German Shepherd Commission

Zora
16" x 20"
Oil on Canvas
NFS

Whoo Hooo Painting Live finally!!

I started troubleshooting the video camera - Ustream problem at 10 a.m. today. Working at it on and off until 3:30 I finally got it fixed! We had a successful session tonight! Yay! It's nice to have visitors back in my studio while I paint. I'll be painting again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Central / 8 p.m. Eastern time. I might be on during the day as well. Hope to see you there!

Tonight's painting was Tumbleweed, the flyball Corgi. He was only a baby in this painting, 5 months old. He is so cute!

Tumbleweed
4" x 6"
Commissioned Portrait
Oil on Panel

Hope to see you tomorrow.

Here is a portion of the show during which I painted Tumbleweed's portrait:



Live Creatively!

Liz

Library Cat FINISHED

Library Cat
memorial portrait of Max
Oil on Canvas
14" x 18"

Library Cat . .. almost finished!

Library Cat part 6

Ah, now the fun starts! I've gotten a good start on the cat's face. Below is the photo that I am using for reference.

Library Cat part 5

Library Cat - next step

Library Cat part 4

The Library Cat is back on the easel - got the books in the background painted for the most part.

Library Cat part 3

Now I've got the cat just about where I want him. I have spent FAR too long playing with this.

Cat in the Library on the Easel

Now there's a convoluted description. I've been working on the cat in the library painting.

Ringo and his Wife Bella . . . . Mastiff Masterpiece Finished!

Mastiff Masterpiece Finished!

18" x 24"
Oil on Canvas
Private Commission

Mastiff Masterpiece continues!

It's really coming along - the photo does not do it justice, I have to stop taking photos at midnight!

Portrait of a Hero - Donation #20 - Dakota

Dakota
Belgian Malinois Search & Rescue Dog
FLTF2

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From Julie, his handler:

Dakota, 3, was imported from Germany to be a patrol dog, but fortunately for me biting was not is forte. For a Mal he has a sweat personality and likes to please. He negotiates rubble like a gazelle and searches extremely fast, sometimes blowing right by scent and has to work his way back. He likes to take direction and isn't as serious about his work as Lilly-Belle, but he also has a strong work ethic. Dakota, is my "Flash dog" and Lilly is my "steady girl" they make a great pair.

FLTF2 is a Federal Search team sponsored by Miami Fire Rescue. I am a 23 year fire fighter with Miami. Both Lilly-Belle and Dakota are Type 1 FEMA certified disaster search dogs.

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Thank you Julie, Dakota and Lilly! We appreciate your hard work! I will be painting Lilly's portrait soon.

I am so happy with the way this portrait turned out. In this instance, I deleted the background from the photo and put in a generic background. I love the look on Dakota's face. However, I just realized that I never finished his collar LOL . . . so I guess the painting isn't exactly finished. I will post an updated photo when I add his bright orange collar.

“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion . . . . I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.” Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (American Writer, b.1922)

Live Creatively!

Liz

Oskar - Black German Shepherd K-9 Painting started - Donation #17

Gee, should I just pick up where I left off and pretend it hasn't been 3 MONTHS since I posted?? Should I whine and "explain" that I was busy with Christmas commissions and then about the time I finished up - my computer crashed (ok, it got a nasty virus) and I couldn't write and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, which I feel bad about! And top it all off with a mumbled apology about getting ennui and not wanting to do ANYTHING???

Ok, well, I won't! I'll just introduce Oskar, a police dog a dual-purpose black german shepherd

Bulldog Charity Painting

I know it's been a while since I've posted, but most of the painting I've been doing are gifts, so I can't share them with you. Today I finished a painting for Bulldog Rescue - I need to get a better photo, but thought I'd post what I have for now. Please check back to get the link for the auction - remember this goes to help the dogs!

BULLDOG CHARITY PAINTING
12"x 16"
Oil on Canvas

(better photo to come soon)

This painting will be auctioned to raise money for The BCA Rescue Network, Inc - non-profit organization. There are many volunteers nationwide who love the Bulldog breed and are dedicated to its continued well-being. These volunteers find new homes for more than 1000 Bulldogs per year. Many thousands of dollars are spent to provide medical care, food, shelter, and training while the rescued Bulldogs are awaiting adoption.

Please check back to get the link to bid on this painting - remember 50% of the proceeds go to help support bulldog rescue!

If you have a charity to which you would like me to donate a painting, please let me know!

Scroll down to see the steps to this beautiful portrait!

Step #1 - Beginning the portrait. This actually isn't the VERY first step, but it's the first time that I took a break to take a photograph. I started by painting in the basic shape of the dog with burnt sienna paint.

Then I blocked in the darks and lights on his body. I like to use very colorful underpainting on animals, I think it gives more of a sense of the life and vibrancy of their being.

Close-up of Step 1 You can see his face starting to emerge from the shadows.

Step 2 - Now I'm adding the details and the actual coloring of the dog - this appears to bring him out of the shadows.

Step 3 - I now have just about all his body in basically the correct coloration. I will now refine areas and model the muscles and bones of his structure to make sure he is anatomically accurate.

Step 4 - Just about done! I will probably make a few adjustments - but basically he is finished. I have modeled his muscles, and adjusted the balance between light and dark. This is not a very good photo as it was 11:00 p.m when I stopped painting. I will try to get a better photo in the daylight.

Thank you again for your interest in my artwork, and for your patience :)

Live Creatively!!!

Liz

Olive the Sphynx Cat

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted, but I HAVE been painting. Here is one of the paintings I've done recently that is not a Christmas gift. Allow me to introduce Olive, the Sphynx cat. (I am pretty sure that is her breed, if not, I'll post a correction when I find out.) She is hairless and very striking. Unfortunately, this is a memorial painting, as she recently passed away. I know she's not a dog, but I figured I needed to show you something - and she looks like she can handle herself being surrounded by all these dogs - variety is the spice of life.

Here is a close-up of her face - be sure to click the photos to see much larger views.

Forest - Portrait of a Search & Rescue Dog

This is the first step of a small commissioned painting. This is Forest, a beautiful search and rescue

Donation #16 - Garren - Police K9 Service Dog

Garren - Police K9 Service Dog

German Shepherd
4" x 6" Oil on Panel

From his partner:
I work for the Beaverton Police Department

Police Officer Memorial Portrait Dedication

The Police Officer portrait that I painted a couple months ago was formally dedicated on Friday. I attended, but due to mis-communication and some glitches (plus the fact that I'm basically a hermit and am not always in my "assertive artist" mode) I ended up not being in the room at the time it was being dedicated. It was standing room only. I met the Dallas Chief of Police and a lot of great Police Officers, Lieutenants and others. I truly appreciate those who put themselves in harm's way on a daily basis for us!! (Especially those among us who are totally ditzy . . . . )

The ceremony was featured on the nightly news and here are some shots from the broadcast.

the screen says "Police Officer Remembered"

eBay Videos & Camo - Boykin Spaniel in Oil

Here's what I did tonight -

Camo - Boykin Spaniel

8"x10" Oil on Panel
congratulations to Jennifer, another new collector
Thank you for your patronage :)

Wow 2 posts in one day - well, not actually, since it's after midnight here.

Donation #15 - Summit - Australian Shepherd DAWGS

(click to enlarge)

Summit
Australian Shepherd Search and Rescue Dog

From Karen, his handler: