Saluki 1 by Catherin McMillan

Saluki I

By Catherin McMillan

5" x 7" pen and wash

$55.00 includes postage

10% of the sale price will be donated to

Stola Saluki Rescue

Pay Pal available

email:  catherin@animalarthouse.com

Golden Retriever by Dawn Secord

This is Prince - a Golden Retriever.

At this time he is gone. He lived to be almost 15 years old and we understand he had quite a healthy life. Prince lived with a great family who adored him.
He was a beautiful dog inside and out. His family told emailed about his portrait, "It is beautiful and captures his soul. You made us cry in a joyous way."

Thank you to Prince's family for allowing me to paint their special boy. Please contact me if you would like a commission of your dog!

Dawn Secord

http://www.dawnsecord.com/

blog: Enjoying the Journey!

http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

Dark Chocolate

August has been an extremely hectic month filled with an abundance of garden produce, vacation and family visits, but managed to squeeze in time for this commission.

This is Rico, a richly, dark colored, Chocolate Lab painted in gouache. It's one of my "Past to Present" themes that shows this gorgeous boy as a pup and a young adult with his favorite place to be in the background. Rico loves to swim!

This painting was a delight to do as his owner took some very good reference photos in great lighting that showed the wonderful highlights in his coat. It was also my great luck to have the photos shot in the same location with the same lighting! Doesn't happen very often, but when it does it makes combining images into this kind of painting soooo much easier!

Hope everyone's summer has gone well! Thanks for looking!

Catherine Temple
www.petportraitsbycatherine.com

Carly and Merlin

I have two oil paintings waiting in the wings to be started/completed but couldn't resist doing another watercolor, a little bigger than usual, about 8x10. This one is of my daughter Carly and our horse, Merlin based on a photo taken while she was home last summer. She just completed 2 years of service in the Peace Corps and as of 2 days ago is home for good, or at least until she decides what to do with the rest of her life! I think I will keep the original, but prints are always available if you are interested.

Judith A. Johnson

sparky gets da keybard wile Elin Pendleton is traveling

mom left for a few monutes so i am typn this to you to tell my stori. i cant hit the shift key and type so it wil be in these little letters. i no better but when you be small and a dog that is da way it goes.

we four --mom, me, onslo and the old dog--went for long walks over the dunes 'n' i found so much to smell 'n' see. even on the rope things i cud get my nose in places. beach places smel gud.

mom made da leaky face again when we were at that bell tower thing.

then the next day it was drive and drive more--i hate that part--i hides in mom's elbo alla da way. now we be on the beach in a place she calls ocean-o, but i no see any beach, jsut sand. lots other dawgs too, an lotsa horses, too. bark

be4 we left --bet you dint no i cud do numbers like dat, mom spent time taking us down to nother beach, where dere was water. i played wit onslo an' mom painted da sunny ocean and all be4 we left.

here is da pichur out da back windo of da camp thing wit da bell tower where she made leaky face. it be on da left side, see it, ya.

morrow we be home an' i like dat. uhoh here she come bak. bye

sparky i be da wonder dawg

If Only... new oil - Carol Chretien

This painting was inspired by images I took myself when I was painting a commission of 4 Chow Chows a few years ago.
Bear is a beautiful white Chow. The lighting in my ref images came from back lit sunlight in the kitchen of his house. One of the most fun subjects to paint is a "white" pet, full of color from all types of reflection.
I have saved this ref for a time when I felt compelled to paint him again. It sold shortly after posting it to help homeless animals. Donation is helping Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center. thanks for looking!

painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Pom Cloud," 6" square, Pomeranian pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $249 to the first taker. Inquiries may always come to me. I was so crabby when I came into the studio tonite, and I spent a good amount of time searching for an appropriatly grouchy face to paint, all to no avail. Surprisingly (to me), I settled on this little one, a Pomeranian from the 2007 Lake Orion Dog Days event. Just looking at the series of photos I took of her floating at the end of her leash made me feel better. Tomorrow I will have a rare quiet afternoon in the studio. I plan to get through this big ole' mess of emails requiring responses, and also do some serious editing on Volume Two of the Painting a Dog a Day book, which isn't nearly as far along as it should be. I think both tasks will be accompanied by healthy servings of freshly baked zucchini bread. For those of you who are looking for something to do this weekend, I'll be sketching pet portraits atAddison Oaks Campground on Saturday. It even looks like the weather will cooperate - so bring your furred one on out!! Zucchini bread optional.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim Santini ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Watson by Dawn Secord

Watson is a very special dog who was rescued from a hording situation in Illinois. He is a cross of hound and husky. Due to his lack of socialization he was a candidate to be euthanized.

