Happy New Year!

Here's wishing everyone a wild and crazy New Year!!

Back on Track

Merry Christmas!! I hope the holidays were good to all out there :-)

While were besieged by a violent stomach flu, (which went through the family) and a bad case of "community acquired pneumonia" we still managed to enjoy a lovely, albeit quiet, Christmas with friends and family. I hope everyone out there was able to do the same, but without the illnesses!

Back to art!

"TREUE" German Shepherd - NFS
Commissioned Portrait • 11"x14" coloured pencil/watercolor

In the coming weeks I will be posting some of the Christmas commissions I had this year, plus progress reports on my entries for some upcoming shows, which all have January and early February deadlines. So without further ado, here is TREUE, a stunning GSD that I painted. The final portrait is shown with the original sketch at right. Enjoy!

Copper Gaze

"COPPER GAZE"
5"x5" original watercolor painting on Arches board

Here is my latest small auction painting. It is loosely based on our fist cat, who was a marmo and white semi-longhaired boy and he was beautiful!
I love how the intense look turned out in this piece; Cats are wonderful at holding that focused look when something grabs them...

This painting is available for $50.00 plus $6.00s/h.
Please contact me if you are interested.

WIP - Border Collie

WIP - Border Collie
4"x6" watercolor on Arches HP paper

I'm here, I'm here!...
I've just been trying to finish off my Christmas commissions, which I can't post until later, and I have very little 'extra' painting time, which explains my lack of blogging activity.
This WIP (work in progress) piece is a small collie painting, watercolor. Lovely happy girl (sorry about the lack of eyes...). It may be available, I have one customer who is waiting for the final before they commit to the purchase, so check back in the next few days to see the finished piece.
I am also starting another cat painting, and I hope to have it up on ebay by the end of the week. I would like to be faster, but I still have my Christmas shopping to do!!

Thirty Horses, Thirty Days

Thirty Horses, Thirty Days, Copyright Linda Shantz

I'd like to spotlight a fellow equine/canine artist today; Linda Shantz is a wonderful artist that lives not far from me here in Ontario and we've known each other since the CAEAS days.

She recently set up a challenge for herself ; painting 30 small equine oil paintings in as many days and has done a marvelous job! She even painted through a bad cold, still producing work, unlike some of us (ahem!) who take to their beds when ill... (I must interject here, that she has many horse hugs to bolster her spirits whereas I don not. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it :-D)

Surf on by to check out her body of work at Thirty Horses, Thirty Days. And yes, some of them are for sale!

Oreo

"Oreo"
7" x 10" mixed media on watercolor paper

Since getting over the flu, I have been quite busy finishing up a bunch of Christmas commissions. I can't show all of them just yet, but here is one that is a pre-Christmas gift.
This is Oreo, a beloved pet who has crossed over the rainbow Bridge. This portrait was a bit of a challenge in that the available photo was quite small. I'm pretty pleased with the result, however, and I hope the client will be as well :-)

Pencil Pony

SOLD

"Moorland Pony"
4"x6" Pencil Drawing, on wc paper

I am fighting off the last dregs of this flu and did up this drawing today...

I'm sure any young girl would love to label this fella her "BFF" Calm, steady, friendly and trusting, he'll keep all your secrets and cover you with light kisses. And what girl could possible resist that mane, not to mention those eyes!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends!!

Flu...again

Due to another bout with the flu, Kim is taking some time off. Check back Wed/Thurs. for a new post.

Tabby in a Basket

"Tabby in a Basket"

5" x5" watercolor on WC paper

This is the little cat painting I had been working on. It was taken from another painting that I did a couple of years ago, but wasn't too happy with.

I changed my cat reference to a softly back lit tabby and the subtle browns, blues and dove grays, work lovely together. I am very pleased with how it has turned out; hope you are too!

This painting is available for $50.00us plus $6.00 S/H.
Please contact me if you are interested.

I am still here!

-SOLD-
"WOE IS ME!"
2.5"x 3.5" Original ACEO; Mixed media on watercolor paper

Finally I have ditched this ugly cold and am getting back to the land of the living!
I spent the last day catching up on some of my Christmas commissions and am going to give this week's DSFDF challenge a try, plus I have a little cat painting that I am hoping to post tomorrow.

