New Stuff

So my dog is doing well, still trying to keep her still, and that is not too bad. I guess the worst thing is me going stir crazy. I have only been out of the house for about 1 hour in the last week.

I have been watching every movie we have in the house, and I have done a fair bit of artwork.

What I have discovered is that it is true that people like owls. I have now painted and sold 15 sets of my owl nesting dolls. I started out figuring I would do a couple, but they continue to sell out very quickly.

They are not quick to paint or cheap to buy though. I have to order them online and wait a couple of weeks to get them...plus the shipping to Canada adds a fair bit to the price. I often do research online to make up different groupings of owls..like these ones that have sold:

Freaks, Geeks and Wierdos is a set of unusual and or rare owls- Spectacled owl, Oriental Bay owl, and Long Whiskered Owlett.

Going, Going, Gone was a set of two endangered owls Northern Spotted, and Burrowing Owls, and one exctinct owl, the little Laughing Owl.

The Owls in the Harry Potter books, is another set I have done. Errol the Great Grey Owl, The Malvoys Eagle Owl, Harry's Snowy Owl, Hedwig, Percy's Screech Owl and Ron's Scops Owl, Pigwidgeon.

Owls Down Under is a set of Autralian Owls, the Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl, Barking Owl and Boobook Owl.

I have also done a set of European Owls and a few sets of North American Owls. I have another idea or two to still do. It does take a bit of research and finding a good clear straight on picture can be hard, but I have learned a lot about an animal that I hadn't really thought about much before.

They take quite a while to do, several days at least, and I have been trying to keep my prices down so that they can get out there. I know I don't charge for half the time they take to paint, but it's really nice to see them go to new homes all over.

If there are any owl lovers out there that have any other ideas for a set theme, let me know, I'm all ears!

Painting a Memory Box

I recently had a friend of mine, request a box made for her friend that had recently lost a beloved dog. She wanted this dog and the man's two other dogs on one box.

I was given a photo with three dogs (not sitting right beside each other) and from that I drew a picture of them close together.

I then transferred the picture on to a simple wooden box.

Then I painted in the large areas and began to start the detail.

Then I filled in the requested background colour and finished up the details.

Finally, I worked on a fitting border, (huskies, sleigh) and put several coats of varnish and sanding it between coats.

These boxes can be used for anything, but I have heard people say they put in a few favourite pictures, a collar or dog tags, and then keep it somewhere they can always be reminded of their special friend.

Where Has Your Art Been Used?

I guess the most unusual request from me, was that I do a couple of painitngs on slate, for a man that was going to re do his front doorway with slate. He was in the Lions Club and wanted lions on one piece and some other "big cat" on another piece.

I had no idea what to use, but after a bit of checking I found that I could use acrylics if I sealed it properly with an outdoor varnish. He was told he may have to put on a new coat occasionally if it started looking worn. The pieces would be protected by a roof so they would get little exposure to the elements.

He was thrilled, and as far as I know he has had no problems, that was about 15 years ago.

Pet Portraits.

I sometimes do pet portraits.

This was my old dog Monty:

This is my current dog Tira:

One of my current projects is a painting of someones dog. As with ...well most of the pet portraits that I have done, this beloved pet has passed on.

I can't think of any other paintings that I do that give me both the fear and the excitement that pet portraits do. These are hugely emotional for those that ask for them.

I know some people think.."You paint dogs! Where's the creativity in that?" Well it's not so much creativity as it is sensitivity. You have to find the special quality in that pet that the owner will recognize.

It is scary. I can paint, say a wolf, and if I forget to paint his ear or give him a lump on his head, well who's to know that he wasn't just attacked by another wolf. I can do what I want, because it' s just a random wolf. If I were to give someones loved dog, a gimpy eye, or a weird shaped nose, they will notice. What you really need to nail is the expression. If you get that right, and luckily so far I pretty much always have, you will get a reaction unlike any other art buyer. Smiles, joy, tears. A lot of times tears. That's the big payoff in doing pet portraits.

(I don't mean that I like to make people cry)

(Also just so you know I don't usually give my wolves bumps on the head or missing ears)

Scattered

Am I the only one that seems to get a pile of projects and ideas all at the same time, and doesn't know where to start?

Right now I have a couple already on the go.
I have a little duck ACEO in pencil crayons, that I started and carry to work with me hoping that I will get a few minuties to work on it.
I found an old picture of a tiger, in pastels, that I had pretty much finished except for some details, and I am going to finally finish that one.
I have an idea that I am excited about, that I can't wait to start, but haven't decided what medium to use.
I know I will be doing a series of marine mammals...for someone soon.
..and now I have a pet portrait comissioned, in acrylics, on wood. So my other stuff will go on the back burner for now. Sometimes the decision on where to start, is taken out of your hands, when you have an actual, real client to do work for.

That's all for now.

Except for one final question.
Why am I the only one in my family of five, with the apparent physical ability to change the toilet paper roll?

Painting

I am doing an acrylic painting for a change. I am doing a sea otter from a photo that my daughter took (she works at the local aquarium)

After I drew it out, I went over it with dark paint so I wouldn't lose my lines.

So this is step one.

I am a little punchy because it was a really tough day supervising kids at lunchtime today.

With snow still on the ground and a lot of slush as well, it's a struggle to get across the big field and catch the little ....monkeys...that are throwing snowballs (against the rules).

I am glad that I am home now, can relax and lose myself in painting this day.