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1 Home – 3 Versions

I have learned that I do not enjoy doing the same image over and over. So when I get a request for multiples to commemorate a family home, I love it when I can get various perspectives and just change it up a little. Happy customer(s) / happy artist!

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Sassy

Sassy, a poodle/rat terrier mix (Ratty) was a great challenge on how to show a salt and pepper coat. I chose to go with a line and wash style, using Micron pens and then Daniel Smith watercolors over that.

I always start with eyes. If I can’t get those right, I start over because nothing will work right from that point forward. The owner was thrilled with the eyes, so we got a win! The Rat Terrier is strong in this girl, and she is smart as a whip.

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Shira

I am beginning to work on larger scale portraits. This is Shira. An adorable puppy training to be a therapy dog. I opted for no ink on this little floof of sweet cotton candy. Even on her eyes, which are big black buttons, yet with a sense of depth.

She is in constant motion and putting ink into the mix would stop that motion, in my mind. She has no hard, defined edges. Such a sweetheart. Her personality and temperament is perfect for a little girl who will be bringing smiles to people’s faces her whole life.

Mostly Daniel Smith and some Qor watercolors were applied with a size 10 and 12 brush.

She was a pleasure to paint.

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Completion of a 25 year commitment

I have 28 nieces and nephews. I began handcrafting baby gifts for them when the first one arrived, not dreaming there would be 27 more! They received hand painted rocking horses, tables and chairs, quilts etc.

This year I was determined to finish these out. I had 3 more (and then an older niece commissioned one when she saw these) to do to finish my final commitment. I got the bright idea of painting their grandma’s beloved farm on ornaments. Hindsight – life could have been so much simpler… but, that is water under the bridge. I can now say, it is completed! Much as I loved making meaningful gifts for them all these years, I am happy to have lived to complete the task.

The top one is oil on a porcelain bisque and the 3 below are oil on wood. As one niece said, then there was no way she would break it in years to come.

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Inktober 2023 Week 4

I forgot to load the last 5 images I did for Inktober. I opted to not complete the month – I had some bad allergy days, got behind, then chose to turn my energy to finishing Christmas ornaments. Here are the remaining 5. I do enjoy Inktober, but did not feel the push to finish it this year, which I found interesting. It was a fun challenge though.

21 – Chains (my childhood farm gate)

22 – Scratchy – barb wire and hairs from our cows

23 – Celestial

24 – Shallow – my cat’s dish

25 – Dangerous

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Christmas and Walnut Stain

For the first time, I chose to forage for walnuts in the backyard and create an “ink”. As was looking at it, I thought how cool to put it on some wooden ornaments I was creating for the nieces and a nephew! So I did! For an ink, this should be simmered for 3+ hours, but I was in a rush and only had an hour and a half. It came out perfect for a light stain. To use it for inking and ink washes, I may make some more and darken it. Really fun to do.

BTW – do not try to make ink out of catnip. Experience is talking here. Just don’t. One, the cats went bananas, and it does not make a very good stain. Not to mention I was happy it was a warm Nov. day since all the windows were thrown open.

Then there is whacked out cats in love with your Christmas ornament when you use it to stain the (tried it on the back of the one he is almost touching) wood. You have had fair warning! There are loads of recipes out on the internet. Foraged ink is loads of fun! Just follow the recipes unless you tend to be adventurous. Mint and catnip are not the same. Just sayin’.

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Inktober 2023 Week 3

Week 3 started off with some murder mittens.