The Boys, nearly finished

Here it is without the little pillow. I think it is getting close. What do you think? The color is way off because of not using a flash, but the idea I was checking was without the little doggie pillow. Thanks for looking.

Boys Update Again

Here is the latest. Gene says it needs more toys or a different name. He doesn't care for the turquois dog pillow. I will check with Jennie and see what other toys we might use. Hmmm.

Boys Update - Pastel WIP

Here is the latest on the boys. How about "Boys with their Toys" for a name?

Problems are the overall shapes. Since I'm using many photos it is difficult .. for me. Romeo has such long legs for such a tiny dog and was "watching TV" with the remote, so an odd angle on his leg. I think I will just add the remote. :) It will make more sense. I had Snugs foot bent at an odd angle and I think this last one addresses that fairly well. I will put the little red pillow under it and that should help. Didn't I mention several times about my drawings, changes and plans going awry? It is nothing like the preliminary sketch I made. Most artists do a drawing and then paint it. Ahhhhh, me.

Sad Pink Bear

Here is the sad little bear from the quick sketch. It is very pitiful.

Scavenger Hunt #23

Finally back to sketching. Trouble is I wasn't in the mood, but I am determined. If you are new to the blog, I'm trying to sketch more to adapt my eyes to seeing clearly and capturing the idea quickly. No erasing or pre -drawing. These photos are bad, as taken at night without a flash, so yellow. About 15 minutes or less to do each sketch.

#1,2,3,4 - Items on my desk, a blue cup (I have a mug collection and it seems every time I need a cup or blue, there that one is), a red candle, a green plastic glass and some yellow post it notes. Sharpie and watercolor, about 15 minutes in an old Strathmore sketchbook, 8.5 x 11 inches.




#5 - Pink, a small teddy bear on my desk, white with pink bow and collar. In my Canson sketchbook with the Sharpie and watercolors.



#6 - Finger Food - Back to food! This is the new mint and white chocolate Kisses. They are white and red and wrapped in silver and red. They are now eaten. Hmmm. Done with the Micron 05, Burnt Umber in the Canson sketchbook about 8 x 10 inches. (Changed it to black and white on the computer, so it would show better -- but does it?)


I worked on the doggies again today but it is too late to post about it. It is already tomorrow by my clock, see what this post says. I'm working to get the hair on the dogs to look fine and soft. It's coming along slowly. Lots of blending. When done, I'm going to try them again in a looser style. See how it goes.

Snugs & Romeo WIP (work in progress)

I finally started a pastel painting of Jennie's two dogs to enter in the Austin Pastel Society's juried show. Deadline is January 12, so you see I am starting with plenty of time to spare. Arghhhhh. Always late! At any rate I like the start. It is on Pastelbord, green color, 16 x 20 inches. I did not do an under painting since the board is pretty dark. Comments are appreciated. I usually work more on the whole painting before doing any detail, but those faces just cry out to be painted! The composition has some of their toys around them.



We golfed today, as rain was predicted for today and tomorrow. It looked like the last chance to play before the new year. I had a first! I birdied the first hole. This photo is how far I was when I chipped in. Yahoooo. I still had a 52 for nine holes, but I figure my goal is 54 - six strokes per hole - so not bad. I had 8 on the water hole, so... We started out with jackets on, but by the third hole we were in t-shirts. Windy, but a nice day. Somewhere in the mid seventies. It is still 65 degrees out on the porch.



This is my new easel. It is great. The only problem is that I like to stand when painting and it is an easel for sitting in a chair. Gene said he will make me a box for the bottom so I can stand. It is very pretty and stable. I used it today. :) I'm sure it would be easier on my feet to sit. I find I don't get up and check out the painting as often as I should. Standing gives you the opportunity to step back and move around some. I recommend standing if you can do it. At any rate the easel is nice and I enjoy the space around it. I have been using my French easel and it takes up a lot of room.

