Finished

Putting the varnish on today and trying to decide whether to have it framed or not.  It is painted on a 1" deep box canvas and I painted the sides raw umber so it doesn't "need" a frame, but might look nice with one.

Still haven't figured out a name for it yet.

Another painting on the easel

I started another painting in early June (forgot to take photos of the earliest steps).  I have done plenty of dogs, so that part of the painting wasn't a real concern.  But I have never painted water or a duck!!
I still have alot of work to do on the water portion and when I am satisfied with it I will go back and probably rework some minor details on the dog and the duck, but up to this point I am satisfied with the progress...still don't care much for the water, but I can see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Haven't yet thought of a name for this one.

Faces of Rescue

In my last blog I wrote that my New Year's Resolution was to keep my blog updated more regularly!!  Should have NEVER written that, I think the rebel inside me made sure to flex it's muscle everytime I thought about blogging. 
I have been truly busy, though!  I finished two commissioned paintings of Dalmations, and three paintings of shelter dogs.  One of the shelter dog paintings was purchased by the people that adopted that particular dog, one of the paintings was given away in a raffle and we are still trying to decide what to do with the third.  A poster was printed using the painted images and all of the proceeds from the sale of the poster goes to Chouteau Pound Pals, a no kill, non-profit shelter that I visit every other week to photograph the dogs.  We still have plenty left so if you are interested contact me and I can arrange for you to get one, they are $20.00 plus s/h if you don't live in the area. At 18"x24" they are a nice size and there are plenty of ready-made frames available for them.
I spent the last weekend of April photographing a Hunting Retriever Trial in Afton, OK, then the month of May I helped Jeanie Eaton of One Tulsa Photography photograph the Oklahoma Dressage Society's Spring Show and also the Feather Creek Horse Trials in Norman, OK.
Two of my paintings sold Mother's Day weekend and I have since started another, of which I will update the particulars in the next couple of days.
Also watch for another new blog, "Doin it for the Dogs"!  Would like to highlight the plight of the shelter dog, spotlight dogs needing homes, throw out ideas for helping local shelters, etc.  Feel free to chime in on anything that would be helpful!
I will end this blog with some images of dogs, horses and artwork!

                                                    8"x8" Acrylic(private collection)

                                                       10"x10" Acrylic(private collection)

                                                  Photo from Hunting Retriever Trials

                                           8"x8" Acrylic (painting sold, dog still available)!

                                                 8"x8" Acrylic (private collection)

                               8"x8" Acrylic (Available-100% of proceeds to Chouteau Pound Pals)

                                                 Photo from Feather Creek Horse Trials

                         18"x24" poster $20.00 +s/h (100% of proceeds to Chouteau Pound Pals)

New Website

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!  I have had a busy fall/early winter so far.
I photographed a Hunting Retriever Trial, which was also my first time ever watching one, let alone photographing one!  Alot of fun and quite interesting to see the differences in each dog's personality.  All were eager to retrieve, some so much so that they couldn't concentrate on their handler and left the "box" (I don't know if that is the correct term) too soon.  Though they all eagerly went into the water to retrieve, some did with such Gusto they had water splashing everywhere!  While others went in slowly in, what looked like to me, such a fashion as not to get water on their faces!  And many of those that started off slowly, by the 2nd or 3rd retrieve must have just decided it wasn't all that bad and leapt into the water no longer worrying about whether or not their faces got wet.  The photos really let you see what you miss when watching in real time....some of them get off a couple of good leaps on the water's surface before they are full in and swimming toward their duck, which gives the appearance that they are walking on water.
I finished up "Shades of Gray" and delivered the painting to it's new owner the Friday before Christmas.  I have a couple of commissioned dog paintings to start this month then I may choose to paint one of the retrievers that I photographed.
I have completely redone my website, which I had been wanting to do for months, but wasn't finding a provider that fit what I wanted to be able to do.  My friend, Jeanie hooked me up with a provider that allows unlimited images and numerous options for personalization.  I am very happy with it.  It is quick and easy to download photos and separate them into different galleries, I will probably continue to tinker with it as I add more images.  It has all of the photos from the retriever trial on it as well as my artwork and I am gradually adding equine photos to it also.
Jeanie has a photography business http://www.onetulsaphotography.com/ and next week I am helping her photograph the National Sorting Cow Horse Association World Championships that are being held in Tulsa. 
Check out my new website and let me know what you think http://www.artbyjewell.com/
My resolution for 2012 is to update the blog on a more regular basis!

