Dafs!

 

How beautiful the daffodils were before the cold snap. I didn't have nearly enough time to paint them.  The heady fragrance and promise of abundance throughout the season was mine as I basked in their glory for a day.  It was Beau's last day, and we spent it together among them. I thought I'd return home to them, but instead, both the daffodils and Beau are gone.  I think every spring from now on will bring back the memories of this day.  Painting number 4828 in 4828 days. 

Sunflower Medley

I just had to post this photo of my trusty companion rounding the flower bed between my easel and subject!  I had just lowered the painting for a better shot, when here he comes again - not minding that I'm in his way at all!  He kept circling this bed like there was something in it!  He often makes big circles around me while I'm outside painting, checking back in often.  I just never know what kind of antics he'll engage in.  Just two weeks ago he brought a live fawn to the yard to play with!  I had a very hard time getting him away from that fawn, so it could run back to it's waiting mother!  Country life is never dull!  Painting number 3080 in 3080 days.  This one will be dropped off in a gallery next week, I just haven't decided which one, yet. 

Beau in the Pasture

What a beautiful evening after such a hot and muggy day!  On days like this it pays to get out early and late for gardening and painting!  My trusty companion stayed ahead of me long enough this time to get painted in!  Haha!  Perhaps I'll start painting him in more often - he's always hanging around patrolling the grounds!  Ink and watercolor on handmade cotton paper here - and I don't remember what ink I loaded in this pen, but it is warm and reddish - a good compliment to the green of the scene.  Painting number 2736 in 2736 days.

Old Hay Rake and Daffodils

So good to see the sun today - even though the winds are blustery!  Oh what a difference a day makes!  I sat out for hours after sunset on the balcony last night, just soaking up that gorgeous weather and watching the stars.  Oh, how I loved that!  Then today, I have my winter coat on as I paint!  With the hard freeze expected tonight, I thought I had better capture these blooms in oil in case they get nipped!  The old hay rake behind the daffodils is the one used on this farm when my grandma and grandpa were first farming the land.  Love that old machinery!  Painting number 2637 in 2637 days.

Beau in Copper!

I LOVE experimenting with all things art!  There is something very satisfying in working metal from both sides to achieve the desired results.  The more I work the masses, the more pliable the metal becomes, and the more definition I can achieve.  This metal working is so new to me that I am still trying exploring the methods and tools.  Almost anything can be used to push that metal, a dull pencil, rounded brush handles, even plastic sculpting tools - nothing too sharp or that metal will pierce!  This "little" darling is our Beau, who is forever bringing treasures in from the pasture.  His latest gift?  A young opossum - playing opossum on the front porch!  I had to make him drop it before coming inside!  Painting number 2464 in 2464 days.

Beau in Profile

After a busy day, I settled down to paint something "easy".  Well, this was anything but easy!  Beau is such a beautiful dog, he could be painted many different ways, but I chose this position.  He holds his head like this SO often, with just that expression - I had to paint it!  In such a close up, I found the planes more difficult.  I pushed them one way, then the other.  With the light behind him, it cast many subtle color shifts in that shadow side - and I found them tricky!  I ended up spending way more time on this than expected, but I think I'm happy with it.  I'll check it again in the morning, and see if anything jumps out at me.  Painting number 1847 in 1847 days.

Bold Beau

Bold Beau
Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 8x8

This sweet little lab weighs over 100 lbs - and thinks he’s a lap dog!  His head is larger than mine, and his feet bruise mine when he happens to step on them as he goes outside first thing in the morning!  So full of energy, he has certainly been a handful - but he is so full of sweetness and love, that all is forgiven.  My husband’s “special boy” is my muse tonight, as I push the colors in a bold direction.  It was a little harder for him than it has been for the cats and Ray.  He is such an unusual red lab color, and it was hard to translate that into the vivid hues.  I started with highlights, then dropped in bolder colors a little at a time, testing them against their neighbors as I went.  So much of the energy of a painting is in the relationships of the hues - what lays next to what.  He has the most unusual light green “people” eyes - they seem to glow in real life (it was a little creepy at first)!  I’ve mainly used my brushes for this one, but I did do a little topping off with my new catalysts - which I love!  If you don’t have one, you simply must try one!  They make marks unlike any other tool.  This painting makes 1155 in 1155 days.

Beau in Ink

Beau in Ink
Pen and Ink on paper, 5x6
purchase here

Just when I think the days can't be busier - they become full to the point of bursting!  This day started long before dawn, and I am just now getting home to get my drawing and posting done - and it is nearly midnight!  Yikes!! Oh, how I wish I had more hours in each day!  I think I would certainly use a couple of those hours to get a little more sleep!  Beau is improving each day - and he is actually eating well tonight, for the first time in three days! Yay!  His medicine comes in a yummy chewy square that he thinks is a treat - and that is SO much better than the old days when I had to hide a pill inside of meat or cheese!  It has been a very long time since we had any animal sick enough to need medical treatment.  I have returned to the pen and ink (Pitt pens, in this case), and am drawing on a smooth paper - which I do not use for any other medium.  I much prefer a vellum finish on bristol for all graphite work, and had not found a good use for this smooth bristol until exploring pen and ink.  This drawing is 1110 in 1110 days and Day 17 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Exploring the Kitten

Exploring the Kitten
Pen and sepia ink, 6x5

I spent much of the day caring for this little lab - who is now hovering 100 lbs.  He became very lethargic to the point of alarm, so we ended up spending a lot of time at the vet.  Blood work points to an infection, and he had a very high fever, but all the really bad stuff has been ruled out. He is not quite 2 years old, and was healthy and vigorous just last night!  After getting fluids, shots and meds, he came home, acting better than he had all day.  He has now been asleep since that time, and has hardly moved.  I hope he improves greatly by morning.  So, tonight I am sketching Beau with a little sepia pen and ink on paper.  This drawing is the 1108th in 1108 days, and Day 15 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.