!!

Transferred my drawing over to the pasteboard and started establishing the darks and midtowns.

Chopping at the bit to get started on an alpaca.  Decided to do Al first so the coloring wouldn't contaminate the other two since they will be white.

Started on Tina.

Now for Lucy

Trying to work on right color for background.  In real life, the color is a little more greenish turquoise.

Finished!!

Keep Your Truck Clean

"An Admiral in Texas", Pastel, 10"x8"

This beautiful butterfly stopped for a visit on the bumper of my husband's pick-up truck, while he was washing it.  I was so happy he had his cell phone handy!!  Talk about good timing!!

I looked in my butterfly book and discovered it is a Red Spotted Purple Admiral.  They mainly live in east Texas straight up to lower Great Lakes, east to coast lines.  Also found in Mexico.  They like a variety of trees including the blooms of Cherry trees(and we do grow them in east Texas).  So I picked the blossoms of a cherry tree for the painting.

Enjoy and thanks for reading!!

referance photo

It Pays to Follow That Inner Spirit

When I finished "A Texas Lunch" (previous post), there was an upcoming show at New Braunfels Art Gallery in New Braunfels, Texas, and I had decided not to enter it.  However, upon framing it (with the help of my niece, Brooke), I got that inner spirit voice saying "enter it".  I usually follow it--so decided to.  So glad I did!!

The reception for the show "Art in Bloom" was this past Friday, May 6th..  It is a beautiful show and will run until May 28th..  I am so happy to share that I received 3rd. Place, Drawing/Pastel category!!

A Texas Lunch

"A Texas Lunch", Pastel, 8"x10"

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on a Texas Thistle. He(she) poised for me on the Lantana in our back yard. I had already painted one on Lantana, so choose to do a Thistle, which is one of my favorite wildflowers in Texas.

Enjoying Texas Sunset

I keep my camera close to our back door and just happened to catch this hummingbird sitting on our dinner ringer.  He(or she) was facing the wrong direction, so, I just flipped the profile.

Meanwhile, I had also been trying to come up with what I wanted to paint next.  When I was browsing through my photos on the pc, this one caught my eye.  Since it was a relatively simple composition, I felt it would be a fast one, get me back in the grove, and I wanted to practice my sunsets.  The sun actually rises from this direction of my deck, but, who's to know?  I could probably, also, title it Enjoying Texas Sunrise.

I will be including this painting in my Runaway Art collection which is currently on display at Grahamstock Glass & Gallery, in Wimberley, Texas.

Enjoy!!  And thanks for reading!!

"Enjoying Texas Sunset", Pastel, 8"x8"

You Never Know...

...who you will meet at a party?  :)

"Chillin Out", Pastel, 8"x8"

My second cousin, Sharra, captured the photo of this critter, a couple of years ago, while we were sitting outside eating at a restaurant, in Marble Falls, Tx..  We were having our annual Lewis women's reunion.  Talk about good timing!  The minute she showed it to me, I asked if I could paint it.

It was a fun piece to paint and I will be showing it with my collection, Runaway Art.  My Runaway Art paintings are being shown at Grahamstock Glass Gifts & Gallery, in Wimberley, Tx..  www.GrahamstockGlass.com 

W.I.P. shots:

I have expanded my horizons, again!

The good news is that I have been given the opportunity, and am now displaying my artwork at Grahamstock Glass Gifts & Gallery, in Wimberley, Texas.  My works include original paintings, prints of my originals (both framed and not framed), and coffee cups with my original paintings on them.  Something for everyone's budget and taste.

Gail Graham is the owner of Grahamstock Glass Gifts & Gallery.  Be sure to visit her website at www.GrahamstockGlass.com.  She does beautiful Fused Glass artwork, both hanging and tabletop ready, along with her jewelry.

Syl Shoemake is also displaying her unique, one of a kind jewelry.  You will find elements of modern rustic decor to international antiquity as part of her inspiration to create.

Be sure to come in and say "hi" whenever you are in the area.  Wimberley is a fun place to shop and odds are you won't go home empty handed.