Tag Archives: acrylic

Jan 7 - Art Show at the Dog Show Entries… Lessons!

January 8th, 2009 | By Elin Pendleton

Lesson painting time!

I’m starting one of three paintings for the Art Show at the Dog Show with entries due in their hands on the 14th of this month….talk about cutting it close!

Modus operandi, but I think you’ll enjoy the stages of this fanciful and spiritual painting. I have always loved the idea of guardian dogs–we have the two Tibetan Mastiffs who guard us and the livestock, and both my husband and I have owned Doberman Pinschers in our past. Since I love the grace and royal demeanor of these dogs, it seems natural to do a painting for this show with that theme in mind.

Here’s the first “go-pass” on this 18 x 18 inch acrylic, and the design comes out strongly right away. I’m looking at it over my shoulder, and the strength of the circular movement of the angel wings on the dog and the lifted, protective paw on the sleeping child already form a strong, connected design. Destined to be entitled “Guardian”, just starting this painting made me feel sheltered. Even with these thin layers of dark acrylic, the viewer can see the structure of the dog. It will be corrected and detailed as I build the upcoming layers.

I finished my husband’s painting, and here is the end result–a 30 x 40 oil. Yes, I’m in it now–second from left–but you’ll have to go to his office to see me up close!

WORKSHOP! I’ve added a new workshop for April, here in my studio, and it is filling already. If you couldn’t get into the February one, which filled a week after I opened it, you have a second opportunity. April 3-5, it promises to be another exciting Color Boot Camp. Click here.

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Favorite Artist - Carole Andreen-Harris

January 4th, 2009 | By Carrie Lewis

Today’s artist is Carole Andreen-Harris.

I first met Carole through the Equine Art Guild and was immediately fascinated by her work. She was doing the same thing I was attempting to achieve, but was several steps ahead of me on that journey.

That was over six years ago and she’s still way ahead of me.

Carole works primarily in acrylics (with some work in oil, as well) and her advice on using the medium was invaluable when I tried it out in 2007. Unlike me, however, she has been able to not only become familiar with acrylic, but comfortable with it.

As you can see from Rosie, shown here, her paintings are full of natural light and color and a sense of place. Her portrait work and horse racing paintings are also inspiring, but take a look at her still life and landscape paintings.

A collection of Carole’s equine work is available at Old Pueblo Frameworks Gallery in Tucson, Arizona. The gallery is located at 1825 E. River Road. St. 101 in Tucson.

For those who can’t make it to Tucson, take a look at Carole’s web site. Time spent browsing galleries of equine, pet, still life and landscape paintings will be time well spent and a treat for the eyes and the spirit, especially in these cold days of winter.

As always, thanks for stopping by and best wishes!

©Copyright 2008 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carrie Lewis’s website.

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Happy New Year

January 4th, 2009 | By Carole Rodrigue
Cas
16 x 20 original acrylic

Cas was completed in time for delivery to his owner for Christmas, but being in such a rush to get things done, I forgot to take a decent final pic! He was almost done at this point, but not completely. But he’s gone to his owner’s house now so it’s too late for a better pic.

I’ve also put aside the duck piece in order to complete a little something for myself. Still decorating the new house, so gotta have art! I’ve got several pieces in the design stage also, but I might not post those until much later in the year. Sorry, but they’re being saved for personal reasons until a later date.

This new year is also bringing about a fresh list of goals. 2008 was a great year for me. This was the year I entered my first local show and won second place for Café Regular and had Lonesome Charlie juried in. Le Cadeau du Cheval was also an amazing accomplishment and I was so proud of participating in the project with some of the world’s best equine and western artists. The mural was featured in magazines and t.v., was displayed in amazing venues, and is now being made into a book featuring all of us artists! Yay! ~Look Ma, no hands! ~

I fell somewhat short of my goals, but that’s okay. I tend to overshoot and therefore am guaranteed to win some and gain some. I do plan to overshoot for 2009 also by entering more competitions, planning, marketing, and you can be sure, CREATING!!! I’m planning on 50 paintings. Doesn’t mean I’ll show all 50 here, but I plan on painting them. Guess that means I’d better get off the computer and get to work eh!

So my friends, it is my most sincere wish for everyone that you may all have a wonderful and prosperous year, filled with joy, blessings, and good health! Thanks to everyone who reads my stuff too and enjoys looking at my art.

©Copyright 2008 by Carole Rodrigue. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carole Rodrigue’s website.