Close to the finish!

It seems like this one has been on the easel for a very long time! I haven't been doing a good job of taking pictures of the progress and updating the blog, sometimes I feel that there is a point in the paintings that I don't want anyone to see! So here it is, very much near the finish line! I will keep it on the easel for a little longer, stare at it until I think it's going to come alive, and tweak things a little here and there!

Continuing on!

As I work my way around this painting (back to front, clockwise)! It kind of feels like a spiral. I have blocked in a base color on the rider's arms, will concentrate on that and her shirt over the next few days, with the occasional dab at the reins. As I move forward the horse's head, bridle, mane, forelock and tail will be last.

Shades of gray

As I work my way across the chest I realized I have only 4 colors of paint on my pallette! White, black, payne's gray and raw umber! That will change when I get to the rider's bare arms and the horse's pink nose...but the majority of this painting will be shades of gray!

Moving right along!

I am working from front to back and right to left on this one! I am pretty happy with how the rider's leg and stirrup look, though before it's all finished I am sure I will make subtle changes! Headed into the horse's chest and will then probably work on the rider before doing the neck, head and bridle.

Payne's Gray Background

I have used Payne's Gray for the background, not that there is going to be much background showing! Laying down some base coats in Payne's gray, Mars black, a little Raw umber and some white. I have started playing with the dappling on the horse's barrel behind the rider's leg. A long, long way to go!

One last little change

I made just a few minute corrections on the "Bailey" painting. She now has her 1st coat of varnish, 2 more to go then 3 days to dry and she will be ready to go to her new home.

Another one on the Easel

This is my next project. A 36" wide by 48" tall painting of a National Show Horse being schooled in Dressage.

Calling her "finished"

After many small touches and adding the whiskers, I am going to say this painting is pretty much finished. I will send a pic of it to the customer and if she approves, it will be varnished and headed to it's new home.

Getting closer!

She is starting to look like "Bailey"! Now I am at a point where I just add layers and layers in varying shades, and soften and blend and tweak and stare and stare and stare! Then walk away for awhile and come back and do it all over again!

Donated Painting

Last summer I donated an acrylic pet portrait for an auction benefitting a Therapeutic Riding Center, about a month ago the winner contacted me and sent me photos of her son's Golden Retriever, Bailey. I got started on it and forgot to take photos from the very beginning, so here she is, still not finished but coming along nicely (you will just have to visualize the white canvas I started with)! Bailey is just a "youngster", 8 or 9 months old, what a cutie!

I have the colors blocked in and still have alot of layering to do. I worked on the eyes this afternoon.

Background

Playing around with more background to take up some of the expanse of blue to the left.

Adding some background

I added some bushes...I am not much of a "landscape" painter!! It helped, but I am still not sure if I should add something more to the left?!

Well, I have been "holed" up in the house because it is so stinking hot outside! But that means I have had plenty of time to paint. I am trying to decide what to do on this painting....I am considering possibly placing bushes along the edge of the arena to take care of the "sky meets ground abrubtly" look. I like the contrast of the horse's coat color with the blue so I don't want to complicate the background too much, some low greenery? Any comments would be appreciated!

Bridle Work

The bridle is close to being finished, still have to work on the bit ring and the reins. Added some more paint to the gloved hand and started a little on the boot.

More layers

I have had some time to work on this painting...adding more layers to the horse's coat to darken it and give it depth. Put a thin coat of payne's gray on the bridle, glove and boot also.

Back to work

Well, this painting hasn't been moving very far very fast! But I will have more time to commit to it now that I have quit my mid-day stall mucking job, so stay tuned....I shall start making progress on it regularly!