Life Earth Sky

New horse painting: Isis and Cerus

2012-01-02T14:18:00.005-06:00

Isis and Cerus, 30 x 24" oil on canvas

I had so much fun painting these two beautiful horses. This pair is a mother and son, and the painting was commissioned by a new collector as a gift to his wife. I was told she cried for five minutes after opening it. I love hearing stories like that, it means a great deal to know that my work makes people happy.

This painting is fairly large, so I've included a few close up shots to show the detail and texture:

And if you'd like to see how the painting came to be, I've made a time lapse video of the progress. I hope you enjoy it!

Much love,

A Winter Doe for the Holidays

2011-12-24T19:32:00.003-06:00

Winter Doe, 12 x 9" oil on linen

Here she is framed:

Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday season, with love and blessings in abundance in 2012!

Much love,

New Still Life - Lego dude!!

2011-12-16T10:31:00.006-06:00

Desk Patrol, 5 x 7" oil on panel

I love quirky still life paintings, and had so much fun painting this Star Wars Lego dude! Look for more toy paintings from me in the future.

If anyone is interested in owning this little guy, he comes framed and is available in my etsy shop.

It's been a busy month, with two shows and finishing my big horse commission. I used google's task timer to keep track of the time the horse painting took and logged about 60 hours! I can't wait to post photos of it after the holidays.

I hope everyone is enjoying the season!

Much love,

A couple of cows

2011-11-22T11:36:00.005-06:00

Sassy, 8 x 8 inch oil on panel

I'm working on a large commissioned piece right now of two horses. Unfortunately, no photos until after Christmas. You never know who's going to see what you post, and I would hate to ruin the surprise for my client.

But I can show you a couple of cows I painted recently. I found this cow in Oklahoma on a very windy day. (Aren't they all windy in Oklahoma??) I loved the way the wind blew the hair on the top of her head straight up. It makes her look like she has an attitude.

And the next one is a different sort of cow. I painted a still life of the Fisher Price Cow. It brings up so many good memories for me; the Fisher Price Farm was one of my all time favorite toys as a kid.

This is actually one of my favorite paintings I've done to date.

Fisher Price Cow, 8 x 6 inch, oil on linen

Hope you enjoyed them. I see more cow paintings in my future, because they are so much fun to paint!

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

Reentry

2011-11-16T13:33:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure what happened to my blogging frequency lately compared to previous years. Somewhere along the way I had days where it felt more like work than fun and I needed a break. And of course, when you get out of the habit of something, the longer you wait, the harder it is to start back up.

Facebook may be another culprit... it's so quick and easy to post pics and updates there. Question: Is facebook is making blogging obsolete? People seem to want quick info these days, and it can be hard to find time to read (and write!) long blog posts.

But in the end, blogs and facebook are two different animals. There's a lot I miss about the blogging world, and feel it's time to reenter.

Due to my lack of posts this year, it may look like I haven't been up to much, but in truth I've been pretty busy with my art. One of the things I've been having fun painting is still life's. Here's a still life I painted of some of my husband's pottery. Shino is a type of glaze.

Shino, 10 x 8 oil on linen

Here's another I painted at a friend's house. She made bronze castings of her face and turned them into art pieces around her home. I thought they were so cool!

Still Life with Cast Bronze, 8 x 8" oil on panel

I'm finding that still life paintings are a great exercise to really learn to see colors and form, and is a lot different than working from photos. I'm painting a couple small still life's a week as a way to keep improving my work. We'll see where it takes me.

Cloud is doing great. I can't believe he's 10 years old now. Here's a photo from this morning.

It feels good to be back in the blog world. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Fall!

Brahman Bull Painting

2011-08-12T09:57:00.006-05:00

Beyond Measure
30 x 30 inch, oil on canvas
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

My largest studio painting to date. I got some good photos of this bull standing in a field when I was in Oklahoma earlier this year. I was in complete awe of not only his massive size and strength, but also of the equal measure of dignity that went along with it. This painting represents more to me than just a painting of a beautiful animal. I titled it, Beyond Measure, after the opening line from Marianne Williamson's Our Deepest Fear:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

I love the way animals never question their own existence the way humans do, and I love the way they're always true to themselves. I love the way animals exemplify qualities I admire, such as courage, strength, and living in the now. As this bull looked over the fence at me, he seemed to be saying, "I am worthy simply because I am here, on this Earth, in this moment. And so are you..."

If you're interested in watching this painting come together, I put together a video of the process. I hope you enjoy it!

In other news, I'm having an opening reception tomorrow, Saturday the 13th, from 1 - 5 pm at the Corning Fine Arts Center. If you're anywhere in the area, I hope you can stop by! http://www.corningfinearts.com/

Some new work

2011-06-22T12:21:00.004-05:00

Changing Winds
16 x 12 oil on linen
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

I painted this incredible blue eyed Overo Paint horse from reference photos I had taken in Oklahoma a few months ago. It was incredibly windy that day, (which is usually the case whenever I'm there,) and I loved her windblown mane and the soft overcast light. I fell in love with this horse and took quite a few photos of her, so don't be surprised if she turns up again.

I started a large (30 x 30") painting of a Brahma (or Brahman) bull, but took some time out to paint this black bear - I wanted to experiment with some thicker, looser paint applications before I tried them on the big bull, and thought this small (10 x 8") would be good practice. I'm happy to say this painting has already sold.

Shoreline
10 x 8 inch, oil on linen
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

New Website and a sneak peek!

2011-05-09T11:34:00.006-05:00

I have a brand new website with lots of new work, drop down menus, and an expanded bio. I'm also starting an email newsletter - if you'd like to add your email to the list, the new site has a page where you can sign up.

I plan on updating the new site frequently, so check back often.

http://kathleencoy.com/

Here's a sneak peek at the painting I'm working on right now. It's 16 x 12 inch, oil on linen panel. I was in Oklahoma last month and took some great reference photos of cattle and horses for future paintings.

Still a lot of work to go on this painting, but I really like how it's starting out:

Hope all is well!

Much love,

Small works

2011-04-07T13:15:00.005-05:00

I enjoyed painting some little 6 x 6 inch still life panels on Ampersand cradled gessoboard recently. I started with a whole orange, and the next day painted it partially peeled:

and the next day just a slice:

I can imagine how fun these would look displayed together in a kitchen or dining room.

Peeled Triptych 6 x 18" oil on panel
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

I painted an avocado the next day:

Avocado 6 x 6" oil on panel
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

I really enjoyed getting back to the basics with these paintings and look forward to doing more. There's so much beauty to be found in everyday objects, it's fun to be reminded once in a while.

New Painting, Grand Canyon Mules

2011-03-24T11:56:00.003-05:00

South Rim Express, 16 x 20 inch oil on panel
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

I wish there was a great story behind this painting. I really do. Something that involves adventure, excitement, and trusting my life to a surefooted mule on a winding, dizzying, death-defying canyon trail. Traveling to paint on location at a remote site only accessible by said trusty, surefooted mules. Wouldn't that be great?

The real story behind this painting is far less adventurous:

Friend: Hey Kat, I went to the Grand Canyon and you know those mules that you can ride down to the bottom?

Me: Yes.

Friend: We didn't get to ride them down. They're booked up a year in advance. But I took a good photo of some of the mules in the corrals. Do you want to paint it?

Me, after seen the photo: YES!!

