Dog Paintings - Sometimes Regularly

New Start...

2012-02-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

untitled for now
10"x20" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I don't have a title yet for this one, but something like "Just Off to the Side" seems appropriate. I'll sit with it a little while and see.

The tones are coming together and I like where it's taking me. I've been able to use a wide range of colors so far, and that always makes it creatively satisfying.

I'm hoping I get a little work done today, and know that Saturday and Sunday at Short Term Gallery will lead to lots of progress.

Bri-

Shadow detail...

2012-02-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent the past two days working on the shadow detail under the construction awnings in the painting. I love the way it's turning out but I also think it's just about the most boring part of the painting to be working on.

The light quality is getting better each time I work on it, but I'm chomping at the bit to start painting the light and reflections in the street. Maybe I'll get to do some of that tomorrow.

Bri-

Fire...escapes...

2012-01-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

Can you yell "Fire Escape"in a crowded painting without causing a panic?

I spent much of yesterday and today painting the fire escapes on the second building from the right and adding shadows where necessary. It's becoming more and more real each day. I find it strange, as I've said many times before that for so many hours of work, so little seems to come to life in paintings like these.

It's all worth it though.

Bri-

Window treatment...

2012-01-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent today working on the windows of the second building from the right. I'm adding the arches above, and the shadows they cast.

I like where this is going. Getting closer to being finished, that is.

Bri-

The dogs done...

2012-01-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

So normally at this point I'd be putting a signature on the painting and call it done, but I have lots left to paint even though the dog is done. Click on the picture to see it enlarged.

I finished up the little Jack Russell, the other day and started to add some glow and flare to the street light. Now with that almost finished it's time to continue working on the buildings that make up this little scene from Varick Street in NYC.

Bri-

long legs and shoes...

2012-01-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I added most of the details to the billboard yesterday, and realized based on the framing I used for the billboard, I elongated the woman's legs. Compared to my reference her legs are about twice as long.

Now, today I'll do a little work on the dog in the purse. It should remain in correct proportion though. At least I think it will.

Bri-

Back to work in NYC...

2012-01-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I got back to work on the NYC billboard series yesterday, and man it's great to be back in New York City.

I also have to say a big THANK YOU to OPB for the feature on me and my work as well as the segment on the Short Term Gallery. It's brought in lots of people who live in the area but have never been to the gallery or a First Friday Art Walk.

One thing I think it says about Oregonians, is how proud they are of their state and communities. That's one thing I love about this place. I also love the dogs here.

Okay, I love the dogs everywhere.

Bri-

p.s. here's the segments if you haven't seen them.

Digby final...

2012-01-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

Digby

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent the day finishing up Digby's paws and nose. I love the results. My only complaint is that the color of the background doesn't show up accurately on the computer screen. So what's to complain about eh?

I will be starting a new commission and working on the NYC Billboard painting again as well. You'll be able to see me this Thursday Jan. 12th on Oregon Art Beat when that painting was in it's early stages. I can't wait to see it myself.

If you're in the Baker City area we'll be having a screening party at Paizano's Pizza which will start a little after 7 PM and the show airs at 8 PM on Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Bri-

Almost Digby...

2012-01-07T23:35:00.000-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

She's almost all there. I spent most of the day working on Digby's paws, which is more of a task than you might think.

Since, Digby has pasted on, I'm working from a photo that doesn't contain her paws or parts of her front legs, but they are in the painting. In order to make this work I'm using four different pictures of Digby to get the right feel and tones in her paws, but none of those photos are from the same angle as the main reference image. So, I took a picture of our dog Zephyr in almost the same pose as Digby.

Zephyr however is considerably smaller than she was, and he's different colors too. I have to keep reminding myself which are the colors I need to work from, and it's not the ones in the picture of Zephyr.

The paw in front needs to be lighter, and then I think a signature will be in order.

Bri-

Paws and Nose...

2012-01-05T20:25:00.001-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I worked on Digby's paws and nose today. I didn't accomplish quiet as much as I'd have liked, but I did get work done and that's the important thing.

I also got out on my cross-country skis today, second time this season since the fractured foot. It felt great, although I'm not in skiing shape yet. In time I will be I'm sure.

Bri-

Back to work...

2012-01-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Yeah! It's so great to be painting again after a nice holiday break. Hope you all had a joyous holiday season and are experiencing a creative New Year already.

I started real work on Digby's paws yesterday and I'm liking where it's going. I wish I had a little more canvas to the right of the paws, but it's all I've got so her one paws going to creep around the edge. I think the paw/leg closest to us could use to be enlarged a little as well.

I'm headed into Short Term Gallery after posting this, and will make the decision once I'm sitting down with Digby.

Bri-

p.s. check out today's Baker City Herald if you're in Baker or on-line if you're not. I made the front page. Thanks LBJ!

Digby before Xmas...

2011-12-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

So, I was thinking I might be able to finish this commission before I left town to spend time with family for the Xmas holiday. That did not happen though, so this is the progress I was able to make before hitting the road, or skies in this case.

This will be the last posting for the next 12 days, and hopefully before New Year's we'll all see more of Digby emerge.

Bri-

Ears it is...

2011-12-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent most of today working on Digby's left ear, and it's coming out pretty good. When I work on one ear and then several days later the other, I have to constantly check the painting versus the reference photo, because my style has to match from ear to ear. Not my current work to the photo. It's strange referring to the painting at times, but it works.

Bri-

Pet quality...

2011-12-14T22:38:00.000-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Digby is almost pet-able now with all the little brush strokes. I haven't progressed as much as I'd like because of other commitments, mainly the Baker City Cycling Classic. Which I'm very much looking forward to directing this coming year.

Back to Digby though. She is looking so soft and warm I just want to cuddle up to her. I also realize that I need to bring a different camera to photograph the painting, because I keep getting out of focus images. She's a beautiful subject and I'm enjoying the process immensely.

I should also mention that my appearance on Oregon Art Beat will be Jan. 5th, 2012. I'm very excited. More details to come about a viewing party here in Baker City.

Bri-

Little brush strokes...

2011-12-11T19:24:00.001-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Today while painting Digby, I used little brushes. It takes forever to make any real progress painting that way, but it sure looks good when I get it where I want it.

