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.

"Sam" a Christmas present of a pet portrait

This pet portrait is of a Greyhound called Sam. Sam's owner did not know I was trying to get a photo of Sam to paint and surprise her for a Christmas gift. I had to enlist Anna (co-worker) to try to get a photo from Lorena without her knowing what was going on. After a couple of tries, Lorena sent a photo of Sam's face. The bottom of the mouth was missing in the photo but it was a very intriguing and challenging foreshortened view. I was happy with the result and Lorena was extremely appreciative. Love it when my art work is appreciated.



"Sam" a pet portrait
Oil on board 14" x 11 framed Christmas gift

"Simon" - a Christmas present

This is a Christmas present I painted of "Simon" for Evan. Simon was a friendly and very large dog who loved the outdoors and people. This was painted quite large to give Simon the presence he embodied.  I love painting pets as I think of the dog and owner through the whole process. Simon passed away this fall, the world feels just a little smaller without him.

Hoping everyone enjoyed a Merry Christmas and to my artist friends...may your brushes be wet throughout the New Year!

"Simon"

Oil on board 20" x 16" - a framed gift.

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.

"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

"Chi Chi 2"

This painting was a gift to my sister Shannon. Chi Chi is a rescued pug that is so full of character and facial expressions that make it fun to paint her. Shannon and Jim put up a real Christmas tree this year and Ch iChi loved to sit under it and smell the pine needles. She coveted the Christmas tree skirt as her private blanket. Click here for a view of Chi Chi 1.

"ChiChi"

Oil on gallery wrap canvas with sides painted

8" x 8"

Not For Sale (gift)

Happy Birthday Shannon!

I had tried to preset this blog entry to go live on Shannon's birthday as we were in Las Vegas. The posting did not go live, so here it is (a little late).

"Chi Chi"

Ink on 3" x 3" tile

... a birthday gift

This was a fun and interesting way to paint a pet portrait of Chi Chi for my sister Shannon. I have painted Chi Chi twice before, but this little one is intended for my sister's new craft room, her new happy place.

"Iggy" A Pet Portrait

"Iggy"
SOLD

8" x 8" Oil on board

Moira showed me photos of her son's and girlfriend's new puppy "Iggy". Now tell me, don't you just want to snuggle up and cuddle this one! Instead I had permission to put my paints to work, and have fun, it just felt good. This pup was also in my FCA juried grouping.

"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.

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

Commission - A Dog Portrait of Timi

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This commission was a dog portrait of Timi (right) for a Christmas present.I painted a small acrylic picture (upper left) of Timi to get a feel for her face and shape. I enjoyed this small picture in my office and everyone commented that Timi was expressive and looked like a character. I had a lot of fun painting this one as I did not have the pressure of the final product.

The picture (bottom left) is the commission with the original background. The background was not satifactory to the purchaser so I changed the background (below on right).

Now I was not satisfied, so once again I worked on the background and below is the final picture. It is certainly easier to paint for myself than a commission, but it was fun to do and as always, a learning process. The recipients were pleased with their gift.

 

 Acrylic on masonite panel in a 16" x 20" frame - Sold

Snickers, a dog portrait

This beautiful elderly lab is my brother's best friend. He has been with Ken from a pup and is definitely a one man dog. My friend Karen Hiebert took Snicker's picture (and many more reference photo's) on her new camera on the sly for me. I painted this picture in oil on birch board, framed it in Calgary and dropped the picture at his cabin when he was out for the day. I wish I could of seen his reaction as he did not know I was painting it for him. Snickers is near the end of his life and I wanted to capture his presence and his aging features.

Snickers Oil on birch board 12x16 Not For Sale

Click on picture for a close up view

Below is the photograph taken by my friend Karen Hiebert.



Portrait of Chi Chi

This loving pet belongs to my sister Shannon. Chi Chi is 2 years old and is just getting to know her new loving owners, Shannon and Jim. I was surprised at my sister's choice of dogs, but Chi Chi is so happy, friendly, playful and loving that she really grows on you quickly. In my oil class with Robert E. Wood, he suggested the orange grass and I loved the idea and the end product. Chi Chi's face was a real challenge, to suggest such rolls and folds on a flat surface was really interesting. Her eyes are big and expressive. This is her "Are you coming to play? I'm ready!!" look.

Chi Chi Oil on birch board

11 x 14 framed    Not For Sale

Another dog portrait

This friendly face is Muggins. His picture was so cute and expressive, not to mention the dress up clothes that I just had to try and paint him. I painted the whole birch board with a mixed orange under painting and then painted him on top. I have now tried a water colour (Buddy), an acrylic (Bronte) and Muggins is in oil. I am happy with the results and think I captured cute Muggins.

Oil on birch board

10 1/2" x 13" unframed
click on painting to see a larger view
SOLD

Bronte, a pet dog portrait

My good friend Joan sent me a picture of Bronte with her Xmas bow tie on when I requested one to use as a resource to try and paint another dog. I changed the colour of the tie and did not paint the Christmas tree in the background. I really enjoyed painting Bronte as she is so expressive, a really loving, pet me, pet me, tail wagging friendly spirit. I painted her with acrylic on birch board. I have this portrait framed in a metal frame and have her up on our coffee room wall at work (for a little while)...fitting as she likes people so much!!

"Bronte" Acrylic on Birch board approx. 13" x 15"