I do love how this painting turned out. I call it South Rim Express. I'm still waiting for my remote-location-accessible-only-by-mules-painting-adventure. Maybe this year..?

Much love,

Still Life with Antler and Red Pitcher

2011-02-28T12:34:00.004-06:00

Still Life with Antler and Red Pitcher
18 x 14 inches, Oil on board. © 2011 Kathleen Coy

This is the first still life I've painted in a very, very long time. In all of my animal paintings, I work from photos out of necessity. Over the last year, I've become more interested in painting from life. I enjoyed painting this still life so much, that it will NOT be a very, very long time before I paint another one.

This painting is being displayed at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, during the month of March as part of the Nebraska Women's Caucus for Art's group show.

Here is a photo of the set up. My mother found the antler during a walk in the woods last year. I'm sure most of you know that male deer lose their antlers every winter and regrow them in the late spring and summer. The sagebrush in the vase is from Montana, and was given to me by a friend. The antler and the sage lend enough of a "nature" feeling, that even though this is far from my usual subject matter, this painting feels like me.

My favorite painting of Cloud yet!

2011-02-25T14:08:00.004-06:00

Turning on the Charm
18 x 14 inch oil on board. © 2011 Kathleen Coy

I couldn't resist painting this pose of my Rat Terrier, Cloud. He has the most expressive face I've ever seen. This is the sixth painting I've done of him (he is my little muse), and it is my favorite one to date.

Here are a few work in progress photos. In this one, I've laid down some background color and started painting his face.

Now I'm blocking in the main colors, trying not to get too detailed, but paying attention to the way the light falls on his fur. Oh those ears, how I love them!

Most of his face is blocked in now. The next step is to go back and refine everything.

And the finished painting. Not much in the way of a background because I wanted all the focus to be on Cloud. His head and neck have a nice solid sense of form to them, more so than some of my older pieces I think.

I hope you've enjoyed the painting and this series of photos.

Much love,

Wordless Wednesday - Still Life

2011-02-09T17:05:00.002-06:00

On Murray Hill

2011-01-27T13:00:00.004-06:00

On Murray Hill
12 x 9 inches, oil on linen panel
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

This is a studio piece based on a plein air (on location) study I did last June. Murray Hill is part of the Loess Hills, which run along the western border of Iowa. The study helped me capture the mood of that summer day in my studio during January - the threatening storm clouds, the humidity, the wind. It never did end up raining that day, oddly enough.

There's only a few days left to vote for your favorite dog painting in the Canine Art Guilds "Helping Paws" online exhibit. The prize money for People's Choice awards go to the artists dog rescue of choice. I'm supporting Greyhounds Unlimited, and we would appreciate your vote!

http://www.canineartguild.com/gallery/

This painting is available, and half the proceeds go to support GU.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64880948/original-greyhound-oil-painting-50

Have a wonderful week!

First Painting of 2011

2011-01-04T07:20:00.004-06:00

Dignity of Years
14 x 18" oil on panel
© 2011 Kathleen Coy

This painting means a lot to me. A few of you may recognize this dog as my Brittany Benny who passed away in 2009 at the age of 14.

Senior dogs, and Benny in particular, have such a dignity and gentleness about them. They aren't burdened with our hang-ups and worries about aging. They don't notice or care about their graying faces.

I don't have many work-in-progress photos of this piece, but here is the beginning stage with the thin underpainting.

Happy 2011!!! It's going to be a great year!

"Helping Paws" Exhibit, and new video

2010-12-15T11:38:00.008-06:00

Retired, Rescued, Loved
11 x 14 oil on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

My Greyhound painting Retired, Rescued, Loved is in an online exhibit for the Canine Art Guild's annual "Helping Paws" show. This is a charity show with a percentage of the proceeds going towards the rescue or shelter of the artists choice. Proceeds of this painting go to Greyhounds Unlimited.

Here is a quick video of the painting process. I hope you enjoy it:

Oil portrait of an ex racing greyhound. 11 x 14 inch, oil on canvas. Artist: Kathleen Coy. Music: Nick Drake, Road.

In addition to the sale proceeds, the Helping Paws Exhibit donates the first, second and third place prize money to the artist's rescue or shelter. The winners are determined by online voting. Voting is easy, just make sure you scroll to the bottom of the page to submit your vote.

Here is a link to the exhibit. Thanks for voting, and enjoy the wonderful canine art and photos!

http://www.canineartguild.com/gallery/

Much love,

Greyhound painting is finished!

2010-12-01T10:04:00.004-06:00

Retired, Rescued, Loved
11 x 14" oil on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

I thoroughly enjoyed this painting from start to finish. Not only are brindle dogs very beautiful, the brindle coat pattern is a lot of fun to paint! Here are a few photos of the process:

The toned canvas and underpainting:

A shot of the reference photo in the background. The background is started, along with the top half of his head:

Coming along nicely:

And once again, the finished painting. I love the colors, his expression, the gold metal on his collar, and the silver tag.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the process of this piece. The title is Retired, Rescued, Loved. Show details to come soon.

Much love,

New studio furniture, new art, and a Greyhound painting in progress

2010-11-29T11:08:00.008-06:00

It's been a very busy November! I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving. I'm very thankful for my husband and the new studio furniture he built for me. I have much more workspace now, as well as file cabinets and drawers, vertical storage for paintings, and shelves. It spans two whole walls of the studio, and the tops are covered in glass so I don't have to worry about getting paint on them!

I love this time of year, and enjoyed several days of hiking in the Loess Hills.

The fall colors of the prairie grasses never fail to take my breath away. I took two separate Plein Air outings (painting on location) to paint at 300 acres of restored native prairie and oak savanna that belongs to the neighbor of a friend. Like most of Iowa, the surrounding land is agricultural fields, but when you're standing alone on this restored landscape with prairie surrounding you as far as you can see, they might as well be a million miles away. It's very surreal, like stepping back in time. I'm very thankful for the hard work and care the landowner put into restoring this land, (and for allowing me to paint there!)

These photos are from the first day I painted there. I was actually waiting for an overcast day:

And the finished painting:

November
12 x 9" oil on linen
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

The next day I painted there, I walked a little further for a different view:

Since this is the first year I've painted landscapes, I'm still experimenting. This one took an abstract turn... I wanted to try to capture how it felt to stand there surrounded by these beautiful tall grasses and oaks, with no sound except for the wind, and the thoughts of how agriculture has changed the land of the Midwest. It was haunting, and I tried to capture that.

Natives
20 x 10" oil on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

And finally, here's the Greyhound painting I'm working on. It's not finished, still a ways to go, but I'm having a lot of fun with this one! His name is Petro. It's 11 x 14" oil on canvas.

He should be finished in a day or two. I'll post an update with more photos.

Until then, much love,

Cat Portraits - Sen-Chan and Yuu-Chan

2010-11-01T10:15:00.004-05:00

The portrait commission of two Abyssinian cats are finished and I love how they turned out. This is Sen-Chan's portrait, and the background may be my favorite I've painted yet:

Sen-Chan, 12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

And this is Yuu-Chan's portrait. I love the back lighting:

Yuu-Chan, 12 x 12 inch oil on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

Both of these cats have left us, but they will remain forever young in their portraits. I hope the paintings bring happy memories to their human every time she sees them. I know she misses them terribly.