Can't wait to spend the day painting tomorrow.

Bri-

The Digby begins...

2011-12-11T08:47:00.001-08:00

Digby

(in progress)

18"x14" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Here's the start of my new painting of Digby. What a beautiful dogs she was. I keep imagining her with a big grin on her face on a hot summer day in Baker.

While in this picture she's all calm and resting, I can just she her romping around in the grass like all dogs love to do.

I spent more time than I thought was necessary drawing her on the canvas, which is not my usual way of painting. I wanted to make sure that she fit on there the way I had sketched her. However, every time I put chalk to canvas, she'd either be to big or to small. After my third attempt, I went back to my usual paint directly on the canvas, and what you see here is the result of that technique.

Can't wait to see what develops today.

Bri-

Otto Two Stick

2011-12-09T09:36:00.001-08:00

Otto Two Stick

10"x8" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I finished this painting up on Wed. and then took the day off sort of yesterday. Corrine and I went to Boise, had a great lunch with our friends Amber and Kevin. Picked up ceramic supplies, walked around downtown Boise, shopped a little.

I wish my foot was out of the boot, because at my favorite running store, Shu's Idaho Running Company, there was a pair of Newtons on sale. However, you can't try running shoes with a fractured foot, can you.

When we got back, I did head to Short Term Gallery to do a little work on my next commission. Just a little sketch, and today I'll be starting the painting.

Bri-

Otto makes a splash...

2011-12-06T08:41:00.001-08:00

Otto Two Stick

(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

While I was hoping to finish this painting yesterday, it just didn't happen. What did happen was a lot of boring accounting from this past weekends Outta the Box Bazaar. I spent all day chasing $145 cash, that I was never going to find because of an error in the placement of cash vs. credit cards on our check out sheets.

I eventually figured out where it had gone, but by that time I had to get ready to teach my spin class at the Y. Great workout, and I can feel my strength returning to my left leg. Yeah. I went a little to hard during one of the sprints and had a very sore glut afterwards.

Now to the painting. I have learned that there are times through out the year when I find it more desirable to paint, and times when I need breaks from it. Lately though, I've been wanting to paint more than anything, and not because of the fractured foot, but because I enjoy it more than anything. While I still do a bunch of things to pay the bills, painting being the lion share of the income, I find I'd be more willing to stay up late painting and skip the couch and hulu. I still love all the other stuff I'm involved in, but now more than ever painting is the most important thing.

It's helpful that Corrine is the same way with her work. In fact when I came home from Short Term she had just turned the light off in her studio. It was 11 PM.

Bri-

Otto almost...

2011-12-04T10:19:00.001-08:00

Otto Two Stick

(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent this weekend working with Corrine and 30 other vendors at the Outta the Box Bazaar, and so I didn't get any painting done since Friday morning.

This is the result of my last time spent with Otto. I'm so happy with how the water is looking and I'm almost done with all of it. A few more touches here and there on the water and then I'll be able to focus on Otto.

If I get all the accounting done from the bazaar today, I might even finish the painting.

Bri-

Otto emerges from the water...

2011-12-02T08:27:00.001-08:00

Otto Two Stick

(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent much of yesterday fine tuning the water around Otto, and think the flow and movement are really coming into place. The tones are just about where I want them and will be interested in seeing how the highlights effect the overall look.

I worked on the bottom edge of the canvas early in the day, so while working on Otto, I had the canvas upside down. For the most part the tones and shading are the way I want, but there are a few places where I need to make adjustments.

Bri-

Otto start...

2011-12-01T08:30:00.001-08:00

Otto Two Stick
(in progress)
10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the start of Otto the dog with two sticks. I've been layering the colors here, and just love the surface of the water. It has a very cold feeling right now, that I hope to warm up with the use of a little pink in the highlights.

Then it will be on to Otto.

Bri-

Turquoise Daisy

2011-11-30T08:03:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Daisy
14"x11" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

This is a recent commission I just finished of a dog named Daisy. I can't think of a more classic Basset Hound look than the one Daisy is giving the viewer.

I used a mixture of Golden Open paint and Heavy Body Acrylic to achieve this look. I'm most pleased with how soft and smooth her fur turned out. I also had a lot of fun playing with the colors in her coat.

Next up is a dog named Otto with two sticks, so NYC will have to wait a little longer for my attention.

Bri-

NY Cab work...

2011-11-20T17:20:00.001-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent the day working on a NYC Taxi. Here's the results. My progress is like that of tunnel traffic at rush hour in Manhattan.

I once took over an hour to get from Westside Hwy to our apartment, which was less than a 20 minute walk, during tunnel rush hour. I learned my lesson and never picked up our car at that time of day ever again. It's one of the few mistakes I never repeated.

I'm loving the way this is shaping up, and have spent almost as much time staring at it as I have spent putting paint on the canvas. Tomorrow, I'll be starting a new commission so the city will sleep for awhile.

Bri-

Things appear and disappear...

2011-11-13T20:45:00.001-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I started on the taxi cab that's part of this painting on Saturday but wasn't sure I'd like it when I returned to it, and sure enough I wasn't. It's a self-fullfilling prophecy eh?

Today I took time removing what I didn't like, and starting over on the lower part of the canvas. If at first I don't succeed, I erase with paint.

Bri-

Lighting the entrance...

2011-11-11T21:32:00.001-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent the morning getting images ready for Tom at OPB for my segment, which put me at Short Term about two hours late. Then on my way there I realized it was Veterans Day, and the post office would and should be closed for the day.

So once I got to painting I added some details to the building on the far left, and then started to give light to the entrance of the parking garage. Slowly, but surely it's all coming together.

And Monday I'll head off to the post office for Tom.

Bri-

back to building...

2011-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

...or should I say windowing, and fire escaping? Today and everyday since Saturday this past weekend I've been working on the Billboard series again.

Lots of fits and starts today, but I'm really enjoying how this is turning out. Love the play of light and shadow.

Bri-

Buckshot Splatter Final...

2011-11-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

"Buckshot Splatter"

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

$1800 US dollars plus shipping

So I was able to release Buckshot to the world on Friday, for the 1st Friday opening at Short Term Gallery. To a very warm reception.