Digital Geraniums, ArtBlogs 4 U

I haven't painted or sketched the last few days so I thought I would post this computer drawing/painting/digital graphic whatever it is. :) I did this several years ago with my old Mac, Dabbler and maybe ColorIt. No photo involved, just drawing with a mouse! Such fun.

We are always meeting someone, who knows someone, who knows a friend. It is such a small world. Now with blogging, the internet and the world wide web it is getting even smaller. Friends and people with like interests all over the world can chat and see each ones art .. and also buy some.

Lesly Finn, in New Zealand, has started a blog called Artblogs 4 U. A collection of artists that blog from all over the place. I quickly joined and encourage you other artists to do the same. This week she is starting to have a featured artist. I hope to take part in that. So check out Artblogs 4 U and also Lesly's personal blog. I'm always surprised and interested when artists do things for other artists with nothing asked in return (well in this case a link, ha). So, thanks to Lesly for her time and many new blogs to explore. It will be a learning experience to chat with these new to me artists and read up on their work and inspirations.

Christmas Day

I can't stay away. I'm addicted, so here is a post for today.

We had a great day today. Much to eat, of course. Our tradition is New Mexican food. We have posole, tamales, empanadas, beans, tortillas, biscochitos and more. Jennie and I make everything on Christmas Eve. The family was here today and some friends. We opened our presents today, a switch for us, we usually do it on Christmas Eve.

What goodies! For the artist in me I got a new studio easel from Gene. It came with paint, canvas and more. He is still putting it together, well he stopped for the night and will finish soon.

From Jennie I got some new Rembrandt pastels. It is a set called General Selection with some beautiful primary colors, it looks like my oil painting palette colors. They look so good, you hate to use them, but can't wait to use them either. Also a new book called "Portraits from Life in 29 steps" by John Howard Sanden with Elizabeth Sanden. I will report here on how that reads. It looks great. I may end up liking to do portraits, who knows? We tried this summer in Magdalena, with respect to Jennie, I did not publish the try I made with her. She sat for me, even in public! The "stoppers by" said, "What a beautiful model! Oh, and the painting is a start." Ahemm.

From Joanna, "The Ultimate Book of Sketching" by John Hamilton, John Marsh, Robert Norrington and Sharon Finmark. On the back it says, "How to exploit the unique versatility of the pencil, How to see and then sketch everyday objects, How to compose a good sketch, How to master perspective, How to render light, shade, depth and distance and With simple sketches and finished drawings throughout" Sounds pretty good, too. With my renewed interest in sketching, this should be very helpful. Also "a painting a day - volume three by Karin Jurick. Her paintings of people looking at paintings are especially fascinating to me. Take a look and let me know what you think. Also a CD of "Live at the Bugle Boy, Volume 1" The is a music house in La Grange, Texas, about 30 miles from here where we saw Bluehouse. You can get a preview on the Bugle Boy page.

Larry satisfied my reading side. A book of three complete novels by Tony Hillerman, "The Joe Leaphorn Mysteries", including The Blessing Way, Dance Hall of the Dead and Listening Woman. I have read these in the past, and so enjoy them. Reading them again will be a great pleasure. They are set in New Mexico about the Navajo Police. Make me homesick for New Mexico. He also gave me music to paint by. "Dolly Parton", the Acoustic Collection 1999-2002. Four CD's. Very nice to add to the old iTunes. He also brought his photos from his web page to see in person. Wow, again!

I had a visit here from Susan Borgas. I really like a painting she shared as a work in progress on wetcanvas.com, "A Window with a View" See it on her page, scroll down to check it out. She has lots of info and fun stuff on her pages. Free photos for painting references on her Snapshots page.

We talked with Gene's mom in Magdalena and our son David and family in Kentucky. So, all in all, what a great day! It was just super. I was up until 3 a.m. wrapping presents, so guess I had better try to get to bed by midnight. Are all artists night owls? Something to think about.

Merry Christmas again.