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New Year .. New Painting

January 2nd, 2009 | By Jenifer S. Trottier

Well 2008 has come and gone and another year lies before us. I hope that 2009 brings good fortune and good health for all.

As usual I am busy at my easel and have done a 10″ x 8″ acrylic on canvas. This is a painting I have been meaning to get to for some time. I had taken this picture a few years ago and have just now gotten around to painting this fuzzy cow. I just loved all the hair on this bovine!!

Happy New Year!!

©Copyright 2008 by Jenifer S. Trottier. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Jenifer S. Trottier’s website.

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Jan 1 - Happy New Year Holiday Lights!!

January 1st, 2009 | By Elin Pendleton

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Holiday Lights and the third painting of the Mission Inn done on location. Fun to paint the landmarks and capture the “feel” of the night. This is the Mission Inn Skybridge that has a totally different look in daytime. You can follow this link to see another view of it during the daytime.

This was done with the interactive acrylics - Golden Open acrylics - which I am learning to enjoy. Only 6 x 8 inches, it was done quickly and loosely. These paints handle like oils, yet dry to the touch usually one day later. I was positioned on the lawn near the parking structure and had many, many folks stop by and comment–more so than in front of the Inn. Go figure. Sparky was with me and again let me know when folks would approach. Good dog!

This new year will bring many challenges, several workshops, and exciting artwork and lessons coming your way. I hope you’ll continue to stay with me, and please share these with your friends!

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Dec 31 - Last Painting for 2008…. This went FAST!

January 1st, 2009 | By Elin Pendleton

The front of the Mission Inn, right as the sun disappears and the holiday lights come on. This is a small, 7×5 acrylic done on location as a warmup for the second painting of this historic monument in Riverside.

Cars come in for valet parking under the archway with the flags, and it was a real challenge to capture the impending night AND the lights, as well as the color on the autumn trees. Yes, we still have leaves on our big street trees, and here in our preserve.

The Plein Air Artists of Riverside will be coming over here to our place on January 10 to paint those sycamores and the greening up mountains behind us.

I LOVE TO PAINT!!!

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Dec 25 - On Location with Christmas Lights

December 25th, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

Merry Christmas!! To share the joy of the Season, here’s an original acrylic painting full of holiday lights done on location at the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside a few weeks ago. I’ve been with the Plein Air Artists of Riverside who have been painting on location to capture the merriment and holiday lighting displays for which the Inn is famous.

When the moon was full this month, I set up with Sparky (yes, he came along and played “announce dog” to anyone who came close) in a planter bed diagonally across the street from the arches and buildings of the Inn. They decorate the palm trunks with huge snowflake lights, too. This is a 16 x 12 acrylic, done with those open acrylics, and I’m quite pleased with it for having captured not only the lights and the holiday feel of the building, but also the natural world of the night sky and full moon. The open acrylics allowed a longer working time, yet the Color System make the choices for this piece easy, even though I was working with a flash light in my hand! When I go out again on Dec. 29th, I’ll have some nice LED lights that will shine both on my painting and palette.

If you’ve ever been to the Mission Inn (opens in a new window) it is quite a famous landmark for its architecture and holiday lights. I’m pleased with this painting of it, and hope you enjoy it as a sharing of the holiday spirit with us! It doesn’t have a show schedule, so it is for sale, $300 to add to your collection. I can ship priority mail to have it in your hands before the Holiday lights are gone.

This day hubby Ron and I are traveling to my brother’s house to share dinner with family and friends, so I’m posting this a bit early. I’m going armed with home-baked deep dish apple pies, punpkin pie, New York cheesecake and cherry cobbler. May your holiday be as you would wish it–quiet or noisy, reflective or boisterous, and may you get what you desire throughout this winter season and into the coming year.

Tomorrow I continue with my husband’s painting of aikido. If you have any questions about how this “Mission Inn Lights” painting evolved, just email me.

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Dec 23 - My Husband’s Christmas Present

December 24th, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

My husband Ron asked me to do a special painting for his office as a combined Christmas/Birthday present, and how better to share with him what I love by painting something he loves?

Here is the first design for the 30 x 40 inch canvas. The subject is the martial art of Aikido, with O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, the founder, performing the art. The fun will be that the other people in the painting are all ones we both know, including the man receiving the art from O Sensei.