I got to deliver the portraits in person, which was great fun for me, as many buyers are not local, and their paintings are usually sent by mail. She lives very far away, but was visiting a town near me last week for a horse show, so it worked out perfectly!

Here's a photo of the two of us with the portraits. "#1", as she is known on her blog, is a brilliant, charming, and fascinating woman, and I'm so glad we got to meet in person.

Much love,

Bittersweet works in progress

2010-10-14T08:16:00.003-05:00

I was contacted by a fellow blogger about portraits of two of her Abyssinian cats who had passed away - Sen-Chan in 2009, and very recently, her beloved Yuu-Chan.

The portraits are both 12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas. I've started with a monochromatic underpainting. This is Sen-Chan:

And this is Yuu-Chan:

I'm blocking in the color on Yuu-Chan in this photo. Once that's finished, I'll go back and refine and add detail. Still lots of work to do. I love the colors, and the backlit ears:

I'm honored to be chosen to paint these two gorgeous, and very loved companions. I love being able to create art that has such meaning for someone, art that brings a smile and helps to ease the pain of loss. I know that the portrait I painted of my dog Benny has been a great comfort to me since he passed last year.

Her blog is called The Poupounette and it's one of the most charming blogs I've ever read. When I have time, I plan to go back and read it through to the very beginning.

Stay tuned for more progress on the portraits...
Until then,

Much love,

New Rat Terrier painting - Keeping Watch

2010-09-27T11:42:00.011-05:00

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,

Landscape painting - Late Afternoon Hay Bales

2010-09-06T20:14:00.003-05:00

Late Afternoon Hay Bales
8 x 8 inch, acrylic
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

I took some photos of hay bales last month driving through western Nebraska, thinking how much fun they would be to paint, and I was right... they are. This may be the beginning of a hay bale obsession...

My largest painting to date - Bear Medicine

2010-09-02T14:27:00.004-05:00

Bear Medicine, 24 x 30" Acrylic on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

I started this Black Bear painting in March, but put it on hold for a while and just now finished it this week. I wanted this painting to have a very dreamy and otherworldly feel to it. Bear symbolizes awakening, and has been seen in many cultures as a spirit helper. I knew this painting needed to be very large and bold, to help convey the bear's size, strength, and power.

This painting is very textured throughout, some of which you can see in the photo. Once again, my beloved earth based color palette came through for me. I love painting with only a few colors!

I hope you enjoy it, too!

Much love,

Martin's portrait is finished!

2010-08-30T16:49:00.007-05:00

11 x 14 inches Acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard

Martin's portrait is finished. It was an honor to paint this beautiful boy. In case you missed Martin's story, he was one of 28 greyhounds and mixes that were seized in a cruelty case in Texas. Everyone who saw the photos of these dogs was horrified. And as more photos became available, everyone fell in love with Martin. Along with his extraordinary beauty, his eyes radiated pure love, even after everything he had been through.

Even though Martin's poor body was too weak to recover, for three weeks he got to know what it meant to be loved. To have a home, to have toys, good food, and a soft bed. He got to know that people are good. To me, Martin represented the face of 'The 28.' This painting is a tribute to everyone involved in pet rescue and fostering everywhere.

Auction and print details to come...

Much love,

More work on Martin's portrait

2010-08-21T09:04:00.004-05:00

I've done some more work on Martin. If you recall, I had sketched him on the canvas, then changed his ears to make them look less pained and afraid. Despite his circumstances, I want this painting to be a remembrance that he got to experience the love of a family, even if it was oh so briefly, before he passed on.

I'm happy to report that many of the other dogs seized in the case are improving greatly! See the previous post if you missed the story.

Now, on to the progress photos of Martin's portrait:

First I tone the canvas to create a beautiful soft glow:

And start blocking in the dark areas:

Starting his eyes and nose here. Those eyes that look right through to your soul. Those eyes that still loved people even after the abuse he went through. The eyes that made people around the world fall in love with Martin the moment they saw his photos...

Starting on his muzzle and refining his fur patterns here:

Working on his beautiful coat and starting on the background. There's still a lot of work to go, and once everything is blocked in, I'll go back and refine things.

I'm extremely happy with this painting so far. It feels like it's coming straight from my soul.

Hopefully the next post will show his completed portrait. Stay tuned...

Much love,

Martin Greyhound

2010-08-13T16:34:00.006-05:00

Martin was one of 28 dogs seized in a high profile hoarding case in Fort Worth, TX. Sadly, Martin and three other greyhounds didn't survive. He did get to know love, kindness, good food and comfort in his short time with his foster family.

This painting is dedicated to everyone involved with the rescue, care, fostering, and financial support of these dogs. I chose Martin to represent the 28, because there was something very special about him... he touched so many people's lives with his extraordinary beauty and sweetness. Thank you to his foster mother for allowing me to use his photo.

I sketched him on the canvas with his ears as they were in the photo. So sweet, but also troubled...

I decided to change his ears and perked them up a little. I want this painting to represent the love and hope for the future that these abused dogs found, and I think these ears help to portray that...

Martin is now ready for color! Stay tuned...
Painting specs: 11 x 14 inches, acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard.

If you haven't heard about this case and want to learn more, you can find info here, but be prepared, there are graphic photos.

May all dogs be loved...

Summer is...

2010-08-12T13:25:00.008-05:00

This Summer is...

Painting on location:

Remodeling:

My husband and Cloud going for a walk in the clouds:

A campsite with a view:

If you're awake to see it...

Flowers and butterflies:

A boat ride with friends:

A beautiful sunrise:

And gorgeous sunsets:

The weather in most of the country is incredibly hot right now, but Summer will be gone before we know it. I hope everyone is having a good one...

Much love,

Pede's portrait is finished!

2010-07-28T09:10:00.004-05:00

Pede 12 x 12 inch acrylic on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

Pede's portrait is finished and I'm very happy with how it turned out. Pede is getting up there in years, and is dearly loved by her family in Australia. I wanted to capture her dignity, devotion, and gentle nature.

I made a short video of the progress, from start to finish. In it, you can see the photo I worked from, the concept sketch, and a few studio shots. I hope you like it:

Dogs give us so much, and ask for so little in return. It's truly a labor of love to paint them - it's my way of giving something back. I think every dog deserves a portrait, but of course that's just my opinion.

And as always, if you're interested in a portrait of your pet, you can find information here. Feel free to email me with any questions.

Much love,

More work on Pede's portrait

2010-07-19T11:01:00.003-05:00

Here's an update of the progress of Pede's portrait. This was where we left off - with the underpainting complete and awaiting subsequent layers of paint:

Now comes the part where I refine and add detail.
Here, I'm building up the background, adding depth and richness:

Refining the right (her left) ear and eye:

Now working on the left (her right) ear and facial fur:

Refining the eyes, the most important part of a portrait:

The painting as it stands now. I just love those sweet and soulful eyes. The portrait is NOT finished yet, but is nearing the home stretch. As always, if you're interested in having me paint a portrait of your pet, you can contact me through the email in my profile.

Much love,

New art - Morning Nap

2010-07-02T10:25:00.006-05:00

10 x 8" Acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard

I created this painting for an online art show of the Canine Art Guild (CAG), of which I am a member. The theme of the show is "Here Kitty, Kitty..." which is a fun twist on the usual dog art.

