Tabbies in the Sun

I was asked to paint these two beautiful cats by a client in Florida as a surprise for his wife for Christmas.  I visited the cats at his house and spent some time getting to know them and taking pictures.  He gave her the painting early and she was so happy with it...

"SHE LOVED IT!  ALREADY HAVE HANGING IN A NICE PLACE FOR ALL TO SEE.  SHE WAS IMPRESSED GREATLY BY THE DETAIL.

THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

This really made my Christmas too!

Nesting Anna's Hummingbird

I recently completed this large 18" x 28" acrylic painting for my sister and her husband who live in Carlsbad, California.  They were able to photograph this little female and her nest which then became the inspiration for this painting.  With specific colors in mind and making sure I made the bird the main focus, this is the resulting painting.  They also were not concerned if the flower sizes were accurate in relation to the bird, so the composition worked well.  I am really happy with how it came out!

ORIGINAL SKETCH WITH LARGE FLOWERS

FINISHED ACRYLIC

DETAIL OF HUMMINGBIRD

Art Openings

"Florida Holly Robins" in Watercolor

I attended the opening last night for "Art by the Sea" at the Vero Beach Art Museum.  I am not a big fan of crowds, especially at an art show.  The show is sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club and was well attended!  Bringing my husband is never a good idea...I am the only artist on earth in his eyes and he is much happier at home with the TV!  Needless to say,  I took a quick tour and ended up using my purse as a weapon to hit a local artist's wine and spill it down her shirt.  She laughed it off and we are still friends!  I think I will go back when it's quiet and I can really look at the art.  No sale of my watercolor tonight, but I am honestly happy to keep it and hang it in my house for awhile!

Out with a Bark

I have been busy painting these last few months and not enough of writing my blog!  So, here are a few of my recent painting commissions.  Sometimes a "picture" is better than words anyway!

Florida Holly Robins Watercolor

I just finished this watercolor on Aquaboard of Robins I happened to see a while back in a local tree here in Florida.  I was doing a morning walk and saw a huge flock enjoying the red berries in a Brazilian Pepper tree, also know as the Florida Holly.  They must have stopped on their way back north for a quick snack.  I enjoyed working on the aquaboard and am entering the painting in the upcoming "Art by the Sea" show sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club.  It is held at the amazing Vero Beach Art Museum.

Humane Society "Feather Heart"

 

I met a sweet woman by chance that volunteers at the Humane Society of Vero Beach and she was looking to create a piece of art for the office of the Volunteer Coordinator Milissa.  I have never met Milissa but heard she has been through some tough times, so something inside me just said "I can do something".  This project evolved from the four blank canvases I was given to this 32" x 40" acrylic painting.  I was inspired by all the animals that the Humane Society rescues and also learned that Milissa loved Peacocks!  I am really happy with the results and it now hangs in her office.  I hope it gives her joy as she does her wonderful work at the Humane Society.

Cats

Birds

Animals

Dogs

It's a Winner!

My Aquabord experiment worked out well!  I really enjoyed working on this surface and won first place at the Cinco de Mayo show at the Artists Guild of Vero Beach!  I also painted the sides with watercolor after adding a few coats of sanded gesso and an absorbent ground.  The final process was spraying the entire surface and painting it with a protective UV varnish.  If it doesn't sell I will be posting it in my Etsy shop.

New Surfaces

I decided to enter a "cinco de mayo" show at a local gallery that requires all the artwork to be no larger than 5".   I love painting small and my favorite surface for years has always been Crescent Watercolor board.  I bought a small panel of "Aquabord" mounted on a 2" cradled birch panel.  A few of my favorite watercolor artist's use this, so I decided to try it too.  I have my design sketched out for a life size Anole Lizard that I took photos of in a bougainvillea plant.  They are such wonderful creatures and I hope I do him justice. 

Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy

I haven't posted much lately, but just finished this little Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that I have wanted to paint for years!  When I got my second Ridgeback "Dante" in 1995, I took pictures of all the puppies from the litter.  This little girl was so adorable and she always stuck in my mind.  It is a small watercolor painting with the image measuring 4 1/2" x 6 1/2".  I am really pleased with it and will have it for sale at the upcoming "Art Show in the Park" being held on March 21st at Riverside Park with the Sebastian Art Club.

Playing with the Fishies

Taking a break from my usual paintings to play with the fishies!  These are opaque watercolor and both matted to fit an 8" x 10" frame.  I really feel like exploring more creative outlets for my new found inspiration in Florida.  Available for sale on my Etsy shop at:
 https://www.etsy.com/listing/209449669/funny-fish-original-watercolor-8-x-10?

Sunset Dog

You can't go a day in Florida without seeing a beautiful sky.  From morning till night, the sky is full of beautiful colors and cloud formations that are just amazing.  I had fun painting this little watercolor and thought I would add my dog to this one.  He sort of looks like a Ridgeback from the back!

