Leave No Trace Article
19 July, 2010 Filed in: Site News
I'm featured in the July 2010 newsletter of Leave No Trace! Read the article here.
Leave No Trace is an international nonprofit dedicated to environmental stewardship via access and education. If you've visited one of the National Parks you've probably seen their info on how to minimize your impact while enjoying the backcountry. Travis and I have been long time supporters of their work, and we donate 10% of the profits from my card sales to Leave No Trace.
You can also look through our backpacking photos and see the places we visit that inspire my paintings.
Leave No Trace is an international nonprofit dedicated to environmental stewardship via access and education. If you've visited one of the National Parks you've probably seen their info on how to minimize your impact while enjoying the backcountry. Travis and I have been long time supporters of their work, and we donate 10% of the profits from my card sales to Leave No Trace.
You can also look through our backpacking photos and see the places we visit that inspire my paintings.
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Dachshund Portrait in Progress
29 June, 2010
I'm back from traveling and I've been working on my portrait of Bear the dachshund from Dogster. Here are Bear's original photos:
I experimented with several poses, and decided on a square headshot portrait. I made a quick sketch of Bear, then transferred my sketch to the canvas and began filling in the underlying layers of her coat.
I've been filming video of the process, which I will post as a speed painting when the painting is done. I've posted some stills from the video below.
I almost always use a purple or pink underpainting to bring out the depth in dogs' coats. For Bear, I used a mixture of Dioxazine Purple and Violet Oxide, which is a brownish purple. I marked in the areas of high contrast around her face, and begin painting in her eyes and nose.
After mapping in the overall proportions of her face, I made a brown mixture for her fur. This mixture will almost completely cover the purple, leaving only hints of it behind, but the purple layer also serves as guide for me so I don't distort the proportions.
With the brown and light areas mapped in, I started on the detail. This early stage of the painting should be done very quickly, with a big brush, so you don't get carried away with details. The idea is to map out the whole figure first, then start on detail.
Now that the overall shape of Bear's face is blocked in, I will switch to a smaller brush and begin work on her eyes.
I experimented with several poses, and decided on a square headshot portrait. I made a quick sketch of Bear, then transferred my sketch to the canvas and began filling in the underlying layers of her coat.
I've been filming video of the process, which I will post as a speed painting when the painting is done. I've posted some stills from the video below.
I almost always use a purple or pink underpainting to bring out the depth in dogs' coats. For Bear, I used a mixture of Dioxazine Purple and Violet Oxide, which is a brownish purple. I marked in the areas of high contrast around her face, and begin painting in her eyes and nose.
After mapping in the overall proportions of her face, I made a brown mixture for her fur. This mixture will almost completely cover the purple, leaving only hints of it behind, but the purple layer also serves as guide for me so I don't distort the proportions.
With the brown and light areas mapped in, I started on the detail. This early stage of the painting should be done very quickly, with a big brush, so you don't get carried away with details. The idea is to map out the whole figure first, then start on detail.
Now that the overall shape of Bear's face is blocked in, I will switch to a smaller brush and begin work on her eyes.
Print Store Now Open
23 May, 2010 Filed in: Site News
We've launched the new print store! We're now offering higher quality borderless digital prints in three sizes and two finishes in our new online store. Online orders are fulfilled by SmugMug and are usually shipped within 24 hours.
8" x 10" - $16.00
11" x 14" - $30.00
16" x 20" - $64.00
Print Prices:
8" x 10" - $16.00
11" x 14" - $30.00
16" x 20" - $64.00
Congratulations Bear!
11 May, 2010 Filed in: Site News
Rescued Dachshund Bear is the winner of the Dogster Dog Blog's contest celebrating senior dogs. Bear's family will receive one of my custom 16"x20" portraits.
Here's a photo of Bear, although her family may choose a different photo for the portrait:
You can read her touching adoption story on the Dog Blog. I will be on vacation starting next week, but Bear's portrait and video will be completed after I return in June.
Here's a photo of Bear, although her family may choose a different photo for the portrait:
You can read her touching adoption story on the Dog Blog. I will be on vacation starting next week, but Bear's portrait and video will be completed after I return in June.
