Hope for Hounds 2013: Collar Raffle!

It’s the big reveal!   This year’s Hope for Hounds collar is banging at the door for full release, but the very first collar made is being raffled off this week, and your hound could be the one to snag this collector’s piece for as little as $10!  Not only do you get a chance …
Dad and Lillyacrylic on canvas, 11 x 14© Xan Blackburn I realized today that I’d never shown you the final version of this painting!  Silly Xan.  It started way back here, and I wrapped it up right before the Portrait Marathon.  I now realize I didn’t get many progress pics either, so this will have …

Portrait Marathon: Tex, #17

TexAcrylic on Aquabord, 5 x 5© Xan Blackburn Handsome, lovely, almost ethereal Tex!  His mom is a wonderful photographer, an artist in her own right, and I’m honored that she trusted me with interpreting one of her own images. Despite a number of distractions today, and the fact that it’s Day 19 of the marathon, …

Portrait Marathon: Hannah, #15

Hannahacrylic on canvas, 5 x 5© Xan Blackburn Hannah Banana!  I’m told that she was getting told off right before the reference picture was taken, which explains the look in her eye to begin with.  Goodness knows what the little trouble-maker had gotten into!  I decided to give her a little more relaxed look however, …

Portrait Marathon: Coltrane, #14

Coltraneacrylic on canvas panel, 8 x 10© Xan Blackburn  Coltrane!  You’ll be in my dreams tonight, I have no doubt!   Your sleepy eyes, like banked coals on one side and striped with reflected grass on the other, your chin nestled in the grass, I want to lay down next to you and watch the …

Portrait Marathon: #13 – Fletcher

Fletcheracrylic on canvas, 5 x 5© Xan Blackburn Fletcher’s mom is like me, I’m afraid: photographically challenged.  Alas, those of us suffering this affliction are lucky to avoid getting our thumbs on the lens.  After taking another try, we collected what we both agreed we’d better settle for, though it was still a bit vague. …

Portrait Marathon: #9 – Ruger!

RugerAcrylic on canvas, 5 x 5© Xan Blackburn Handsome Ruger!  His mom sent me a few pictures, and a description, as usual.  She described a protector, her “Sheriff”, a “relaxed but aware” presence, always ready to lie down. But the pictures she sent had me laughing out loud.  He looked to me like he had …

Portrait Marathon: #7 – Tip Top!

Tip TopAcrylic on Aquabord, 5 x 5© Xan Blackburn Tip Top’s portrait was a special challenge in that I only had one photo to work from, which was small and low-resolution, as well as being fairly dim.  Her head is lit from the rear, leaving most of her face in shadow, with just a rim …

Portrait Marathon: #6 – Bee Wiseman

Bee Wisemanacrylic on canvas panel, 8 x 10© Xan Blackburn Wow!  Miss Bee Wiseman is a fabulous creature!  Her mom sent me a bunch of photos, but this smile just could not be denied!  Even though she had not only the whole open-mouth challenge going, but the brindle thing as well, I just thought it …

Portrait Marathon: #5 Miss Star

Note to future participants:  Have your photos ready!  Keep an eye on your email if you know your turn is coming up, so I don’t have to skip over you.  😉   Miss StarAcrylic on canvas© Xan Blackburn Star’s portrait took a whole different direction than … any portrait I’ve ever done, I guess!  Why is …