One More Christmas Post

"Marne"
Christmas 2010, Enamel paints on porcelain

I wanted to show something different I did this year;
This is an original hand painted ornament I created for an extra-special Christmas gift :-D
It is a flat, porcelain ornament and I used enamel paints, with some gold burnishing on the background. It was a pretty good surface to paint on and I was very pleased with the outcome.

For inspiration on this piece, I tip my hat in the direction of Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor, who has painted a few of her own ornaments. I found the porcelain blanks one day and decided to give it a try.
Surf on by and check out her artwork on her regular blog and her fabulous Painted Ponies (one of my New Years resolutions is to save up my pennies for one of Jen's original ponies this year!) You won't be disappointed!

Everyone is back and school and/or work tomorrow and I will be trying to finish up my entries for this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. Will try to post work in progress....stay tuned!

Dog Portrait - "Terry"

"Terry"
Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 8"wx11"h

Well the feasting is over, the prezzies unwrapped and the long afternoon naps taken, time to get back to doing some work!

Remember my "nose" post earlier this month? Well, here is the rest of "Terry"

Hope everyone is having/had a wonderful holiday!!

WIP-Dachshund

Here is a quick peek at park of one of the little paintings I am currently working on. It will measure 4"x6" and is done in watercolour. No firm title yet, we'll see what develops as this little doxie painting nears completion :-)

Miniature - Malamute

"Northern Light"
2.5"w x 3.25"h
Miniature watercolor on WC board

Here is another new miniature; a portrait of a gorgeous, happy Alaskan Malamute. Not sure of her name, we met her on a walk one afternoon at the park, so I am using a working title of "Northern Light"

This piece is available for purchase. If you're interested, please contact me directly :-)

WIP-Black Lab

5"x5" Coloured Pencil on Pastelmat

I am working on another coloured pencil piece using the Pastelmat paper...really , really liking this surface, what can I say!?

Here is my black lab so far, and I apologize for the lack of eyes... (some people hate this part of a painting ) This lab is sitting in the afternoon sun on a wooden floor, so we're going to get some lovely reflected light happening in the shadows, which is a good thing, as black shadows can get dense and flat without some sparkle to them :-)

Oreo

"Oreo"
7" x 10" mixed media on watercolor paper

Since getting over the flu, I have been quite busy finishing up a bunch of Christmas commissions. I can't show all of them just yet, but here is one that is a pre-Christmas gift.
This is Oreo, a beloved pet who has crossed over the rainbow Bridge. This portrait was a bit of a challenge in that the available photo was quite small. I'm pretty pleased with the result, however, and I hope the client will be as well :-)

The End of the Leash I

-SOLD-
"The Other End of the Leash I" • 4"x 6" Watercolor on board

I'm trying something a little different this week. This is a series of paintings entitled "The Other End of the Leash"
Each day I will post a painting showing a quiet/funny/loving moment between the dog, it's human and the physical leash that binds the two.
We start out with a wee Chihuahua; a fearless little dog with a huge personality.
Hope you enjoy it!
:-D

Napping Princess

"Napping Princess • 5"x5" Watercolor on Arches W.C.Board

"Napping Princess" is a little painting showing a beautiful black Great Dane (uncropped ears) as she relaxes in the afternoon sun. Danes are beautiful dogs who inevitably think they are lapdogs and no one can convince them otherwise! Truly, the canine world's largest couch potato and bed warmer :-D

This painting is available for $50.00 + 5.00 shipping.
Interested? Please contact me directly.

Baby Blue

-SOLD-
"BABY BLUE" • 6" x 4.25" Watercolor on 300lb. Arches paper

Who could resist painting this? A Rottweiler puppy snuggled into his blankie :-)

Leafy Lulu

-SOLD-
"LEAFY LULU" • 5"x5" Watercolor on Arches Board

The first day of Fall, my favourite season! Fuzzy Sweaters, Fall Fairs, changing colours, crisp apples a fire at night-love it!

And in honour of Fall, here is "Leafy Lulu." Bassets have the greatest expressions! :)

Day's End

"Day's End" 4"x6" Coloured Pencil on Pastelboard, varnished

I had watched this lovely border collie at a local horse show. He belong to the show organizer. On the go throughout the day, he was her shadow, always ready to help out when he could. I finally caught him when he settled in for a nap, in a freshly dug depression under the steward's chair!

'Day's End' was created in January of this year and displayed the 2008 Art Show at the Dog Show (Kansas City). It is done in coloured pencil and varnished so it can be framed without glass.

This artwork has been entered into "Helping Paws" an online art show put on by the Canine Art Guild. A percentage of every sale will be donated to an animal charity.

'Day's End' will be available for purchase on October 1st. The list price is $175.00 (plus shipping) and 50% of that will be donated to the Border Collie Rescue Ontario. 

Yellow Lab

~ SOLD ~"Yellow Lab" 

5"x5" Watercolor on d'Arches WC Board

Here is a little portrait of beautiful yellow lab, backlit by the sun. This guy is a dignified, strong and dependable character, a lovely breed all round!!

Different Strokes from Different Folks

"JACK" • 5"x5" Watercolor portrait on d'Arches WC Board

Well known and very talented painter Karin Jurick has started a new group painting blog. An image will be posted each Wednesday for any artist to interpret within their own creative abilities.

Karin started off this project by posting a picture of her much loved "Jack," her canine companion who recently passed away. I was delighted to take part and hope that my submission did justice to Jack. To take a look at all the wonderful pieces created, visit Differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks

This painting is available. Please contact the artist for further info.