Old Tobacco Barn Painting

 

Baby's Adventure

This is one of my personal favorites. I wanted to create a world of  adventure for my grandbaby Isaac. In reality he was sitting in my office chair in his pajamas when I took the photo I used for this painting. I wanted him to take his little stuffed lemur LaLa for a naptime dream trip in the boat. The teddy bear and duck did not want them to head out alone, so they hopped in at the last minute.  

 

Big Brother

 

Hannah and Bossy

Bird in a clay pot

Bird on Clay Pot

11x14 oil on canvas

Startled

" Startled" Oil on Canvas 

Mootsie In The Sunlight

Oil Portrait of a Boxer Dog

This is my latest painting still on the easel. Her name is Mootise and she is a Boxer. Boxers have very thin skin on their ears and hers were all ablaze in the sunlight this particular day, they also have very short, thin soft fur. This is especially true on their chest, where in many older Boxers often the pink skin underneath is visible. I think I captured the soul of this dog for under her sparse white fur you can see the glow of her heart. She was a gentle beauty and faithful watch dog. Note how the camera picks up different back ground colors with both photos of this painting, All the colors are there, reds, greens and yellows, but they will show up in different amounts based on the lighting in the room

Pouting Pretty

You might recognize this painting. I posted it a few years ago and was never happy with it so I continue to work on it. The problem is, I know this kid very well, she is growing up so fast. I wanted to capture her attitude. This kid at the age I took this photo could pout no matter how beautiful the world around her was. She loves the gardens and animals, so I put her in her element.

I can paint  a strangers kids and get it right in a jiff.

It is harder when you love someone.

I still see things I want to tweet and adjust.

Benz and Casey

Toby

The client wanted me to paint something so she could  remember Toby, and her request was simple.       " I want a painting that makes me smile when I look at it.. and I want a blue background. " She wanted something large- and she settled on a 24 x 24.  In the photos she sent me Toby was a calm and peaceful looking doggy. I wanted to have his eyes be the focal point .. and his big ole beautiful nose tilted to look like he was curious what his owner was doing.

Bristow Boys

 

I was so delighted to paint this portrait for this family. I knew these kids mom when she was about this age herself! I really believe that familiarity of years of knowledge with the family, helps so much in getting a great painting. One of these boys looks just like his uncle! Oh how I love this one!

First Gallop in Spring

It's a Dog's Day

I was out at the  Wake Forest Historical Museum enjoying  Plein-Air painting "The Old Well" landmark one summer morning when Allen came by walking his dog Frankie. Apparently this is their neighborhood and hang out, and the go to place to walk on beautiful days. It seemed natural to add them into the painting I was working on and I appreciate Allen letting me take some photo references to use as well. I tried to capture the peacefulness and sunlight as well as  the relationship between Allen and Frankie. It was also nice to be able to put them in the surroundings that they are both familiar with. I decided to call this painting "It's a Dog's Day" because of the relationship between the man and his dog. Clearly when this dog is around ... the day belongs to him!

Three Dog Day

I enjoyed painting this for a client who wanted all three dogs but not three paintings. She is giving this painting to one of her children as a Christmas gift.

First Gallop In The Spring

I am much to old to run, gallop or even trot. However, I see myself in this painting. The colors, the sky the grasses. I see freedom to pursue and love for the open plains. No saddle, no owner, no limits. Not running away, but running towards a great new slap-dashingly pallet knife world. Giddy up, what amazing words, no matter what your age. Giddy up.

Achilles

I always ask my clients to send me as many photos as they have so I can get to know the dog and the owner. Usually I like to get 25 or so, that way I can see the dog's personality and the relationship that the dog and the owner has. I am so glad I used that method with this painting. This dog, in every photo, was staring poignantly at his owner. Such a devoted look and expression!

Big Brother

 

When the mother of these children sent me this photo and asked me to paint it as a portrait I was absolutely tickled pink. Pink as this baby's cheeks. The photo had a really big white glare spot on the top of the boys head from the camera flash and it was a bit faded. I absolutely love painting children, and rarely does someone send me an old photo that has a baby and child who both have a pleasant expression. - plus the lighting - oh I could go on.  Fast forward to " They grow up way too fast" his little boy is 18 now and his little sister is half his age so she is about 9.

The Wedding Dog

This little pup was supposed to be in his owners wedding, but at a young age he ate something and got very sick. A family member asked me to do a painting of  him so he could be present at the wedding.

Guarding The Gate

This is Rita, she is a soldiers dog, her owner is in the United States Marines. She guards the gate at home, alert, waiting, protecting.... just like her owner guards his country. It was a honor to paint Rita, the soldiers wife says Rita has some health issues and may not be at the gate when he returns this time from deployment.

Painting of Mary Carlyle - "Grandma's Chicken Barn"