I've started back to the Billboard series now, and that's been a joy. I wouldn't say luckily, but it's the only word that comes to mind, I fractured my foot last Wed. and now I'm stuck at the easel, and so I'm getting lots of work done.

Stop by and see me if you're in the area.

Bri-

Releasing the hound...

2011-10-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

"Buckshot Splatter"

(in progress)

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

$1800 US dollars plus shipping

I thought of a clever way of putting what I do with paint today. I'm releasing the hounds when I put brush to canvas, in the same way a sculpture releases her subject from the stone or clay.

More work to do tomorrow and the next day for the hound to be fully released.

Bri-

Return to Buckshot

2011-10-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

"Buckshot Splatter"

(in progress)

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

$1800 US dollars plus shipping

We returned home from our Airstream/mountain bike fueled adventures a week ago. I've spent time off and on with Buckshot since then, but this is the most significant progress worth posting.

The trip was great fun, but it's nice to be back in the studio for sure. I had brought a couple of canvases with to paint while on the trip, but I never found time in the day to make any artwork happen. I guess I was having to much fun.

Bri-

Buckshot progress...

2011-10-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

"Buckshot Splatter"

(in progress)

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

$1800 US dollars plus shipping

After taking my lunch break from Short Term Gallery yesterday, I was thinking I might need to make changes to the work I had done earlier in the morning. However, when I returned to the gallery I couldn't have been happier with the progress I'd made.

Then I went on to paint more, and this morning I'm just as happy as I was last night when I went home. Let's see what my brushes can do today.

Bri-

Window installation...

2011-10-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

Window work continued in ernest yesterday during Studio Tours. Got a lot done, and entertained a few Tour goers. Overall it was a nice weekend for Corrine and I.

I think that this painting is coming along better and faster than any I've done in this style in the past. I think that the previous city paintings I've done have prepared me both mentally and creatively. I don't want to rush it, but at the same time I'm getting work done without feeling bored.

Thanks to everyone that came through our studio this weekend, we'll see you next year in Oct. with all new art to display and share.

Bri-

Studio Tours...

2011-10-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

"Buckshot Splatter"

(in progress)

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

$1800 US dollars plus shipping

Today Open Studio Tours continue and we're open at the Dusty Dog Studio from 11-3 PM. Come by if you're in Baker City.

Here's the little progress I made on Buckshot. I spent about 15 minutes painting his form for Oregon Art Beat on Monday, a will probably work a little on him during Studio Tours today too.

Yesterday we had a steady flow of people from about 12:30 on. I worked mostly on "Form Strategic Partnerships" and it's turning out great. I feel a little like a window contractor right now, because that's all I'm installing on the painting.

Hope to see you on the Tour.

Bri-

Lights in the windows...

2011-09-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I painted upside down again, to a very happy result. Well, almost. There are correction to the window frames in the Graphic Arts Building that need to be done. I also noticed that the details of the brick work above the arched window are slightly off.

I thought that they were off yesterday while painting, but after staring at them for several hours straight I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong. Now I can tell they're converging to a different vanishing point than the rest of the lines of the buildings'.

My favorite thing is still the light coming from the windows.

Tomorrow Oregon Art Beat will show up and I get to talk all about my process with them. Corrine will be featured as well. Should be fun, and quite the honor as well. I'll keep you posted as to when it will air.

Bri-

Painting upside down...

2011-09-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent the day painting upside down. I find it so much easier to paint this way when my subject has so many converging lines. Okay, whenever I'm painting buildings this helps me to focus on light and form. My brain shuts off a little, and instead of trying to create buildings, it works mostly on the shapes that make up said building.

What I'm liking best is the light coming from the arched window in the Graphic Design Building. For the those of you who are curious as to the location of this scene, it's Varick St. in NYC near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. I want to know what's going on behind that window.

After spending most of the day with the painting flipped, I turned it over to add some windows to the far left building, and sure enough I got the placement wrong. Back to the upside down today.

Bri-

Buckshot Splatter...

2011-09-24T08:36:00.001-07:00

"Buckshot Splatter"

(in progress)

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

$1800 US dollars plus shipping

So this coming Monday the 26th of Sept. a crew from Oregon Art Beat will be arriving in Baker City to feature Corrine and I for stories. Wow.

We both are very excited and flattered for the opportunity to share our work with them, and show off all the steps of the process. KC Cowan, host and producer, explained that we should view it as a cooking show. Explain each step leading up to the finished piece.

That's why if you look very closely at this canvas you can see Buckshot, the puppy, faintly drawn with white chalk. On canvases like this I take time before hand sketching the dog with ink on paper, and then come to the canvas with the white chalk. Click to blow-up the image and you'll be able to see Buckshot better.

Today at the gallery I'll be working on the NYC billboard again. Need to get that one ready for it's close-up.

Bri-

Structure continued...

2011-09-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent most of the afternoon painting, and much to my amazement I like the progress, but I know not much of it shows. I'm continuing to enjoy this painting and the process of the whole thing.

One thing that I've found on larger works like this, I'm very appreciative of Golden Open paint, and my friend Don recommending I try it. It truly makes a big difference in my ability to control light. Even when I add straight black to the tone already on the canvas, it just makes the subtlest change.

It's not without it's issues, or I should say I have to adjust where I paint. I got some wet paint on my reference photo, because I was moving it around to paint a lower corner of the picture, and the Open was still wet. I must remember, left to right, top to bottom.

Bri-

Grey brown...

2011-09-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

Is gray brown a color, or a shade of a color? Today I mixed and painted colors that more closely match reality in the photo reference I'm using. You can see one of said reference photos taped to the painting. The other changes include removal, or placement adjustment to the street light.

I also created some flyers for the up coming Studio Tours here in Baker City. Hope to see some of you in my studio.

Bri-

Form without substance...

2011-09-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I spent much of today working to add form to the buildings, a little bit of light here and there, but no real substance was added.

I reshaped the arch of the one building's roof, and added some windows. It's amazing how much time it takes to add forms like that, but not add any finished elements. Good thing I'm enjoying listening to "Game of Thrones"

Bri-

2 in one day?

