WildLife Art, Pet Portraits and More!

Update on Leopard

2012-01-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

Here is an update on this guy. I'm having a real hard time with it. I just can not seem to get excited about it. I will probably put it away for awhile.

Update on "Guy and his Dog"

2011-11-16T08:10:00.001-08:00

I'm having a hard time getting into my Leopard project so I started working on this again. once again I am really enjoying working on colorfix with colored pencils, corrections and adding highlights are much easier.

Gorrilla Finished

2011-11-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm calling this done.

New Work begun

2011-10-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

20" x 16" Colored Pencil on Illustration board

Another Gorilla Update

2011-10-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

I started working on this today again, It's been a while. Mostly just fine tuning , lighting and color adjustment since my last post on this.

2011-07-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

Cactus Flower
11" x 19" Colored Pencil on Illustration Board
I haven't been working much lately. I had to find a new job and I start at Midnight and work until mid morning or early afternoon, I'm tired all the time and I don't feel much like doing artwork. I sleep mostly
Anyway, I just finished this, it is based on a photo I took at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens. I liked the simple composition and the color contrast

Gorilla Update

2010-12-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

I have started to work on this guy again. It's still pretty rough, It should still take me a while to finish him.

2010-11-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

"King Vulture"
8" x 10" colored pencil on illustration board
I'm working smaller because of time constraints

2010-09-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

"Bobcat"
10.5" x 12" Coloered Pencil on Illustration Board
I have not had much time for art since I started my new job
I've been been working on this little by little for a long time.

silverback gorilla started

2009-12-26T13:04:00.000-08:00

I also just started this silverback gorilla in Pastels
It's 20" x 27" Soft Pastels on Buff Colorfix.
More Later

"Stan and Maria" Started

2009-12-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a New colored Pencil Portrait

It's 12"x 17" on Illustration Board.

I washed out the Background with Solvent, Then Decided I didn't like it, so I started to fill it in with gray.

I'm now thinking I lilike the color again.

Go figure

More coming later.

The Last Christmas comission

2009-12-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

This is the last of the comissions

It's also 4" x 6" Colored Pencil on Illustration board

Both these dogs are White, so I originally was going to drop in a dark background after I rendered the dogs, but I decided I liked it the way it was when I finished

More Christmas comissions

2009-12-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

This is another of my Christmas comissions
This one is also 4" x 6" colored Pencil on Illustration Board

Christmas Commissions

2009-12-20T14:47:00.000-08:00

I did several small Christmas comissions this year.

Since my new job is 60+ hours a week I had to keep them small and quick.

This one is 4" x 6" colored pencil on Illustration board.

It was for my customers friend.

Portrait Sample 2 Finished

2009-08-03T18:12:00.001-07:00

I finally finished this, On to the next portrait

Male Ring Neck Duck finished

2009-07-05T19:36:00.001-07:00

I finally finished this and got it off my easel to make room for my next project
I have been mostly working on ACEO's the last month, moneys tight and I'm trying to generate some cash selling them on Ebay.
I really enjoyed working large again after 21 ACEO's in the last month!
I should be finishing the Pet Portrait soon also.

Update # 4 on Sample 2 a Colored Pencil Portrait

2009-05-31T20:11:00.001-07:00

Well, not done, but almost done.
I have a bit of rendering left, and all thats left is the tweaking.

"Cat Nappin" a wildlife oil painting in progress

2009-05-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

"Cat Nappin"
14" x 28" oil on Oak Panel
I've started another Project, This one is Oil Paint on a Primered Oak Panel.

Your probably saying "Doesn't this Guy ever finish anything?" Well, I do. But , I sometimes have up to 6 or 7 projects going at the same time. All in varying mediums. It's how I try to keep myself fresh on any given Project.
This one I started for my Wife, I sold "Morning Patrol", (below) also in oil, it fit in a certain spot in our house, and I promised I would paint one of a similar size to fit there. So, if I sell this one I will have to paint another, that's a good problem.

Update on Sample 2 a Colored Pencil Portrait

2009-05-26T07:26:00.001-07:00

It's been slow going on this lately, I haven't had a lot of time to work on this.
I think I have her face where I want, at least very close.
I started on the wrinkles in the Shirt (one of my favorite things to do).
Next I will start rendering her hands.
I should finish this week.
Famous last words.....

Sample 2 Update

2009-05-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

More adjustments done to her face, It's closer, but still not quite there, I'm trying to capture her smile and it is proving to be difficult

I started on the Kitten also.

I think I'm going to keep working on this one until it's done and out of the way

A Guy and his Dog Update

2009-05-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

I worked on this some this evening. I'm really kind of liking working on this Colorfix, It's more Painterly, If that's a word. It eats thru pencils though.

