Keeping Watch© 2010 Kathleen Coy
10 x 8 inch, Oil on Ampersand Gessoboard
This is my first dog portrait in oils, and it definitely won't be the last. I'm very happy with this painting, the richness and the bold composition mirror Cloud's personality and intense gaze perfectly.
For those who don't know, this is my Rat Terrier, Cloud, and he's a favorite subject of mine to paint. This is my fifth painting of him, but my first in oils. (The others are in acrylics.) I decided to try oil paints this month because I was getting frustrated with the acrylic paints drying too fast when I paint on location.
So why did I choose acrylic paints over oils in the first place, anyway? True story - my mother paints with oils and I had to be different than my mother! That's it. Dumb reason, I know... **blushes**
Well, the oils really are great and I do love working with them. Oh god, I'm just like my mother...
Just kidding, my mother is a wonderful person! I love you mom!!
I thought you might enjoy this photo I took as I was working. The painting, the reference photo, and the sketch together. Three steps of the process:
Much love,
Precioso este estudio de perro. Eres una genial pintora. Mis felicitaciones. Saludos. Victoria.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you and your mom. I love the smell, the textures and the rich colors, plus they last forever. You've made me try my hand at painting in mixed media my neighbor's cat. If you'd like to see it, go to buffyeyes.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteI love it.
ReplyDeleteIt has such a wonderful texture and personality to it :) Lucky Cloud has such an artistic mother!
Khyra is 'furry' jealous!
ReplyDeleteHer mom is zilchnilnadanyetnon artistic talent -
What a great portrait of one furry suave khanine -
Thanks for sharing your handsome Cloud with us!
Oh it's beautiful! You are so gifted.
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Emma Rose
Lovely to see another Cloud portrait. Beautiful work! I've never tried oils!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Kathleen!
ReplyDeleteLove the vignette effect of the background. Great decisions on BG value to bring out the terrier.
Beautiful Kathleen!
ReplyDeleteI dearly love oils, unfortunately the smell of them dictates that I don't use them in the house.
I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless You ~Ron
Wonderful finish for a wonderful dog. I sure could use a rat terrier around my place right now. It's that time of the season.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend..
Carrie
Like mother, like daughter.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I'm just teasing you, Kathleen!
-Dean
That's wonderful work -- the starkness of the composition really works with the richness of the color; Cloud's high-contrast patterning is so dramatic anyway, and the asymmetrical background effect -- the way his muzzle sort of emerges from the dark area at left -- gives it a great atmosphere. Haunting, even. He looks so intense, so watchful. You've really captured the mood and the moment.
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Jack@PDB
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