2011-09-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"

(in progress)

18"x36" acrylic on canvas

$4500 US dollars plus shipping

I've made more progress today, thanks to the fact we had no customers in the gallery today. It's to the point where I'm really seeing what lies ahead of me. Lots of window work.

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to it.

Bri-

The Billboards are coming...

2011-09-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

"Form Strategic Partnerships"
(in progress)
18"x36" acrylic on canvas
$4500 US dollars plus shipping

So I started the first in my Billboard series over the weekend, while teaching an acrylic painting workshop, just outside of John Day. I had a lot of fun teaching it too.

The idea came to me when I saw a Banana Republic ad in a New Yorker. The ad depicts a woman with a hand bag large enough for a small dog, which happens to be a Jack Russell. The tag line is "Form Strategic Partnerships" So I used a photo from our days in NYC and created a picture in a picture.

Once I'm done with this one I'm going to need more billboard reference photos, so I think I'll be contacting my friends in the big cities, since we don't have to many billboards out here in Baker City.

Bri-

New start...

2011-09-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

Currently Untitled
24"x18" acrylic on canvas

This a one of the canvases that I'm currently working on. I think it's going change a few more times before I start to paint the dog on here.

The picture was taken while the paint was still wet so I'm not sure what it looks like right now. The orange could be a little more subtle now than it was last night.

I'll be teaching a workshop in John Day this coming weekend so when I return I'm sure I'll have some progress to share.

Bri-

Maggie and Dandelions

2011-09-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

"Maggie and the Dandelions"

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

nfs

Here's the finished version of Maggie. I love the way it all came together, and feel I'm learning something new about my work/process with every new painting like this.

I have a new 24"x18" canvas started and can't wait to sit down with it today. I'm running late to Short Term Gallery, so off I go.

Bri-

Almost Maggie...

2011-09-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

"Maggie and the Dandelions"

(in progress)

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

nfs

I'm just about finished with Maggie, and I'm pretty excited about the progress I made today. Looking at the painting here on the computer, away from the studio at Short Term Gallery, I like it even better.

Her front right paw needs a little work and a few brush strokes to the tail and then I think she's ready for a signature. Should be done soon.

Bri-

Jezabel and Hubble...

2011-08-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

"Jezabel and Hubble"

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

$1200

SOLD

This has been one of the most fun paintings, I've ever done. I love the way the paint moved, the expression and movement of Jezabel. It turned out so well, and her owner loved it to. What more could I ask for?

I think the things that I learned while painting this background will be useful on paintings in the future. I'm still working on the painting of Maggie, but I've also started two new canvases. One will have a dog named Ubi on it, and the other will be a city scene with a dog on a billboard.

The dog on the billboard might become a new series, that is if I like doing this next one. The city scenes always take so much longer than I think they will, so I'm sure as I get into this one, I'll get a better sense as to whether or not I want to do more.

Bri-

Jezabel has a stick...

2011-07-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

"Abstract Jezabel"

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

$1200

SOLD

I have been going to the gallery in the evenings and painting instead of working there during the day. Corrine pointed out, that I don't get much done during the day because of customers and friends stopping it to see me. Plus, the book I'm listening to now, "The Snowman", would need to be paused way more often if customers came in.

I've made quite a bit of progress on Jezzi, since the last posting, but I'm not sure it shows. Lots of layering and subtle tonal changes. I'm sure I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I love painting black dogs because they have so much color to them.

Bri-

Jezzie...

2011-07-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

"Abstract Jezabel"

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

$1200

SOLD

I've just started to work on Jezabel, and love the progress I'm making. It blows me away looking at the last posting date, that it's taken me this long to add an update.

It could be that I've been busy doing other things besides painting, but I've also been painting. I must say that I love the painting I've been doing, and can't wait to get back from my weekend in Bend to do more.

Stay tuned and who knows, not even me, when I'll post more progress. Hopefully sooner than later.

Bri-

Maggie and work on another canvas...

2011-06-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

I spent much of today painting, new canvas above, Maggie below, and chatting with motorcyclists in town for the Hells Canyon Rally. It made for a fun day.

I think I had a little more fun though since I was painting and outside it was raining, for much of the afternoon and evening. Let's hear it for blue skies tomorrow.

Bri-

A little more Maggie...

2011-06-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

"Maggie and the Dandelions"

(in progress)

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

nfs

I spent most of yesterday working on some window photographs that will be at Zephyr Bakery during the Elkhorn Classic Stage Race next weekend, and some t-shirt design stuff too.

I'm crazy about the painting I'm working on though, and so at 8:30 or 9 PM I went down to Short Term Gallery and painted till about 11. I created just a little bit more of Maggie. I'm really happy with the results.

Bri-

Maggie appears...

2011-06-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

"Maggie and the Dandelions"

(in progress)

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

nfs

I decided to try something a little different, because of the abstract background there is no room for error when adding the dog. My friend tom always sketches out his paintings using white chalk on black canvas, and I thought that would work for me too.

It did and it didn't. The chalk works great because it's easily washed away while painting, or if I make an error in proportion, a little water and the line is gone. However, using it on this background, I had a hard time seeing where I made my marks. So, I picked up a small paint brush and here's the results of several hours of work.

I'm looking forward to working on Maggie again tomorrow. I'm also working on another commissions abstract background that's turning out pretty cool. I might be posting the progress on these two paintings off and on the next few weeks.

Bri-

Abstract background...

2011-05-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

"Maggie and the Dandelions"
(in progress)
12"x12" acrylic on canvas
nfs

Here's what I've been working on since/during the time I was creating Rufus. It's going to hold the image of my friend Katherine's dog Maggie. I'm still doing sketches of Maggie, so that my hand knows what to do when it come time to put paint on the canvas.

When creating this abstract background I discovered I could make right angles with the paint if I just turned the canvas quickly in a different direction from where it was flowing. I also found I liked the effect created when tapping a brush with paint against the edge of my easel. The only downside is that I can get a lot of paint splashed back in my face.

Oh the things I'll do to create something beautiful.

Bri-

Rufus Final

2011-05-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

"Rufus"

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

$400

SOLD

I finished Rufus last week and yesterday I spent my time at Short Term Gallery working on two new canvases.

I enjoyed my time with Rufus, and his great expressive eyes. He's a wonderful subject.

