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 … Read More “Truman”
So, “vacation” might not be the right word for when you’ve been too sick to work much, but let’s just gloss over that for the time being (except to say, if you’re old enough for the shingles vaccine, go get it!!) (NOW!) (If you want to be seriously grossed out by my shingles story, click … Read More “What I did on my “Summer Vacation””
I have gone back and forth over the last few years: Keep graphics on my menu of services vs. concentrate on portraiture. On the one hand, I want to grow and develop my skills and career as a fine artist, which argues for being exclusive to the non-commercial work. On the other hand, sometimes … Read More “Split Personality: Graphics & Portraits”
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 … Read More “Shawn’s Portrait: Love story”
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, … Read More “Shawn’s portrait progressing”
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 … Read More “Spring Forward”
Kyle Broflovski, as seen on his South Park Wikia page As they say on South Park, I’ve learned something today. Okay, not just today. Okay, it’s taken me eight years to learn this (sheesh!) Here’s the thing: I suck at winter. Yeah, pretty much. Every single year, my artistic juices dry up, or freeze … Read More “Is it Spring, yet??”
Jilly BeanRIPacrylic on canvas panel, 8 x 10© Xan Blackburn A dear friend to many, a mascot to the greyhound community, a girl who has taught many foster hounds to respect little dogs, Judy and Mike’s little Jilly Bean passed away on Dec. 18. That afternoon, a mutual friend asked if I’d be willing to … Read More “Jilly Bean Memorial Portrait”
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 … Read More “”
Mosaacrylic on canvas, 5 x 5© Xan Blackburn Aaaa-aand I’m DONE! Pretty Mosa is the last painting in this winter’s Portrait Marathon, and what a smiley girl to wrap things up with! Mosa has good reason to smile! She was rescued from Ring Dog Rescue. Need I say more?? Thanks to everyone that participated in … Read More “Portrait Marathon: #19 – Mosa!”