I like to take photos while I paint, and put them together to make a short video of the progress. It's always fun to watch how a painting comes together. Enjoy:

Here is a link to the Here Kitty, Kitty show, where you can see Morning Nap and many other fabulous entries from CAG members, and vote for the People's Choice Award. I would appreciate your vote, but of course I want you to vote for your favorite... and if it's mine, I thank you! :-)

http://www.canineartguild.com/gallery/index.php

I want to thank my friend Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor for the photo reference of her kitty Pumpkin. If you like horse and Halloween art, check out her work!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Much love,

Wow, Thank You, and Welcome!

2010-06-23T17:39:00.004-05:00

When I found out I was Blogger's Blog of Note yesterday, I was very honored and surprised! I'm sincerely happy and humbled that so many new people have visited my blog, and enjoyed and appreciate my work enough to follow it and/or leave a comment. Thank you all, and welcome!

I'm in the middle of a massive studio cleaning and organizing this week. I'd rather be painting, but it must be done... I do have several new pieces that are almost finished, so look for them in the coming weeks, as well as more updates on Pede's portrait progress.

Since this is just a quick post, I'll leave you with a photo I took last week of a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my backyard feeder. The light has to hit their throat feathers just right to be red, otherwise the "ruby" feathers appear black or gold...

Once again, I'm honored to be a Blog of Note. Thank you everyone for the lovely comments, and welcome new readers!

Much love,

Working on Pede's portrait

2010-06-14T22:29:00.007-05:00

After the sketch, I toned the canvas with a beautiful warm yellow. Now it's time to start the underpainting, which is not very detailed, but gives me the information to build up details in the layers of paint to come. First I block in the background:

Working on Pede's eyes and ears:

Muzzle and body structure:

I started blocking in her collar and tag, but didn't like the placement of it:

So I moved over to the side a bit. I like this placement a lot better:

And the painting as it stands now. Still lots of work to go, but she's really starting to take shape:

More to come...

Latest commission - Pede the Pit Bull

2010-05-19T14:42:00.005-05:00

This beautiful girl is Pede, who is a Pittie from Australia. She is 13 years old, and is dearly loved by her family. She has the most beautiful, soulful eyes! I'm very happy with this drawing, and know I'm going to have a lot of fun painting this sweet girl. The painting will be 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas.

American Eskimo Dog portrait

2010-05-10T19:26:00.010-05:00

Junior, 18 x 18" acrylic on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

Junior's portrait is finished. Junior passed away earlier this year, and I hope his owner finds some comfort in this portrait. I really enjoyed painting Junior's thick, white fur reflecting the colors of sun, snow, and shadow. I wanted to use very little actual white paint, and reserved it for a few select highlights. Even with all these colors in his fur, it makes sense - the mind knows it's looking at a white dog.

Speaking of white dog, Junior was featured on an album cover titled "White Dog" by Vlasis. You can see Junior on the album cover here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/vlasis

And here is an "in-progress" video I made of the painting. Enjoy!

Need a good laugh?

2010-04-06T10:48:00.006-05:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my painting of Nigel Buggers from Life With Dogs, start here to get the story.

After the auction, there was a demand for prints, so I made a limited editi0n of 40 with 50% of the total price going to the rescue group. What happened next has put a huge grin on my face that hasn't come off for weeks! People who bought the prints (affectionately called Flat Nigel) started taking pictures of him in funnier and funnier situations. There was even a celebrity sighting!

See for yourself:

http://lifewithdogs.blogspot.com/2010/04/witwinb-pt-2.html

(Be sure to click the link in the first paragraph as well, which will take you to more funny pictures of Flat Nigel's adventures.)

Words cannot describe how it feels as an artist to a. have people appreciate your work, b. see them having so much fun with it, and c. to know it's helped raise desperately needed funds for a very worthy cause (well over a thousand dollars so far, which includes donations, auction of the original painting, and print sales!)

This whole experience has been amazing to be part of. I can't thank Nigel's fans enough for their generosity, creativity and wonderful sense of FUN!

Much love,

Max in South Africa

2010-03-29T19:41:00.005-05:00

Max, 11 x 14" Acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

Once in a while, something comes along that touches you so deeply, you can't help but reach out. That's the story behind this painting...

I started a blog for my dog Cloud last year, after seeing some dog blogs and thinking how much fun it looked. Little did I know how much fun it really was! There's something so satisfyingly fun and silly about writing about life from your dog's point of view. (If you care to visit Cloud's blog, you can find it here.)

I was blown away to be so welcomed into the world of dog bloggers, of the friendships I've made, and the kindness of the "two-leggers" "moms" and "dads" behind the dog (and cat!) blogs. From the common ground of loving your pet enough to give them their own blog, they are always there for each other with kind words, encouragement, and humor. What a sense of community!

There was one blog in particular that stood out to me from the first moment I read it, and quickly became a favorite. Maxdog, a Golden Retriever in South Africa exemplified everything that is good and true. The kindness and devotion of his "mom" shone through every word and photo. He appointed himself "Official Tour Guide" of South Africa, and delights in sharing the beauty of his country with his blogging friends.

Max's "mom" Caryl writes in a way that speaks dearly to my heart. She says with words what I try to convey with my art...about love and connection. I always look forward to reading Max's blog, and always leave it feeling uplifted and even moved to happy tears.

Not long ago, Max received a frightening diagnosis, and his family were told there was nothing to be done. He was not expected to live much longer. My heart ached for Caryl, knowing how deep her connection is with Max, and since Max is so relatively young, to be so unprepared to loose him.

I knew I wanted to surprise her with a painting of her dear friend. I truly believe there is a "spark" of life, of that dog's spirit in each portrait, and is a way to keep a part of your dog with you always. I've felt this first hand with the portrait I painted of my dog Benny, who passed away last year. It is such a comfort to me, and I wanted to give that same feeling to Caryl, to return some of the joy I've gotten from her over the last year.

Max is dearly loved among his blogging friends, and I knew many of them were feeling the same longing to do something for Caryl, to help ease her pain. I asked another dear dog blog friend if she could "test the waters" for me, to see if there was interest among the dog bloggers in being a part of this gift. The response was overwhelming! I can't thank Khyra's "mom" Phyllis enough for organizing "The Max Project," as we lovingly called it.

I'm so humbled to have been able to provide an opportunity for Max's friends around the world to show how much they love him.

Caryl called me today from South Africa. What a joy to hear her voice, to laugh and talk and cry together. What a beautiful world we live in, what a global village!

You can visit Max's blog to see pictures of Caryl opening her gift, and Max with his portrait, and links to all his blog friends who contributed to The Max Project. You may want to have a cup of tea and plan to stay awhile, as you will probably fall in love with her blog just as I did...

Max continues to astonish his vet. His family and blog friends have been counting each "Day of Grace" with Max as he awakens each morning. Today is his 51st "Day of Grace."

Love one another...

Latest commission - American Eskimo Dog

2010-03-25T11:59:00.002-05:00

I realized I haven't done a work-in-progress post for some time. To remedy this, here is the beginning sketch on canvas of my latest dog commission. The canvas is 18 x 18 inches.

This is Junior, an American Eskimo Dog. I've been wanting to paint an all white dog for a while, so I'm excited. Since white reflects the colors around it, I plan to keep very little of his fur a very bright white. I think a little will go a long way and make more of an impact in the end.

Next step, PAINT!
Stay tuned...