The design is one of a top-weighted dark area with the lower area of the mats illuminated by natural light. At this stage the painting only shows the value structure (small light, large dark in midtones). I plan to share this with you through Christmas, with a break of one painting done on location, and continue with it after Thursday.

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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New Daily Riding Essentials Paintings

December 18th, 2008 | By Deborah O'Sullivan

Okay, as promised! Here are three new little paintings. These make awesome little groupings for tack rooms or trainer/client gifts. These cute little gems will also become available as notecards and prints in the new year. So sign up for my newsletter for updates. Epona Studio Newsletter

This is a great opportunity to own an ORIGINAL ArtOfTheHorse.net painting at a super affordable price! I, also, wanted to mention that on several occasions I have had buyers miss out on purchasing a particular painting because someon got to it first. If this happens I can recreate a very similar painting, remember , these ARE originals to complete a vignette. So let me know if one of the paintings is gone and you would like the similar one and I would be happy to paint another one!

The first painting is titled Pony Brush (pictured above). This is my son’s little, well used P’ferde brush for his pony, Ruby. Thats the cute little lady with my son a few years back at their first horse show!

This little gem of a painting measures 6 x 8 and is ready to pop into a frame. Acrylic on canvas panel so no glass needed! $12 + $4.65 for Priority Mail shipping guarantees holiday delivery. I can fit several of these into one envelope so I am more than happy to combine shipping!
Just click on the Buy Now button and you will be directed to Paypal for safe, secure shopping.

The second offering is titled Hoof Pick. This is familiar item for us horse people. At least it better be! ;-) This measures 6 x 8, acrylic on canvas panel. Offered for $12 + $4.65 Priority Mail shipping.

This final original painting titled Bucket& Scraper is, surprisingly :-), of a bath bucket and sweat scraper on a bright,sunny day. You can almost smell the Vetrolin! I really love the colors in this one. This is painted on a 6 x 8 inch canvas panel with acrylics. Offered for $12 plus $4.65 Priority Mail shipping.

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The final order of the day are gift certificates. I have gotten several requests for portraits but I cannot fit in anymore portraits in time for holiday delivery. I CAN offer Gift certificates. These will,also, be available on my website. The Certificates offered here are for an 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas, single horse or dog (head/neck) portrait from your photo. Price is $380 and include shipping and insurance. If you need a different size, samples and/or more info please contact me at deborah@artofthehorse.net

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!!!

©Copyright 2008 by Deborah O’Sullivan. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Deborah O’Sullivan’s website.

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Dec 15 - The Horse commission and an E-Vite

December 16th, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

Quite a change from yesterday’s image, and it is so far along that I showed it to the collector for her approval. I still have some more work to do on it, though.

I really enjoyed painting in the fencing behind the horse and will share with you how it was done. The first lines were horizontal, done with white and ultramarine blue. Then the sunlit portions were painted on top of that with just white and a whisper of cadmium orange. The posts were done with that same white/blue mix, and then their sunlit areas were put in with that same white.

Now, even though there is a signature on the work, I will still go in and work on some of the areas before I can truly call it finished. The distant tree needs more limbs, and there are some “issues” that artists have with their work that need resolving before it “reads right” to the originator. Sure was fun to get it to this point though! Can you Boot Camp Graduates tell what time of day it is? (Remember that the time of year also affects your decision!)

On other news, I had one of my bigger paintings accepted into the Saks Gallery Show in Denver, and we’ve just received the invitations. They are gorgeous! If you are in Denver during this time, please come to the opening and see some truly spectacular art. As you can see from the e-vite, there are some truly outstanding artists represented. I’m honored to be among them!
You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Dec 14 - Covering the Canvas, Horse Commission

December 15th, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

Now the canvas is 98 percent covered, and the basic idea of the landscape is in place (except for all those white board fences!). The trees have their identities, and I have managed edge control to keep your eye where it needs to go–on the horse first, and then throughout the rest of the landscape.

The source material for this commission consists of two photographs–one of the horse, which doesn’t include some portions of his hooves, and one of the distant trees and pastures of the farm. Combining resources is always fun, because it allows an artist (me) to be more creative with the design for a better end result.

Now that the canvas is mostly covered, and the major color choices have been made, I can begin to add related colors to make those areas more visually interesting, and then focus on the details of the horse. Many artists might choose to finish the horse first, but in my book, that makes for really heavy head-work to complete the rest of the canvas. One must then always compare and justify the painting in the background and make a concerted effort to keep it less than the focal point. I find it much easier to make the background interesting, and then heighten the excitement in the focal point (horse) with details and sharper edges.