Finished Dog Painting with Video
I'm finished my portrait of Little Ann, the cute Chow mix from last month. Here she is:
I filmed video of the process and sped it up into a very quick speed painting video. You can see the whole painting from start to finish:
The Dogster Dog Blog recently ran a contest celebrating older dogs. I'll be donating a 16"x20" custom portrait to the winner. Today on the Dog Blog, you can see a selection of the beautiful stories and photos that people have submitted. More photos and stories will follow this week. A winner will be drawn at random next Monday, and I'm looking forward to painting their portrait.
I filmed video of the process and sped it up into a very quick speed painting video. You can see the whole painting from start to finish:
The Dogster Dog Blog recently ran a contest celebrating older dogs. I'll be donating a 16"x20" custom portrait to the winner. Today on the Dog Blog, you can see a selection of the beautiful stories and photos that people have submitted. More photos and stories will follow this week. A winner will be drawn at random next Monday, and I'm looking forward to painting their portrait.
Chow Portrait in Progress
23 April, 2010 Filed in: Dogs
I'm nearly finished my portrait of Little Ann. I've been filming the painting and will have a video to post when the painting is complete.
Little Ann has a sandy colored coat with a lot of depth to it. I started by painting in my usual purple-toned underpainting. For Little Ann, I used rusty undertones around the ears and nose. Here's a still from the video, with my easel in the background:
Next, I painted in the high-contrast areas of her face using black and dark brown. Once I was happy with the overall size and positioning of her features, I started on the fur texture. Up to this point, it's wise to use a medium to large brush and work quickly, so you don't get bogged down in details.
With fur and hair, I find it's easiest to paint in the darkest tones first and add lighter layers on top for a three-dimensional look. I added lighter and darker layers while the paint was still wet, so that I could adjust the blending in. Too much blending will result in a flat look, so don't overdo it. With acrylics, it's helpful to add a bit of blending medium (also called retarder) to your paint to slow the drying time.
I added some whiter areas around her eyebrows, and darker areas around her ears. Here's my portrait of Little Ann, just before adding the background:
Little Ann has a sandy colored coat with a lot of depth to it. I started by painting in my usual purple-toned underpainting. For Little Ann, I used rusty undertones around the ears and nose. Here's a still from the video, with my easel in the background:
Next, I painted in the high-contrast areas of her face using black and dark brown. Once I was happy with the overall size and positioning of her features, I started on the fur texture. Up to this point, it's wise to use a medium to large brush and work quickly, so you don't get bogged down in details.
With fur and hair, I find it's easiest to paint in the darkest tones first and add lighter layers on top for a three-dimensional look. I added lighter and darker layers while the paint was still wet, so that I could adjust the blending in. Too much blending will result in a flat look, so don't overdo it. With acrylics, it's helpful to add a bit of blending medium (also called retarder) to your paint to slow the drying time.
I added some whiter areas around her eyebrows, and darker areas around her ears. Here's my portrait of Little Ann, just before adding the background:
Chow Portrait Sketch
I'm working on a portrait of Little Ann, a Chow mix. I'm going to be painting a simple head-shot portrait that captures her unique face. Here's the original photo:
I made a simple line drawing to verify the pose. I think I'll add Little Ann's collar to the painting.
The Dogster Dog Blog is running a contest right now to celebrate older dogs. I'll be donating the prize: a custom 16x20 portrait of the winner. I'm not involved in the selection, which will be determined by a random draw, but I'm excited to paint the winning dog. You need to be a member of Dogster to enter, but anyone can join for free. To read the rules and enter, visit the contest thread and submit a photo and story:
Dogblog Old Dogs Contest
The contest ends on April 25, and I'll be featuring the winner's portrait on this blog. Good luck!
I made a simple line drawing to verify the pose. I think I'll add Little Ann's collar to the painting.
The Dogster Dog Blog is running a contest right now to celebrate older dogs. I'll be donating the prize: a custom 16x20 portrait of the winner. I'm not involved in the selection, which will be determined by a random draw, but I'm excited to paint the winning dog. You need to be a member of Dogster to enter, but anyone can join for free. To read the rules and enter, visit the contest thread and submit a photo and story:
Dogblog Old Dogs Contest
The contest ends on April 25, and I'll be featuring the winner's portrait on this blog. Good luck!