Not so wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T13:15:00.003-06:00

I'm back from a little blogging break. Coming out of blogging hibernation, so to speak. Not that I haven't been busy....

A solo show at Tazza di Caffe, my favorite little coffee house. If you're in the southwest Iowa/Omaha NE area, my work will be up through March.

The elephant painting is now on display at University of Nebraska in Lincoln for a group show of the Nebraska Women's Caucus for Art until April 2nd.

I'm getting ready to start a new portrait commission of an American Eskimo Dog, and am presently working on a very large painting of a black bear, that I'm not quite ready to show yet. (Very soon!)

Cloud is well and is happy that the snow is melting. We were buried for three months straight!

I've been updating my facebook page more regularly than the blog. I invite you to become a fan if you'd like to get the latest news.

Earth and Sky Fine Art on Facebook

The geese are honking overhead, spring is finally in the air, and my studio is humming with activity. I hope you are all well and happy.

Much love,

New art - Red Cloud

2010-01-28T15:48:00.006-06:00

Red Cloud 18 x 24" acrylic on canvas
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

This painting was an experiment in the use of bold color in a dog portrait, and I'm quite happy with it. The strong color needed a strong and unusual pose to balance it - so once again, here is my rat terrier Cloud modeling for me. This is my largest dog painting to date - 18 x 24 inches. You can see some of the texture throughout if you click the picture to enlarge it.

This is a rather unconventional dog portrait, and I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Newest work - Bobcat Summer

2010-01-11T14:56:00.006-06:00

Bobcat Summer

14 x 11" acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard
© 2010 Kathleen Coy

In the midst of the coldest winter in recent years, it's Bobcat Summer in my studio. This painting was inspired by the evening sunlight that shines through my front window in mid-summer. It magically transforms everything into a shimmering golden glow.

I photographed this gorgeous bobcat at the zoo (in normal daylight.) I've never seen one in the wild, but they are becoming more numerous in these parts, so I hope to someday.

I always mix my own black, but did not use any black in this painting. The dark areas are Raw Umber. I love the texture throughout the piece, it lends a feeling of the cat being among boulders or a cliff wall, almost a part of them, and which (true to his secretive nature) he may disappear into at any moment. Thank you Manon Doyle for your wonderful molding paste tutorial. I'm hooked on the stuff now! :-)

Limited Edition Print of Nigel Buggers Painting

2009-12-30T09:57:00.008-06:00

Nigel
© 2009 Kathleen Coy

Tomorrow (Dec 31) is the last day for A Place to Bark dog rescue to raise funds to meet their matching grant. Info here: http://www.aplacetobark.blogspot.com/
I'm donating 50% of each Nigel Buggers print sold to the cause. So with your order, you're making a 20 dollar donation to A Place to Bark (doubled with matching grant by the 31st) AND owning a gorgeous, museum quality print of my painting of the infamous Nigel for 20 dollars!!!

Here is a link to purchase:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270499021177

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2010! I'm working on some paintings that I'm really excited about, and I can't wait to share another year of art with you.

Much love,

Warmest Wishes...

2009-12-21T12:46:00.002-06:00

...to all this holiday season. Thank you for your support, comments, and friendship over the last year. I look forward to sharing an exciting new year of art and creativity with you.

Wishing you much love and many blessings now and in 2010,

Twix the Dachshund's portrait is finished

2009-12-11T22:18:00.004-06:00

"Twix" 10 x 10" acrylic on canvas
© 2009 Kathleen Coy

Here is the finished portrait of Twix the little red Dachshund. The portrait is a surprise Christmas present for her daddy. I can't wait to hear about his reaction!

Here are a few photos of the progress -

The reference photo:

Sketch on the canvas:

Laying down the background colors:

Love that little red ear!

More work on her face:

And once again, the final portrait:

What a little sweetie! I'm really happy with how this turned out. The collar was especially fun to paint! I hope her daddy likes it!

Dachshund commission - Twix!!!

2009-11-23T22:24:00.000-06:00

I'm really excited about my next dog commission - those of you who follow dog blogs may be familiar with Twix, the "tweenie red Dachshund" from A Wiener Dog Blog. I was delighted when her mom emailed me about painting her portrait as a Christmas present for her daddy.

I looked through a lot of her photos, and this one screamed "PAINT ME!"

The above photo shows her sketched out on the canvas and ready for paint. Here is the original photo:

It's going to be so much fun to paint that sweet head tilt, those ears and eyes, (and the hearts on her collar...) The canvas size is 10 x 10 inches.

Remember, it's a surprise Christmas present, so don't leave any comments about the painting over on Twix's blog in case her daddy reads it! :-)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

The Happiest Ending...

2009-11-22T22:55:00.006-06:00

I am thrilled. My painting of Nigel Buggers that was auctioned for A Place to Bark last week was given to Nigel's Two-Legger, otherwise known as "The Author," by the winning bidder. Some of Nigel's biggest fans pooled their resources to help this wonderful cause, and then gave the painting to the people who would love it best in the whole world.

I am so touched at their thoughtfulness, and the money they raised. This was such a wonderful experience to be a part of. Dogs, and dog rescue, mirror our very best qualities. I would say that's why we love them so.

When I first contacted "Mr. Author" about painting the infamous Nigel for a charity auction, he was extremely helpful and as enthusiastic as I was. He is both an eloquent and hilarious asset to the dog world, (I know Nigel is laughing because I said "asset") and the story of this painting couldn't have had a happier ending...

You can read his post about the experience here.

Much love,

Joe's portrait is finished!

2009-11-22T17:04:00.000-06:00

"Joe" (Rat Terrier)

8 x 10" acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard
© 2009 Kathleen Coy

Joe the Rat Terrier's portrait is finished. This sweet little dog passed away last month at the age of 17 years. It's always a little sad to paint a dog who's no longer with us, but it's very rewarding too, knowing that it provides a comfort to the family and a reminder that he will always be in their hearts.

I didn't take as many work-in-progress photos as I normally do, since I have a lot on my plate right now and it takes time to stop painting and photograph, crop, adjust color, etc. But here are a few photos. The first one is the photo that I worked from. As you can see, parts of it were quite dark, making it a bit of a challenge. Since there was no way to take new photos of Joe, I did my best with it.

Starting to lay down the color.

Blocking in the rest of the colors.

And once again, the finished painting. I like the loose brushwork and painterly feel to it. It looks quiet and dignified, just like I'm told Joe was.

Latest commission - first stage of Joe the Rat Terrier

2009-11-10T15:37:00.004-06:00

This is Joe. He passed away recently at the age of 17. It's so very hard to lose a dear dog, and I love being able to create art for people that honors their pet and gives them a sense that a part of their dog will always be with them.

Joe's owner says he was very serious, very business-like, and very dignified. He looks all that, plus a little stern in this sketch, but his expression should soften up as I start adding color.

So he's all sketched out and ready for paint. The size is 8 x 10 inches.

New painting for charity auction - Nigel Buggers!

2009-11-05T16:03:00.005-06:00

Nigel 12 x 12" acrylic on canvas
© 2009 Kathleen Coy

Yes, THAT Nigel Buggers! (Is there any other???) When Bernie Berlin placed a call to artists for the annual art auction benefiting her dog rescue A Place to Bark, I was delighted to have a chance to help out. I am in awe of all the hard work and dedication Bernie puts into her rescue. She is truly an angel on earth.

