Oskar with Orange Tile

Oskar with Orange Tile  6"x6" Acrylic on Hardboard

This painting is of Oskar.  It is a commissioned painting for a birthday present.  Such fun.  The only request was that their might be some orange in the painting.  So, I thought the tile floor could easily have elements of orange in it with the contrasting blue lines.  I also like the perspective of looking down at Oskar as the owner of dogs generally do.

It has been awhile since I have posted and painted.  Life recently got complex and painting was not important for several months.  However, I am feeling stronger now and painting is a type of therapy presently.   My goal is to post a weekly painting or drawing or some sort on the blog.  Heres to good intentions!

Owl Surprise

This is a little 6"x6" painting on masonite that I did from a photo that was taken from a motion activated camera near Northwood, Iowa.  The photo was taken at dawn when this owl flew into view of the camera.  The camera was originally set up to photograph deer but there are many creatures out and about in the predawn morning.
I am painting a series of wildlife as I find the variety of creatures in this amazing world so diverse and interesting to study.

Kitten in the Corn

 

This was a fun painting of a cat hiding behind the corn stalks in a field preharvest last year. This is a 12"x12" painting, so larger than I normally paint these square works. It is always a challenge to play with the light and how it comes through the field, playing off the stalks of corn and the kittens face. 

Rondo in Repose

 Here is another painting of my pet, Rondo. I took a photo of him in Arizona last February sleeping on the bed in our camper that we live in during the winter. Rondo can make himself look incredibly comfortable wound up into a little ball. I painted the picture just recently, May of 2017. It is 8"x10" with acrylic on black gesso.  

Tucson Cactus Landscape

 

A final Arizona landscape completed until next winter. Meanwhile I have a couple of Ireland I wish to work on so that will be my next landscapes. The world is certainly a diverse environment 

Barn Kitten Friends

 

These kittens were cuddling up to each other and made a great photo and also a interesting painting. Again, paining a black animal is always challenging and especially this one that really had no contours showing so I generally made the up. I might go back and refine some of this yet. I enjoy working with the negative space of the square format. 

Pen and Ink with a Little Watercolor

Nothing like the directness of a sketch done of the outdoors with the use of pen and ink.  It is challenging to get the variety of texture required to  show the various plants without blending them together into one solid unidentifiable mass.  This particular sketch was completed in late February before the desert was in full bloom.  I learned much about desert plants during my two months in southern Arizona, watching them plump up with moisture and prepare to blossom.  But, unfortunately, that was to be in April when I would be once again in northern Iowa.  Maybe some year I will be able to witness the desert in full bloom.