Mastiff Masterpiece Update

Just a quick note to show you the next step in the Mastiff Masterpiece.

Starting on the male's suit. Remember, this is just the beginning, there will be much more nuanced shadow, light & color work to come on all of it!

Live Creatively!
Liz

Mastiff Masterpiece on the Easel

This has been a hectic week - I'm leaving tomorrow for an Einstein vacation (it's all relative) my favorite kind - I had a rush commission for a repeat client and just finished it last night. I have a number of other commissions jostling for a place on the easel. I've been working on the Mastiff Masterpiece and have quite a bit done, but no photos ready to go except the very first one - so here is a look at the first step I took on the painting -

I refined the position of the female and got started on the skirt. It looks great, but even the skirt is a long way from finished :)

Be sure that you enlarge it -


Gotta get back to work -

Live Creatively!
Liz

Mastiff Commission Underway

Here's a peek at what's on the easel this week:


This will be a portrait of two mastiffs in watercolor. It's not finished yet, I haven't even touched the background. But since I haven't been posting, didn't want you to think I wasn't painting.

Live Creatively!
Liz

Gumby's NIghtmare Surreal Art

Tonight was interesting. Despite my solemn vow to myself that I was going to paint every day, 9:00 pm approached and I hadn't touched a brush all day. I was still exhausted from being so 'social' all weekend plus painting LOL. My son came by to pick up his dog whom we had been keeping for the weekend

My eldest son Jeremy painting

He and I decided to paint together. He paints abstracts and challenged me to paint a wall of eyes (he knows I love eyes, and resist painting abstracts)

Gumby's Nightmare
Acryilc on Panel
It really looks 3-d

Jeremy suggested the name. The wall looks like it's made of clay. We used the Chroma brand Acrylics, they are marvelous. I will be doing more with them as it goes along.

Here is the painting that Jeremy did. It's quite a bit different from his usual style, his style is evolving I suppose.

Shimmering Stones
Acrylic & Metallics
7 3/4" x 22"

I also tried to take a photo of the final painting that I did for the workshop on Sunday, but it did not photograph well enough to post. I will take a photo tomorrow and show you. I was too tired to post it yesterday.

Live Creatively!
Liz

Buster Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog with CARDA

Buster

Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog

CARDA - California Rescue Dog Association

4" x 6"
Oil on Canvas

This is a really bad photo. I'll get a better one soon and post it on the Portrait of a Hero website - http://www.PortraitOfAHero.com so check there in a week or so!

From his partner Lori:

"Buster is an 11 1/2 year old Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog. Currently Certified as a volunteer Search and Rescue K9 with CARDA and the LA County Sheriff's Department. Buster has been involved in K9 SAR since 2000. He works as a scent specific Trailing dog. He has had "walk up finds" as well as providing clues and direction of travel to assist Law Enforcement in finding the missing

"He loves his "job" and you can't get into the truck fast enough when the pager goes off! Truly an inherent love to work. A very happy go luck boy. I am truly blessed to have such a great partner!."

______________________

Thank you Lori, Buster and your other dogs for all your work and dedication!

Tomorrow I'm off to my workshop - hopefully I'll have some new paintings for you when I get back. In my indubitable fashion, I haven't done a thing to prepare for this. I'll have to pull everything together in the morning :)

Live Creatively!
Liz

Waylon, Bloodhound Extraordinaire :)

Waylon
Bloodhound
South Carolina Police K9

Oil on Panel 4" x 6"

Unfortunately, this is a memorial painting :( I love bloodhounds, they have such fantastic faces. I didn't know Waylon, but he looks like a stoic dog.

From his partner: Sgt. Grant Huckabee:

Waylon was 13 years old and he served his entire life to public service.
I had to have him put to sleep in February.

------------------------------

My husband points out that the "POLICE" on the car is crooked, but I point out that it's a 4"x6" study that should focus on the dog. Who knows, I may end up going back and painting the "POLICE" part over :P . . . Personally, I like it and think it looks okay, what's your opinion?

I am getting ready for my workshop Friday - Sunday with Qiang Huang. It's going to be held at the Iron Horse Inn, a bed & breakfast in Granbury, Texas about an hour's drive from me. I won't be staying over, but the grounds are beautiful. Qiang does beautiful still lives, so I will be painting still lives this weekend. You'll have at least 3 to see before I get back to dogs :) I promise to show them, no matter how they turn out. LOL

Live Creatively!

Liz

Ali - A Fire & Rescue Dog

Ali
Fire Search & Rescue Dog
Lee County Fire and Rescue
South Carolina
4" x 6"
Oil on Panel

Ali is a youngster in this painting, not matured and filled-out.

From her partner Rev. Ryan Riley, Firefighter Lt. / Chaplain:

Ali was a a rescued dog and I had searched for a good German Shepherd for a while when I found a picture of her on line and I fell totally in love with her. When we met, I think the feeling was mutual and we had a tight bond. She trained every day and was hard to shut down. She always wanted to work and play. She has only 5 rescues to her list simply because of an early retirement due to health issues. She has searched tornado areas and even looked for a runaway Alzheimers patient. Her last assignment was with the Lee County Fire and Rescue in South Carolina. She is now with a family that needed a companion and very happy to be just that for them. I miss her a lot but know that God has a purpose for all of us…..even our dogs.

Thank you Rev. Riley and Ali. We appreciate all those who work so hard to keep us safe.

I got the bloodhound done today too, and if I can find his/her story & name, I'll post it tomorrow ;)

Live Creatively!

Liz

Bloodhound K9 & Canine Masterpiece

Bloodhound
whose name I can't find :)
Oil on Panel
4" x 6"

You may remember when I blocked in this painting MONTHS ago - it's finally gotten back on the easel and I've just about finished the dog portion of the painting. The background will be the police car, and that should be painted Monday. I really wish I had the video camera set up for this piece, there were quite a few 'learning opportunities' as I worked on getting the perspective right. These dogs have such amazing heads.

I should be doing some still lifes - I am scheduled to take a workshop from an artist whose still lives I admire greatly - Qiang Huang. I'm fortunate that he is located within a few hours of me. I'm really looking forward to his class and hopefully getting enthused about painting still lifes!

I've got some very interesting commissions going right now - another 'canine masterpiece' - this time interpreting a Renoir painting with Mastiffs. To whet your appetite, here is the painting that I will be adapting - Alfred Sisley and his Wife by Renoir.


I'll bring you along step by step as it progresses. It looks like it will be a lot of fun.

Live Creatively!

Liz