It seems the older I get, the longer these colds take to work through. Trying to focus on an art board and hold a pencil or paint brush steady is next to impossible...so, I did doodle in some of my better moments and came up with a little whimsical ACEO that I finished up today.
This little guy kinda reflects what we feel when we are ill. Hopefully he brings a smile to everyone, especially to those of you who are fighting one of those annoying cough/cold/flu bugs now!

:-D

Shadows

SOLD
"Shadows" •5"x5" watercolor on board

Here is my painting for this week's challenge over at Karin's Different Strokes.

I have only eeked out this one painting this week as I am fighting a bad cold/flu thing that I caught from my son. A few more days and I'm sure I will be back to normal :-)

Grey on Black

-SOLD-

Grey on Black •4"x7" watercolor on board

Well, here it is, bad Friskett not withstanding, the second head study for my arabian pair. A wonderful grey on black.
I am not sure which one I like better; the grey , for all it's drama in contrasts, or the Black, for all the rich colors that play underneath that black coat....Perhaps you have a favourite??


Here is a peek at how these two would look presented side by side...

Old Frisket=Bad Idea

I don't normally use Frisket, but for my painting "White on Black", I wanted to get a really deep, rich background, and I needed to protect my white areas. Hence the use of this liquid masking product.

However, watercolor artists should only use FRESH Friskett, in other words not the bottle that has been sitting on the shelf for eons and eons (Did I mention I don't normally use Frisket?)

Once old, Frisket can, (and did) refuse to come off the paper, and when it finally did release, it took little pieces of fiber with it.
So, my painting for today was not salvageable and I have started it over...using a new bottle of Frisket which I have tested on a scrap piece of board (getting clever in my old age!)

Please check back tomorrow to see the new results. In the meantime, I am taking my cue from this lovely Brighthope Kennel pup I recently visited with and am going relax and go to bed-Cheers! :-)

Black on Grey

"Black on Grey" • 4"x7" Watercolor on board

Here is a head study of a lovely arabian. While he may be black, there is tons of colour in this handsome boy. Tomorrow I will be posting the 'sister' painting to "Black on Grey" entitled "Grey on Black."

This painting is available. If you are interested, please contact me.

 

The Road Ahead

"The Road Ahead" 4"x6" Watercolor on paper

Today's post is from Karin Jurick's Weekly Different Strokes Challenge.

While the photo itself was of an American monument, literally, I cropped in on a part of the reference piece.
I painted in a very subdued palette but focused in on the small bits of bright orange red color of the brakes and stoplights seen on the road.

As a Canadian watching the US Election from the sidelines, this mirrors my feelings at this time. American citizens are on the brink of possibly making history in electing their first African American President and/or their first woman Vice-President. The pressure in this election is intense...Nothing is clear cut, or stands out; so it is time to stop and think and take a breath before reaching that iconic building.

I wish the best of luck to both candidates and all our American friends as they go to the polls tomorrow. We'll certainly be watching here.
This piece is available for $50.00 plus $5.00 shipping.
Please email me directly if you are interested.

The Other End of the Leash V- Dont' Move!!

-SOLD-
The Other End of the Leash V-Don't Move!
• 4"x6" watercolor on paper

Here is the final of the five paintings in this series. It is a little Jack with a lot of attitude...how else are Jacks!?! Something has caught his attention (notice how he has used his owner's foot for a higher vantage point! ) and his focus is intense:-) I wonder what he saw??

This was a challenging series. Next week I'll have something new, but I still have enough ideas to continue this series at a later date; perhaps another 5 installments later this month? We'll see how things shape up.

Happy Halloween!

Hi! and BOO! to you too!

No painting today; instead I leave you with a picture of my first dog, Penny, in her costume from the good ol' days when kids made their costumes from scratch...
My friends and I went as the Three Musketeers. She was the Fourth. She had a cardboard hat with tissue paper feather, a cape, tin foil sword taped to her side, a small cape, black paper gauntlets and a black mask....

The costume lasted for about a block before she wanted to rip it all off.

In hindsight, I'm thinking that was pretty good outing for a Fox Terrier/Cocker Spaniel mix!
Please check in with me tomorrow for the next painting-The Other End of the Leash - Don't Move!

The Other End of the Leash IV - One More Treat?

