Rupert

"Rupert"

9" x 12"   Oil on canvas

#20018517

This is a commissioned painting of a very young King Charles Spaniel as a Mother's Day gift. Rupert is primarily black with brown, tan and white. The challenge in this painting for me was that I did not use black at all. The obvious cute factor and expression was interesting to try and capture. I enjoyed this painting in my art studio and no matter which way I moved, Rupert was watching me.

Finnegan - a commissioned pet portrait

I have never painted a dog that was smiling before so this was really fun. It is always interesting to try and paint a pet whose coat is very similar light shades. It is a challenge to give the pet depth. It was interesting watching Finnegan develop and eventually smile at me! Thank you Tracy for this commission and the surprise tip!

"Finnegan"  Acrylic on canvas with wide sides painted.

10" x 8"     #20010116       SOLD

Showing painted edges

Elvis - A Pet Portrait

  This is a commissioned pet portrait of "Elvis". Elvis was so cute and fun to paint. I had to check and recheck the photo reference on Elvis' tongue placement as it seemed to far right, but that was the correct placement. Tracy had also sent me a photo of Elvis with a tie on...looking so cute and fun that I hope to paint it one day!

"Elvis" 9" x 9"
Acrylic painting with painted wide edges    #20008116   SOLD

These photos show the wide
painted sides. This painting does
not need to be framed.

Kacie, Keelie and Kalli - a pet portrait

This is a pet portrait that Lavona commissioned (thank you!). I loved their bright collars and the differences in each dog's face. The top painting was just about finished so I asked for input and made a couple of minor changes. They were unsure of the vibrant pink background so I toned it down but still kept some of the pink coming through. It was hard to find a neutral colour (with the dogs all being neutral) without washing them out. The final painting is below.

Kacie, Keelie and Kalli - sold

11" x 14" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas with image over the sides and bottom.
#20101015
The response to the gifted painting "... to share with you the bride was so excited with my gift of the dane painting...she had tears in her eyes!  My son too was  thrilled and says.." wow" that looks exactly like her!!"
So grateful for the feedback, thanks Lavona!

Mia Moo - a pet portrait

"Mia Moo"    SOLD

9" x 9" Acrylic on gallery wrap (with painted sides)

This wonderful Great Dane was a commission that was going to be given as a gift. This beauty's attitude really came through in the photo I was given...what a great way to spend my birthday. It was fun using so many colours even though Mia Moo is black and white, I did not use black! I just love her name! I also worked on another commission that I will post later.

Pretty in Pink - A pet portrait

"Pretty In Pink"

12" x 12" Oil on board

#20024315  $175 unframed

I had been wanting to do this female pet for a long time but wasn't sure how to make a basically white dog interesting. I decided to just have fun with it and add wild colours to my heart's content. I started with covering the whole board with Alizarin Crimson to get a nice pink background and worked from there. You can see some of the original colour in her face. I am really happy with this painting and feel I captured her without adding detail.

"Fergus 2" A Pet Portrait

"Fergus"

8" x 8" 1 1/2" gallery wrap canvas with

sides painted (framing not required)

$75

 This family pet is a real character and fun enough to paint a second time!

"Midge and Randal" A Portrait of Pets

"Midge and Randal"

Oil on canvas 12" x 12"

SOLD

These pets are part of  Cathy's family. Shannon (my sister) sent me pictures to paint of Midge (pug) and Randal (lab) to paint for her friend Cathy as a surprise birthday present. Midge, Randal and Cathy all move into Shannon's to look after and play with Shannon's pug ChiChi when Shannon and Jim go on holidays.  Happy Birthday Cathy! Your painting will arrive soon. It has been on display at the Calgary Public Library - Southwood Branch.

"Goliath 2" A Pet Portrait

Above is "Goliath 2" in progress. These are some of the wild colours I chose to start this painting. Goliath is a loved member of Mindi and Dave's family, an elderly pet. I wanted to try painting this again (click here for Goliath 1) to catch Goliath enjoying the ocean in Mexico. Below is the finished painting.

"Goliath 2"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas board

$75 unframed

"Lemon" A Pet portrait

This fun pup is Lemon. Mindi and Dave put a photo of Lemon playing in the snow on Facebook. Who wouldn't want to capture the sense of surprise and fun, it was a delight to paint. I couldn't help but use "Lemon Yellow" in the background!

"Lemon"

8" x 10" Acrylic on canvas, framed
On display at the Calgary Public Library, Southwood Branch until June 30

"Leila 2" A Pet Portrait

This is the second time I have painted the really expressive Leila. She sadly has passed on but her family still treasures the loving memories made with her. Click here to see Leila 1.

