somerville, ma
I have to say that the complexity of Link’s coat intimidated me. As an Australian Cattle Dog, there are so many hairs of different colors all mottled in there together, that I just stared at the photo for a while. This is a perfect exercise of using oils to layer. And layer, and layer, and layer…
Once the black dries a bit, I can finish up with the longer and tuftier hairs in and under the ears, on the side of the cheek, etc.
Of the pics that I narrowed it down to (from the photo shoot), this was not the one that I most wanted to paint; but, now, I see that it couldn’t have been any other. I love this choice… the way she’s bumbling up over the hill, happy to be a Jack Russell on a sunny day…
This is why the people who live with the dogs get to choose the shot.
Kiko is a bouncy little Jack Russell. I was looking forward to exploring the shadows and highlights of a white dog, and wasn’t prepared for the washout of the white coat in the bright sunshine! I’m liking the contrast it creates, though…
I put a blank canvas on the easel this morning and thought “Ah. A blank canvas. What better thing could there be?” Then I quickly answered “A finished painting.” So, yea.
Catch is actually hanging at True Grounds for a little while. One of the (many) reasons that I love supporting local businesses is that they support their community, back. True Grounds has been so supportive of local artists, and we appreciate that.
Painting, to me, is like knowledge: the more I paint, the more I see that needs to be painted.
I was hoping to finish this painting this weekend, but that’s not going to happen! Looking at it, I see so much that still needs to be worked on. Off to start on the ears…
Working this up. There’s a certain energy about this dog that I love to paint.
The canvas is 36″ x 48″ – nice and big.
I was photographing Link and somewhere along the way, it seemed I should paint him catching a ball.
She was looking straight up at me, and as I enlarged the image in my camera, I noticed that I was reflected in her eyes.
( It’s true: dogs really do mirror us.)
I spend a crazy amount of time on underpaintings. Really, there’s no need for all of this detail. Still, it’s the way that I work and now I can just get to work painting it…
The talk given by author Elizabeth Gilbert at the 2009 TED conference is most definitely worth a few minutes of your time…
canvas major 