"My Toy"

"My Toy", Pastel on velour, 16"x12"(20"x16" framed)

I had been wanting to paint this ever since I took the photo back in 2009.  This is Fancy, my loving border collie of 15-1/2 years.  We had to say goodbye to her in Nov., 2017.  Now, it is my tribute to her.  She loved her frisbee.  She would play catch until she wore us out!

I finished the painting just in time to enter it in the current special show at New Braunfels Art League Gallery, "All Creatures Great or Small".  I am also happy to share that I have received a 2nd. Place award in the Drawing Media category!!  It is a beautiful show of animals and creatures God has given us, so if you are in the area, I highly recommend you check it out.  It runs from Aug. 30th. until Sept. 29th..

Here are some "work in progress" pics.

Enjoy, and thank you for reading this.

On light grey velour paper.  Starting to block in darks.

Starting on background.

Framed.

"Ebbe"

Pastel on velour, 20" x 16"

My latest commission.

I'm "back in the saddle, again".  Finally--back in my studio, doing what I love to do!!  Since last November and thru March--life got in my way of having fun.  See below for some w.i.p. shots.  The owner of Ebbe also purchased my small preliminary piece I often do to warm up, get a feel for what I'm doing, and make sure I'm getting the coloring correct.  I usually don't show it to the customer, but I took it with me when I revisited Ebbe, and she(the owner) bought it on the spot.  That was exciting!!  Ebbe is a beautiful German short haired retriever and has a great personality.  I not only loved meeting him but also painting him!!

Enjoy!

Transferred onto the velour paper and started blocking in some darks.

Did some lights, the nose and tongue.

Blocked in the body and started working on the white hair--which was not easy.

The small one finished.