Looking Back
Casey: The Look, Acrylic on canvas board, 16" x 20", 2003
I started building a “portfolio” on Fickr and it has been interesting looking back at some of my old work. In some ways, I’m very sentimental for the easy way I could put paint on canvas. But, I can also see that I have grown as a painter and I almost think I like where my work is going. Does every painter endlessly question their ability? Hopefully insecurity makes us better. That’s it, right?
Inspiration
Apparently I have it! All I can think about is my next painting! In fact, I have a whole series in mind: “Shelter Me; Rescue Me!” I have always had a passion for painting animals and I have a passion for helping homeless dogs and cats, so what makes more sense then using them as the subjects of my paintings? I did this years ago on a small scale and created the “PupArt” series. These were little 5″ x 7″ paintings that I sold and then donated a portion of the proceeds to the shelter where the subject was residing. This time I’m thinking of going MUCH bigger! 3′ x 4′, 4′ x 5′, or even bigger! Again, with some sort of profit sharing with the shelter or rescue. Seems like a win-win to me! I get GREAT subject matter and an endless suppl of inspiration and the shelter gets some level of publicity and hopefully a couple of extra bucks. I can hardly wait to get started. I hear the art supply store calling!
PupArt: LCHS, Acrylic on canvas board, 5" x 7", 2003
Proper Respect
A couple of years ago, my husband and I visited the Lakota Wolf Preserve. One of my favorite photos from the day is that is of a young wolf licking an alpha’s muzzle. While the technical quality of the photograph is awful, the feeling that the photo captures always makes me smile. This photo was the inspiration for my most recent painting, Proper Respect.
Proper Respect, Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 18", 2012
This photo was the inspiration for Proper Respect.
I Know I Shouldn’t Have Favorites
I Know I Shouldn't Have Favorites, Acrylic on canvas board, 20" x 16", 2012
I know I shouldn’t have favorites, but Flora was my favorite. Sadly, we lost her to cancer almost two years ago. Typical of her breed, she often slept curled in a “husky ball.” This painting captures a memory I hold very close to my heart!
Old Man Wolf
Old Man Wolf, Acrylic on canvas board, 20" x 16", 2012
Several years ago, my husband and I were lucky enough to win a photographic tour of the Lakota Wolf Preserve. While I don’t pretend to be much of a photographer, I did come away with some amazing pictures! Whenever I need reference material for my paintings, I go back to the stack of images from that day. I will likely never run out of inspiration from that day!
Wake Up Running
Wake Up Running! Acrylic on canvas; August 2011
“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”
I was asked to take this saying and create a panting. This is what I came up with!
I started this project with some doubt as to whether or not I would like the finished product, but it was a joy to work on and it is one of my favorite pieces to date!
Red Tail
Red Tail; Acryilic on canvas; 24" oval; 2011
This painting has been kicking around in m head for a while now. I sketched it on the canvas about 3 weeks ago and then put the canvas away again. Since I was hunkered down, staying out of the path of Hurricane Irene this weekend, I thought I would take advantage of having nothing that I had to do and get some paint on the canvas. Surprisingly, I finished this one in only two passes. That could be a new record for me! It’s not quite as loose as I usually like, but I’m quit happy with the result!
The Chute
The Chute
This painting was commissioned several years ago. It is still one of my favorites! I lve the expression of the leader! So determined!
Just Another Day on Golden Pond
This morning my daughter and I collaborated on a gift for my father for his birthday. He’s always loved frogs, so we painted a lovely little green one nestled in the tall grasses. Here is the finished “masterpiece”.
Party at the Frog Pond, Acrylic on Canvas, 2011
He Loved it! In fact, he loved it so much that he wanted to try painiting the same picture with me, so here is the collaboration between my father and me. It’s acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 30″.
24" x 30" gallery-wrapped acrylic on canvas
A little more refined, a bit less wild, a slightly different perspective…interesting to see how the result changes with each iteration!
Nic’s Baby Cow
16" x 20" Acrylic on Canvas Board
This is one of my favorite paintings! It started out very rigid and just wasn’t working until the cow just found her way out of the paint.
