Trying Something a Little Different
I’m not sure what I think of this one. This is my first attempt at getting more abstract and really using an expressionistic technique ti evoke the feeling of movement. I’m also trying to continue to step outside of my comfort zone a bit and work with a very different animal for my subject. I do like the energy, but I am struggling a bit with the lack of detail. I am going to resist the urge to “fiddle’ with this piece and call it finished, but I think I may try painting it, or a similar piece, again and see what happens.
Rescue Me: Puppies
Rescue Me: Puppies, Acrylic on canvas board, 16" x 12", 2012
This is a painting of one of the little pups that is being cared for by Husky House in New Jersy. This guy is very sick and fighting for his life at the hospital. Several of his puppy friends are also quite ill. Husky House has a huge vet bill looming! I will be selling this painting as well as Rescue Me: Prince to help raise some money for their care. Please think positive thoughts for the pups! Stay tuned for information on where these two paintings will be posted for sale!
Rescue Me: Prince
My friend, Lorraine, runs an amazing rescue in New Jersey named Husky House. They help huskies, obviously, but they also help lots of puppies along with, surprisingly, a variety of lap dog type dogs. Right now, they have their hands very full with a litter of puppies who are fighting for their lives!
PLEASE HELP Husky House Puppies! URGENT DONATIONS NEEDED! In the last 48 hours several pups have come down with Parvo & have been hospitalized at GSVS. The bills are huge.. 10,000-12,000 & we are praying no more break with it. PLEASE help us save them..so far, Ricky,Lucy,Ethel, and Dopey are in the hospital. Donations can be sent thru paypal at HuskyHouseinc@aol.com or you can call the hospital directly to make a donation.
Before I knew anything was happening with the puppies, I decided to paint Prince, a little yorkie puppy, with the hopes of auctioning it for Husky House. I finished it up this morning. I think I will be starting on a painting of one of the pups in the morning to add to the auction.
Rescue Me: Prince, Acylic on canvas board, 16" x 12", 2012
Stretching
I started running this year. I usually like it. Sometimes, though, it causes a lot of pain. I’m told, that stretching after every run will do a lot to alleviate that pain. But I HATE stretching!!! I’m pretty sure everyone does! So how do I talk myself into doing it? I know it’s good for me…but I just don’t like doing it.
I also find it difficult to paint outside of my comfort zone. If you haven’t noticed already, I really like dogs. I like them as living creatures and I especially like them as subjects! To strengthen my painting ability, though, I think I need to STRETCH a bit. It’s good for me! I know that…so how do I get myself to do it. Stay tuned! I will be testing out some new subject matter over the next few weeks!
Stretch, Acrylic on canvas board, 16" x 20", 2012
Time to S-T-R-E-T-C-H!
Rescue Me: Kiernan
Rescue Me: Kiernan, 12" x 30" x 2", Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 2012
I finished up another painting for MaPaw Siberian Rescue today. This is Kiernan, a young boy who was rescued by MaPaw and is currently looking for a new home. Hopefully this painting can raise a few much-needed dollars to help the rescue. It will be auctioned at their Beef & Beer next month. Visit MaPaw for more information.
Just Another Morning in Africa
A couple of months ago, friends asked me to painting something for them based on the following quote: “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.” This is what I came up with…
Just Run! Acrylic on canvas; August 2011
I was really happy with the result, but I still had another idea bouncing around in my head. I did several sketches, playing with the position of the gazelle until I finally found what I was looking for. Here is “Another Morning in Africa”
Another Morning in Africa, Acrylic on canvas, 24" x 30", 2012
This painting has a slightly more intense feeling to it, but that’s what I was hoping for.
This painting is available from Etsy.
I’m In Love!
Shelter Me 1, Acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24", 2012
I bought a palette knife the other day. I didn’t really have anything in mind when I bought it, but thought it might be fun to fiddle with. I LOVE it!!! I wasn’t happy with the direction my first Shelter Me painting was going so I decided to give the palette knife a try. What fun! I love the texture and the way you can ALMOST control the paint, but not quite. I can’t wait to try it on a figure painting….think I know how I’m spending my weekend!
This painting is available on Etsy! Click here for purchase details.
Shelter Me!
Shelter Me 1, Acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24", unfinished
My vision for the Shelter Me series is to capture the faces and emotions of the animals who wait in shelters for their new homes. This is my first attempt. It’s not quite there yet, but I can almost see where it is going. I took the photo that I am using for reference years ago at a local kill shelter. The dog in the photo, being part pit bull, likely never made it out of the shelter (although I hope I am wrong about that!) It makes me so sad to think about all of the animals that spend weeks in shelters, scared, alone, only to be euthanized. I hope painting these pictures will honor them in some way.
It’s Been a Long Time
Shoes Untied Again! Acrylic on cnavas, 11" x 9", 2012
It’s been a long time since I had a figure drawing class! I took me close to three weeks and countless repaintings to get this one done! I seem to have completely forgotten how the human body is assembled! If I’m going to continue to grow as a painter, I think I need to make sure that I mix in a few people with the canines every now and then.
Another Shot of Inspiration
I’ve been trying to look at other people’s work a little more often. Not to copy, but to be inspired. I recently came across a man named Robert Joyner. What’s fun is he has portfolio organized in categories. He has seascapes and cityscapes and people and horse and DOGS and COWS! Two of MY favorite subjects. I LOVE his cows! I love the simple, bold strokes and the exaggerated color palette. Take some time and enjoy his work here.
