Holley in Her Natural Habitat

This is Holley - she is a couch potato - so I painted her portrait in her normal position :)

HOLLEY
Rottweiler Mix
8" x 16"
Sold

I'm not very talkative tonight, so I'll make this brief. I am getting ready for my first show on Saturday, hope some of you can make it out there. I think I am listed in the program as either A Portrait For You or Wacky Pup - so look for me! I'll have some of my paintings with me and you will be able to see how much better they look in real life.

As a self-taught artist, I appreciate the following quote, even though I have no idea who the guy is that said it :)

“It is better to create than to be learned, creating is the true essence of life” Barthold Georg Niebuhr

Live Creatively!
Liz

Bulldog Charity Painting

I know it's been a while since I've posted, but most of the painting I've been doing are gifts, so I can't share them with you. Today I finished a painting for Bulldog Rescue - I need to get a better photo, but thought I'd post what I have for now. Please check back to get the link for the auction - remember this goes to help the dogs!

BULLDOG CHARITY PAINTING
(click to see larger)

12"x 16"
Oil on Canvas

(better photo to come soon)

This painting will be auctioned to raise money for The BCA Rescue Network, Inc - non-profit organization. There are many volunteers nationwide who love the Bulldog breed and are dedicated to its continued well-being. These volunteers find new homes for more than 1000 Bulldogs per year. Many thousands of dollars are spent to provide medical care, food, shelter, and training while the rescued Bulldogs are awaiting adoption.

Please check back to get the link to bid on this painting - remember 50% of the proceeds go to help support bulldog rescue!

If you have a charity to which you would like me to donate a painting, please let me know!

Scroll down to see the steps to this beautiful portrait!

Step #1 - Beginning the portrait - a very blurry photo. This actually isn't the VERY first step, but it's the first time that I took a break to take a photograph. I started by painting in the basic shape of the dog with burnt sienna paint.

Then I blocked in the darks and lights on his body. I like to use very colorful underpainting on animals, I think it gives more of a sense of the life and vibrancy of their being.

Close-up of Step 1 You can see his face starting to emerge from the shadows.

Step 2 - Now I'm adding the details and the actual coloring of the dog - this appears to bring him out of the shadows.

Step 3 - I now have just about all his body in basically the correct coloration. I will now refine areas and model the muscles and bones of his structure to make sure he is anatomically accurate.

Step 4 - Just about done! I will probably make a few adjustments - but basically he is finished. I have modeled his muscles, and adjusted the balance between light and dark. This is not a very good photo as it was 11:00 p.m when I stopped painting. I will try to get a better photo in the daylight.

Thank you again for your interest in my artwork, and for your patience :)

Live Creatively!!!

Liz

Damp Paisley

Paisley - Border Collie
Search & Rescue Dog

4" x 6" Oil on Panel

Well, today I had a bit of a quandary . . . . I have one painting that I have all the info for, but I wasn't truly happy with . .. . and I had this painting that I just completed (videos on Ustream.tv/paintyliz ) but no information about the dog . .. which should I post. Of course, the better painting won out - I really had fun painting this, and it's the first time I've painted water, so I'm really happy with it! Karen, Paisley's partner, is a fantastic photographer and sent me this marvelous photo. I changed it a bit, made a little less 'action' going on in the water so the dog would stand out, but the greens & yellows are from the actual photo. Paisley will have his very own page at Portrait of a Hero - so when I get his info, I'll put it on his page.

I also futzed around with the equine mural painting again, I am going to photograph it and send it in and get it away from me! And painted the edges of the angellic Rottweiler so that the client can hang it without a frame. Not bad for not getting started until 4 p.m.

Tomorrow, I'm in the studio, LIVE from 9 a.m. onward. Hope to see you there!

As always, thanks so much for your interest - LIVE CREATIVELY!

Liz

Mack - Labradoodle at the Beach

(click to enlarge)

Mack Discovers Water that Plays

Labradoodle at the Beach
Oil on Panel
6" x 4"

You probably remember this painting from a month or so ago. I mentioned that I was revisiting some of my daily paintings. One of the reasons that I am doing 'daily' paintings is so that I will do quick studies, learn from the process and move on, instead of trying to create a totally satisfying finished painting as I do with my commissioned portraits.

