Akino in Fairmount Park

I recently completed this gift commission of a handsome dog named "Akino" from photographs the client sent me.  The  outdoor setting is an area in Fairmount Park in the Philadelphia suburbs where I grew up.  I have wonderful memories of running the beautiful trails there over 20 years ago.  It was so much fun to paint this watercolor and a challenge as always with the customer's photos.  I hope the newly married couple enjoys it as much as I did painting it! 

Suli and Alex Watercolor is finished!

FINAL PORTRAIT

First stage with background and masking

I just completed this watercolor of an older dog named Suli and a 17 year old cat named Alex.  This painting is a good example of how I go about my watercolor portraits.  After taking close to 75 reference photos, I created my design on Crescent watercolor board and began by masking out the animals.  I don't always start this way, but in this case I wanted to work on the background first.  After showing the clients the painting, they did have a few minor changes.  The tail on Alex needed to be a little longer and the eyes on Suli needed to be "beadier" according to the owner...funny description!  I made the changes and I hope they are happy with the final result.

Adding detail to animals

Client wants tail longer on cat and eyes "beadier" on dog:)

Not Your Average Goat

My recent painting commission of three Pygmy goats has been quite a challenge!  These three Pygmy Goats are not just your average goats.  They are the winners of the Pygmy Goat National Championship.  This buck, doe and wether are as close to "perfection" in the pygmy goat world as you can get.  So, suffice it to say I have been challenged to paint them perfectly and also please their owners!  Animals, like people, are complete individuals.  An ear or nose painted in the wrong way, can change the animal completely.  It was a fun project and I have learned so much about Pygmy Goats!  The finished watercolor painting image was 11" x 14".  The image is featured on the publication for the National Pygmy Goat Association.  Pictured are the Doe Burntwood Farms Annabelle Lee, the Buck Dream Catcher Little Wing and the Wether Rolling Meadows Eclipse.

First Stage of Suli and Alex

I have really become obsessed with following my favorite artists now that technology has allowed us to share with facebook, blogs, websites, youtube, and a host of other computer sites.  It has gotten in the way of my work at times and I am constantly trying to keep a balance.  But, I came to realize that artists and collectors love to see the progress of your art from start to finish.  I have written artist friends and discovered new materials and techniques that have enhanced my own art.

This is the beginning of my portrait of Suli and Alex...two very old pets.  I am working on my favorite Crescent Watercolor Board.  As you can see,  in this case I decided to "mask" out the animals and work on the background first.  I took about 80 photographs of the animals, but being indoors did not provide the natural light I prefer...as well as the challenge of two other dogs and "I think" three other cats tagging along with me.

Fear and Doubt

I have been painting for over thirty years and still have so many fears and doubts when it comes to my artwork.  I think this comes hand in hand with being a perfectionist and of course wanting to make my clients happy.  I have cleaned off my table from my last painting,  ready to tackle this new one with a fresh perspective.  But, I am easily overwhelmed by just starting it!  Sometimes, the client will give me the option to pick the size or medium, that only adds to my racing artistic brain!  In this case, the clients are a young couple who had already had these two pets painted by someone who did a terrible job.  I didn't see the final results, but they were so unhappy and the artist refused any kind of refund.  I went to their house and took photos of these two old pets.  The poor little dog is loosing his teeth, the cat is  going blind and has definitely lost the "lustre" of his youth!  It is only more pressure to make them look the best I am able with paint and a brush.  Once I put the water on the board, I hope I can breath life into them...

Painting Small

I decided to enter a judged show that required the art to be no larger than 8" framed.  I had fun doing these little watercolors that measure 4" x 6" or smaller.  I love painting detail, so it was a change of pace for me to complete a painting fairly quickly!  They also didn't require expensive framing and no huge boxes to lug when delivering to the show.  It was a fun and I am looking forward to seeing the show at the Carolina Artist Studio Gallery in Morehead City, NC                                                                          

Sharing Painted Memories

I have to come to the realization that most of my paintings will someday find that special someone that connects with them.  I just sold this acrylic painting I did when we first moved to North Carolina.  We rented a little old cottage along the Bogue Sound and had the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  I was inspired every day to paint them and I created this painting with one of my older dogs in the scene.  He had passed a few years earlier, but the scene reminded me of him and memories of his thoughtful gazes.  The painting will be heading to New Orleans on Monday to that "special" person who now shares my memory with their own.