Tomorrow I should be posting the new abstract backgrounds. I thought that with the addition of an iPhone to my pocket, I'd be able to make mobile posts from the gallery, but that's not the case. It could be my lack of knowledge, or it could be that blogger.com isn't set up to work seamlessly with the iPhone. Oh well.

I look forward to writing about the painting from yesterday and today.

Bri-

More Rufus progress...

2011-04-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

"Rufus"

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

$400

SOLD

Here's the progress from today. He's a little dark in the shadow areas, but I'm sure it will become more natural.

Corrine will be showing at this year's Ceramic Showcase again in Portland. Her booth is J9 and I look forward to seeing friends and customers this weekend. Should be a great show. Her work is so fantastic, that if you're in PDX you should definitely come see us. The show is Friday thru Sunday. Check out the link.

Bri-

Rufus coming along...

2011-04-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

"Rufus"

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

$400

SOLD

So I spent yesterday afternoon working off and on, on Rufus. A lot of the time I just stared at what brush strokes I had just made.

In the end though, I'm pretty happy with where he's taking me. Tomorrow I'll get to spend all day with him at Short Term Gallery.

Bri-

Rufus begins...

2011-04-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

"Rufus"

12"x12" acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

Hello again. I know it's been awhile since I posted, and I'm sorry about that. I've been working on a bunch of different stuff, but none really seemed blog worthy. Some t-shirt design stuff for Footzone in Bend, OR. and then sketches for this painting.

Now here's the beginnings of Rufus. He really looks great so far, but I haven't had anytime with him since Tuesday, so the next posting probably won't be until early next week. Then on Wed. Corrine and I head to PDX for Ceramic Showcase. If you're in town stop by the Oregon Convention Center to see us. I think she's in booth J9.

Bri-

Mazie

2011-03-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

"Mazie"

14"x11" acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

I've been painting, but I haven't been posting. Sorry about that. It's mainly because I'm burning the candle at both ends and the middle.

Between painting, working at the gallery, training for the state swimming championships, working at Zephyr Bakery, and traveling a little, I haven't found time to post what I've been working on. That might change with the prospect of an iPhone in my future. I have to make sure it pencils out financially.

I'll be starting a new painting today, and look forward to sharing it with you. "Mazie" was a recent commission and I worked pretty quickly on her. I love how wet the fur looks as well as the glimmer in her eyes.

I don't see the candle burning out anytime soon, because I'm still eager to paint and share, with new technology in hand I might just share more often. I certainly don't plan on slowing down.

Bri-

Green Dot Dixie final...

2011-03-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

"Green Dot Dixie"

12"x6" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I just flew through this painting. I realize that painting dogs is way more gestural than painting building, not that I mind painting buildings, but they take a little more precision.

I write this without even having Dixie in my possession. I've been busy in the studio and at home, so much so that I started another commission and mailed off the finished painting before getting this posting done. I would have like to held on to Dixie a little longer just to sit and stare at the painting. Most paintings stay on the easel longer.

Even though Dixie was rendered quickly by my brush, I still loved ever hour I spent creating the final painting.

Bri-

Green Dot Dixie beginnings..

2011-03-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

"Green Dot Dixie"
(in progress)
12"x6" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I'm sorry you didn't get to see the progress of the abstract background, but it was created at the same time I was working on my last commission, and I just didn't document it.

Dixie is a dog from Fairmont, West Virginia, the same town as one of my dogs. She lives in Illinois though now. I love how quickly this all came together and might even be finished tomorrow. Only time will tell.

It's easier and harder to paint small. The next piece you'll see, if you stay tuned, is a standard portrait. I'm working on it in tandem with this painting. So, again I won't be documenting the whole process.

Bri-

PDX Spring Night detail...

2011-03-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(detail)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Here's the dog that I promised to reveal. It's our dog Bettini on a billboard under the Hawthrone Bridge.

The one thing that I love about the placement is that some people find her right away and others never find her, until I point her out. One woman said, "Oh, on the billboard is cheating." I don't know if I'd call it cheating, but it sure was fun to put her there.

Today is the last day you can see the painting in person at Short Term Gallery, from 12-4PM. Thanks to everyone who came to see it or commented here. I know it was a departure from what I normally do, and I'm glad that most, if not all of you liked it.

Bri-

PDX Spring Night...

2011-03-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I have one last step before this painting is officially done, which is to put a gloss medium over the whole piece. Otherwise this painting is as done as could be.

It was a wonderful piece to create, and I truly enjoyed the whole process. I'm not sure when I'll paint anything like this again, but I have a better idea of how to approach a scene like this. In the picture here of the painting you can't see the dog, but I'll show a detail of it in another posting.

What struck me as amazing, is that it only took a few quick gestural brushstrokes to create the dog, but the buildings and reflections in the water sometimes took hours. Now the dog is very small compared to other things in the painting, but it really took no effort to make real. It just goes to show, that when you do something often enough it just comes naturally.

Bri-

Almost finished...

2011-02-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

The water and reflections are turning out great, if I do say so myself, and if I'm lucky I'll be finished today. However, looking at the painting while I post this, I see a bunch of little things I want to tweak before putting a signature on it.

When I'm completely done with it, I plan to create a little video of the paintings progress. Plus, if it's okay with the client I'll have it on display for 1st. Friday this week. So come by Short Term Gallery to see it.

Bri-

POP Bettini

2011-02-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

"POP Bettini"
NFS
6"x6" acrylic on canvas

This is a piece that's a glimpse of what was to come for me. The dog featured is Bettini, and was created in the first few months of our move to Oregon.

I was looking at older pieces when I created this. I had done a number of works using xerox transfers, and wanted to do something in that same vain using paint. This wasn't the first painting where I used an abstract background, that was created as a commission back in '03. Either way it's nice to look back at works that have lead me to where I am today.

Bri-

Sketch...

2011-02-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

"T-shirt Sketch"
nfs

I've been working with Jenny the buyer at FootZone in Bend, OR to come up with t-shirt designs. I know you might be thinking, that it means I drifting even further from the dog paintings that you've come to expect from me and my blog, but I promise that's not the case.

