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 … Read More “Portrait Marathon: #5 Miss Star”
WaliAcrylic on panel (Claybord), 8 x 10© Xan Blackburn Whew! Wali’s portrait, on 8 x 10 panel, took me a little longer than the smaller 5 x 5 canvasses, but I could have been more efficient, I think. Also, working on the very smooth panel requires a different touch, as it shows watery brush strokes … Read More “Portrait Marathon: #4 Wali”
RileyAcrylic on canvas, 5×5© Xan Blackburn Gorgeous whippet-guy, Riley, with those smokey bedroom eyes … I’m in looooove! Riley has a brother who’s portrait I did awhile back, with a sort of flowery background. Riley’s reference photos included one with a fallen leafy background, and I liked that, but didn’t want to get too finicky … Read More “Portrait Marathon: #3 Riley”
I’m sure I’ve got more than enough people signed up, and I’m raring to start! Here’s the list, in the order you signed up. Lots of familiar names on there! 😀 (edited on 12/2 – those in italics are completed) Jamie Esquivel Laura Mahoney Christine DeClerk Craig Bucher Leslie Glynn Tricia Goode Susan Lawrence Stefani … Read More “Sign-ups are officially closed!”
SaraDigital painting (ArtRage Studio Pro)5″ x 7″© Xan Blackburn 2012 While sign-ups are going on, I still have some commissions to wrap up. These two are digital paintings, of wolfhound mixes Sara and Roscoe. Wow! That was FUN! (More below … ) RoscoeDigital painting (ArtRage Studio Pro)5″ x 7″© Xan Blackburn 2012 Lily and DaddyAcrylic … Read More “Meanwhile …”
Sign-ups are open now for the Pre-Holiday Portrait Marathon! If you missed it, here’s the run down. For three weeks, starting Monday, Nov. 26, I’ll be busting through as many small portraits as I can get to, in the order you sign up. As I start one portrait, I’ll email the next person in line a … Read More “Portrait Marathon: Sign up TODAY”
We still have time to do this, so we’re going for it! Berger Picard “Daddy”Work in progressAcrylic on panel 8″ x 10″© Xan Blackburn 2012 MONDAY, Nov. 26 – Mon., Dec 17 Just in time for holiday gifting, I’m taking three weeks after Thanksgiving to do a portrait marathon! As always, it will be first-come, first-served, … Read More “Pre-Holiday Pet Portrait MARATHON”
Cosmo5″ x 5″ acrylic on canvas©Xan Blackburn 2012 Fall Portrait Marathon, Cosmo Done. Cosmo’s portrait, and the Fall Portrait Marathon of 2011, both done. Cosmo’s portrait was based on a black and white photo, which has such power on its own that, given the option, I decided to stick with a monochromatic approach. I … Read More “FPM Finale: Cosmo is Complete!”
Cosmo – work in progress #55″ x 5″ acrylic on canvas©Xan Blackburn 2012 Cosmo – work in progress #65″ x 5″ acrylic on canvas©Xan Blackburn 2012 Fall Portrait Marathon, Cosmo I managed to resurrect one of my tinier brushes, which sure helped with the little hair details. I’ve been working on building up that fur texture, … Read More “FPM #10: Cosmo, still black and white”
Cosmo – work in progress5″ x 5″ acrylic on canvas©Xan Blackburn 2012 Fall Portrait Marathon, Cosmo One more little update for today. You know what? It’s not as easy to “draw” with acrylic as it is to draw with a pencil, say. Anyway, it’s coming along! We’ll call this stage 2a. Have a nice Friday … Read More “FPM #10: Cosmo, leeeetle update”