Libby’s Portrait Takes Shape

Doesn’t she have a sweet smile? She fills me with Awwwwww! The clients wanted me to make a few adjustments for the portrait, including adding her ears at half-mast, and cleaning up the tear stains below her eyes. I also opted to remove the collar hardware and her body as it extends behind her head, …

#4: Cash’s Portrait

"Cash" 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas panel © Xan Blackburn
“Cash”8” x 10″acrylic on canvas panel© Xan Blackburn Chris’ greyhound, Cash, at age 10, is on her second life!  That’s pretty good for a spooky grey, I’d say!  She had a bad reaction to routine shots, actually died, but was brought back to life – a modern-day miracle!  And, a gorgeous, blue-brindle gal, to boot. …

PM #2: Stella – done!

Stella greyhound portrait
Stellaacrylic on Aquabord8″ x 10″© Xan Blackburn I think I’m done with Stella.  I hope Lynn agrees! As it’s Memorial Day weekend Saturday, my husband and dogs are all wanting dinner, and I’m rather hungry myself, I’ll just show you some progress pics to show you how I got to this point.  Enjoy! Stella’s reference …

Stella, the Sleeping Beauty

Stella greyhound portrait in progress
Stella – work in progress, stage 3acrylic on Aquabord8″ x 10″© Xan Blackburn Stella, the sleeping beauty!  Okay, she’s not sleeping in this portrait, but her owner tells me that she sleeps a lot, and sent me several photos of her in that state.  Sounds like a greyhound to me!  (Contrary to popular belief, greyhounds …

PM – Luki (greyhound portrait)

Luki (work in progress) acrylic and conte crayon on panel 8" x 10" © Xan Blackburn
Luki – work in progress 8″ x 10″, acrylic and conte crayon on panel © Xan Blackburn I’m pleased with this stage, though I had hoped to be a bit further along by quitting time tonight.  Well, life, in all it’s variability, will make hash of the best of plans, eh?   Here’s a quick …

Truman

Truman11″ x 14″, Acrylic on Canvascopyright 2014 Xan Blackburn Truman … I loved this big boy.  He was my first big greyhound crush who was not my own dog.  I rarely get to meet the subjects of my artwork, but Truman and his family are friends I’ve visited with all up and down the west …

Shawn’s Portrait: Love story

Shawn greyhound portrait
ShawnAcrylic on canvas, 9″ x 12″© Xan Blackburn 2013 Well, there you go. I swear I took some progress pics along the way, but the changes were so subtle that it was hard to see, once I got going with the colors.  So, yeah.  That’s that.  Done. Oh, but I promised you a love story …

Shawn’s portrait progressing

Shawn – in progressacrylic on canvas,  9″ x 12″© Xan Blackburn As I mentioned before, Shawn’s portrait has been a long time coming.  I made good progress on him today, and will probably work a bit more this afternoon.   I started this one by covering the entire canvas with a pale coat of cobalt, …

Spring Forward

Shawn in the spotlight Shawn on Dewey Beach This portrait has been gestating since … Oh my … April, 2008!  Kelly won a portrait by me in a raffle, way back when, and we never did pin down just who was going to get the treatment.  Kelly finally decided Shawn would take center stage, we …