Memorial Portrait, 'Kiwi'

This is a Memorial portrait I just completed of 'Kiwi', a greyhound belonging to the founder of Galgo Rescue International Network (G.R.I.N.) which does wonderful work helping the severely maltreated Galgos (Spanish Greyhounds) of Spain. The painting is an oil on canvas on panel, and measures 8"x6". I had donated a custom portrait to a Galgo Rescue auction, and this is what resulted. Initially, I had a diffucult time with the background as it looked as if Kiwi was floating, so I decided to add grass which made things look more believable. Also added are 'Forget Me Nots' which lend a bit of poignancy to the piece

Sleeping Lab Puppy

Here's my newest mini painting--a 3 1/2"x 2 1/2" oil on canvas affixed to a board. He's on his way to the east coast! This surface is really great to work on---the canvas is a very small weave and it isn't slick so the paint actually is a pleasure to apply. This painting took an evening to complete.

New Pug Painting

I just finished up this little 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" Pug painting. It's an oil on canvas, and I was pleased with the ease in which it progressed. I'm starting to get bolder and having more fun with color---there are a lot of gentle lavenders, blues and greens in the Pug's coat. The vibrant greens used for the background were really fun to apply.

Galgos

How many of you out there are familiar with the 'Galgo' ? These dogs are Spanish Greyhounds who for decades have been used as hunting dogs in Spain. What they face after the hunting season ends is extreme cruelty and torture. Galgos are loving, sensitive dogs, just like the Greyhounds here in the US. A few of the 'lucky' ones are adopted after they are no longer needed as hunting dogs, but the vast majority of them are brutally killed. This breaks my heart. These two paintings pay tribute to the lovely Galgo.

Hello Out There!

For years I have painted in a tight realist manner which is both satisfying and frustrating in that it takes forever to complete a painting, as it is more like micro-surgery, and satisfying because the end product looks just like the subject you are depicting. Case in point, this Greyhound 'Zoe' a lovely brindle painted on a 6"x8" panel. This little painting was very difficult. In order to get her brindle stripes in the proper places, I taped off 1 inch increments on both the panel and reference photo. The end result is pleasing, as it shows her off against a dark green background.

I am very grateful that I am able to do realist paintings... they are great for commissions and when I'm up for a huge challenge. Lately, I have been exploring a more impressionistic technique of painting, using bristle brushes, bolder colors, and thicker paint application, as shown in 'Lab Puppy'. This tiny (2.5"x3.5") took only a few hours, and was a joy to paint.

More later.......thanks for stopping by!