The local shelter there would only release Watson to one person - his current owner. Watson has thrived in his new loving home and has blossomed into a wonderful companion. This portrait of Watson is to be a Christmas gift from one sister who lives here in Southern California to her sister that lives with Watson in Illinois.

It was an honor to paint such a special dog.

Thank you for viewing my work!

Dawn Secord, Artist

Website: http://www.dawnsecord.com/

Blog: http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

First Light of Fall - Carol Chretien

The latest Dalmatian oil from my easel. Lizzie, the Dal Model extraordinaire, who works for food...was my Muse. The fact that I love Autumn beyond any other season made me want to explore the bouncing shadows and light that comes with changing colors...I did invent the colors here but they seemed to work. The actual painting is more colorful then what I see on my computer screen. The painting will benefit SAVE THE DALMATIANS rescue when sold. 20% goes straight to the rescue. can be purchased here: www.carolchretien.com click the AVAILABLE paintings gallery.

Baronessa Grace Vom Alpenhof

I've always loved German Shepherd Dogs. They have such kind eyes, full of wisdom and fun, and you just know that you can trust them to the ends of the earth. These dogs need intelligent handling to bring out the best in them, but it is well worth the extra patience involved, because a good GSD is simply one of the best dogs around.This is Baronessa Grace Vom Alpenhof, a young GSD I was privileged to paint recently. She is from the direct bloodline of the famous Vom Kirschental kennels in Germany, is a formidable guard dog, and gave me kisses the second time I met her. This 14 x 18 portrait was done in Acrylic, a medium I am becoming increasingly comfortable with, and is now hanging proudly in Grace's Mum's foyer.

Heather Andersonhttp://www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com/

Trio

All these little pups belong to a cousin and they are headed her way. These were challenging in that the reference photos were very small and the dogs are white and black so there was some creative coloring going on. I think they turned out pretty cute, though, and I am happy with them. I hope she is, too!

Judith A. Johnson

Moose

This portrait was the prize in a raffle for the SPCA of SWMI. This is Moose, who happens to be a rescued dog, and is well loved by her family who were thrilled to win the raffle! Her owner tells her story:
Moosie was a throwaway dog who had a very rough beginning. She is four, or five, we just aren't certain. She came to us through a friend through a foster family through KAR through finding her on the street in dire need of a family. Well, let me say, she is "home" now and she could not be more loved or cherished. My son is currently in Europe, recently engaged, and we think this will be a lovely gift! Moosie is half Jack Russell and half Scotty...she has the quietest of personalities and we would like you to meet her so you can capture her gentle spirit.
I hope I have, she was a good model!

Judith A. Johnson

painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Bella at the Wheel," from the "Sunday Driver" series of paintings, 4" x 5", Maltese portrait in acrylic on board, not for sale. Inquiries may come to me.

A few years back I fell in love with a painting that was part of an art scavenger hunt and festival. I was working my own booth at the street fair, but called around to learn who the artist was - I wanted to own this piece with every ounce of my being. I phoned her that morning from my booth and she promised to return my call later. Later that day, a woman came into my booth with her daughter and mother. She was at the street fair specifically to see my work. We got to talking and discovered all sorts of things in common, along with the fact that she was the artist I had phoned earlier. I felt as though I had known her my whole life, and an easy friendship was struck up immediately.

I have visiting priviledges for the painting (it wasn't for sale), but if I show up at Kirsten's with an art book and some wine, I can enjoy it in her home.

And she recently came to my rescue. Kirsten donated her stash of the anaglypta wallpaper I was coveting, saving me from having to order it for my studio remodel. I thought a small token of my appreciation was in order for which Bella's painting might suffice.

So, Kirsten, here's a formal thank you! You're the bestest!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PS Speaking of street fairs, I'll have a booth at the Lake Orion Dog Days event this Saturday. I'll be set up near the Orion Art Center at the south end of Anderson Street from 10am-2pm. There will be a Blessing of the Dogs, a pet parade, the crowning of the new Doggy Mayor (who gets their portrait painted by moi), pet adoptions, and all sorts of events, including prizes for various categories like Best Trick (which my son and Finnigan won last year when they sang the Happy Birthday song together). Stop on by to book your portrait, browse paintings available for purchase, and enjoy the day.

