Saturday, May 31, 2014

Black Labrador Pencil Drawing Pet Portrait Commission

This dog portrait is now ready to be sprayed with fixative to prevent smudging of the graphite until it gets framed under glass. It is to be given as a father's day gift so I knew I had to complete the drawing very soon so that the client has enough time to get it framed.

Please contact me if you wish to have your pet immortalized as a custom painting or drawing!  I also offer GIFT CERTIFICATES that are perfect for any special occasion for that hard to buy loved one in your life.

"Trigger" Black Labrador
graphite pencil
5" x 7"
COMMISSION


Friday, May 30, 2014

Scanning problems with update of dog drawing

I enjoy my technological tools but sometimes they make me go crazy. Intermittent scanner issues have been causing me lots of trouble lately. I had to resort to use the smaller scanner on my printer which does not give me the results I desire but it will have to do for now. So here is the portrait of the black Labrador just about done!



Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Art Exhibtion and Sale this weekend!

I will be participating in the following art show in Azilda, Ontario this weekend. If you can make it, make sure to come by and say hello! I will have some originals and several framed prints for sale at very reasonable prices!

Portrait of Dog Drawing Work in Progress

On this step I continue to work the dog's fur, making my way down the face while ensuring each strand of hair is of the perfect length,  direction and shading. Now that the nose has been added, the dog no longer has that "ghostly" look stage.

I will now be able to take a step back and tweak any areas I see need adjusting...


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The start of a new commissioned pencil drawing

Switching from pastels, I am now working with graphite/charcoal pencils to render this detailed portrait of a black Labrador dog for a client. I will be posting more work in progress images of this dog drawing so do come back and visit!

Oh, and I have not forgotten to post the six cat pastel portrait...I have to wait until the recipient opens their gift so as to not spoil the surprise!

To view more detail on the drawing, click on each image for a larger view.



Friday, May 16, 2014

Floating Leaf painting

Just thought I'd share a little painting that is out of my norm!

I few months ago, I was experimenting with some new pastels and polychromos oil based pencils. I used one of my photographic reference of a floating leaf with  lots of colorful patterned reflections in the water. I was determined to finish this painting in a few hours! Although I did not achieve the results I was envisioning, I am content that I did try a different approach to painting which was to not spend hours and hours working it to perfection.


"Just Floating By"




approx. 5"x7"
pastel and pencil
Available for Purchase 
(contact the artist)

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Some of my Essential Art Studio Furniture

Finally, after many years of working on our kitchen table, my studio/office is slowly being transformed into a more comfortable place to work. My newest addition is a sturdy wooden work table (that I designed to custom fit my space and needs) which my dad built for me.  It measures almost 7 feet long, 2 feet wide and about 36" high; perfect to hide a small shelving unit, an end table and a work stool all at a comfortable height to work without breaking my lower back! The table which also sports two roomy front drawers is built of solid pine and painted with an antique distressed finish. 

It sure beats dragging all my framing supplies out of storage and have to use the kitchen table or counter top as place to frame my artwork and cut mat boards and foam core!  I will be adding pegboard to the wall space above the table which will provide additional storage for tools.


Last year, my dad also built me a storage unit to organize foam board, mat board, sheets of glass, as well as various supports for my pastel paintings. I got the idea from an artist friend and then custom designed my own to accept standard sheets of mat board.  This storage unit is built of pine and plywood and has the same as the table.


The very first project I convinced my dad to build for me was a taboret to store all my pastels. After looking at many types of taborets, with careful planning and by combining several designs, I came up with this baby!
 The taboret has six fully extensible drawers as well as 2 lower open shelves for storage of papers and boards.

I just love my modest and cozy little basement art studio! ~ Thanks to my wonderful dad who so enthusiastically built these items for me ♥ I know they will be cherished and used for many, many years to come.