Sunflower Dog

I had fun painting this watercolor of a dog with sunflowers.  He looks so relaxed and has that hound stare I know so well from my own dogs.  I am working on some new little pieces to show at the upcoming Vero Beach Dog Park grand opening.  This finished watercolor is 11" x 14".

A Royal Throne

I really had fun with this drawing of Royal Terns which I recently completed in Pastel and Pencil.  The bird is on "A Royal Throne".  As much as I love doing animal portraits, it's always nice to create something for myself and explore a new Florida subject.  The sand and shells were a challenge here and it felt good to get back to the pastels and have fun with the soft colors.  This drawing is heading to the Treasure Coast Bird and Nature Show on October 17th in Vero Beach.

Scarlet

This is a beautiful redhead named "Scarlet" that I just finished in watercolor.  I met her owner at the local dog park, and instantly developed a friendship with her.  Scarlet is a rescue, as her owner Becky loves to volunteer at the Humane Society and has always adopted dogs.  She loved the portrait of her pretty little girl.

Penelope the Scottish Deerhound

 I also finished this portrait of a wonderful Scottish Deerhound named Penelope.  You don't come across this breed too often, and it is such an amazing experience to be around one of these dogs.  They are so gentle and sweet.  Penelope's owner told me her favorite activity was looking for food on the counter.  They love to play, eat and especially sleep!  I also finished a portrait of her housemate Henry, Angela has her hands and couches full with these two!

Henry

I just completed this watercolor portrait of Henry, a sweet and gentle Scottish Deerhound.  I met Angela at a barn where I used to ride in NC, and she has owned Deerhounds for years.  The deerhound was called "the most perfect creature" by Sir Walter Scott and I believe it is true.  I have always been partial to hounds as a Ridgeback owner, but when you meet a Deerhound you feel something special.  Henry loves to sleep on his favorite couch and I was able to capture that moment in my painting.  

Angela loved it, she said..."Fantastic, that is exactly the face I see in my mind when I think of Henry.  You really grasped the essential Henry."

Gail

www.gaildolphinart.com

Companions for Life

I just finished this large watercolor for a client in North Carolina of four horses dear to her heart.  Her request was to have them shown according to age.  Billy, a big handsome rescue Belgian is the "matriarch" of the group at age 25.  A retired Appaloosa show horse named Buddy is below him, still gorgeous at 22.  The handsome Bay Quarter horse is Willie who is 7, and finally Frankie at age 6.  It was a challenge but I am really happy with the painting.  I also decided to try some new watercolor paints called QoR produced by Golden.  They were advertised to have a stronger pigment, so I invested in about 28 colors.  I have been using the same Windsor and Newton watercolors for over 35 years, so it was a huge leap for me!  I really loved working with them.

  

Sweltering for Art

I did my first little show since moving here to Florida yesterday.  It just so happens, that the weather pattern changed and what used to be tolerable mornings turned into a sweltering day with 100% humidity.  I don't usually do too many outdoor shows and don't have a tent, so they kindly put me under cover in the mall.  Needless to say, setting up in the sun, rain, heat and humidity took it's toll.  I looked like I had a run a marathon by 10:00!  Thankfully, a good friend came to visit and she bought me a $2.00 t-shirt to change into.  I was also really worried because the sun was beating on my display when I first arrived, but thank god it slowly moved into shade as the sun came up.  Watercolors can develop moisture quickly under the glass, and hours of work could be easily destroyed.

I did have a new client visit me who has commissioned a painting, and a few others inquired about portraits.  I think most people were there at the mall for the "Back to School" event and not really looking at art.  Such is the life of an artist!  You just never know, but you have to get yourself out there.

Charlie

Watercolor of "Charlie"

I finally finished my first painting since moving here to our new home in Vero Beach, Florida.  It is always an adjustment for an artist to move their studio space, especially to a new state!  I chose a bright upstairs room that has a north light window with a beautiful palm tree outside.  I enjoy windows where I can see some activity, whether it is nature or human!  When you spend many hours alone painting, it is nice to have some "contact" with the outside world.  This is a watercolor of a sweet boy named "Charlie" who lives in North Carolina.  He has the unusual striping on his legs typical of dun colored horses.  The owner loved the painting and he is on his way home to North Carolina.

A Fresh New Start

Things are finally coming together after our big move to our new home in Vero Beach, Florida.  It seemed we would never get here, then all of a sudden the house sold and we were on our way!  We rented a townhome sight unseen, and the first thing to greet me at the door was a beautiful gardenia bush.  It has to be one of my all time favorite flowers with it's beautiful and heavenly scent.  It felt like a  fresh new start in our tropical home.

My husband and I missed the warm winters here in Florida and so far the summer has proved to be fine and the dogs have settled in.  I am already inspired by the moss laden live oak trees and beautiful tropical plants in abundance here.  Vero Beach is a big art community and I have joined a few groups and looking forward to meeting other artists and enjoying the Vero Beach Art Museum.  The Indian River will also provide many future kayak fishing and photo adventures for us.  The "Treasure Coast" is well known for it's natural beauty and the birds, manatee and dolphins that frequent the waters here.