my girl callie

We just celebrated our dog Callie's first birthday.  Fun to paint a dog that did not matter if I played a little bit.  She is painted on a 12 x 12 x 2" canvas.  She has brought so much joy to our lives.  

hold tight

This piece was a surprise father's day gift for a Nashville Dad.  It is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.  

sophie's two

This was a surprise for a Dad on father's day.  I forgot all about posting it.  It is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.

summertime

Even though it was hot, humid and a Monday today I had a good day.  Three of my least favorite things unless the Monday happens to be the first day of a week long vacation.  I painted this on a 20 x 20 x 2" linen canvas.sold

say cheese

I advised a friend how to best photograph his dogs if he wanted a portrait painted.  I suggested he take the photograph outside and to get down on the dogs level.  Sounds easy enough? Not really!  I was shocked when he sent his photos back and he had all three dogs cooperating in one picture.  The lab was happy in every shot and the little white one looked like he/she was about to receive a steak dinner.  Bright eyed and smiling in every picture.  The little black and white one made me laugh because it one was looking away in all of the shots....up in the air, at the other dogs, to the side....  Maybe a little attention deficit disorder??  This is painted on an 11 x 14" linen canvas.  

Jack

Jack brought lots of happiness to family friends of ours. He recently passed so my friend surprised her husband with this 8 x 8 x 2" portrait of him.  I hope it brings back good memories for the family.  Lots of love in those eyes.

hanging on

I got home from being out of town for a few days and this hydrangea was still perky.  This is painted on an 18 x 24 x 2".sold

leia's happy place

I have always loved golden retrievers because of their smile.  This is a commissioned piece and the owner said Leia is happiest when she is at the beach.  This is painted on an 8 x 8 x 2" canvas.  Leia is having some medical issues at the present so say a little prayer for her if you will.

last chance

Instead of doing everything else I needed to do today I have been in my studio. I am going out of town tomorrow so I decided to paint my "about to wilt" flowers one more time.  One more time on a big 30 x 40 x 2".  This one came together a teeny bit better than the last piece. I have so much to learn but think it is pretty cool that there is no ceiling in the growing process.sold

believe

I was listening to Mumford and Sons, "believe" as I started to post this.  Several times over the last couple of days I did not "believe" I would be posting this painting. It has gone through many changes. This is a big painting, 30 x 40 x 2". That is a lot of surface to consider. I added and deleted fruit, painted out a little blue vase, scraped the whole background out and painted it again. Painting is not easy.

 Last but not least, the wind blew the painting over after I photographed it so I had to pick debris out of it.  The dead ants did not do anything to improve it. The bottom picture gives you a better idea of the size and was photographed after I repaired it.sold

color me pink

I am still working on these high key still life set ups.  A la what I learned from Nancy Franke's workshop. I am still thinking through lots of stuff.   I have a friend who wants me to do one similar that is 30 x 40" so I am working up to that size.  This one is painted on an 18 x 24 x 2".  sold

side kick

I have a friend who needed me to paint a black lab for her that she is planning on giving as a gift.  Since there were no pictures to follow I chose to paint one rather loosely so that it could be most any lab.   Kind of nice not having any specific picture to portray.  This is painted on an 8 x 8 x 2".