Kitchen Scene in Progress
26 February, 2010 Filed in: People
I'm working on the illustrations for a children's book written by my father-in-law. Each of the five chapters in the book will have a large full-page illustration showing what each character is doing in a busy scene at the same time. The rest of the chapter will be filled out with smaller illustrations. The story is about a young family preparing for a move as they await the birth of a new baby. Here's the scene at the start of the second chapter:
I mapped out the kitchen (above) using sketches and images pulled into a Photoshop composite. I like using Photoshop to experiment with my compositions because I can move, rotate and scale the elements easily without having to redraw them. I transferred my composite sketch to the canvas and began painting in the hardwood floor. To give the floor a smooth appearance, I needed to make long brush strokes without awkwardly painting around the many things on the floor.
I marked the edges of the cabinets with masking tape. I painted masking medium over top of the sketches of the girls, boxes and ferret, then painted in the hardwood floor. After everything dried, I peeled away the masking tape and masking medium and worked on other sections of the kitchen:
Here's the illustration so far:
The scene needs to look very busy so I plan to add more clutter and detail.
I mapped out the kitchen (above) using sketches and images pulled into a Photoshop composite. I like using Photoshop to experiment with my compositions because I can move, rotate and scale the elements easily without having to redraw them. I transferred my composite sketch to the canvas and began painting in the hardwood floor. To give the floor a smooth appearance, I needed to make long brush strokes without awkwardly painting around the many things on the floor.
I marked the edges of the cabinets with masking tape. I painted masking medium over top of the sketches of the girls, boxes and ferret, then painted in the hardwood floor. After everything dried, I peeled away the masking tape and masking medium and worked on other sections of the kitchen:
Here's the illustration so far:
The scene needs to look very busy so I plan to add more clutter and detail.
Forest Painting Video
26 February, 2010 Filed in: Landscapes | Video
I'm finished my speed painting video of the surreal forest painting from yesterday. The painting is titled "Heartwood" and measures 24"x30". I'll have the prints in my Etsy store soon. Here's the video:
You'll see I had a bit of trouble getting the lighting consistent throughout the video but I'm working on that. When I started the painting, I had made sort of a crude mockup of what I wanted in Photoshop, but the painting evolves thoughout the process into something different. The center area darkens and the tent becomes smaller and more central.
You'll see I had a bit of trouble getting the lighting consistent throughout the video but I'm working on that. When I started the painting, I had made sort of a crude mockup of what I wanted in Photoshop, but the painting evolves thoughout the process into something different. The center area darkens and the tent becomes smaller and more central.
Surreal Forest Painting
25 February, 2010 Filed in: Landscapes
I'm finished my newest surreal landscape painting with a tent. This painting was inspired by a scary night we spent on the amazing West Coast Trail in the temperate rainforest of Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
My husband Travis and I are experienced backpackers and were well prepared for the week-long trek, but a big storm tested our limits one night. After fording frigid streams and walking all day in pouring rain that seeped through our raingear, I got hypothermia and began to hallucinate as we tried to get to shelter after dark. Fortunately we made it out safely without having to be rescued. This trail is one of the most awe-inspring places I have ever been. I wanted this painting to evoke the fear and magic we felt in this ancient forest and the way the woods seem like they can swallow you up.
I filmed video of the painting in progress, which I will post shortly. I have been working on incorporating more colors into my landscapes and getting away from realism a bit more to make the paintings more emotional.
This painting is for sale in my Surreal Landscapes gallery for $895. You can purchase prints from my Etsy shop starting at $12.00.
My husband Travis and I are experienced backpackers and were well prepared for the week-long trek, but a big storm tested our limits one night. After fording frigid streams and walking all day in pouring rain that seeped through our raingear, I got hypothermia and began to hallucinate as we tried to get to shelter after dark. Fortunately we made it out safely without having to be rescued. This trail is one of the most awe-inspring places I have ever been. I wanted this painting to evoke the fear and magic we felt in this ancient forest and the way the woods seem like they can swallow you up.
I filmed video of the painting in progress, which I will post shortly. I have been working on incorporating more colors into my landscapes and getting away from realism a bit more to make the paintings more emotional.
This painting is for sale in my Surreal Landscapes gallery for $895. You can purchase prints from my Etsy shop starting at $12.00.