Sunday, December 26, 2021

From the Sketchbook - Sheep painting

 More from my mixed media sketchbook!  This is an acrylic painting of one of my pet Katahdin sheep named Muffin.  I've done a couple other paintings of her in the past, my first one almost ten years ago!  Muffin is a special sheep and will be turning 14 years old next year.

sheep katahdin ewe farm animal pet portrait study sketch acrylic painting

For the background I applied a watercolor wash of a lighter teal then painted the pattern over top in acrylics using a stencil.

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Random Project of the Week - Fun blue heron painting

 The idea for this sort of pop art style acrylic painting came to me back in August.  I was asked to create a piece of art that would go with a blue and gray room with shabby chic decor.  I chose a blue and gray bird (of course!) that is native to the area - a Great Blue Heron - and I used large, loose brush strokes throughout the piece.  I think the hint of orange on the heron complements the blue so well.

Below are the marker thumbnail sketches I drew a few months ago.

Monday, November 8, 2021

From the Sketchbook - Chicken chums

This acrylic study is a little smaller than 6" X 3 1/2" on mixed media paper.  I painted two of my pet hens who passed away a few years ago.  They were buddies and I just love this picture of the two of them relaxing in the grass.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Chickadee in acrylics

This acrylic painting of a Black-capped Chickadee is done on a 10" X 8" canvas board.  I painted part of this piece during an acrylic painting demo I gave recently.


 And here is "Fluffy," one of the Black-capped Chickadees we've tamed, checking out the painting.  It looks huge compared to a real chickadee!

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Painterly portrait of McKinley

My latest pet portrait is of a much-loved spaniel named McKinley. Her portrait is done in a painterly style on a deep stretched canvas. It was commissioned as a gift for McKinley's owners.

springer spaniel dog pet portrait animal art acrylic painting
springer spaniel dog pet portrait animal art acrylic painting

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

From the Sketchbook - A couple bird studies

 Back to my normal subject matter!  The American Redstart was done in watercolor and outlined in pen, and the Eastern Bluebird was painted in acrylics.

I'm having so much fun with this mixed media sketchbook.  I love that I can keep my watercolor, acrylic, pencil, and pen studies all in one book.