Well, in theory, that's a good idea. However, I can't stand to have paintings that aren't as good as I think they should be. So, the other day, I took a bunch of 'completed' daily paintings and fixed them up a bit.

Here is the original painting:

The original is actually very close to the actual photo that I worked from. However, I felt that it lacked the color that I like to infuse my paintings with. The adjusted painting has more variety in the colors of the ocean and warmer colors in the shallow water and sand. I did this by putting away the reference photo and just working on how I 'felt' about the beach. I didn't change a hair on Mack, I think the painting had already really captured her excitement and goofiness at discovering waves.


Tomorrow, I have a commission to work on, but I am hoping to get a few color studies done for the Equine Mural panel that I received. I would like to get the painting completed over the weekend, but since I have no idea what I'm going to paint, that presents a challenge.

I just finished a great commission that turned out really well. I don't want to send it away :( It's a pub sign, and I can't wait to show you. As soon as it has been presented to its recipient, I'll be able to share! You're going to love it.

Also, I finally have the majority of the Search & Rescue paintings packed and ready to mail tomorrow. I'm going to miss having them around. Guess I need to paint some more.

As usual, thank you so much for your interest, your encouragement and your patience :)

Live creatively,

Liz

Marlowe - Bloodhound SAR & Equine Mural Update

Marlowe - a Search & Rescue Bloodhound
with CARDA

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From his owner, Lori (She and her husband have 3 certified dogs.) -

We are certified and deploy with CARDA through out California and locally with the Los Angeles Sheriff's dept. Volunteer Search Dogs. In both groups we search in the wilderness and urban environments for lost people. Usually lost hikers and Alzheimers patients. Marlowe is a scent specific Trailing dog. With the use of a scent article from the missing person we set out to get a direction of travel, find clues or trail many miles to the missing person.

Marlowe is a 7.5 year old Bloodhound. certified for 4 years. He is also an AKC Champion show dog. but don't let that make you think that he's "snooty". He just LOVES to ride in the pick-up truck

About CARDA - California Rescue Dog Association:

The purpose of the California Rescue Dog Association(CARDA) is:
•To provide highly trained volunteer search dog teams for search and rescue deployment;
•To train and promote working dogs for search and rescue;
•To set the standards by which search and rescue dogs are to be certified;
•To act as a principal testing agency for the certification of search dogs;
•To further the public knowledge of, interest in, and the use of search and rescue dogs;
•To promote the positive image and protect the interests of the search and rescue community in the State of California;
•And to encourage and foster good relationships between CARDA and legislative and law enforcement bodies.

If you are a member of Search & Rescue, K-9 or Mounted Patrol, please allow me to paint a small portrait for you at no charge, in gratitude for your service.

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Equine Mural "Le Cadeau Du Cheval - The Horse Gift" UPDATE

A while back, I mentioned that I will be a participating artist in the Equine Mural Le Cadeau Du Cheval - The Horse Gift"

I'll be posting the steps as it goes along. The way it works is that they send me a panel to paint with an existing color & composition shown. I have to come up with a painting that uses the basic composition, but is an independent painting in its own right. Then it will be combined with hundreds of other paintings to create one giant mural.

I will post pictures of the panels and the ideas that I come up with here. Be sure to sign up for the email list so that you don't miss a single step!

5/22/08 - I received my panel today -

Pretty boring, eh? But at least it has blue and purple in it I'm thinking of a white horse running in the surf? or maybe in a snowstorm?

The sooner I get the painting done the more exposure it will get because right now there aren't many paintings completed. So next week, I'll try to make some time for it in my studio schedule. I'm working on about 4 commissions (I think, I sure hope I haven't forgotten someone) right now. I can't wait to show you one of them, it's another pub sign and it is turning out just fantastic!! I really enjoy painting pub signs, they're fun.

I've also been giving some thought to my "artist's statement" and my way of looking at life. I have lost some commissions and showcases because I am just way too enthusiastic - kind of like it's my first painting ever! Well, I'm sorry that some people want a jaded, blase, 'sophisticated' persona - life is just too short. I DO get excited about every single commission I receive. I consider it a great honor to have someone invite my art into their home. So, if I'm too unsophisticated for the snobs, so be it! I approach every day with joy and optimism - I love all weather, all environments, most animals and some people. LOL

As always, I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and check out my artwork!

