Tag: portrait

Posted on by

Mixed media drawing with chalk

portrait and figure study of a woman looking up and into the distance. her hair is made of acrylic paint markers and blue chalk pastel. Her lips and accents are flourescent pink acrylic marker. Her skin is built from orange acrylic markers and chalk pastel.

Using chalk pastels can seem intimidating and scary. Once you lay it down, it feels like there is no backing out. Plus, how do you blend them without ending up with mud? Patience and careful application is key. Paca #1 9″ x 12″ Mixed media chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolor on paper. I use chalk often for broad applications of color and quick drawings. They do smear, but they don’t try out or stain the way paint does. They are a very portable medium and great for studies and drawing practice. There is an immediacy and vibrancy to them. Quality matters. Lower quality chalk has less pigment, so the colors will not be as rich. This may be an asset if you are timid about color. At some point however you will want  a strong application of color. I really…

Read more

Posted on by

Two Art Shows in July in the Atlanta Area

three paintings of dogs, a pit bull mix, a lab mix and a blue heeler.

I’m thrilled to be showing my work in two locations in July. One in Cherokee County, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta and the second in Atlanta at Ponce City Market. Both shows feature free receptions where you can meet the artists and other art lovers. July 1 – 26th: Cherokee Members Art Show Reception: July 7, 6-8pm July 7 – 27th : Binders Ponce City Market Reception: July 23rd, 3-5pm What art will I be showing? The Cherokee Members Art Show will feature several new paintings in including “Mischief”, “High Energy Jack” and “Shelby Dreams”. Here is a preview of the pieces that will be in the show: Binder’s Ponce City Market will be featuring work from the Friday Painters group at the Atlanta Artist Center including three paintings by me. Here is a preview of them: I hope you can…

Read more

Posted on by

Stubby, A Real Dog Hero

Real Dog Hero Sgt. Stubby Watercolor

I recently finished the painting of Sgt. Stubby, part of the Real Dog Heroes Series. This is a new series of paintings and drawings based on real dog heroes from search and rescue organizations, every day dogs being heroic and dogs who protected soldiers. The series was inspired while writing one morning about different canines who have done amazing things against what sometimes seemed to be impossible odds. I researched for the series by reading books from different sources and various news sites online.     Stubby was the only dog to be awarded the rank of “sergeant” during World War I. He was smuggled overseas to France by his owner after he was found on the Yale campus. This loyal American Pit Bull Terrier mix saved lives and kept up the morale of soldiers by providing warnings about poison…

Read more

Posted on by

Dog Portraits: Colorful Boston Terrier using Derwent Inktense Blocks and Watercolor on 140 lb Paper

Boston Terrier dog portrait with rainbow colors but mostly green and purple using watercolor and inktense block art sticks

I’m continuing my series of colorful dog portraits with this friendly Boston Terrier. He was inspired by a conversation I had with a fellow designer at a conference. He was talking about how Boston Terriers are the ultimate pet for designers. They are a cute, quirky and visually appealing breed. They pack a lot of personality into a tiny body. This piece was made on high quality 140lb watercolor paper using watercolor washes and ink washes with layers of Derwent inktense block art sticks layered on top. And layered again. And again. There were a few chalk pastels used here and there, but yeah who uses ink medium for textured layers? It’s fun to experiment like this and not use art materials the way the were intended. I get a thrilling zing in my belly. Does this make me an…

Read more

Posted on by

365 Days of Dogs

Molly Sketch 032917

I’m launching a new project where I post a drawing or painting with a dog as the subject on Instagram for 365 days. Why? One reason is it’s a way for me to practice my skills as an artist. Another reason is I want to build a daily habit and find that posting the results on social media help me with accountability. Third, it’s fun! There is something very satisfying about sharing what I create with others. Every day I will post a sketch or painting of a dog. The goal is to experiment with different media and practice my skills as an artist while documenting the journey. I’ve added my first subject, a sketch of my dog Molly here in this post and on Instagram. If you have any questions about the project, please get in touch!  

Read more

Posted on by

High Energy Jack

Jack is a high energy terrier. This is a watercolor portrait of him.

Jack is a Jack Russell terrier rescue. He was found wandering the road in a rural part of Florida. He is now happy in his forever home, where he amazes his family with his antics. He loves to jump onto counters and spring from couch to couch. He thinks he is a very big dog. He loves to snuggle and is a great companion. I created his portrait on watercolor paper using watercolor and Pearl Mica powder.    

Read more

Posted on by

Blue Molly

Original portrait of Molly the dog in watercolor and blue chalk pastel

Blue Molly is a portrait of my rescue dog Molly. We aren’t sure exactly what breed she is, but it looks like she may be part Carolina Water Dog. She has a “soft mouth” meaning she prefers to play with things that are not hard like rope toys. Most retrievers share this trait. She is a fun loving and energetic dog who is also very affectionate. She loves to snuggle and play. Blue Molly was created on #140 watercolor paper using pencil, charcoal, watercolor and chalk pastel.  My goal was to capture Molly’s beauty and enthusiasm for life. She has that “sad eye” look a lot of times with her big eyes and woeful expression, even when she is perfectly content.    

Read more