May I introduce you to "Duke"

"Duke", Pastel, 10"x8"

My latest pet portrait commission.  Duke is now at Rainbow Bridge.  He was a Redbone Coonhound. His owner rescued him and loved him dearly.  She said he was a very loving and sweet dog and she will miss him immensely.  How could you not with that adorable look on his face!

I so enjoyed working on this painting!  I think I had a smile on my face the whole time.  The referance photo was very small and when enlarged, I lost a lot of detail, but determined to make it work.  I also researched "redbone coonhounds", just to get familiar with that breed, and I have learned how photos can change coloring.  So, luckily, the owner lived within a good distance, and I visited her with several referance photos, and we discussed coloring of his coat.  I later sent her an email with color swatches I had come up with.  She approved one and off I went.  Below, you will see my work in progress.  When I visited her for the final approval--she said "perfect"--whewww!  So I was so happy to leave "Duke" with her.  I sure hope she sends me a photo of it hanging in her office.

ENJOY!!

Expand Your Horizons, Part 4

Another "Expanding My Horizons" I did was entering an annual show that I have not participated in before.  It is the "2016 Reflections of Texas & Beyond Art Show", sponsored by the Luling Oil Museum in Luling, Texas.  This year it was dedicated to Ms. Carol Voigt.  A wonderful show and a great reception.  The reception was this past Sunday and the show will be running until Sept. 23, 2016.

I am honored to report that I received the Carol Voigt Memorial Award for "Better Than Diamonds"!!  It does pay(literally) to "Expand Your Horizons"!!  Talk about motivation to paint more!!

"Better Than Diamonds", Pastel

Expand Your Horizons, Part 3

One more venue where my art is being shown is the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library, in Bulverde, Texas.  My thanks to Adette Irish, the Community Display Coordinator of Canyon Lake Art Guild, for arranging the venue for our artists to show their paintings!  Since the display is in the hallway, it was hard to get just one or two photos of all of them.  The library also wrote up a very nice article on me and put it in the local Comal Chronicle.  I feel like a celebrity!

The paintings will be on display until the end of August, so if you are in the area, stop by and take a peek.  Another friend/artist, Leila Reynolds, also has her paintings on display there and they are beautiful to see.

Good News

I am happy to share the good news that my painting, "Better Than Diamonds", received a 3rd. Place Ribbon in the Pastel/Drawing category.  The show theme is "Images of Life", and is currently showing at the New Braunfels Art Gallery, New Braunfels, Texas, until August 31, 2016.

We had a wonderful reception on Aug. 5th, and there are some great paintings on display.  If you are in the area, be sure to go by and see what talented artists we have.  I am truly honored to have received this award!

For the whole story behind the painting, read my post dated April 16, 2016.

Thanks for reading!

A New Invitation

Invitation for New Braunfels Art League's current show, "Images of Life", July 30th. thru August 31st..  Reception hours are 5 - 7:30 pm, awards at 6:30 pm..
Artists' paintings from left to right are:  Nancy Bower, Rita Ball :), and Daniel Okorodudu.

I also received the call "be sure to come to reception" --code for "you are receiving an award"!  Love those phone calls!!

Expand Your Horizons, part 2

Besides entering shows, outside of my comfort zone, I wanted to expand the places where I can display my art, for a longer length of time a show runs for.  I have quiet frequently heard from other artists that people cannot see your work nor have the opportunity to purchase it--if it is stored at your home.  It finally sunk in.

The Canyon Lake Art Guild has a Community Display Coordinator that has found us some great places for our members to show their work.  Some take a commission(retail stores) and some do not(usually the non-profit organizations--like libraries).  My first one was at the Tye Preston Memorial Library, in Sattler, Texas.  I will be hanging there, again, from Oct. thru Dec., 2016.  I have sold one painting and received a commission to do, from hanging there, plus a print sold that is hanging in their reception area.

A new venue for me is the Canyon Animal Hospital in Canyon City, Texas.  A great spot for my animal portraits.  I have both originals and framed prints available, and have had to replace my business cards several times, which tells me the viewers are interested.

Expand Your Horizons

This doesn't apply to just artists--it applies to everyone and their life.  It is how we improve, not only our personal life, but also what we do outside our home.

Periodically, I stop and write down some new goals.  Otherwise, I probably would be doing the same thing I've done for the past two or three years.  "Write" is an action verb, and writing down goals does subconsciously put our thought to action.

So--one of my goals was/is to enter shows outside of my current venues.  It is not as easy as it sounds--I am stepping out of my comfort zone.  New places, new artists--like changing schools and having to start all over.  But I did it.  My first was entering the Art on 12 Guest Artist Show.  It is not a judged show, but three of my paintings are now hanging at Art on 12 Gallery, in Wimberley, Texas, for the month of July.

"Lunch in the Garden", Pastel

Top:  "Black Swallowtail", Pastel

Bottom:  "And God Provides", Pastel

A Fun Piece to Do

"Working for Sh..  :)", Charcoal/Pastel, 8" x 8"

This was a fun piece to do, in-between my "normal" paintings, and I will be adding it to my series "Runaway Art".  The album can be viewed on my FB page, R.J. Collectibles - Fine Art.

I love to work with charcoal and an eraser, then add a touch of pastel color to it.  While working on this, I thought to myself...who but an artist would go looking for dung beetles on their morning walk (except maybe a little boy).

Google "dung beetles" and, believe it or not, there is some interesting information on them, from how they navigate, where they take the dung, and what they do with it.  Then you can say you learned something new today.