Reina - German Shepherd SAR

Reina
German Shepherd
KlaasKids Foundation
4"x6"
Oil on Panel

From her owner:

"She is a German Shepherd, 5.5 years old and just a pleasure to have around. She was strictly a family dog until I received her from a friend. She's been doing SAR ever since. - she's trained for human remains detection. We are volunteers with the KlaasKIDS Foundation."


The KlaasKids Foundation believes that we can go far toward fulfilling our mission by distilling the best knowledge and information through a societal approach that extends from the President’s Cabinet Table to the family’s kitchen table. We can win the war for our children’s future by acknowledging that crimes against children deserve a high priority on our national and personal agenda’s. Then, by forming and promoting partnerships with concerned citizens, the private sector, organizations, law enforcement and legislators we take responsibility to become part of the solution to fighting crime and we can take pride in pro-active accomplishments.

This is a special painting, not only is Reina a Search & Rescue dog, but her owner is active in the U.S. Air Force.

Thank you for viewing my artwork. I will have a lot to show you over the next few months :)

Bria - English Labrador Retriever SAR

Bria
English Black Labrador retriever Search & Rescue Dog with DAWGS
4"x6" Oil on Panel

From her owner, Jennifer:

Bria is a four year old English Black Labrador retriever who has been training for search and rescue since 2005, first with my husband Matt and for the past year, with me. Having recently become a certified Field Assistant myself, my goal is to be a dog and handler team able to work in the field together by the end of 2008.

Bria has been called a natural and is so incredibly focused and in her element while she is working that just watching her makes me beam with pride. I’ve told my teammates time and again that only hope I can be as good of a handler as she is a search dog. While Bria is not working, she is seeking as well as giving love and attention to everyone around her and will occasionally romp and play with her fellow dog teammates, that is if there’s nothing available for snacking.

Disaster and Wilderness Ground Searchers (DAWGS) is a volunteer search unit dedicated to the training of search and rescue dogs, handlers and support personnel in order to provide professional and highly-skilled search and rescue teams in the event of emergency response events. Formed in 1997 and operational in the spring of 1998, their primary search area is the state of Connecticut, although they are willing to assist disaster relief efforts and lost person searches wherever they are needed."

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In this painting of Bria, I was trying to portray what her handler calls her personality of "calm, sweet and peaceful with a gentle soul". Remember, these are just small, quick ol sketches, not full portraits. Because it was late, this photo was taken with a flash, and I will try to get a better photo up soon, she really isn't quite so blue in the actual painting.

Thank you, Jennifer, Bria and all the other handlers & dogs out there that dedicate so much time and money to save us from harm.

If you are a member of Search & Rescue, K-9 or Mounted Patrol, please allow me to paint a small portrait for you at no charge, in gratitude for your service.

Bear's Story

Bear gets to be Painting of the Day for 2 days. I just got his information and it is wonderful and I want to make sure you appreciate this fine fellow

Bear
German Shepherd
Police Service Dog - Dallas, TX
Oil on Panel 4" x 6"

Bear was born in October 2005, in the Czech Republic. He came to the Dallas Police Department in November 2006. Bear finished his training in May 2007. In less then a year, Bear has located two lost children, apprehended two burglars, a car-jacker, and a suspect wanted for murder.

Thank you to Bear and his partner Sr. Corp Nails.

Tucker - Chocolate Lab SAR Dog

Tucker
Search & Rescue Dog with DAWGS

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From Marianne, his handler:

Tucker is a 2 year old chocolate lab. He is originally from Corry, PA where I picked him up at 8 weeks old. He became involved in search & rescue at 4 months and has loved it ever since. Tucker's favorite things to do is swim, hike, play tug-of-war, fetch tennis balls, and destroy stuffed toys. He is a quick learner, strives to please and gets along with everyone. We do just about everything together and is adored by everyone that meets him.

Disaster and Wilderness Ground Searchers (DAWGS) is a Connecticut based volunteer K-9 search and rescue organization. DAWGS is dedicated to the training of search and rescue dogs, handlers and support personnel in order to provide professional and highly-skilled search and rescue teams in the event of emergency response events.

