"Tamika" , Work in Progress

16" x 20" Oil on canvas.

Here is a work in progress I started yesterday. The model is beautiful and an inspiration to paint. I loosely sketched her in charcoal, and when I felt I had her likeness, got started in paint. I laid in the underpainting in dark ,cool tones, developed the shadows, and then began to balance the darks with the lights, which began to give it life. Now I need to work back into the entire thing to develop more interesting color tones... I'll get back to painting her again in a couple weeks and will post the finished painting.

"Bulldog", Work in Progress

5"x7" Oil on gessoed hardboard.

Here is another work in progress. I usually sketch out the p[ortrait very lightly with vine charcoal and then start to roughly block in the basic shadows and massses of color. becaisse it is done in oils, I sometimes have to give it a little time so it's not quite so wet, and come back to it and finish off the finishing touches and and brightest highlights. I love that part. It's like putting frosting on a cake... it all comes alive.

Work in Progress, Papillon

5" x7" Oil on gessoed hardboard.

This is the underpainting, loosely painted in to block in the proper colors and values, and tomorrow I'll go back into it (which also gives it a chance to dry a little, and enable me to work back into it, without it becoming muddy) to give him more definition and subtle details.

"Wheaten Terrier" (finished)

5" x7" Oil on gessoed hardboard.


Here is the finished product that i started yesterday.
I left it loose and "messy" and I think it conveys the feel of the Wheaten's fur.. just shaggy and crazy and cute!

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Work in Progress, "Wheaten Terrier"

5" x 7"

Oil on gessoed hardboard.


I thought I'd list a few paintings in progress... For this one, after a quick preliminary sketch, I spent just a half an hour or so loosely laying in the underpainting. I sort of like it just as it is... so I don't think I'll do too much more to it... just fine tu it a bit. The Wheaten's fur is so wavy and textured, that I think the looser strokes really capture the feel of this breed. I'll finish it up tomorrow.

50 of My Favorite Things, "Shell Game"

6" x6" Oil on gessoed hardboard

This is the third off my 50 of My Favorite Things series.
I've had these shells forever... but never tire of their beauty.

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