A Guy and his Dog

2009-05-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

I am totally frustrated with "Sample 2" and the "Ring Necked Duck, So I decided to Start a couple more projects and come back to the previous ones when I have some perspective.
This is "A Guy and his Dog" this will most likely have a melancholy feeling to it when I'm done. Cause thats the way I've been feeling lately.
The ground is Buff colored Colorfix Primer on Watercolor Paper. I'm not really a big fan of Sanded grounds, but I had this one laying around and it needed to be used.

Update on Sample 2 a Colored Pencil Portrait

2009-05-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

So I've been wrestling with this over the last couple days. I think I'm out of practice on Human Portraits, you have to approach them a bit differently. The human facial structure is a lot more complicated, many more planes and angles, so to get a likeness is more problematic.
I still have more adjustments to do on her face, It's really close, but not quite there yet. I'm happy with his, but I need to build on the rendering some more.
I will update later.

Blog Name Change

2009-05-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

I changed my Blog title to "Wildlife Art, Pet Portraits and More!" Pretty catchy eh? Search Engine optimization and all that , It's not very Creative but I think it gets the job done.

Update on Male Ring Necked Duck, a wildlife pastel painting

2009-05-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm still frustrated with the Water, so I started on the main body and worked on the reflection some. This is my first Duck Pastel or Bird Pastel some trying to capture the character of this little guy.

Sample 2 Update, a People / Pet Portrait in Colored Pencil

2009-05-10T12:56:00.001-07:00

An update on Sample 2.

I did some blocking in and did some rendering on the male. Its going to be a challenge for me to get skin tones correct in this one, He has a Pale, Rosy, Red Heads complexion and hers is a Olive Complexion.

I find Colored Pencil Portraits to be difficult if you are trying to create a likeness, they are so unforgiving and is very difficult to make corrections.

Pet portraits are a little easier, Their facial structure isn't quite as complex

"Peace",a lily pad pond in Pastel

2009-05-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

"Peace" 10" x 25" Pastel on colorfix

I just recently finished this one.

I was drawn to the movement caused by the Lily pads, highlighted by the directional light,in this Image.

I tried to use a harmonious palette in order to give a nice relaxing overall effect.

I think it has a "Zen" like feeling to it, at least that was what I was trying to achieve.

Splash Dance, a dolphin pastel portrait

2009-05-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

"Slash Dance" 12" x 20" Soft Pastel on Colorfix
This is an older of mine, but I wanted to post any stuff I have, that I think has any merit on my blog , I also am trying Imagekind to see if maybe I can generate some income, and I will post, here, any paintings I list there.
This was the first time I attempted to render water, really in any medium. It was quite a challenge at first, but I eventually figured it out. The Splash was a lot of fun, You've gotta love Senneliers, so soft, and pure pigment, I just dabbed it on and it worked perfect.

My Second Sample

2009-05-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of my second People/Pet Portrait
It's 10" x 18" and will be coloerd Pencil on Illustration Board
This is the Preliminary drawing.
I will post more as I progress.

Male Ring Neck Duck

2009-05-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

I've Started this Pastel, It's 16" x 24" and I got the bright Idea to Colorfix Primer an Oak Panel, I don't really like it, It seems to solid , the tooth seems to fill up faster.

The back reflections are dangerously close to be overworked. I really haven't hit a good rhythm on the water yet, But I'm close.

I'll keep posting as I progress

Line Design, a Zebra Acrylic Painting

2009-05-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to paint a Zebra, their line patterns I find Fascinating. But I could never come up with a composition I was happy with. Until now.
I painted this in Acrylics on a 20"x 30" Oak Panel.
I tried to use a kind of Macro view and also Depth with Colors cooling and details going out of focus as you move back along the body to make a more interesting composition. I'm pretty happy with it

My First People /Pet Portrait Sample

2009-05-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

I've decided to pursue doing commissioned People / Pet Portraits, I haven't seen anyone doing them exclusively, so maybe I can find a niche? who knows.
Maybe its worth a try
8" x 10" Colored Pencil on Illustration Board

Treed, A Leopard Pastel Painting

2009-05-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

I don't know if "Treed' is a fitting title for this, the Leopard certainly doesn't look "treed" he looks more like he's about to tree the viewer.

What really interested me about this Image was the interplay between the Patterns on the Tree Bark and on Lepards Body, He kind of blends, but then he doesn't also.

Leopards are very strong, enableing them to haul large animals tree branches to keep their prey safe from other predetors. The pattern in their fur provides camofloge within the leaves and branches allowing them to pounce on unsuspecting prey traveling below their perches. So this seemed to be a fitting composition for this beautful cat.

This is 12" x 24" Soft Pastel on Illustration Board, Primered with Grey Colorfix. I used mostly Derwent Pastel Pencils, Nu Pastels, and Rembrants. I used the patterns and movement in the bark to follow the contours of the Leopards body to give a harmonious composition.