Young Kitten In Black

Did this on a rough gesso board surface for the interesting texture against the black fur I felt it needed.

Shy Kitten

Reworked an an old painting of an earlier cat that I was not happy with... Applying all that I have learned more about the painting of Loveable cats and kittens.

The Cat's window

Worked on this painting from a great photo of these three male cats doing their morning thing.
My first 8x10 size from the usual 6x6 size. To me they looked so attentive to something outdoors it made me want to paint these three pals.

Cat on yellow blanket

This painting was done from a very good photo of this feral cat that was lucky enough to be given a safe and loving home... Not so fearful now and relaxed enough to fall fast asleep on a bed with a yellow blanket.   10x8 size on gessoboard 1/8 inch thickness ( best quality)

My paintings are shipped by air mail
No frames

Two pups in sunshine

Cropped this composition from a larger photo of these two at a dog show.
I took my time with the drawing first then the expressions ... Then had fun getting very loose with
My brush strokes when rendering the look of a Norfolk breed's coarse hair.

Kittens in a cuddle

These two are just kittens...so they can never get enough hugs at nap time.
Not too much detail added here with this... but it shows a simple truth... That even animals enjoy
cuddling.

I seriously need an area for drying of oil paintings... so went down to Ace Hardware and bought

moulding in 8 foot lengths ...clerk was happy to cut the lengths in half so they would fit into my car..

some finishing nails and I was set...

As you can see in the photo... very simple...affordable and does the job for my 6x6 thin gesso board panels.

Young Small Pup

Fell in love with this pup as I watched him waiting for his afternoon treat.

I am a sucker for a dog face like this... So I painted the scene.

Midnight Blew

Today I am in the mood to paint a black cat.... Working on it now.
I have already titled it " Midnight Blew"

What I now know so far that works for me:
1.Warm up by doing several pencil sketches first ( warm up my eyes and get the creative mojo going!

2.  Squint at reference photo or live subject to see where the light is coming from
3.  Use a bad photo get a bad painting.
4.  Apply paint in as few as 3 to 4 strokes ... One or two gets me the best results that I am looking for.
5.  Shadows should always be correct in size and cast shadows

Sketch on gesso board panel

First I draw a light sketch on 6x6 panel...and then for this dog

I added the darkest darks next...then an oil color, thinned wash base color of this little dog.

After working on it wet on wet for a few hours I stopped before I got too fussy with too much detail... I like to get an expression at the very end with the eyes is always my goal.

...... Below is the finished painting.

Young Tabby cat

Today...  I was inspired by this cute face (from a photo)

Cat Nap Abstract

This was done for the Challenge "quick photo look"
Learned with this challenge that you still have to think before painting a single stroke!
I really liked learning a lesson from this try... may do another!

It's been a "happy" painting week for me again

  This is what my studio looks like after a busy painting week... Notice the paper plate palettes?

Yep... Got tired of scrapping off paint... Just these throw away paper plates .....works great for me..  rather spend more time cleaning my brushes daily.

Today's cat

Calico cat's eye

I picked this breed of cat because of it's eye. I wanted to see if I could capture it with oil paint.

Learned much from trying.

My signature on 6x6 inch size oil paintings

It is important also where and how

a signature is placed on a piece of artwork... Better for it to blend with the flow of a work the to stand out and be noticed or distract from a painting.

Today I was inspired

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I loved doing this no name cat from a photo that I did not follow in all detail or to the letter.
If detail had no meaning I went ahead and eliminated it.

March 3, 2014

Today I have more supplies in my studio...average costs this month $200.00 also... Yikes!

Brushes still doing well no need to replace yet.... ( Due to constant care in cleaning )

Still working in 6x6 size gesso board panels.

I did sell a painting last month...which paid for my supplies last month!

What I have learned so far:

The right brush to make the brush stroke needed is a must have.

Have many brushes in different sizes available in the sizes I prefer.

A dry brush can be used as a background eraser in lifting up paint from canvas

I learned to keep my whites white and black blacks by having a brush just only for whites and one only for blacks.

I enjoy finally mixing my own colors instead of buying them.

Loving this journey... Loving learning want works and what doesn't with oils.

Still having fun too!