"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.

"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!!