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 … Read More “PM – Luki (greyhound portrait)”
I’m laughing at myself right now! I spent days getting ready for this, and am only now realizing I didn’t ask for “breed” or even “species” in my sign-up form! Most of you said something in your description, anyway. Well, it will all come clear when the pictures start coming in. Those of you who … Read More “Portrait Marathon (PM) line-up”
Now! Sign up right now, using the form below, for my Spring 2014 Portrait Marathon. Repeating, in case you missed it:Who, what, why, where, when and HOW?Who? Any species of petWhat? An 8″ x 10″ painting of your pet, head primarily, on a panel, for $225 (10% off my current price!)Why? Because it’s fun. 😀 And, ugh! … Read More “Sign up NOW for Portrait Marathon!”
Wow. Well, once I got rolling, this just went like a flash! Isn’t it funny, ha ha, that the painting part of this portrait actually went quickly, but all the hair-pulling, sketching, sighing and laying in bed at night imagining the painting took days! I should be used to that, but there ya go. I … Read More “Surprising Sadie, Done”
How to go from a gorgeous photo to a painting worth the effort? When I (oh, so rarely!) get a reference photo as nice as this, I’m stuck with an odd quandary. Usually, the challenge is how to take a vague series (if I’m lucky) of photos and seek out the truth, the soul of … Read More “The Surprising Portrait of Sadie”
You know what that means, right?A flat-out painting dash, where I throw caution to the winds, take on all comers, and paint your portraits one right after the other ’til I run out of canvasses. Or, in this case, a baker’s dozen of 8″ x 10″ panels. (For a bit more in-depth info on how that … Read More “Portrait Marathon Date Set: May 20”
Roheen’s portrait is the fourth and final digital portrait in a series. Her wild fur was the biggest challenge for me, and took several tries to get the right approach. I tend to be finicky, and she was turning out looking too groomed. Challenging photo references are often part of my job (for some great … Read More “Roheen, Irish Wolfhound, Done!”
Adorable Alfie the Bichon. This cutie’s portrait was done in acrylic on canvas Handsome and friendly Boomer is a biewer, an unusual breed in N. America. His portrait is done in acrylic on gessoed panel Dave and Weenie look like a comedy team, don’t they? I dare you to look and not smile as you … Read More “Portrait Marathon a-Comin’!”
Also in the fall of 2013, I didn’t tell you about this, either! (But, I’m telling you now, so we’re good, right?) Alisha of 2 Hounds Design commissioned a design from me for an exclusive fabric to be used in her uber-collectible collars and leashes. The collar became part of an article highlighting black dogs … Read More “This also happened … awhile ago”
Alisha of 2HoundsDesign and I have worked together for years now. One of our projects has been the annual design of a custom collar and accessories to raise money for Hope for Hounds (an organization currently in transition). Hope for Hounds has been a leading fundraiser for Dr. Couto’s dedicated work on cancer in dogs, with … Read More “So Stylish, and yet so Helpful!”