As you can see in this sketch I've included a nice dog running. In fact our dog Zephyr is my favorite running partner. He's always willing to go for a run, no matter the weather or distance. Lots of the time he's more eager than I am. However, I am more interested in running now that most of the snow has melted here in town.

In fact I think we'll go for a run around lunchtime today.

Bri-

Straight thanks to tape...

2011-01-25T16:11:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I've been busy with the straight lines of the bridge structure lately, and thanks to painters tape I appear to have a very steady touch with the brush. If I were to be doing it freehand, I doubt there'd be a straight line to be found.

Because I have so much unfinished, I often sit staring at the painting, trying to decide which element to tackle next. My brain wants to do it all at once, but my hand and brush aren't capable of pulling that off. I doubt there is a painter alive who could.

Maybe, if I started painting with both hands at the same time I'd get more accomplished.

Bri-

On order...

2011-01-20T21:51:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

So, I've ordered up some new canvases, paint, and some screen printing ink. Life still goes on with the bridge as well.

One thing I noticed the other day was how the main reference photo I'm working from, has the bridge in shades of tan and brown, but in the real world, it's steel is green. Now I have to decide wether or not if I want to make it green in my painting.

No matter what I decide, I'll have to continue with the brown tones, so that it's a consistent tone through out, even if I add touches of green. I have to say I like the idea of green.

Bri-

How'd it turn out? Well...

2011-01-18T22:14:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I got asked today how the painting of the bridge turned out and I wish that I could have answered "Great", but it's still in process. I know it will turn out great, just not by tomorrow.

The bridge is coming into view, and the building on the west side of the river are coming along nicely. It's just taking it's sweet time to come together, that and I'm busy making sure I get all the details right.

For such a big canvas, I'm using a pretty small brush right now.

I was hoping too, to get started on a new dog commission, but discovered that I'm out of stock on the canvas size I'm going to paint, so it's going to be more bridge painting for the next week, before anyone sees anything else. Including me.

Bri-

sketches and painting

2011-01-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

I did some sketches for a new painting the other day, and of course it will feature a dog. I feel bad that I haven't been posting any dog paintings lately so, here's the sketches.

I've also been very busy working on "PDX Spring Night", and love the way it's turning out. More details are going into the Portland skyline, and I'll be doing more with the bridge supports as well.

Fear not, I have not given up on dogs, soon I will start the canvas for Dixie here to the left.

Bri-

Happy New Year...

2011-01-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Welcome to the New Year blogger readers. Today, I used the horizontal position of my easel in order to splatter the canvas. I think it worked great. It took longer to cover the walls and floor with newspaper than it did to get the paint onto the canvas.

I'm glad I spent the time covering everything even if it cut into my painting time. Sometimes doing things like that take some of my creative energy away, and I have to admit it did a little today, but I worked through it, and I'm happy with the results.

May you all have a 2011 filled with creativity and adventure.

Bri-

Buildings here and there...

2010-12-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

The buildings are starting to appear in the background, and the lines are a great suggestion of form, but no where near accurate.

I think the abstract part of the painting still needs a few more elements before I call it done.

At the moment I'm going over the playlist for tomorrow nights New Years Eve Party at the Eltrym Theater. I can't wait to see "The Cats of Mirikitani" and to hit the dance floor. Hope to see lots of people there.

Bri-

Northern Lights...

2010-12-27T20:58:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I love the addition of the green to the sky, and have started to add elements of the Hawthorne Bridge and PDX skyline now.

It's all going as planned and can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Bri-

Water under a bridge...

2010-12-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

It's very exciting to be doing new things with paint, and my paintings. Today, I added elements to the sky and put down the start of the water.

Some of it soaks into the canvas quicker than expected and others stay wet and workable longer. No matter what it's doing right, I love it.

We'll see what X-mas eve brings.

Bri-

The sky grows over the bridge...

2010-12-21T22:57:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"

(in progress)

36"x18" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Today at the gallery, I worked on the sky off and on. Some of the paint I mixed was darker than I expected, but it also turned out better on the canvas than it looked in the mixing cup.

Most of what I did with the silver works for me, but the upper right hand corner. I also think it looks more cloud like than I intended. At this point it doesn't matter too much because it will get obscured as the sky grows.

My friend Katherine calls the layers of paint, "History", and that's what's developing here. It's history in the making.

Bri-

Start of a bridge...

2010-12-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

"PDX Spring Night"
(in progress)
36"x18" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the start of a new commission, that features the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, OR. I love what's happening so far, but see there's way more that will be added to the sky, before any of the buildings in the skyline will come to life.

I should also mention that there will not be a dog in this painting. I guess I should have told you all to sit down before I wrote that last line, but it was already typed. If I start doing more of this kind of painting, I'm sure to create a blog dedicated to non-dog paintings.

Bri-

Paco in the Big Bed

2010-12-16T18:20:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

After returning from a trip to Bend, I've had the chance to finish Paco. He'll be headed home for the holidays.

While, I'm sad to see him leave my studio, I do have a few new commissions that will not only keep me busy, but also keep me company.

Bri-

The curls keep coming...

2010-12-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Today maybe the last post you see for awhile, because we're off to Bend in the morning for the Art + Bike= LOVE show on Friday at Cowgirl Cash, that coincides with the Cyclocross Nationals.

Should be lots of fun. Maybe I'll get Paco finished before we leave though. We'll see.

Bri-

The curls keep coming...

2010-12-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I continue to add curls to Paco's head. Just a few more and then to work on his chest and front paws. Then all he needs in my signature.

Bri-

Paco's eyes...

2010-12-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I'm back to work on Paco after having taken time away to prep a new canvas and create another wood block polka-dot painting.

His curls and eyes are really coming out. I love the tones I was able to use to create his furry, cuddly look. A few more days and I think Paco will take off for home.

Bri-

Snow filled Saturday...

2010-11-27T21:23:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Hope you bought some art for your loved ones on Black Friday and had a Happy Thanksgiving.

We again hosted the Baker City Turkey Trot, breaking the 300 barrier this year, and both the men's and women's course records were broken. Who would have thought, under such conditions? This was the first year that we had ice and snow on the ground. It seems like fun was had by all even with the cold temps.

Today's snow was beautiful, but I'm glad it didn't snow on Thursday.