-SOLD-
The Other End of the Leash - One More Treat?
•4"x6" watercolor on paper

Here is my next 'installment' I really like this one, so much so I had second thoughts about putting it up for auction, but I am sure some one will love this little guy as much as me...after all, who can resist that classic bassett face?
Even if it is just hoping for another treat ;-)

The Other End of the Leash III- The Wrinkles Club

-SOLD-
The Other End of the Leash III- The Wrinkles Club
•4"x6" Watercolor on paper

And now there are three! I really like this little piece. A beautiful Shar Pei and friends...all members of the "Wrinkles Club."
I don't personally know a Shar Pei but they seem to be a very dignified dog, and proud of those wrinkles too!

The Other End of the Leash II-Flower Girls

The Other End of the Leash II-Flower Girls
•4" x6" Watercolor on paper

So here is the previous piece but finished!

This is the second in this series. A wonderful little moment between a girl and her corgi pet. The little girl, being a girl , has those great flowered pants while her best friend has a lovely flower charm on her collar: Flower power for both!
Enjoy , and sorry it was a wee bit late :-)
•CLICK TO BID

The Other End of the Leash II

Work in Progress...

Well, today definitely did not go as planned, and today's painting is still waiting for me on the board.
So, all I have to show is a work in progress. Here is a preview of "The Other End of the Leash-Flower Girls", second in this series.
I have a nice, quiet day of painting planned for tomorrow :-) and this painting, completed, will be posted then, followed by my scheduled Wednesday piece.
See you then!

The End of the Leash I

-SOLD-
"The Other End of the Leash I" • 4"x 6" Watercolor on board

I'm trying something a little different this week. This is a series of paintings entitled "The Other End of the Leash"
Each day I will post a painting showing a quiet/funny/loving moment between the dog, it's human and the physical leash that binds the two.
We start out with a wee Chihuahua; a fearless little dog with a huge personality.
Hope you enjoy it!
:-D

An Alabama Cow

"An Alabama Cow" • 4.25"x 7" Watercolor on board

I missed the 'Week 6/7' challenge from Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks, so I really wanted to get this week's done.
Being an animal artist, I was very pleased when Karin's image for this week was a cow!! I sat down and started to sketch out a piece, but still feeling a little guilty that I hadn't done the previous challenge (which was super-ubo hard) I came up with something different for this painting.
Karin's subject was an Alabama cow, so I worked in a well known phrase and featured our subject, who's name should be...well....what else but...um...Dixie, ;-) don't you agree?!?
After a long week this was really fun to do, thanks Karin!
:-D
Available- $55.00 (includes shipping) Interested? please contact me directly

Little Eeyore

-SOLD-
"Little Eeyore"
2.5"x3.5" Original ACEO - Watercolor on 300lb Arches paper

It was a busy day today, with a sick child at home, but its amazing what you can do with a make-shift laptop easel! And having my own critic beside me while painting helped immensely too ;-D
I painted this little portrait of my plush beanie baby "Classic Eeyore" who usually keeps me company on my drawing table. This is a lovely, sweet piece.

Wind Wisps

-SOLD-
"WIND WISPS" • 5"x5" Watercolor on rag board

I was recently asked if any of the paintings I have posted are of my pets.
The answer is no, not yet...however....today I painted a lovely blenheim (red and white) King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and my model was our "grand-dog" Katie.
We have 2 cavs in the family who are both absolute dolls and regularly stay with us (Katie is madly in love with our boy Suede) Happy, loving, little bed-hogs--BOTH of them! And tails are always, always going! :-)

Napping Princess

"Napping Princess • 5"x5" Watercolor on Arches W.C.Board

"Napping Princess" is a little painting showing a beautiful black Great Dane (uncropped ears) as she relaxes in the afternoon sun. Danes are beautiful dogs who inevitably think they are lapdogs and no one can convince them otherwise! Truly, the canine world's largest couch potato and bed warmer :-D

This painting is available for $50.00 + 5.00 shipping.
Interested? Please contact me directly.

Calico Callie

-SOLD-
CALICO CALLIE • 5"x5" watercolour on rag board

Here is the finished piece of the work in progress I posted yesterday.
"Calico Callie" and I think she is a sweetie. I really love this color combo...maybe one day my 2 Birmans may get a new friend...

On the Drawing Board

Two items to share today;

First, I'd like to extend my warmest congratulations to Tracy Hall, a wonderful watercolour artist who's work I greatly admire.
Tracy recently entered had a number of her outstanding miniatures into the annual exhibitions of the the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers and the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, DC and was honored with well-deserved awards in both shows (multiple ones in the RSMPSG)!
Check out the full write up by Katherine Tyrell on her 'Making a Mark' blog, and don't forget to visit Tracy's site to view her amazing work.