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Dec 13 - Commission Continues

December 14th, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

Everyone asks, “Elin, how do you paint horses?” and to that I answer, “I paint everything around them and then find the horse with what’s left over.” However, in painting a horse in landscape, and especially a commission, I need to work hard to make sure that both the subject (horse) and the supporting area (landscape) are harmoniously working together.

In placing the fields of color at this early stage, you can pick out where colors are linked between these two areas. The horse has warm oranges on his coat, and the orange of the distant tree is carried over to the lower right corner. The blue underpainting keeps these warm areas easy to see while I’m working. Note too, that the shadow areas are also connected, and relate together.

This is how the design of a painting starts the moment you bring your brush to the canvas, and it doesn’t stop until the signature is put on.

On other news, the February workshop here at my studio in Southern California is FULL, but I have two spaces on a waiting list. Even though all spaces are spoken for, I’m still awaiting deposits on two. If these people opt out, the lucky few will be brought in from the wait list. This workshop is the Color System Boot Camp–three days of intense painting and learning right here in my studio in Riverside. If you’d like to be on the wait list, please click here.

You can see my entire blog here.

Color System information can be found HERE.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Done the Dawg!!

December 13th, 2008 | By Michelle Grant

Those two little words that I crave…I’M DONE!!

Having said that, this morning as soon as I got up, before showering, with coffee in hand, I ended up tweeking the Dawg’s ear, and then some of the grass under her ear…all of this AFTER I had signed the painting and deemed it done.

Thus poses the question, is a painting ever ‘done’ or ‘finished’? I think not. Paintings and drawings are merely abandoned. This is not to suggest for a moment that a painting is given up on, or that is is somehow inferior, but that there is always something a painting demands to be tweeked. Each painting ‘finished’ is merely a teacher at that particular time in the artist’s journey of creating. An artist’s best teacher is her last piece of art.
I know when I getting close to finishing or abandoning a painting. My view of it becomes distorted somehow, and I start to ’see’ the piece become cartoon-like in my mind’s eye. My creative mind is tired of looking at it…there comes that point in my process when I start to wipe off more paint than I leave on the surface. Those marks that are removed no longer enhance the piece as a whole, therefore, they are removed. This is when I know I am nearing the finish line.

So, as I throw myself across the finish line on this painting, I am already thinking of the next one to put on the easel or send to Warner Bros….

©Copyright 2008 by Michelle Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Michelle Grant’s website.

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Black Lab Portrait, Work in Progress

December 9th, 2008 | By Sue Steiner
Work in Progress Pet Portrait
‘roughed in’ stage
I have ‘roughed in’ the lights and darks and have created my roap map in which I will go thru and refine details in this pet portrait. This is done in oils and the glare of wet paint is hard to avoid so I apologize for the poor quality photo. I will be brightening up the eyes and giving definition to the dog’s face and expression. Close cropped photos like this are fun to work with because it becomes all about the eyes and expression so I plan on spending lots of time on that in future painting sessions. I have gotten what I think of as the ‘bones’ in now and will move on to the essense of the dog’s expression. Stay tuned! On my easle I also have an elk painting, another dog painting, a large wolf painting, a cat paitning and a team of draft horses all in various stages of completion. I will post those soon.
To see completed work go to http://www.suesteiner.com
Thanks for stopping by!

©Copyright 2008 by Sue Steiner. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Sue Steiner’s website.

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Grass, grass and more grass!

December 8th, 2008 | By Michelle Grant

Painting grass, grass and more grass…working on the tangled *mess* of grass on the right today. One would think this mundane task to be an easy one. Not! It is a constant stream of decisions, working out which blade overlaps the other, and which is darker or lighter. Not happy with how some of the blades turned out, I quickly washed them off with a small sponge before they could dry and set up. Funny how a simple thing like a blade of grass can be screwed up!

I can see where I want to place more blades, and where to fix some of the others, but I am too tired and my neck hurts too much to fix them now. I learned a long time ago that too many mistakes are made when I’m tired, and its just not worth it to continue. Best to call it a night.

I decided to use my new Nikon D80 to shoot this photo of the Work In Progress. I am so impressed to see how much of a difference there is in image quality from my little old crap digital camera to this higher end one….*duh*! Why didn’t I use it before?! Double Duh!

©Copyright 2008 by Michelle Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Michelle Grant’s website.

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