"Jungle cat" painting.

Last summer, I had an idea for 3 different paintings, so I started with a colourful wash on three 8"x10" canvases. I finished the 1st one- "Fowl Play", and have periodically worked on the second one, it's not finished yet, but I'm going to call it "Lovin' sun".

The last one I've looked at many times over the past year, but just wasn't inspired by the original idea and so it sat… until today. It's completed and called "Jungle Cat"...

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By the way:

Recently, someone asked if I could make a large

( 24"x36") painting- similar to the tiny "Forest of Feathers" one, in my Etsy shop. I loved the idea, and was thrilled to find that I had a brand new canvas in that size, still wrapped and waiting to be painted.

I haven't done any paintings this large yet, and just looking at that big white canvas was a bit intimidating… so I kept looking at it, while working out the details and a plan.

I wet the whole canvas, then brushed on yellow, red and blue, allowing the colours to bleed together. While it was still quite damp, I used a sponge to add more shades, depth and texture, then had set it aside to dry. I've made a new blog, showing the painting as it evolves.

I'll continue this painting on my next day off.

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Since all my paints & brushes are on the picnic table, to enjoy the sunny day, I brought out a started 8x10 canvas (the one I from last summer) and chose to use it as a warm-up, before continuing the big painting.

I decided that the subject for this painting will be a cat portrait,

surrounded by leaves.

It took a very steady hand to paint all the black details with very fine brushes, and I'm thrilled to have completed it!

All it needs now is a clear protective coat. I like to use a shiny finish as it intensifies the colours a bit, but makes it hard to photograph. So this "finished" piece isn't actually finished…yet.

UPDATE: June 28, 2011,

I used two coats of shiny clear Varathane to complete my Jungle cat painting.

This completed photo doesn't do it justice, as it's hard not to get glare, (so the previous photo

is more true to how it really looks.)

Finished "Jungle Cat" painting.

(Now for sale in my Etsy shop).

Tiny paintings

"Forest of feathers" a little 3x3 inch painting,

Available on my Etsy shop.

I just finished this little folk art painting.

It's called "Smiling rainbow trout". It's Very Small (5"x 3") and the sides are painted, so it's

ready to hang. It's listed in my on-line Etsy shop.

(AWESOME!! I got the link to work!...hope I can do that again.

Sorry, but I do struggle with some of the technology.)

Yah, I know... real fish don't have eyelashes or noses, but this one does :)

I've had a few days off, and have spent countless hours in my studio...and on the computer.

Blogging is still awkward, but I'm working on it.

I've got photos of new jewelry that I'll be adding to my Etsy & Zibbet shops.

This little painting sold the same night I listed it!

Anyhow, back to the studio.

I've been concentrating on my clay horse sculpture, A horse with no name-

here's a link to see it http://smilingbluedog.blogspot.com/2010/01/horse-with-no-name.html

I did some organizing (my beads and jewelry had been

taking over), but now I have room to do some painting.

Only a little room, mind you, but that's ok, because

I have some tiny canvases I've been anxious to paint.

(The smallest of them is 2 x 2 inches!)

This photo shows 2 of my tiny canvas paintings,

and my 1st trading card.

Although the canvases are small, so there's not much surface to paint,

it's quite painstaking to work on such a small scale.

I've completed 4 paintings and my 1st trading card these past few days.

Usually I paint landscapes and trees, so I'm trying new subjects and

stepping out of my comfort zone.

I never paint people, so the girl portrait was definately a challenge.

Her face started off quite realistic, but when when I started painting her

hair, I got carried away. I love playing with brush strokes, so that's what I did.

Well, it's noon and my computer time is up.

I hope you enjoy my little paintings.

Tree of life painting

I've been working on a series of paintings of the "Tree of Life". They are inspired by our awesomely mature walnut tree.

Unfortunately my computer died, and the "good" photos with it.

So, I'm fooling around with my new computer, and took this photo with ibooth. *wondering about the photo quality*

For now, here is the 2nd in my series of 3,

or 4 if I count "Twittering in the trees" which is an offshoot of the walnut tree theme.

Anyhow, I'd love comments or feedback on the painting (not my photo :)

Thanks & have a great day!

My paintings - Twittering In The Trees

I made this folk art style acrylic painting. April/09
It's called "Twittering In The Trees".

I donated it to B.E.A.K.S's silent auction.
It depicts early spring in the bright green grass, while the cool blues and white hint at the chill, which is still in the air. The 3 walnut trees are still bare, although the buds are starting to swell.

I recently made a tree stencil (to use to make a clay wall hanging), and thought I'd use it for the trees in this painting first. I did paint over them and make slight changes, as the texture of the wood board has an impact on how the stencils worked.

There are also many steller's jays randomly scattered in the picture. I made 3 rubber stamps of crested birds (steller's jays) to stamp them onto the painting. Again the rough texture of the wooden board prevented the stamps from giving me the effect I wanted, so I painted each bird as well.

By doing this painting on a scrap piece of wood, I had more obstacles than I would on a prepared canvas. That's part of the fun, running into problems and solving them:)
Yes, sometimes I just enjoy painting on wood more than canvas. (Plus it's usually recycled=free).!

Meanwhile, I've recently joined "Twitters" (not yet sure why) and the steller's jays are returning from their winter grounds, and are starting to show up here at my home. I can often see them in our walnut tree & hear them in the trees around our yard.
I think I'll go and watch them...
Angie



June7/09
UPDATED:

Yesterday I stopped in at the mall to see the silent auction, and
the bird-related artwork.
There sure are some really nice paintings there!
In particular, there's one of a blue heron that caught my eye,
and I wasn't surprised to see that it was painted by Shirley Miller!
She is a lovely lady and a talented local artist. I would love to have one
of her pieces, so I bid on it, but I know there's no way I'll get it for $30.00

I did check on my painting (of course) "Twittering In The Trees".
I was pleased to see that there were already 4 bids!
I had estimated it's value at $50.00 and it's almost there!
The BEAKS organizers had a couple of appraisers value each piece,
and I was thrilled to see mine valued at $100.00!
It just shows me that I under-value my work.

Anyhow, this is the 1st day of my VACATION!!!
I've got a load of greenware firing in the kiln, and lots of packing
and preparing to do, before we drive to Vancouver Island on Tues.
Cheers!

Update: July 16/09
Ok, so now it's July 16 and I suppose I should let you know that we had a wonderful
holiday, even if it was short. We had to take our truck 'cause my car broke down, (long
story, don't want to go there even now, 'cause it's in the shop...yet again!)
Good thing we took the truck though! I found a used kiln while we on the island, and it
wouldn't have fit in my car. Needless to say, it's in better shape than mine, now to just fill it
and try it out!
As for the silent auction, what a blast!
I showed up just before the bidding ended, so I was able to purchase the blue heron painting!
It was a steal!!!! and I'm thrilled to have it!
The lady that purchased my painting came at the end too, to make sure she got it, as she really
liked it. I forced myself to say Hi & let her know that I was the person that painted it. She was very pleased to meet me, the artist, which is a title I still struggle with.
I tend to be shy about my work, so it takes a lot of effort to promote my creations. It's
something I really have to work on... any advice would be helpful!!!