DOG PARADE WEDNESDAY

Did you see the slim-as-a-crack-in-the-atmosphere dog that just whizzed past the window? This is the elegant SALUKI, an ancient hound that has its roots in the Arabian desert, and was already an ancient breed when the Pharaohs ruled Egypt.Traditionally, these beautiful dogs were hunting hounds, but today, they are loved companions. Salukis are intelligent, loyal, and affectionate with their families, but tend to be aloof and dignified with others. These delightful Hounds still retain a shadow of their hunting instincts, so they should never be allowed to roam unattended.But then, it is basic safety and courtesy to keep an eye your dog of any breed when they are outside.Today's Original Miniature Watercolour is 3.5 x 4 inches, and comes matted with a white 5 x 7 mat. This classy little painting is just $40. shipping included, and anyone interested can contact me at: anderson.animalart@ sympatico.ca
www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

All Finished! Terrier Sleeping by Elin Pendleton, AAEA, WAOW

"Toes Up" Original oil on linen, 9 x 12 $475
There he is, all comfy and totally zonked out. Even the whiskers are in (enlarge it to eight inches to see), and the hierarchy of edges is in place. I didn't detail out the links on the collar, and I kept those values lower. Unlike the details around the mouth and eye, because that's where I want the muzzle to be more important. The pure circle-shape of the collar ring could have been a huge eye-catcher, so again lowering the value helped there. Squint your eyes and see how it melts into the background!

Now look at that rightmost hind foot and how it "reads right" as a gray blue mid value. Even though you saw it earlier and saw the contrast between it and the front paws--can you see why having both back feet lower in value keeps you in the painting? Values are SO important in design. Knowing where to put them to create the composition is a very left-brain thing (although after a couple thousand paintings it can become right-brain intuitive).

News around here...the last couple days have seen a crew on Two Trees clearing the fire breaks for another long season where we worry about wildland fires. Being inside the Preserve means keeping all loose brush/leaves/pine needles bagged up and away. But this year's clearing required heavy equipment and hand laborers. Here's a picture of our blooming bougainvillea on the back fence, now bisecting a nicely cleared area. All that tan stuff on the far mountain is fuel in the form of dry grass. But we're inside a cleared ring around our place. Rain? What's that?

My demo in Ukiah is coming up on August 13, and then the workshop in Sebastopol, ending with a second demonstration on August 20 there. I'm thinking about what I need to take with me for these exciting events!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Elin Pendleton Putting in the Details on the Sleeping Terrier

Now that the canvas is covered with all the inherent values and inherent colors of the composition, the FUN begins! This is where the one inch brush is set aside, and the 1/3 or 1/2 inch filbert comes out and starts to dance.

By turning the edge of the brush and changing the shape of the line, I can make a mark that is either thick or thin, depending upon the need. That's how the darks on the muzzle of the dog went in.

I'm literally dancing around the canvas (and please, no video cameras!) while this is being done. I fill the brush with the color I need and then put it in all the places it needs to go. For example, the tan color (done with yellow ochre in the shadows and burnt sienna/cad orange in the lights) is placed in several areas if I've mixed up a batch of that useful hue.

I hope this series of lessons has been useful to you. Comments to the posting wherever you see it is always appreciated, as that way I know you're "out there". And if you have questions, I can also answer them with a reply, providing a permanent place for people to learn. Thanks for doing that.

You can again refer to the source material from the original post in this series, over on the blog.
It's HERE.

And just for kicks and giggles, here's a picture of the three studio dogs. Onslow, who is having his portrait done above, on the left. Q or the LBD at age NINETEEN is in the middle, and Sparky the wonder companion is on the right. I think the old girl's doing pretty well for being old enough to vote, even tho' totally deaf. She's a German Pinscher, about 30 pounds. All have shiny coats, probably due to what I feed 'em. (Not commercial food).

