Berry Picking

This is a painting of my oldest son when he was about 18 months old. We were berry picking and he ate the whole container LOL (It wasn't very full) This is when he was walking up looking for more :)

Berry Picking

8" x 10"
Oil on Panel
Collection of the Artist NFS

Again, just a quick note, been very busy today - I will have lots to show you soon!!

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been a busy day - but for once, I am not the one cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I do have some homemade yeast rolls baking, cranberry sauce on the stove, and am trying to find an interesting recipe for a casserole from our garden's summer squash. As always, at this time of year, I reflect on all the reasons I have to be very thankful. First of all, I am glad that I was born in the greatest country on earth. Good health and talent wouldn't be worth much in some countries, where it is all you can do to survive. Right now, in 2008 - Albino people are being slaughtered in Tanzania and Barundi because it is believed their body parts are useful in "traditional medicine" Not all "traditions" are good ones.

I am thankful that God gave me talent to turn paint and cloth into portraits that keep loved ones close. I am thankful that after 50 years of looking, I found my soulmate. I am thankful that my kids are healthy, intelligent and self-supporting :) I am thankful that I do not have to wonder where my next meal is coming from or where I will sleep tonight. I am also thankful that I have a large and supportive group of people that write and encourage me and comment on my paintings! (That's you guys!) Thank you so much for being part of my world - and please feel free to write and comment on anything.

On a lesser note, I'm thankful that I have gotten a few Christmas commissions done, and am beginning to feel like there may be an end in sight :) and I got a good photo of the bulldog painting I posted yesterday. It still doesn't do justice to the actual painting.

NEW PHOTO - FINAL VERSION OF FINISHED PAINTING
(click on photo to see larger version)

CLICK HERE TO BID ON EBAY

Bulldog Charity Painting
11" x 14"
Oil on Canvas

Check back for link to auction - it should be starting this Sat/Sun

Close-ups of painting - click to see even larger!

NEW PHOTOS - FINAL VERSION OF FINISHED PAINTING
CLICK HERE TO BID ON EBAY


CLICK HERE TO BID ON EBAY

Congratulations to new collector Anne L. of Maine who is the happy owner of the Husky painting.
She wrote "The husky painting arrived today and it's even more beautiful than I anticipated! Thanks so much. It hasn't been out of my sight since it arrived!"
I'm glad you like it, Anne! And thanks so much for your emails.

Better go check those rolls . . .. .

Live Creatively!!! (and thankfully!)

Liz

A Jacket for Jet & A Colorful Poodle

I had a great day in the studio today! After I straightened out the mess with my website about paypal not working for the notecards - how frustrating! And google has locked me out of my original "Daily Painting" group, so I had to start a new one without access to the email addresses of the existing membership - so join again!! Forward this to anyone you think would be interested - let's get this list going again!

JET
Black Labrador
Search & Rescue Dog

Original Oil Painting 6"x4"

This is Jet - a Search & Rescue Dog with D.A.W.G.S

After I completed the painting, Chris, his handler, reminded me that I was going to add the jacket :) - So he gets two days of being dog of the day!

The orange of the jacket really makes it 'pop' - a big improvement over the original. Probably why I meant to do it in the first place LOL

Thank you, Chris, Jet and all the other handlers & dogs out there that spend so much time and money to save us from harm.

---

I also got a quite a bit of work done on the poodle. I am doing this as a surprise for my husband's 80+ year old aunt. I am not sure how adventurous her taste in art is, but I love this painting. This little guy was "Spiffy" - and he passed away a few months ago. Normally, I start out very
colorful like this, and then tone it down with layers of more muted colors. I remember a famous equine artist said that "people want a painting of their horse, not my impression of their horse" He would go so far as to bring his paints out into the field to exactly match the horse's hair.

"Spiffy" 12"x16" Oil on Canvas
(click to enlarge)

I do try to make the paintings more colorful, but very realistic. You can't tell on the internet, but my paintigns have a lot more color than the actual animal has. I feel that this gives the aura of life to the painted surface. As I was painting Spiffy's portrait, I felt that his personality was shining through. Although I met him during his last months, he still had a wonderful personality, although he had slowed down quite a bit. I really hope that she likes the painting as colorful as it is. If not, I will tone it down and make it more realistic. It's just paint :) I'll paint my dog like this, and then I can keep it!

(click to enlarge)

The light was not good when I took this photo, the painting is not as dark as it appears here. I should get the background in while the paint is still wet, but I'm really tired and wanted to get this up on the 'net before I called it a night.

I have another project beginning to take form in my mind. I'll tell you more as I have more information.