Paco is continuing to take shape, and I love how he's coming to life. Before long he'll be heading home to Terri and Dennis.

Bri-

Paco Time...

2010-11-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I finally got down to painting Paco today, but was bothered by a little section of the background so took a little detour to the background again.

Thankfully, I spent very little time on it. So little in fact that I haven't fully corrected it. When I get done with Paco, I'll finish that area.

Bri-

Just a little progress...

2010-11-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent much of today creating drawings for mugs Corrine is making for show at Cowgirl Cash that coincides with Cyclocross Nationals in Bend, OR next month. Of the three drawing two of them will be used, and when they come out of the kiln, I'll gladly post them.

I've been painting late into the night for the past few days, mainly because I've gotten a late start, which I did again today. The difference today is that we're headed to see Harry Potter now, and if I have the energy I'll do a little more when we get home.

Bri-

Look what's back there...

2010-11-19T23:43:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I had a wonderful day talking painting, and technique with artist Katherine Treffinger. She inspired me to try abstract backgrounds as I've blogged about recently, and today she graciously opened her studio to share how she works.

The use of a color wheel was the second best piece of advice she gave me. The best was to let go of the parts of a painting that seems precious. It's a great reminder that Corrine was taught in pottery, and she shared with me several years ago. She even used it in the classes she's taught. After creating a well formed bowl or vessel she'll just smash it in front of her students.

The lesson is that if we aren't open to pushing a form to it's limits, we'll never grow or develop our abilities.

So after dinner I got into the studio and put what I think to be the finishing touches on the background. I was even able to put some paint on Paco's forehead. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Bri-

Nothing exciting, just wonderful painting...

2010-11-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent the day painting at Short Term Gallery again today, and had very few customers or distractions. You could say another day in paradise.

I darkened the background more today, and depending on what light I view it in, it looks just right. Well, almost right. There are a couple of areas I will make a little lighter again. I think I'm about 5 to 6 hours from working on Paco.

The headboard, the environment outside the window, and the areas around the edges of the canvas need a little work before the fun begins with Paco.

Bri-

Lock the doors, get a dog...

2010-11-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

First off I'll tell you about the painting, and then I'll tell you about the title of this posting.

Paco hasn't changed in days, but the background is becoming exactly that. Background. Looking at it tonight with Paco's owner Terri, I mentioned how things need to go darker back there. As a fellow artist she agreed, which always makes me happy to hear confirmation of my ideas/decisions from other artists. Early in the day I didn't think it needed to go too much darker, but now I think it needs to go about 20% darker. It's time consuming painting this way, but the results make it well worth it.

Now to describe the title of the posting.

Yesterday morning started the way our normal mornings start with Zephyr waking us up. The difference was that he woke us by barking. Barking at the door to my studio, which is about 10 feet from our bedroom door.

Using our usual command to get him quite and to lay back down wasn't working, and since Corrine had just finished in the bathroom she poked her head out to see why he wouldn't stop barking. "Brian! I think there's someone in the house!!!" "What?" I said.

So I too popped out of bed to see what was what. Sure enough there was someone in my studio, and it was a woman I'd never scene before. She looked really nervous, which really didn't put me at ease, but I had a big barking dog next to me so I was a little more secure than she was.

I cracked the door and asked "Can I help you?"Which prompted her to ask what my name was. "My name? What's your name, and what are you doing here in our house?" She told me her name very slowly, and then I saw she had brought a pair of our hedge trimmers into the studio with her. Most of you are probably thinking "Oh my God, she's armed!" but the reality was that she wasn't holding them. She had set them down before I had even come to the door. I was thinking "Oh no, those are resting against a canvas I'm working on. It could be denting it."

Luckily for her sake they didn't leave a mark. I gently and slowly reached for them and put them inside the kitchen, and Zephyr and I slipped into the studio with her and I closed the door behind me. She then reassured me that she wasn't violent, but she was very cold and had been trying to keep herself warm in our bushes out back.

My first impulse was to call the police, but the more I saw how nervous she was, I thought it might be a better choice to call Mayday, a local place that helps victims of abuse. She didn't have any physical signs of abuse, but she kept repeating that she didn't or couldn't every go back there. She also wanted to know if I knew certain people and how long we had lived here.

One of the people she was asking about worked at Mayday, so I suggested we give them a call. She thought that was okay, so I went and got our phone, and closed her back in the studio. Corrine was watching from the other room, ready to dial 911 if necessary. I was hoping it wouldn't come to that, but at this point I wasn't sure what would happen, so I kept a close eye on her, and all her movements.

I got a hold of a woman on the crisis line, who was willing to come and get the her or just talk to her on the phone. The woman in my studio wasn't ready to do that yet. She wanted to talk to a specific woman at Mayday who wouldn't be in the office for another hour and a half. Not cool. Not cool for me either. I had planned to go running, but I sure wasn't going to leave this lady in my house.

One reason besides the fact I didn't know her, was she kept mentioning how her kidney's might shut down. No, no, no, not in my studio. After asking the Mayday worker to get in touch with the person that this lady knew I hung up the phone and sat there with Mystery Woman.

"Would you like to call someone?" I asked, because she had started to go through the phone book, jotting down particle phone numbers. "Yes I would" So I dialed the number Mystery Woman wrote down for me and handed her the phone. "Hello" she said to the person on the other end of the phone very slowly, and strangely I should add. Which didn't seem to phase the person at all. Well, not until, she started talking, in what seemed to me as code. "It's DONE, it's done." Said Mystery Woman "And I'm never going back."

Now I was starting to get nervous. Did this woman kill her husband, and has she been wondering around since then trying to decide what to do next? Then she told the woman she was talking to not to tell her husband or anyone where she was. Then we heard a police siren. "Maybe my house is burning down now?" Her friend was now starting to get confused, and started to ask questions that were upsetting Mystery Woman so she hung up and handed the phone back to me.

The phone rang and we both jumped. Mayday was calling back to let me know she could get ahold of the person Mystery Woman was looking for. Did we want to get ahold of someone else or did she want to go down to the office and talk? "No" Mystery Woman responded, she wanted to talk to a woman from the hospital now instead. So once again I hung up the phone and sat there with Mystery Woman, as she wrote incomplete sentences and phone numbers on a piece of paper. Harmless, but my heart rate was still elevated. Who needs to go on a 3 mile run when you have a stranger in your house?