My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Fun At The Agility Nationals

This past weekend my husband and I joined friends at the Canadian Agility Nationals in Ottawa. It was a big event, with some 600 dogs competing. What a treat to have this in Ottawa, just a short 45 minute drive away from Sheltie Hollow. It was held at the National Capitol Equestrian Park where we have attended some big horse shows, seen the famous Show Jumping duos, and where, in the past, we were often a Vendor. Standing in what is usually the large Jumping Ring, I glanced up at the steep hill the riders and horses navigate in the major shows, and I was awed at the skill and bravery they have, to face such an obstacle.This past weekend the large ring was filled with smaller rings where dogs were doing various courses and classes, and the dogs were no less courageous facing those courses than the horses are in facing the huge jumps they deal with.My friend and I declared a "Girly Day", left our husbands comfortably in a shady spot where they could see everything and have easy access to the food concessions, and off we went to explore. We were lucky enough to have passes that allowed us to carefully and respectfully wander in among the dogs who were waiting to compete or resting after their runs, and to stand at ringside to take photos of dogs taking the jumps at break-neck speed and zipping through tunnels. What amazing athletes they are!Every dog I saw was focused and eager when it was their turn to run the course, and before and after, they lounged in shaded tents with their people, obviously relaxed and having fun. It was enormously exciting to see breeds that I haven't seen before (except in photographs) like the Lakeland Terrier, the Shiba Inu, and the Kelpie, as well as the Italian Greyhound, a breed that I haven't seen for years. It was great too, to see mixed breeds competing, and dogs of all shapes and sizes. 600 dogs - I was in Heaven!While I haven't had time yet to do a painting/drawing from the photos I took on the weekend, I have included an image of my Graphite Drawing "NEXT!" There are always lots of Border Collies and Shelties at these events, barking, running, and having a wonderful time.It was great hanging out with a best friend, doing a bit of Doggy Shopping at the vendor tents, and when the four of us were thoroughly tired, retiring to a cool coffee shop to quietly visit and talk over the day.You'll notice that I haven't mentioned our dogs. They enjoy the jumps and tunnel in the garden, and two of them are perfectly capable of doing Agilty at some level, but I am the liability there. I could never remember the course route, (don't even ask about when I tried my hand (feet) at dancing!) and I could never keep up with a Sheltie. The cat is laughing hysterically at the thought!www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com
Posted

The Sleeping Terrier Continues - Elin Pendleton, Oil, 9 x 12

As I continue to paint in the large shapes of the upside down sleeping terrier, I am very aware of the values of each of those big shapes. Notice the difference between the left front paw (in light) and the same white rear paw (in shadow). Values matter!

One subscriber asked, "How can you be sure to get accuracy without a drawing in place?" Good question! As I paint, I am judging the relationships among the various shapes. I learned from Richard Schmid while he painted a portrait from a live model in Scottsdale, that he is always doing comparisons from a known measurement. Sometimes he says it is the space between the eyes, or the diameter of one of the lenses of the wearer's glasses. For me, in this painting, I am measuring the height and length of the dog, and imaginary horizontal and vertical lines across the composition. For example, I'll imagine a line going across the tip of the leftmost paw, and then see where it intersects the other paws in the source material. I'll place the paws (as I did with the hind feet in relation to that left paw) either above or below that horizontal. This is a basic drawing skill, and one that can be learned with a good class in drawing.

For me, accuracy isn't so much about duplicating the source material, as it is about getting the "feel" of the animal and what it is doing. If it is only accuracy, then a photograph with today's modern digital tools would be "good enough". I'm an artist first.

Did you enjoy Frank's illustrations from yesterday? I hadn't seen the one with the Joker. Heath Ledger would be proud!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Elin Pendleton continues the Terrier Painting in Oils

I emphasize the value structure and impact a painting needs to have to really be worthy for a second, closer look. Although not set in stone, as many artists make a body of work that doesn't have this feature, I believe that for "most" artists, a strong value structure will carry the day.

At this point I'm painting big shapes of a particular value to hold together the structure of the coming details. You saw the source material yesterday, so you know at least in your mind, what is coming. But at this stage, look at the beautiful brushwork on the right side, and the subtle complementary colors of orange and blue in that lower right section of dark! Wow. No matter how detailed the dog becomes, that area will be a secondary area of interest. No dog eyelashes yet! Details come later, after the value structure is in place. All of this so far has been done with the cool box colors.

This is fun, painting with the juicy Classic Artist Oils. I still love acrylics, both Open and traditional, yet it is such fun to do a thick, juicy oil to mix it up.

I had a wonderful visit from a former student who graciously credits me with giving him direction when he needed it about ten years ago. Frank Stockton is an editorial illustrator now living in New York, and his imagery is on the cover of Communication Arts this month. The link will take you to the magazine's page where you'll see him and his work. Teaching has so many rewards, and knowing Frank has been at the top of the list lately. Check his web site and look over his list of clients! He admits that there was a lot of hard work to get where he is now.

Congratulations to Roy Renfro of Plano, Texas, on his purchase of the plein air Rocks painting which has been added to his collection of Elins!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.