In a flash of brilliance (or madness?) I contacted "The Author" of the hugely popular and hilarious Life With Dogs blog, and asked if I could paint his Greyhound Nigel for the auction. He not only thought it was a great idea, but gave me a nice assortment of photos to choose from. This one jumped out at me because of the fun pose, the look on Nigel's face, and the fabulously foreshortened paw (which can be hard to pull off, but in this pose it worked perfectly!)

Thank you so much Neil, for letting me paint Nigel. It was an honor, and a blast!

Here is a link to the auction, (with a starting price of $1.99!!!) where you can bid on this fantabulous original painting of the famous (or infamous) Nigel Buggers, AND support A Place to Bark:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270480846523

My new website, and an FYI

2009-11-04T18:17:00.003-06:00

My website has undergone a much needed overhaul, and I really love the new look. Check it out and let me know what you think:

http://www.earthandskyart.com

Many, many thanks to my wonderful hubby for putting it together for me!

Here's the FYI part - you may have noticed on the commission page of the new website, that there is a price increase on the 8 x 10" pet portrait size effective January 1, 2010 to 250.00 US dollars. (The other prices are staying the same.)

To make this increase a little bit of fun, I decided to have a contest. When I reach 250 fans on my facebook fan page, I'm going to have a contest where a fan can win an 8 x 10 pet portrait! If you're not a fan yet, I'd love to see you there. Contest details coming soon...

Sami's portrait is finished!

2009-10-29T21:03:00.006-05:00

"Sami" 8 x 10" acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard

Sami's portrait is finished, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. I can almost feel her in the room with me. This portrait has a special place in my heart, as I painted Sami's owner's other dog Lyle two years ago. Sadly, Sami and Lyle are no longer with us, but there is a young Rat Terrier named Sprocket filling their shoes. Sami was a Rat Terrier/Australian Cattle Dog cross, and you can see both traits clearly. Here is a video of the progress:

Thank you for all the comments left as this painting progressed. It's such an honor to paint someone's beloved dog, to create with my own hands a tribute to the special bond and unending love we share with our canine friends.

More work on Sami

2009-10-27T21:49:00.003-05:00

No, she's not finished yet, but I've finished blocking in the underpainting on Sami's portrait. Since my underpaintings are a lot more detailed then they used to be, it's pretty close to the finished stage right now. Up next - refining the details...my favorite part!

More work on Sami's portrait

2009-10-23T19:41:00.004-05:00

Now that I'm blocking in the dark fur, it's really starting to look like Sami.

I love how clearly you can see the mix of Rat Terrier and Australian Cattle Dog in her fur and features.

They never look right until they have a nose...

I get so much joy watching faces appear from the brushstrokes...

This phase is the underpainting. After everything is blocked in, I go back over and refine the details, and add more texture and layers.

To be continued...

Sami's portrait is underway!

2009-10-22T21:13:00.004-05:00

I began by laying down some beautiful yellow ochre for Sami's cheeks and "eyebrows." Words cannot express how much I love this color... It plays a major roll in my palette.

Next, I blocked in the pink of her ears and tongue, then added some soft colors to the background that I felt would compliment her fur.

Then on to the ears and eyes. There she is. Hi sweetheart!

The painting as it stands now. I'd say I've got about 6 hours into it at the moment, including the drawing. Once again, it's 8 x 10, acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard.

More to come...

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-21T07:33:00.000-05:00

New dog portrait underway - Sami

2009-10-19T19:58:00.003-05:00

This smiley girl is Sami. She is a Rat Terrier/Australian Cattle Dog mix. I had the pleasure of painting her "brother" Lyle's portrait two years ago. Sadly, Sami is no longer with us, and has gone to be with her brother Lyle at the Rainbow Bridge.

This happy portrait is going to be a wonderful way for her family to remember her.

The drawing is finished, now she's ready for paint. This is going to be such a fun portrait!

This will be an acrylic painting, 8 x 10" on Ampersand Gessoboard.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-14T13:15:00.001-05:00

Early snow

2009-10-10T13:24:00.004-05:00

We had our first snow of the year this morning, and there's a chance of snow this afternoon as well. Last year our first snow was November 30th! I do like snow, but Fall is my favorite time of year and I don't want to skip it, lol. As you can see, there is still plenty of green leaves on the trees:

My plants were NOT ready for this!

It's a shame to say goodbye to my roses this early, but I'm afraid they're toast. We're supposed to have near record lows tonight in the 20's.

Everyone says it's going to be a hard winter this year in the Midwest. And I thought last year was bad! I guess we'll find out.

Stay warm!

Wordless Wednesday - video

2009-10-07T10:39:00.000-05:00

The Maiden Voyage of the Firecracker!

2009-10-04T23:58:00.005-05:00

Many of you will remember this post last April about the pinup girl I painted on hubby's remote-controlled speedboat that he was building. He didn't have much time to work on it due to job commitments, so it took him until now to get the boat finished. On Saturday we went to a favorite pond not far from our house in the Loess Hills for her maiden voyage. We were so excited to see it in the water!

She is powered by a weed-eater mower. Jason is getting ready to start her up!

And away she goes...

Giving her some gas...

The Loess Hills in Autumn is breathtaking!

Full throttle!

More pics:

Hope you enjoyed the ride! :-)

You Just Grew

2009-09-18T14:37:00.004-05:00

I didn’t plant you
You just grew
Whispering to me softly
Saying: Look at what is True

Thank you for my blessings
As they flow to me
Heaven is here upon this Earth
If we only look and see

And every seed I’ve planted
Comes right back to me
In unexpected times and places
Showing all that life can be

I was inspired to write this poem today after I found these volunteer lovelies growing out of the gravel behind the back woodpile. I hope you enjoy it.

Wishing everyone a blessed day!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Six years ago today...

2009-09-16T10:14:00.003-05:00

I married my best friend.

Happy Anniversary, Baby.

I love you!

Wordless Wednesday - September Joys

2009-09-09T07:02:00.000-05:00

New work in progress - hummingbird

2009-09-04T14:12:00.003-05:00

I'm working on a very large, (relatively speaking) hummingbird painting right now. This is 18 x 24 inch, acrylic on canvas.

I'm blessed to have many hummingbirds visit my feeder every day in the summer to early fall. There's one female in particular who sometimes hovers within arms reach of me, seeming quite curious. I love them so much! I want this painting to capture the way they make me feel when I see them, their energy, and the joy they share freely to anyone who cares to stop and look.

Wordless Wednesday - RenFaire

2009-09-02T07:00:00.005-05:00

5 things that I am loving right now

2009-08-27T19:49:00.004-05:00

This maple storage cabinet that hubby is building for me:

This color:

The new Sharpie Pen:

This awesome thrift store find yesterday!
Anyone remember Daria? I LOVED that show!!!
(And especially Jane's brother Trent!)

The smell of this ratatouille as I'm waiting for it to cook down:

Heaven!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Hungry Little Caterpillars

2009-08-26T00:37:00.001-05:00

Painting video of Cloud's portrait

2009-08-24T16:08:00.005-05:00

I put together a video today of Cloud's portrait. It's kind of fun to see it all come together in one minute, lol. I think it's my best work-in-progress video so far. It would be fun to do time-lapse videos of me painting, so I'll have to look into how to do that.

