I’ve become interested in the landscape paintings by Gustav Klimt. As I learn more about his work, I came across this photograph of Klimt in his garden with a cat.
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-bites-gustav-klimt-cats-2444770
This research resulted in a quick pencil sketch based on the photo.
I got both paintings finished on Tuesday and took them to the framers. It was in the Nick of time to get them matted and framed before Christmas. I felt lucky to have made the deadline, without knowing the deadline!
The framers did a computerized mock-up of the portraits with my mat and frame selections. I snapped a quick photo of the mock-up on their computer screen and sent it to my client. She was elated, despite the poor quality of the image.
What I hadn’t foreseen was the framers keeping my paintings while the job waits in line to be finished. I have been spoiled by my past experiences, during which the mats were cut while I wait. Without the painting on hand, I can’t do anymore “final adjustments.” On second thought, that’s a good thing.
Here are the last photos I took before rushing off to Hobby Lobby.
And Reggie:
Finished sizes are 6.5 by 9.5 inches, or as close as the mat cutter can get to that size. The dogs will be matted side-by-side inside a 13 x 19 inch frame opening.
I used Arches cold-press paper. Pigments include raw sienna,
Now that I am warmed up, I have been working diligently on the two dog portraits requested by a friend. It’s been satisfying work, with just the right amount of frustration thrown in, to make the experience authentic!
The black dog – Reggie – has the most progress:
Reggie is at the stage where I pause to consider more carefully what adjustments and final touches are needed.
Yesterday I started painting Daisy, the little white dog.
I’m enjoying watching their little faces emerge from the paper. My secret pleasure is to discover the dog’s personalities from studying their photographs and translating the shapes I see into colors.
Do you experience a secret pleasure while engaged in your craft? Do tell about it!
I asked my yoga instructor for a photograph of her two little dogs, with the intention of giving her a painting for Christmas. Well, Christmas came and went, and I didn’t get around to the work until January.
Here is an adorable photo of Marianne and Sissy (breed is Havanese)
I know these dogs well. They are present at yoga session and form a 2-dog greeting party with the arrival of each student. My challenge will be to render their personalities as vividly as possible.
No good portrait will happen without a good sketch. In this one, I taped two pieces of paper together so that I could make the sketch on 1:1 ratio with the painting. This allows me to transfer key contour lines and any gestural lines to the watercolor paper by tracing.
Next, I did a quick color study and selected pigments. Marianne will be painted with a mix of Prussian blue and transparent orange. Sissy will be painted with a blend of Payne’s gray and transparent orange.
White areas masked out and underpainting complete:
Second wash complete
Third wash finished and most details painted in. Time to remove the masking fluid and the little bits of masking tape.
Final touches to finish it.
I’m pretty satisfied with this one. There were challenges, to be sure. But I achieved the bit of sparkle and personality I was seeking. You can probably guess that Marianne is the extrovert and Sissy not so much. I think of them as yang and yin.
Blissful Dogs finishes out at 12 by 15. It is the largest watercolor painting I have finished to date and will easily fill a 16 x 20 frame after matting.
Done on cold-press Fabrico Artistico paper with a palette of Winsor yellow, yellow ochre, transparent orange, burnt sienna, quinacridone red, Prussian blue and Payne’s gray. Only tiny amounts of white gouache were needed.
On this sketching Sunday, I have two quick (sort of quick) sketches for the viewers to consider. First is my value study for the chickadee painting I am planning.
This image is a combination of the two chickadee photographs that Bill gave me for the 100Day Project.
He also gave me this delightful and slightly mysterious photograph of Lu’s face, as she peered through a wood structure at the CITY Museum in St Louis.
I did this study,
I intend to refine the drawing further, then ink like I did her brother’s portrait a few weeks back. This will be no. 44 in #The100dayproject.
Daily Fiber 