Now for something a little closer to home....


Here's a look at my current painting in progress; a close up of a dilute calico kitty, which I will be calling "Calico Callie"
She's got the sweetest face, and I hope I can due justice to those lovely muted colors. Not just a regular black, orange and white calico, a dilute is a "watered downed" version of that mixture, namely creamy orange, soft grey and white. It is a lovely combination, so please check back tomorrow to view the finished piece!

Young Tom

-SOLD-
"YOUNG TOM" • 5"x5" Watercolor on board

Later than I expected, but here is the next painting; in honour of Canadian Thanksgiving, may I present, "Young Tom."

Hopefully, he will fulfill his life loving the ladies instead of on the table.

And thanks to Margaret for her wonderful reference photo!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This weekend brings with it the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday...I have managed to roll myself to the computer after a fantastic dinner, although a little early (blame it on the joys of orchestrating a large family to be available to sit down on a certain day and time!)

I have a painting on the easel, so it should be up within the next few days. In the meantime, I wanted to announce that Mural Mosaic's "The Gift Horse," of which I am a participating artist, has travelled to Ohio where it will be on display at the Ohio Expo Center from October 9th through to October 26th. Check out the blog of co-creator Phil Alain to view the wonderful set up in Ohio...Even better, if you're in the area, try and drop in to see the 22.5 foot mural in person-amazing!

Pony Hug

-SOLD-
"PONY HUG" • 5"x4.5" Watercolor on 100% rag board

Whew! I feel like I can sure use one of these this week!

I am working on 2 large paintings, (which I will preview here when I get a little further into them) and trying keep up with my small paintings.

Switching from a large format to small in the middle of a piece is really relaxing, and this one was quite fun to do. It is a happy painting, showing a grey welsh pony with a full mane, large, kind eye and cute face. The kind of pony any young horse crazy girl would love!!

All Dressed Up....

~SOLD~"ALL DRESSED UP..."
5"x5" watercolour on 300lb Arches paper

Sorry about the silence on the blog; I've been working on a commission, a poster submission and another small painting done, but I haven't been able to paint as much as I would have liked to this week. Family life has been extra busy!

In between waiting for washes to dry on the larger pieces, I started this little guy. He ended up taking me a lot longer than I anticipated, but I think the time was worth it.
"All Dressed Up..." is one cool cat; a suave take on Halloween's black cat- hope you like it!

This piece is available for $50.00 + $5.00 shipping ; if you are interested, please contact me directly.

Me and My Shadow

"ME AND MY SHADOW" • 9.5" x 14" Coloured pencil on board

I am currently at work on a small commission, so I am posting an older painting today.

This is "Me and My Shadow,"  a 'painting' done completely in coloured pencil. It shows one of those lovely, quiet times at the barn...when all the lesson kids haven't shown up yet ;-)

This piece is available; if you are interested, please contact me directly.

Baby Blue

-SOLD-
"BABY BLUE" • 6" x 4.25" Watercolor on 300lb. Arches paper

Who could resist painting this? A Rottweiler puppy snuggled into his blankie :-)

Pumpkins are 'pose to be orange!

-SOLD-

"PUMPKINS ARE 'POSE TO BE ORANGE!" 

 5"x5" Watercolour on 140lb. Arches paper

This week Karin Jurick's community blog, Different Strokes from Different Strokes had a picture of three white pumpkins as the subject matter.

Well, I was informed that pumpkins are supposed to be orange, not white...and as they say, "...out of the mouths of babes...(come some fun ideas!).

Here is my contribution....

This piece is available, and 50% of the final selling price will be donated to the Children's Wish Foundation.

 

Forest Jewels

-SOLD-

"FOREST JEWELS" • 4"x6" watercolour on Arches paper

One positive thing about a head cold; when you can't sleep, the early morning hours are wonderfully quiet for painting!

Here is my "something different"...Forest Jewels. These were beautiful orange mushrooms that we came across during a walk on the Bruce Trail. If anyone knows the name of this fungi I would love to know it (Haven't had time to look it up)

Sneak Peek

I guess Wednesdays are shaping up to be my 'day off"!

Due to a really persistent head cold/runny nose (thanks to my child), my daily did not get finished today. Here is a sneak peek of what is coming tomorrow.