Enjoy!

I really want to thank everyone for all the lovely comments on Cloud's painting post last week. I really appreciate your kind words and taking the time to write.

Much love,

Cloud's portrait is finished!

2009-08-20T15:37:00.003-05:00

Here it is, the finished portrait of my Rat Terrier, Cloud. 18 x 18 inches, acrylic on Canvas.

Sometimes it's hard for me to find the words to explain what this little dog means to me. All dogs are precious to me, but this one... I've never seen a dog convey the emotions he does, and I've never had a dog SO aware of me. His love and devotion can make me cry. In fact, there were times while I was working on this painting that I had to stop because I would be overcome by the exchange of love that was going on - from me to him through his image on the canvas, and from him looking back at me as he came to life in paint. It may sound crazy, but I know I have readers who understand what I'm saying.

Back to the painting... we all know the eyes will make or break any portrait regardless of species, and they are my favorite thing to paint. The eyes are of course the main focus of this piece - his sweet, trusting, loving eyes mirroring my adoration.

But I'd like to talk a moment about ears. I LOVE painting dog ears! Not only are they fun to paint, (a miniature landscape unto themselves,) but they are a major part of a dogs body language and, certainly in Cloud's case, not only contribute mightily to his expressiveness, they are a huge part of who he is! There's no ignoring those babies... I mean, one of his nicknames is "Ears." (Heehee) So I really try to put a lot of thought and care when I paint doggie ears.

I also wanted the background to express a lot of emotion - somewhat ethereal to express the purity and eternalness of love, yet grounded with my beloved Earth tones to express how solid and real these things are.

I've had people ask if I could ever sell any of my Cloud paintings. No more then I could sell Cloud! When I'm working on a painting, everything I'm feeling about what I'm painting goes into each brushstroke. So selling a painting with that much personal meaning would be too hard for me. Dog portraits are something to treasure for a lifetime!

To give you an idea of the scale, here is a shot of me and Cloud with the painting:

Oh, those ears! I really love the statement big dog paintings make. I had so much fun with this, and look forward to continuing to work large. On my easel there is an 18 x 24 inch blank canvas, calling softly to me...

Wordless Wednesday... with bonus - words!

2009-08-19T11:33:00.004-05:00

Rainy morning
Endless possibilities
This simple leaf
Sings a song of love to me

Sorry for the absence of posts lately. I was feeling a bit discombobulated (wow, spellcheck says that really is a word!) and was having a hard time getting my thoughts together into anything anyone would want to read, lol.

The new painting is almost finished, I’ll try to post pictures tomorrow! :-)

Since it’s supposed to be “Wordless Wednesday,” I’m going to shut up now...

Have a wonderful day!

Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Visitors

2009-08-12T10:09:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday - White...

2009-08-05T13:32:00.001-05:00

More progress on Cloud's portrait

2009-07-31T12:51:00.004-05:00

If you recall, this is where we left off, with the underpainting completed. Now I paint layers over the underpainting, adding depth and detail. First the left ear:

Then the right:

Starting on his forehead here:

and working my way down:

The next picture shows the painting as it stands now. I wanted to work on his nose before starting the fur on his muzzle. Still a little ways to go, but it's getting closer to the home stretch, stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday - Random...

2009-07-29T00:12:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday - Circle

2009-07-22T00:12:00.000-05:00

Odds and ends, art and zombies...

2009-07-17T11:34:00.005-05:00

This summer has been unseasonably cool so far. In fact, today feels like Fall. To add to the illusion, my red maple is starting to turn color already. This seems really early to me, and as much as I adore its red and orange glory, it seems like Summer has barely started. The weather has been so nice I want to be outside as much as I can.

I have finished with the underpainting on Cloud's portrait, though:

Now to add details and strengthen the darks and lights. Fun stuff!

In other news the neighborhood Zombie War is over (for now,) and we are victorious. The hole in the street where the zombies were crawling out has been filled in, and they are trapped. Waiting... Hopefully we won't see them again until Halloween. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here. :-)

It is also H.R.H. Boomer, The Queen of the Universes' birthday month. Yes, she gets a whole month since I'm not sure of the actual date, only the month. She has been gracing our presence for 16 years now. She will probably be very displeased that I've including something of such great importance as the magnitude of her birth in a post titled "Odds and ends..." If you don't hear from me again, then you'll know why...

And a picture of me and Cloud, just because I like it...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Baby Bunny

2009-07-15T00:12:00.000-05:00

Where I'm at so far... (more progress pics)

2009-07-12T09:21:00.004-05:00

Here you can see I'm blocking in the rest of his face.

He needs a "nozz!" Poor guy has no sniffer, lets give him one...

That's better!

This is all still the underpainting, which is like a map, telling me fur direction and color and gives me more of an idea of what parts I want to play up or tone down. So all that's left is to block in his chest, and then I can go back over with more layers of paint to bring out some details. That's the really fun part!

Here's a photo I didn't crop to give you an idea of the size of the painting (18 x 18"). That's a really big coffee cup too, lol.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I love to take pictures of dogs running...

2009-07-09T21:40:00.006-05:00

It's a hobby of mine and kind of an obsession.

I love to freeze the moment and capture the power...

The grace...

(Watching this Basenji move was like watching a ballet, only better...)

The big Cloud smiles!!!

Check out this adorable Beagle running:

RAWR! How stinkin'cute is he??? :-)

Heehee, I just love to click away...

I can't help myself. Maybe there's a support group out there somewhere..?

Visit Cloud's blog to see more pictures and read about his day at the dog park.

The End.

Wordless Wednesday - Garden bliss...

2009-07-08T00:41:00.006-05:00

Eye see you!!! (More progress on Clouds portrait)

2009-07-05T09:40:00.003-05:00

Finished blocking in the forehead. First the left eye:

Then the right:

Can you stand it!?! :-)

Keep in mind this is the underpainting phase. After everything is blocked in I go over it again to refine and add some detail. I'm really pleased with how this is going.

Cloud has his own blog now!

2009-07-05T09:36:00.005-05:00

Dog blogs are popular now, and I think they're so cute. If you know Cloud, then you know he hates to be left out of anything fun! For those of you who want to follow his adventures, you can find them here:

The Adventures of Cloud the Wonder Dog

Cloud's "all ears"

2009-07-02T19:07:00.002-05:00

Well, and a little bit of forehead, lol.

Specs: 18 x 18" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Thanks for following along with the progress. :-)

Wordless Wrens-day part 2

2009-07-01T09:30:00.003-05:00

Cloud's new portrait in progress

2009-06-29T22:30:00.006-05:00

Laying down the background. More warm earthy colors. At this point in time, nothing else will do. If I were forced to paint with only yellow ochre, I could still find a way to be happy...

Luckily, I don't have to!

I'm loving these colors. And of course, those ears!

This is a big size for a head pose of such a little dog. Usually my portraits are 8 x 10 inches. This one is 18 x 18 inches (acrylic on canvas.) Seeing Cloud's head this big is taking some getting used to, lol!

Happy Birthday Cloud!

2009-06-28T15:00:00.003-05:00

My little baby boy turns eight years old today. We had a fun day at the dog park and he got to go to the pet store for some new toys.

Happy Birthday, big guy! My best bud. I love you so much!!!