"Leila 2"

Oil on board 8" x 8" framed in a black shadow box

$100

"Goliath 1" A dog portrait

This is Mindi and Dave's very elderly dog Goliath. He is a very large and lovable dog that has been a best friend to Mindi and Dave. I tried to capture his "elderly age and resting stage" that he is currently in.

"Goliath"

8" x 10"

Acrylic on canvas

I painted 10 pet and animal portraits/pictures as my entry to be juried into the Federation of Canadian Artists and was accepted. This painting is one of the 10 I had to show for jurying. I had tried once before but had paintings in all different mediums and subjects and was not accepted. I am now an Active Member with the FCA (as of February 2014)!!

"Buddy 2" A Dog Portrait

This is a portrait of my Mom's dog Buddy painted in acrylic. He loved to run around and around my Mom's recreation room and I wanted to capture that sense of movement and fun. I originally painted Buddy in water colour as my very first pet portrait for a gift to my Mom (click here). A second gift is coming your way Mom!  XX 00

"Buddy 2"

Acrylic on canvas

8" x 10"

Not For Sale

Bronte 2 - A pet portrait

"Bronte 2"    SOLD

8" x 8"

Acrylic on Canvas

This is the second portrait I have done of Bronte. She is so expressive and full of loving character, she is a joy to paint. Every year my friend Joan takes a picture of Bronte by the Christmas tree and sends it out as an e-card to spread Christmas cheer. With my artistic license in hand, I play with colours and discard the Christmas tree. You can tell how impressed she was of this event...trusting but weary.

Newton - A commissioned dog portrait

``Newton`` - NFS (Comissioned)

12`` x 16`` Acrylic on canvas

This dog portrait is a Christmas gift for Shelly`s hubby. Newton was posed at the table during some family fun. He looks like he is in the middle of a serious discussion with you and with a cold drink in paw, ready to hear you out. Painting a dog pretty much all one colour was a fun challenge. I thought the old fashioned yellowy-green pop glass fitted the picture better.

Theo - A Dog Portrait

"Theo" NFS

Acrylic on Board

11" x 13.5" in a silver metal frame
click on picture for a larger view

This precious pet belongs to Nicki. He had just been into some beet juice and was doing his best to not look guilty!!! Life with this dog is not dull!

This is the last of the pet portraits from work - 4 dogs and a bluebird nest was sent to me when I asked for pictures of pets to paint over the summer. Most of my summer was fixing up our summer cabin after a lake flood so I did not get much painting done. I need to paint things that have meaning to me, so while I was painting the pets, I could think of the owners and the stories that were supplied. This portrait of Theo will be happily gifted to Nicki

Leila - A Dog Portrait

Leila 

14" x 11" Acrylic on Board
Click on picture for a larger view

I wanted to do pet portraits but painting is a heartful experience for me so I asked my co-workers for pictures. As I paint, I happily think of them, their pet stories and their pet so it is a relatable experience. Leila passed away recently and I am happy to gift this portrait to Tammy! The interesting thing about this painting experience, was the hard time I had aging this dog, she kept coming out as a puppy, it made me think perhaps she had the spirit or personality of a puppy. Tammy said Leila was playful until the end of her life. 

Fergus

Fergus

Acrylic on canvas 20" x 16"
click on picture for a larger view

Helena's Fergus is quite a character. Her stories about Fergus make us both laugh hysterically. Fergus was fun to paint but also a challenge being pretty much all white. You can't see it in this picture but I have used white, blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, and brown - all to make him look white!

Rufus - a pet portrait

Rufus      NFS

11" x 14" Acrylic on board

I asked at work if anyone had a pet photograph that I could paint over the summer. Well the summer was not what I expected and did not get a chance to paint very much. I wanted to paint pictures of pets that I could relate to through their owners, (painting is a heartful experience for me).Rufus was a extremely good protector and friend as well as left the gift of wonderful memories for Sandra and her family.

It was a challenge for me to leave the background white as I love colour so much! In a dark brown frame, I am really happy with the white background. This painting is framed and now hangs in our lunch room at  work. It will be gifted to Sandra when I take it down.

Missing Timi

Well it's been back to work in the New Year and I miss the small picture of Timi I had in my office so I have painted another one in oil. This one is more realistic than the previous one but was just as fun to paint. I had given the previous one as a gift to Tammy (Timi's owner) so she could enjoy it in her work office. Timi has such a character face and is a very expressive dog. Of the pictures in my office, everyone comments on Timi.

"Timi III"

Oil on masonite 10" x 8"
OX110104