Sebastian: Final

Here is the almost final (I need to clean up the background a bit) and progress images for the painting I did of my momma's cat, Sebastian, as a kitten. Sebastian will be celebrating his 15th birthday this year. He is a good kitten.

Also, turns out I stopped taking progress photos of this little guy, so the images make quite the jump.

Barn Owl: Part 3

Slowly making progress. Now that the main body of the owl and background are painted in, I just need to wait for it all to completely dry before I finish off the details. I have three ideas for how I want to finish the painting. Hopefully I will have decided which idea I like the best by the time it is dry.

To see past progress images of the Barn Owl take a look at Part 1 and Part 2.

Barn Owl: Part 2

So I was trying to finish the Barn Owl for a gallery gig that is due tomorrow, but I misread the entry forms. The submission is not a digital submission with another week or so before you find out if you made it. This one is a physical submission.

I am smart (shaking head no). Not super bummed about it, though. I am going to submit my Ram and Pronghorn instead. This will allow me to get some serious detail into the feathers of the Owl. All good things.

Below are progress shots up until about 3 o'clock when I reread the papers and decided to take a break:

The back wing is a little bit darker than in the image, the gloss from the couch I painted into is still pretty shinny.

To see the beginning shots, take a look at Barn Owl: Part 1.

Barn Owl: Part 1

I have a secret, I have not been painting very much lately. Illustrator and Photoshop have distracted me a bit, but I am back to it with desperation. I want to have this painting finished by the 16th for a gallery gig...right... so far I am moving at a pretty good pace, so hopefully. I have been listening to Mozart nonstop in hopes that he will help me concentrate.

Underdrawing: Pthalo Blue 

Underpainting: Vandyke Brown 

Overpainting and details: Titanian/Zinc White, Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Indian Yellow, Alizarin Permanent, French Ultra Marine, Pthalo Blue, Red Iron Oxide, Van Dyke Brown, Payne's Gray  

Gold Fish: Part 3

Turns out that I shouldn't have just played on my computer all week long when really I should have been painting. I am currently in California for Brother-in-Law getting married/Thanksgiving festivities, and will be all week long. This means no painting for me this week. Obviously this week was planned, but last week was not and now I am behind and that much closer to my deadlines. YAY! (nope)

Before we left, though, I did make a little bit more progress on the gold fish:

I like the way back fins have turned out. I have actually finished them off a little bit more, but forgot to take a final photo before leaving. To see past progress photos on the fishes click here and here.

Gold Fish: Part 2

Remember those fishies that I told you about forever long ago? Well I am finally working on them. The past two weeks I was a little out of commision. I got sick from babysitting sick kidos and then babysat them several times while being sick.

Not that I mind all that much, I mean they are pretty great:

But back to the fishies! Below are some progress shots (top two are the underpainting, bottom two are the overpainting), a detail image, and a special fishy movie trailer just for you! 

Snub-Nosed Monkey: Part 1

Snub-Nosed Monkeys are both beautiful and kind of creepy. Mostly because they have no nose. But don't worry, they make up for it with their killer fangs:

The babies (left) are not as colorful as the adolescents and adults, but they are so cute!

Recently I have felt that my drawing skills are falling by the wayside. Along with all of my other goals, which I rarely actually achieve, I am going to add drawing a little bit everyday.

Today I was perusing my Pinterest boards and came across the image of the baby snub-nosed and decided he was the one I was going to draw. Throughout the day I got a little bored painting and went back to the drawing a couple of times. Here it is so far:

I figure I will go slowly and really try to make a finished drawing. This is something I haven't done for a long time. We shall see how it goes.

Kingfisher: Part 1

I love kingfishers. I think they are super cool birds and are the subject of my new piece. It will be a larger piece, at 32" by 20," and I really hope it will turn out okay.

You can barely make out the transfer, but it is there, I promise. I made the board myself, but I prepared it a little bit differently than I have in the past. I think it went well, I actually think I may post about how I made it, but this one ended up having a little bit too much texture. The transfer didn't take as well. I don't think it a problem per se, just something to log away for the future.

Gold Fish: Part 1

Started on a new painting yesterday. I finished the drawing and transferred it onto the board.

I have a new goal: at all times I will have one gallery and two pet pieces going at all times. Right now I have the Octopus, Sebastian, and the Hedgehog. Sebastian is getting close to being done and the Octopus only needs one more layer to dry before I put on the final touches. To keep up my goal, I am adding some gold fish to my pet portrait collection.

A Kingly Hedgehog: Part 3

This morning, when I walked into my painting room, I decided that the face was only okay. After working on it today I now think it is getting there, but I still need to adjust some things.

Also, it takes a very long time to paint quills. As in, my bottom is less than thrilled with me right now and I still have quills to go, as you can see from the picture of the little guy down below:

So my plan right now is to paint all of the quills and the dark areas super contrasty, allow that to dry, and then do glazes on top in order to create the color gradation. I think this will be easier than trying to paint each quill individually. We shall see....

A Kingly Hedgehog: Part 2

The hedgehog's owner's last name is Reines. I thought calling the him kingly was cheeky, go me! 

Started painting him today, I really like his nose. Looking at the photos though, his eyes are maybe a little too bug-eyed. I will fix that. 

Sebastian: Part 3

Made some more progress on the kitten today. Nothing is quite as resolved as the face, but getting there:

Sebastian: Part 2

Making some progress, slow, but still progress on the ginger kitten:

Atlantic Octopus: Part 4

Getting closer to being finished:

Apple Final: Direct Painting - Alla Prima

This morning I was thinking to myself about some steps or guidelines for direct painting and as I was thinking about this I was struck by an odd desire to paint a still life, but not just any still life... fruit.

I used to paint fruit, a lot. Like a lot and a lot. A professor of mine only wanted me to paint fruit and I spent years doing so. Needless to say, I have been fruited out.

Below is the still life set-up (a horrible photo, the spot light isn't on), some quick progress photos, and the final image:

6 in x 6 in, Braeburn Apples, Oil on Panel 

I have decided that I don't like the shadow mass on the back apple. It looks a little concave to me. I will have to fix that.

Mr and Mrs Smith: Part 4

The puppies are almost done. I just need to wait for Mr Smith to dry and then knock down his highlights a little bit and they will be done! Here they are as of today:

 

Mr and Mrs Smith: Part 3

Heavens, these puppies are hard to paint. Here is a little bit more progress:

Atlantic Octopus: Part 3

Making a little bit more progress, her left side is almost completely done.

Atlantic Octopus: Part 2

A little bit of progress made on the octopus:

Here is a detail of my very angry octopus:

Also, I mentioned in my first post about Madam Octopus that I like octopi. Turns out that octopi is the incorrect pluralization, who knew? Also as much as I like octopuses, I don't think that I would ever like to hold a Giant Pacific, but they are still pretty great.

Narcissus Romance: Part 1

This is a small 6x6 painting that I am working on of some buttercup flowers.