This summer I was commissioned to paint this small acrylic pet portrait of a senior Pointer named Avery. I had the pleasure of meeting this sweet girl and taking the reference photographs for her painting. Her owners wanted to capture Avery in her favorite chipmunk (or "chippy") watching spot in the garden.
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This portrait of one of Muscovy ducks is my entry for this year's Trekell Pet Portrait Competition. This competition requires artists to use a special shaped birch panel as the support. I was relieved the shape of this year's panel was simpler than in previous years, and I felt I could paint what I wanted and not worry too much about how the shape affects the composition.
The Muscovy is named Laguna. She is a rather special duck as she has heterochromia - both of her eyes are blue and brown! She loves her baths, of course, and I wanted to capture her contentedly preening after a bath with water beading up on her waterproofed feathers. I hope others who see this painting feel the peace I feel when I watch my birds preen.
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Here is my entry for this year's Trekell Pet Portrait Competition. This competition requires artists to use a special shaped birch panel as the support. This time I painted eight of my chickens, some who are still alive and some who have passed, all gathered in a circle with the sun behind them. Although it was not my original intention, it looks as though it is from the point of view of a bug on the ground. So I've titled this painting "You Are The Bug." One of these special hens I have painted several times before - can you spot her?
This is my final entry for the 2024 Trekell Pet Portrait Competition. I painted my late Boston Terrier, Sissy, chasing a butterfly among the wildflowers. I have many photos of her trying to catch flying insects and she looked as though she were dancing.
It's time once again for Trekell's Annual Pet Portrait Competition and here is my
first entry! This competition requires artists to use a special shaped
birch panel as the support and this time Trekell didn't make it easy! After a lot of time searching through my photos and editing several of them, I found that my sheep, Muffin's, head fit nicely in this
flower-like shape and decided to add a couple chicks
on her head to fill the space at the top. 😁
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Here are two separate commissioned pieces I finished in the last month. The adorable little chicken is Blanche and her portrait is the fourth in my painterly chicken portrait series which I have now posted HERE. Bandit the Husky's portrait was a birthday gift for his owner. Both are done in acrylics on cotton paper.
It's been a while since I've painted a horse! I just finished this acrylic over watercolor study of two - a mare and her foal. Thanks to Jonathan Troyer for the reference photo. The mare in the picture is half Gypsy Vanner and half Appaloosa - her markings were fun to paint! I also enjoyed capturing the intense shadows in this piece.
I couldn't resist
painting the newest additions to my farm. These are my adorable Muscovy ducks, Jeanette, Laguna, and Winona, painted in acrylics on mixed media paper.
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This 9" X 6" study is painted in acrylics on watercolor paper. Thanks to John McKay for letting me use his bobcat photo as reference. I was immediately inspired when I came across John's photo - I loved the pose and the fall leaves on the ground. The only thing missing, I thought, was an autumn sunrise.
Here are the rest of my drawings, paintings, and sketches for this year's BIRDTOBER art challenge. This year, like last year, I couldn't complete the challenge, but I am glad it gave me some motivation to draw more.
BIRDTOBER has begun! BIRDTOBER is an art challenge hosted by @kaylafiskbirds in which artists draw a bird from a list of prompts every day in October.
This is my painting for day 6. The prompt was "camouflage" and I chose to paint a Ruffed Grouse in acrylics. Ruffed Grouse always seem to see you before you see them!
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I'm back! I have been busy with several projects and I am just now getting around to posting this piece I painted back in 2022. In February 2022 I painted a painterly portrait of my Boston Terrier, Dorie, and I decided to paint a matching portrait of my other dog, Luna, to hang with it.
I captured Luna in her signature resting position, with her paws crossed and ears
up and alert.
I just completed this 8" X 8" acrylic portrait of Doe, a rescue dog who sadly passed away recently. I was given only a few less-than-ideal reference photos to work from, but there was just enough detail in them for me to be able to capture Doe's smile.
I was commissioned to create this painterly portrait of a rescue hen named Etta. Etta sadly passed away and her owner wanted a special painting to remember her by. The painting is 9" X 6" and is done in acrylics.
These fun portraits of a couple of my pet chickens are done on watercolor paper. Paper is not my usual surface for acrylics as it is more of a challenge to work on than canvas and has a much different texture, but ever since I started my mixed media sketchbook it has grown on me.
The painting of Boomer the Bernese is coming along! All that's left to do is paint in the details on his face and a few touch-ups here and there.
This is Boomer, a sweet Bernese Mountain Dog who is sadly no longer with us. I was asked to paint Boomer's portrait for his human family who misses him so much.
I am finished with the block-in stage and have already begun adding details.
