SWEETIE - A MARE'S PROGRESS [watercolour painting of horse step by step]

Meet Sweetie. We were together for almost 20 years. As you can see from the photo, she could be very sweet and gentle; she could also be quite the opposite. She was a "lead mare", which in horse terms means she is the boss. I have always loved this photo of the two of us, and finally tried to paint it. As you can see from all the colours in her coat, this was no easy project!

Initial drawing

First wet in wet washes - quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone straight up or in various mixtures.

Above 2 photos - deepening colours, using w/w and dry brush techniques

Starting to look a bit like a horse here

A LOT of glazing to create a sense of volume and depth to her head and neck

I decided to put in her back and rump and a bit of her chest.

Deepening the colour intensity of her coat

I debated whether to put in any background, but finally decided  to put in something soft and nebulous, using the same colours I used in Sweetie's coat. Glad I put in the background!

I am posting two photos of the finished painting which show the difference lighting makes to a painting. Neither one is exactly as it is.

Sweetie
10.5 x 14 in./ 27 x 36 cm.

I have been trying to paint or draw for at least an hour every day lately. But with all this incredible weirdness going on in all of our lives, I must admit it gets quite overwhelming. The only times I feel I can escape is when I am outside, either out walking with the dogs, or spending time out in the barn with Bruno. I find a sense of solace, strength and comfort being with my horse.

I thank you for visiting, and wish you wellness, safety, and some peace of mind in these turbulent times.

ARCHIE - WATERCOLOUR DOG PORTRAIT, STEP BY STEP

Drawing, bordered with some old mat board to give me an idea of how to format painting.

First thin w/w wash of quin. sienna.

More w/w washes, some dry brush with softening. Colours I used are my favourite animal colours - quin. burnt orange, quin. sienna, quin. violet and indanthrone - all Daniel Smith.

Just gradually building up layers of depth ...

Collar is a combination of phthalo. and cobalt blue. 

Archie is done, looking very adorable as do all dachshunds.

I am pleased with the painting but not with the circumstances surrounding it. I was commissioned to paint both the client's dogs in time for  them to be given to his wife-to-be as wedding gifts. Before I started, I made sure he knew the price, with and without framing, for both paintings. And I asked him several times before I started the painting whether he was SURE. Yes ... yes ...  I finished it, and asked if he would like it framed, and he asked the price. He felt framing was too expensive, and were there any alternatives. I explained prices for matting and/or putting in protective sleeve. And that was the last I heard from him! I am quite miffed, and consider his behaviour to be unprincipled, especially as he was one of the professionals working with me after my surgery. I would really like to be able to trust a client, but I think, in future, I must ask for a deposit before I start even a drawing. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Thank you for dropping by!

OK ... I'M BACK - A ROOSTER'S PROGRESS ...

Maggie, sorely in need of entertainment and exercise, has resorted to  caving in the hay shed.

She finds a slot between the bales, and dives down, looking for rodents.

Sometimes she completely disappears, and I wonder if I am going to have to excavate her from the hay!

Second start on the BIG rooster. The finished size was about 25 x 30 inches.

Looking quite handsome and rooster-ish.

Now the background ...

Finished ... finally! Picked up, and ready to fly off to Hong Kong to his new home.

I disappeared off the radar, as I was having a lot of trouble with pain, arthritis, muscle spasm - I was not a happy puppy. I barely felt like doing anything, just forced myself to take care of the animals as best I could, and teach my weekly watercolour class.  I was even on synthetic opioids for six weeks. That is a nasty drug. I have weaned myself off, and am now being much more proactive  in taking care of myself. I still visit with my yoga therapist weekly - she is a god-send! And I regularly see a physiotherapist to help with eliminating muscle spasm, and getting some proper strengthening exercises done at his clinic. So I am feeling much better physically and emotionally. I am sketching and painting again, and riding Bruno every other day, and getting out with the dogs again, too. Lordy, I missed being outside in Nature!!!

The rooster was commissioned by a woman, in August,  for her husband's birthday [and I am sure I missed the date]. But she picked her painting up on Friday, and was so happy with him - I was thrilled. So Señor Rooster is off to Hong Kong in December to settle in his new home.

A BIRTHDAY PRESENT - ROY'S PORTRAIT

Meet Roy. He is the much-loved dog of a friend of a friend. Rhonda wanted to give Roy's owner  a portrait for his birthday,  as he had helped Rhonda enormously, helping her train and rehabilitate her  rescued Boerboel [South African mastiff - much too large a dog to leave untrained]. So I get riding lessons from Rhonda and she gets a painting - great arrangement!

This is one of the photos I was given as reference - not my favourite. To me, it looks more like a pit bull than a shepherd.

But I gave it a try - still didn't like it.

The photo resolution here is bad, but Roy's face is alive, looking back adoringly at his owner.

So we're off ...

Starting to look like a dog here ...

Now this I like! He has animation, great expression ...  and most importantly,  Roy's owner loves it.
Throughout the painting, I use my favourite animal colours - quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone, as well as some permanent rose. And as much as I can, I paint wet in wet.

Thank you for visiting!

ANTIQUE DELIVERY TRUCK - WATERCOLOUR WORK IN PROGRESS

Photo I took a few years ago at the Country Celebration at Campbell Valley Park [a nearby large pedestrian and equestrian park, sadly threatened with "improvements" by the parks board]

Did a detailed drawing first, but forgot to include it here.
I started with the roof - an aureolin wash, followed [after dry] by new gamboge wash. Shadows on tires done wet in wet  with indanthrone and a bit of quin. violet and quin. burnt orange.

The same primarily indanthrone mixture was used for the car body shadows.

I made up a green with indanthrone and quin. gold for the body colour, and my favourite mix of indanthrone, violet and burnt orange for black [grille and tires].

... carrying on ... more of the same ...

... and still more ...

I am at this stage now, and must admit I am very pleased with it! I still have the interior to do and the lettering  [you can see the pencil marks]. I am at an impasse - trying to figure out exactly what shapes and colours to use for the background. I think it will be scrumbled with more bulk behind the rear of the truck, fading to a finer, smaller area at the front of the car. TO BE CONTINUED ...

THANK YOU FOR DROPPING BY!!!