Something different, but look! there's those fall colours again ;-)

Autumn Paint

-SOLD-
"AUTUMN PAINT" • 5"x5" Watercolor on Arches Board

Another piece welcoming fall...
I had a reference photo of a lovely paint with a little marking on her blaze that kinda looked like a leaf; well, I exaggerated it a bit and now we have a cascade of leaf markings, hence our lovely "Autumn Paint"

Leafy Lulu

-SOLD-
"LEAFY LULU" • 5"x5" Watercolor on Arches Board

The first day of Fall, my favourite season! Fuzzy Sweaters, Fall Fairs, changing colours, crisp apples a fire at night-love it!

And in honour of Fall, here is "Leafy Lulu." Bassets have the greatest expressions! :)

Day's End

"Day's End" 4"x6" Coloured Pencil on Pastelboard, varnished

I had watched this lovely border collie at a local horse show. He belong to the show organizer. On the go throughout the day, he was her shadow, always ready to help out when he could. I finally caught him when he settled in for a nap, in a freshly dug depression under the steward's chair!

'Day's End' was created in January of this year and displayed the 2008 Art Show at the Dog Show (Kansas City). It is done in coloured pencil and varnished so it can be framed without glass.

This artwork has been entered into "Helping Paws" an online art show put on by the Canine Art Guild. A percentage of every sale will be donated to an animal charity.

'Day's End' will be available for purchase on October 1st. The list price is $175.00 (plus shipping) and 50% of that will be donated to the Border Collie Rescue Ontario. 

King of the 'Hood

~SOLD~"KING OF THE 'HOOD" 

5"x5" Watercolor painting on Arches Board

I love this expression!...Be sure that this guy is no pushover pussy cat in his 'hood!!...but we know someone loves him (I put a collar on him!) :-D

Just a Photo

Sorry, no daily painting today! I got caught up in preparing for a house guest and my poor painting was left all alone on the board.
I'll be back tomorrow, but for now I'll leave with a picture of our beautiful Blue Picardy Spaniel, Brighthope Blue Suede Shoes, in the ring with his breeder... Four more points and we have a champion ! :-D

Yellow Lab

~ SOLD ~"Yellow Lab" 

5"x5" Watercolor on d'Arches WC Board

Here is a little portrait of beautiful yellow lab, backlit by the sun. This guy is a dignified, strong and dependable character, a lovely breed all round!!

Basket Cat

~~ SOLD ~~

"Basket Cat" 

5"x5" Watercolor on d'Arches WC paper
Cats are the greatest sleepers; curled in a ball, sprawled out on their backs, contorted into various positions. And they always seem so content! The variety is endless and I might have to do a series...

Anyway, here is a little piece of peace :-)

Golden Harvest

"Golden Harvest" • 3.75"x7" Watercolor on d'Arches WC board
This is a painting that I finished about a week ago; timely, that the image is fallish in nature and bright and sunny. Whether you like the wasp or not is your call ;-) but he sure was enjoying himself!
This piece has been entered into an Art Competition and I won't know if it is available for sale until October.
 

Different Strokes from Different Folks

"JACK" • 5"x5" Watercolor portrait on d'Arches WC Board

Well known and very talented painter Karin Jurick has started a new group painting blog. An image will be posted each Wednesday for any artist to interpret within their own creative abilities.

Karin started off this project by posting a picture of her much loved "Jack," her canine companion who recently passed away. I was delighted to take part and hope that my submission did justice to Jack. To take a look at all the wonderful pieces created, visit Differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks

This painting is available. Please contact the artist for further info.

Mural Mosaic

This summer I was delighted to be a participating artist in the Le Cadeau du Cheval mural(The Gift Horse).
The mural was put together by the wonderful team of Phil Alain and Paul and Lewis Lavoie at Mural Mosaic. It is comprised of 238 individual 12"x12" painted panels, painted by over 100 different Canadian and American artists.

After all the panels were completed and returned, the mural was re-assembled and the official unveiling took place at the prestigious Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament, in Calgary, Alberta on September 3rd. This was a wonderful project and the gentlemen that ran it were extremely professional yet fun and easy to work with.

It is worth a visit to the Mural Mosaic website where you can view each individual panel, 'meet' the artists, and look through the unveiling pictures. And don't forget to check out the other murals, past and in progress!

~~Later, Kim :-)