Base, in Uniform

Practically by the time I finished typing, I was sick! I didn't get out of bed for almost a week. Today was the first 'normal' day in the studio since my last post. I sure hope you don't get this, it's awful. I still have laryngitis, so my hubby is enjoying the peace LOL

On to today's painting

Allow me to introduce "Base" a beautiful English Bulldog. His owner admires Robert E. Lee and for a gift, his wife had Base painted in Lee's uniform. I do extensive research to make sure that I get the details accurate in these uniformed paintings.

Base
English Bulldog
Oil on Panel
5" x 7"
Private Commission

This is a very small one, only 5" x 7" - I never thought it would work out to do one this small, but it really turned out great! I'm enjoying doing the smaller paintings, and they are more affordable while the economy is so awful.

WIN A FREE 4" x 6" PORTRAIT!

Send me a photo of your choice - the photo that gets the most votes will win a free portrait! This will be a monthly contest. So find a great photo and send it in! Remember, the backgrounds can be changed.

Can't wait to see the photos!

Live Creatively!

Liz

Forest, Australian Shepherd Search & Rescue Dog

Forest
4" x 6"
Oil on Panel

Tonight's painting is an Australian Shepherd search & rescue dog, Forest. Unfortunately, it's a memorial painting, as Forest has passed away. I finally got together with his partner and she was able to watch me paint online through Ustream.tv (click here to see it) and see Forest's portrait come to life. I recorded the sessions so if you can watch it at any time.

I forgot to get his information, so I don't have his story, but I will post it on his page at Portrait of a Hero - http://www.PortraitOfAHero.com

If you have a search & rescue or K9 dog, or if you know someone who does, please allow me to paint a portrait of them free of charge in gratitude for their service. Contact me for details.

Here is a portion of the session during which I painted Forest's portrait



Live Creatively!

Liz

Golden Love

Donation

Golden Love
7" x 7"
Oil on Panel

This is a painting that will become the logo for the Emerald Coast Golden Retriever Rescue. The original will be auctioned off on ebay and they will get 100% of the funds.

It's late, and I'm tired so that's it for tonight! I hope to be painting live on Ustream.tv again soon.

Live Creatively!
Liz

Portrait of a Hero - Donation #20 - Dakota

Dakota
Belgian Malinois Search & Rescue Dog
FLTF2

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From Julie, his handler:

Dakota, 3, was imported from Germany to be a patrol dog, but fortunately for me biting was not is forte. For a Mal he has a sweat personality and likes to please. He negotiates rubble like a gazelle and searches extremely fast, sometimes blowing right by scent and has to work his way back. He likes to take direction and isn't as serious about his work as Lilly-Belle, but he also has a strong work ethic. Dakota, is my "Flash dog" and Lilly is my "steady girl" they make a great pair.

FLTF2 is a Federal Search team sponsored by Miami Fire Rescue. I am a 23 year fire fighter with Miami. Both Lilly-Belle and Dakota are Type 1 FEMA certified disaster search dogs.

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Thank you Julie, Dakota and Lilly! We appreciate your hard work. I will be painting Lilly's portrait soon.

I am so happy with the way this portrait turned out. In this instance, I deleted the background from the photo and put in a generic background. I love the look on Dakota's face. However, I just realized that I never finished his collar LOL . . . so I guess the painting isn't exactly finished. I will post an updated photo when I add his bright orange collar.

“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion . . . . I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.” Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (American Writer, b.1922)

Live Creatively!

Liz

Oskar Black German Shepherd K-9 Painting started - Donation #17

Hi all,

Gee, should I just pick up where I left off and pretend it hasn't been 3 MONTHS since I posted?? Should I whine and "explain" that I was busy with Christmas commissions and then about the time I finished up - my computer crashed (ok, it got a nasty virus) and I couldn't write and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, which I feel bad about! And top it all off with a mumbled apology about getting ennui and not wanting to do ANYTHING???

Ok, well, I won't! I'll just introduce Oskar, a police dog a dual-purpose black german shepherd imported from Slovokia who works with the police department in South Carolina. I'll have to get more clarification about what is 'dual purpose' . . .

This is one of my free K-9 paintings to handlers of Police Dogs, and Search & Rescue Dogs. Please email me if you have a K-9 or S&R dog, or know of one who would like to receive a 4"x6" oil portrait free of charge. This is my way of saying thank you to all those who put their lives on the line for us.



I actually painted Oskar's entire portrait, but just was NOT happy with it. I started completely over, and this is the result so far. Oskar is in a difficult pose. This is one of the situations where you really have to pay attention to the 'negative' shapes, such as the shape of the space between his front and back legs. I am going to let this painting dry for a few days so that when I come back in with the next layer, this basic sketch won't be disturbed.

I also have some Christmas commissions that I want to share with you soon.

So, keep your eyes open, your spirits up and live creatively!!

Liz

Donation #14 - Wahsatch - Golden Retriever Search & Rescue

Wahsatch - Golden Retriever
Search & Rescue Dog with
Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs

Number 14 in my series of Search & Rescue dog portraits donated to their partners.

From Darrick, Wahsatch’s partner:

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"Wahsatch and I are with Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs. We are an all volunteer rescue team who provide our services to any police agency requesting them. We do wilderness/area searches, avalanche rescues, water recovery, disaster recovery, human tracking/trailing, and cadaver. Our group is able to dispatch anywhere in the country if called upon.

"Wahsatch is a 1 year old Golden Retriever. And has a remarkable knack for trailing/tracking in a wilderness setting. His drive and focus once on the trail is amazing, and if it weren’t for the 20 foot tracking leash between him and myself, he would be at the victims side in a matter of seconds. Like most Golden’s, he thrives on attention, so a victim to him is just another person who will pet him and show him affection. He loves to please and is eager to learn, and shows it by barking happily as he performs each command, such as sit or down.

For Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs, he and all the other dogs in the organization are the most vital tools used in our search scenarios. But more than that, they are our partners, our best friends, and all are a part of the SAR family.

Fide Canem…Trust the Dog."

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I will not be broadcasting on UStream while I paint tomorrow. I will be out of the studio all day - I should be back and working at my easel Wednesday at 10 a.m. Central Time and again at 4-6 p.m. Hope to see you there

I worked on my 24"x36" canvas that I'm painting a beach scene. I am blocking out the general layout in acrylics. I may finish it in oils, but I'm having some fun with the acrylics. I haven't used them in years, and never have painted much with them. I did some interesting techniques with them today, that, had I used the 'final' colors, instead of the undercoating color, it would have looked really neat. Hope I can replicate it when I want to!

Thanks for your interest -

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