ANATOMY OF A DOG PORTRAIT.... SIRIUS-LEE (NO, REALLY !)

I decided to do a portrait from start to finish and document the progress here...this is a commission of a chocolate lab that I am currently working on. First, I choose an appropriate color palette of pastels...

I start by enlarging the picture I am working from, then use it to block in the general shape of the animal. I check and recheck measurements, here. If this preliminary sketch is off, it will be harder to fix it down the road. I have 5 reference photos for this animal, each with a closeup of important parts, such as the nose and/eyes.

I block in the first layer of color, careful not to completely go over the outline sketch. At this point, think paint by number. This is also known as the "UGLY STAGE." (where you would think that this could NOT POSSIBLY turn out to be the likeness of the animal that it will become) Good placement and depth of the eyes is what my goal is. They must resemble two marbles, but be three dimensional and have enough color variation. I put the highlight in for the 3d effect. All other lights go on last.
Then I slowly begin to build layer upon layer of color to get the right shading. I do blend with my little finger and sometimes remove excess pastel with a chamois. At this point I take a step back and measure again. I am finding that the eyes are a bit too close together and will work to widen the space inbetween them without totally redoing them. Also, the head needs to be widened at the widest point, where the ears are the pointiest...

I'll add to this when I have more time....

FINDING INSPIRATION

I see things everyday that I want to capture on paper...

lucky for me I carry my trusty digital camera with me just about everywhere I travel...

and that is why I have a closet full of tupperware containers overflowing with inspirational photos. SOME DAY... they may be transposed to paper and turned into art. For now, they occupy a compartment in my brain and I access them every so often when I need a reference for a picture. Here's a sampling of the last week's inspirations....

there is no lack of inspirational subject matter, only a lack of time to actually put pastel to paper. Maybe if I stopped blogging so much.....

The sand hills are regular residents of High Point where I frequent about once a week visiting my multitalented friend and fellow artist, Mary Alice Queiros. She is an amazing inspiration herself, a story for another time. The tree photo was taken the same day while I chauffeured MAQ (Mary Alice's nickname) around Brooksville shooting photos of buildings she would like to paint murals on. She actually does the most amazing pen and ink drawings and this tree is perfect subject matter for her.

The next batch is from an impromptu trip to Treasure Island last Sunday. The waves were a little bigger than usual due to Ike and Joe was inspired to take the kids body surfing.

I was, well, not so inspired to be in the ocean because there were A LOT of creatures and whelk shells all in the shallows and I could not get myself past them to the ocean deep because I kept getting knocked over by the larger than normal waves....SSSOOOOOO I read a Nicholas Sparks book on the beach, waving to the fam every once in a while. That's my idea of a relaxing day at the beach! I wandered around the seagrass, snapping shots from all angles.

So many ideas, so little time....

PEACE AT LAST

This post is dedicated to my dear friend, Jim, on what would have been birthday #41. He was a kind person, always the link between long lost friends from college. Intelligent beyond words, he often put too much thought into things, which led to self doubt and self fulfilling prophecies....he became troubled and withdrawn from an unaccepting society. Sadly, he took his own life 5 1/2 years ago while battling mental illness and drug dependency. Hard to believe he has been gone that long.

This miniature watercolor, measuring just 3"x5" is of Awosting Falls in upstate NY near New Paltz where we went to school. We spent many a day hiking there...and forging friendships. Jim is in the red shirt at the bottom of the falls...apropos, since it really is his final resting place. Our group of brothers/sisters sprinkled his ashes over the falls in a tribute of sorts the summer of 2003.
What I wouldn't give to be able to call and wish him a Happy Birthday...


I mourn him still....

THE SUN ALSO RISES

Here is my display at the Rising Sun, ready for the coffee reception next Weds., Sept. 24 from 5-7 pm. (For details about the reception, please see info in right column under ART RECEPTIONS .) John and Lisa , owners, have been great hosts for the Art League and we have many members excited to hang their art there over the next 6 months. They serve great coffee, yummy homemade soups, sandwiches, smoothies and did I mention the BAKED GOODS? (always my fave)
I look forward to seeing old friends...and maybe making some new ones;)
Stop by for some creativity...friends, networking, great art...oh, and did I mention the BAKED GOODS?

I See Lovebugs....

That can only mean one thing...times are a changin! Pesky as they are, I look forward to seeing love bugs return each fall as it signifies the change in season and is often the only visible clue until the lawns turn brown closer to Thanksgiving.
There is slight drop in temperature.... more noticeable just as the sun comes up (when my faithful pooch Boomer and I take to the street for our morning run.)



This picture is not new, but I felt compelled to post it to mark my favorite time of year when the leaves turn, the air crisps and the cider flows. It is titled PATH TO BROTHERS BROOK and is done from a photo of one of my favorite places in my hometown of Somers, New York. Down the path is a beautiful winding stream where my sister, Kiki, took me when I was young for picnics on OUR moss covered rock under the shade canopy of oaks and white birch. It was also a place where my friends and I came of age, jumping off the falls into the pool below ( never the girls!), told late night ghost stories around the bonfire and solved all the problems of the world. It was a much simpler time then, when parents could let their children wander the neighborhood. We would disappear for the whole day, jump off the rope swing, get caught in the rain and have to negotiate the road home in the dark on our bikes without helmets or cell phones. Imagine that.

Happy Change of Seasons...

ABOVE PICTURES TAKEN BY GEORGE RODRIGUEZ

SOLD A PIECE AT THE RISING SUN

Sold my first piece at the Rising Sun Cafe'...a watercolor hummingbird I'd done a few years back. Both happy and sad to see it go....
I have 18 works hanging and am looking forward to much exposure and a successful two month display. Every Art League member that has hung there has sold something and we are excited about this partnership with this growing HOT SPOT in the Hernando County Art World! Stop in, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the view...10 S. Main St., Brooksville. They serve amazing homemade potato soup, too.

UNSPOILED

To Dredge or Not to Dredge...

That is NOT the question!

The question is WHEN, and AT WHAT COST to the environment. Read more on the About Hernando Beach Dredge Blog to the right....

This brand new pastel is hanging in the freshly painted lobby of the Hernando Today office...what better spot for the interpretation of such hot a topic! The view is from my good friend's dock (a photo I took from July 4th celebration) looking directly toward the controversial Manuel property in Hernando Beach, hence the title...UNSPOILED. Certainly a word not consistent with local government.

PEACE, LOVE AND ROOF ENVY

Ijust realized that one post in a month and a half is not consistent with the goal of a blogger. I will strive to do better and try to keep up with my friend, Karen. How she writes daily, keeps a house, 3 kids (boys, at that!) and a husband is beyond me!

Girls weekend was amazing...I have the best friends who spoiled me rotten and gave me the best birthday weekend ever. Thanks, girls...love you lots. I will never forget my 40th celebration....up on the roof, down on the beach, jello shots in the kitchen (remind me to share the realization of what the ingredients of gelatin are one of these days...I may never do another one;)!!)dinner out, partying in John's Pass, trying to dance in a much too small hole in the wall bar, having Ants Marching played for me...I KNEW he could do it!!! Thanks, thanks, thanks!!!

A Tribute to LeRoi Moore

LeRoi Moore, saxophone player and founding member of my beloved Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly August 19 after an ATV accident in early July. He was on the road to recovery, or so it was thought, until he flew to be with the band at a concert in LA. I was at the concert at the Ford Ampitheater July 9 and it was a great show, though he certainly was missed. Now his sax is forever silenced and the band will struggle to fill the endless void.....

This is a black and white study of the photo on the DMB website...it just struck me and I had to do it.