In honor of Cloud's birthday, I've started another painting of him.
I just can't help myself... :-)

It's big for such a little dog - 18 x 18." I'll keep you updated on the progress...

Zombie spotted in my neighborhood!

2009-06-27T14:21:00.006-05:00

Ok, so the sign is from the internets, but this guy is just up the street...

And a pirate zombie, no less!

My neighborhood is outside of city limits, and the roads are privately owned, so even the county doesn't do anything to them. Most of the roads are fine, but it looks like this one is having some problems, lol. Can you imagine the double-take I did when I drove by this guy! Yes, he's life-sized. Crazy goings on up here on the hill!

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go board up my windows now. I knew I shouldn't have read
World War Z... :-P

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! :-)

Elephant Dreams

2009-06-25T17:51:00.006-05:00

Elephant Dreams 18 x 24" Acrylic on canvas

I finished the elephant. I tried not to overwork it and had to stop myself a few times from getting too detailed. I love how it turned out - otherworldly, dreamlike... and I could cover myself in these colors...

It's the biggest painting I've done so far, and I really enjoyed working this large. There was a sense of freedom and movement that came with this big canvas.

I wanted to paint the energy of the elephant: Strength. Ancient wisdom. Power.
The colors are earthy because they speak to me the strongest right now. It feels like they came straight from my soul.

You can see the original post with the first few stages of the painting here.

Wordless Wednesday - scenes from the garden this morning

2009-06-24T09:45:00.006-05:00

Summer Solstice

2009-06-21T10:48:00.007-05:00

Sunrise solstice celebration. It poured rain at 4:00 but stopped by 5:00.

Good thing I planned ahead and had covered the firewood with a tarp.

No visual sun rise due to the overcast sky, but the fire represented nicely.

I'm so in love with these colors. I must paint them! I was especially obsessed with how the ashes of this cedar were a beautiful blue-gray.

The sun is at its brightest today and nature is at her peak.

Happy Solstice, everyone! May you be blessed with light, love...

and laughter...

Me (left) and my best friend, up since 4am!

Wordless Wednesday - GreenLady in my garden

2009-06-17T08:50:00.003-05:00

Dog art video

2009-06-16T14:46:00.004-05:00

I made a short video featuring my dog paintings. If you're so inclined, I'd love it if you click through and rate it.

I also have to post this one of Father Guido Sarducchi on art school, because it cracks me up. Thanks to Carolee for posting it on facebook!

Enjoy!

Cali - Rat Terrier commissioned portrait

2009-06-13T09:33:00.003-05:00

This gorgeous girl is named Cali. You may remember I painted her brother Hawk several months ago, and I was thrilled when it was her turn for a portrait. I've never seen a Rattie with her coloring before, such a pretty smokey gray with gold eyes. Isn't she beautiful?

I'm told that Little Miss Thang here is a bit of a diva, and I'm guessing she's a total daddy's girl too, since this is to be a Fathers Day gift. So I tried to play up that side of her personality in her portrait.

I love it when owners tell me about the personalitiy of their dog when they commission a portrait. It gives me a connection to the dog and I love trying to capture their disposition and individuality in paint.

Since I've been busy, busy, busy, I decided to compile the work-in-progress photos into one post.
This was a fun size - 8 x 8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard.

The sketch:

Laying down the underpainting:

Laying down the background, getting a feel for what I'm going to do with it:

Yikes, "ugly stage!" Every painting has 'em, haha.

Working over the underpainting, starting on details of the ear and eye:

Nose, neck and collar:

Almost done, just need to refine the details and finish the background:

Finished portrait:

I had so much fun painting this little doll. I hope her daddy likes it.

Eye portraits are finished!

2009-06-10T08:56:00.003-05:00

The wonderful and talented Mona Dianne Conner has finished her eye portraits of hubby and me. They turned out stunning! I can't believe they are only 3/4's of an inch!!!

Eye paintings

Thank you so much Mona, I will always treasure them!

Wordless Wednesday - Opening...

2009-06-10T08:03:00.004-05:00

Elephant work-in-progress

2009-06-04T13:46:00.005-05:00

I've had this elephant drawn out on canvas for about a year. Waiting patiently, as elephants do. Waiting for the time to be right. Waiting for me to be ready to experiment. Waiting for me to dive in. Let's dive, shall we?

This is about loosening up - big brushes, big canvas (18 x 24 inch,) big color, big brushstrokes. Big animal. Big power. Big medicine. Big energy that I want to convey. So far it's been big fun. :-)

I can't wait to see how this turns out...

Eye painting!

2009-06-04T09:24:00.004-05:00

Fellow artist, blogger, and all around super nice person Mona Conner has been working on a miniature (3/4" square) painting of my eye. It's amazing, check it out! I can't believe how much detail she can pack into such a small area. She is also doing an eye painting of hubby. :-)

Mona's eye painting post.

Here is the first post, with her sketches.

I love it!

Wordless Wrens-day

2009-06-03T08:12:00.003-05:00

Baby Squirrels playing outside my window

2009-06-01T11:23:00.003-05:00

We have a mama squirrel with four babies living in the tree in our front yard. They are so cute! I had to share this video I took of the babies playing and jumping for joy. Although mama's not in the video, she was watching them the whole time.

Right now they are about half the size as an adult. Cloud does not go into the front yard, so they are safe from him.

Limited Edition hummingbird prints available

2009-05-29T08:48:00.003-05:00

Hummingbird ACEO LE print - "Life Force"

I still can't bring myself to part with my original hummingbird ACEO. I feel like I need him around me right now, lol. But I did a very limited edition print run of only 16. They are listed in my Etsy and Artfire stores.

Have a joyful weekend everyone!

Tips on photographing your dog, part three

2009-05-27T10:42:00.007-05:00

Part 3. Perspective, Patience, and Plenty

The first of the "P's" is Perspective. I really like to get down on my pets eye level. Of course you can get some cute photos standing above your pet with them looking up at you, like in the photo above, but to me, generally the nicest photos are when you kneel down to their level. The body proportions are less likely to be distorted, and the perspective feels more intimate.

But you can get some interesting photos with different perspectives. Play around with it and have some fun, like shooting below your pet (worms eye view.)

Another suggestion that usually makes a better portrait photo is to move in close and fill the frame with your pet, unless there's something or someone that you want to get in the picture too. To me, this photo is a lot cuter than if I had included the whole sofa:

Yes, he heard me coming. I had to sit there and be patient while he fell back asleep. Which brings us to patience. Besides being a virtue, Patience can reward you with great photos. Some of my favorite shots have been when I decided to wait "just a few more minutes." Like this one:

Plenty. This is one of my best tips. Take LOTS of photos! In this age of digital cameras there's no reason not to. Sometimes it takes dozens of shots to get "the one." As long as your pet is sitting nicely, click away. Let him turn his head, look up, look down, whatever. You can call his name once in a while to get him to look at you, but like I said before, they don't have to be looking at you for a great photo. If they will keep still, try moving around to get different perspectives.

Here is an example. To get this melt-your-heart shot of Cloud I had to take 20 photos. You'll want to click on it to get a better look. Go ahead, I'll wait...

Remember, LOTS of pics! You can always delete the bad ones.

I'm glad everyone has been enjoying these posts. These tips will work for cats, horses, and even for people. I'd love to hear if these tips have helped your photography. I hope you have as much fun taking pictures of your pets as I do.

Hugs,
Kathleen