Thank you, Marianne & Tucker for your dedication of time and money to save us from harm.

If you are a member of Search & Rescue, K-9 or Mounted Patrol, please allow me to paint a small portrait for you at no charge, in gratitude for your service.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEND ME AN EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT

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Now, on the art side of things - I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this painting! This is hopefully the beginning of a trend LOL . . . I've had some really successful paintings lately. I don't know what exactly I love about this painting, it's just the look I've been going for with my art. It wasn't a particularly easy painting, some just fly off the brush (like Spiffy) but most are like this one - some success and then a lot of struggle (in this case the colors on his face were tough to get) At least at the end of the day, I'm happy with the painting :) It, of course, looks tremendously better in person, the colors just don't come across on the internet.

. . . I should have asked Marianne to explain the bell he is wearing. I assume it is so that they know where he is when he is searching. Or maybe he just likes to pretend he's a cow :)
The painting is signed, but the website copyright appears only on the internet. Your replies are appreciated :)

Collie Charity Painting

This week's charity painting:

Original Oil Painting

4" x 6" - Oil on Panel, unframed

The detail below shows more accurate color

The painting is signed by the artist,
the website copyright appears only on the internet

Every bit of the money raised by this auction will help dogs receive the treatment they need to live long healthy lives - please be generous!

100% OF ALL FUNDS RAISED WILL BENEFIT RESCUE AT
Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc.

Click here to bid!

Detail of brushstrokes - larger than life!

When I painted it, I just washed in the background - It was a bit too thin, and I will be touching it up in the next day or so - I'll send an update!

Remember if you have an animal rescue that you would like me to donate a painting to, just let me know! I'd love to work with you.

Thanks for your interest!!
Liz

Golden Retrievers - Refining Background & Working on the Dogs

I don't know what happened with yesterday's post, all those extra pictures!! Sorry about that. They weren't visible in my version, until it arrived in the email! The internet is a strange and wonderful thing.

Ok, here's the progress on the painting for today:



The dog on the left just came off my brushes with ease. I'm sure you can see the beginning of a problem with the dog on the right . . . just "off" . . . kind of alien looking LOL I have the feeling that their real personalities are coming through. The dog on the left is a laid back male and the dog on the right seems more assertive and isn't cooperating with my brushes!

More to see soon! Thank you again for your interest! Please feel free to forward this.

Liz

Large Dog Commission

This is becoming painting of the month, instead of painting of the day!

Remember the painting I showed you a while back? Well, it has been finished and delivered, so I can now show you the steps I go through on a larger commission. After looking through the photos the the client has sent me we decide on one that would make a good painting. In this case, it is a photo of the two golden retrievers on a path. They also provide me with some additional reference photos that show the dogs' faces and coloration more clearly.


I tone my canvas, (darken it a bit with thinned down paint) This is done so that I can better judge the relative lightness & darkness and the color of the paint that I apply, as opposed to putting it on a stark white canvas.

Here is the initial freehand drawing on the canvas:

I decide to change the front dog's tail so it is less awkward looking. All my paintings are done freehand, and you'll be able to tell in the next few days when totally mess up the dog on the right, which I don't really understand because she looks just about perfect right here. Well, just wait, and you'll see how I can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory LOL . . .

Since you've already seen the step above, here is the next day's progress:


Starting to block in the dark areas and lay out the basic composition shapes of dark versus light. Tomorrow, it'll start to get fun!

As always, thank you for your interest, and your letters and support!! I truly appreciate them!

Liz

Staffordshire Terrier

Today's dog painting is a charity painting for the Border Collie Rescue of So. California, and I will send it out in a separate email when I have the auction up and running.

Yesterday's Daily Dog was a Staffordshire Terrier, also called a Pit Bull. I had a lot of fun painting that bad boy! I forgot to include him in last night's email, so here he is, in all his glory -


Staffordshire Terrier
4" x 6" Oil on Panel
$100 to the first person to email me with "Staffordshire Terrier" the subject line.

Thank you again for your interest in my artwork!

- Liz

Beagle Charity Painting

This is the most recent charity painting I have created. It raised over $80 for Nittany Beagle Rescue.