When Mayday called back the news wasn't good. The workers from the hospital weren't on duty. Great. Who else could we get in touch with for her? Mystery Woman asked for someone else, and also agreed that we could try talking to the police. YES!

I dial the non-emergency line and got dispatch on the phone. When I tell them that I have Mystery Lady sitting with me the dispatch officer gets very excited, and wants to know where we are, and if Mystery Woman is safe so they can take her home. No, no, no she indicated by shaking her head. "Tell them Mayday, Mayday" So I tell, the officer that no matter what she doesn't want to go home, that she will go to Mayday, but she's said over and over again since she's been in my studio, she never wants to go back there and be a caregiver. The officer reassures me that she won't be taken home and that an officer will be sent to our house, but first we'll be called by them. Great.

Ten seconds later, the phone rings and without looking at the caller ID, I answer it. "Is Mystery Woman there? Is my wife there? Do have my wife there?" "Um, I don't know what you're talking about." I say. "My friend, gave me this number and said my wife just called her from THIS NUMBER." I repeated I didn't know what he was talking about, and hung up the phone. The whole time Mystery Woman was shaking her head muttering "I knew it, I knew it"

30 seconds go by and the phone rings again. F#@*! Her irate husband is calling back. On the plus side, she didn't murder him. This time I check the caller ID, the number looks familiar. Mayday, calling again. Whew! Unfortunately, unable to reach this latest requested person. Then the dogs start barking. The police must be here. As I continue to talk with the woman from Mayday the dogs barking turns vicious, and Corrine screams for my help. I hand the phone over to Mystery Woman and dash to the dinning room where Zephyr is trying to protect himself from the crazed Bettini who's repeatedly lunging for his throat. Plus, there's a man I've never seen before on our front porch. Is that her husband. WTF.

Once the dogs are safely separated and I keep all my fingers, I open the front door to a man that identifies himself as a dectetive. Oh really? Can I see your badge please? Which he promptly shows me. I quickly lead him to Mystery Lady, and then leave the two of them alone in my studio. Feed the dogs, and quickly get dressed.

As Mystery Lady peacefully leaves with the police she inform me that she dropped her NASCAR lighter in our bushes while trying to keep herself warm. Thankfully she didn't burn herself and the bushes up. She also tells the officer that she left a note in our garage behind a rake, and this is my only real regret of the whole event. I handed the note over without reading it. What was on that paper?

By the way this was the long short version of the story. See me in person and I'll fill in the gaps.

Bri-

p.s. all of the doors are locked now, every night. No more hanging out in our garage Mystery Anyone.

Hair cut, and pillow change...

2010-11-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

The title of the posting gives away what I did over the past few hours. I trimmed away some of Paco's right ear, and darkened the pillow cases to push them further away into the background.

Sitting back and looking at it now, I think they still need to go darker, but I'll decide tomorrow.

I may not get to painting tomorrow because Corrine and I are heading to LaGrande to see the "Season's Fair" show at the Nightingale Gallery. When we were out of town at Wildfire in Bend, I was awarded Best in Show at the opening there. So I wanted see the show before it comes down on Thursday. It's a real honor to be awarded something like that. The painting was "Zephyr's 1st Ride".

Bri-

Working the sheets...

2010-11-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I decided to make a change to the sheets today. Not in my bed, but in this painting. I work from photographs, but I'm not trying to recreate the photo. I of course want my paintings to feel life like, but I have no desire to copy to photo. Improving upon what's in the photo is my goal. Something more alive than the two dimensional image I work from.

The quilt on the bed in the photo is beautiful and intricate, I see no reason to duplicate it in paint though. The real subject is Paco, and the viewer doesn't need to be distracted by the details of a quilt.

An artist friend named Ann, gets very upset with people who think that the only art worth anything, is works of photo realism. I think sometimes that any kind of realism bothers her. I think of my work as somewhere in between the two styles.

I also worked on an abstract background today, and I'm feeling the pull toward those even stronger. I think that will be my style of choice for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned to see if that holds true.

Bri-

Table lamp...

2010-11-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

We had a great time in Bend at the Wildfire Pottery Showcase. Good sales, and good times with friends.

Now that we're back I'm back in the studio, and here's an update on how the picture looked just before we left.

See the lamp? I told you it was coming.

Bri-

Paco gets a nose...

2010-10-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

The quilt gets a bit more texture and Paco received a nose on his cute little face. Tomorrow the lamp might get a base.

Happy Halloween everyone.

Bri-

The Bed comes to life...

2010-10-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"

(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I spent much of today working in my studio and helping Corrine do several raku firings. Both were big successes.

The bed in the painting is coming to life, and I'm itching to be painting more of Paco. "All in good time my painter friend." I have to tell myself.

For the past 6 months I've been working on small canvases or wood blocks, it's nice to be painting large again. It's great how quickly the story unfolds with a large brush. Then when all of the imagery is in place I go back to add the details that bring the story into reality. If my paintings were a book or movie, they would be done in flashbacks.

Bri-

The start of Paco...

2010-10-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

"Paco in the Big Bed"
(in progress)

20"x16" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's a new commission I just started today. The cute pooch in this painting is named Poco. He loves to hang out on his owner's bed and chew on socks.

I love the smile he has on his face and in his eyes.

Bri-

Two Hound Polka

2010-10-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

"Two Hound Polka"

3 1/2" x 5" acrylic on wood

SOLD

It's a new day and a new painting is finished with new ones being started.

I'm getting a little rush of commission work, yeah for me, and have a show I'll be part of next month. Busy, busy.

Back to the easel.

Bri-

Two Hound start...

2010-10-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

"Two Hound Polka"
(in progress)

3 1/2" x 5" acrylic on wood
SOLD

I spent much of today in a meeting and then doing some design work, with a GF pizza with Corrine and friend Steve, thrown in there.

Then I got put a little paint on this new one. I spent about 45 minutes to an hour on this, and it made me realize I didn't actually spend 4 hours yesterday on the Mama painting. I spent a little over 4 hours doing creative work, drawing Mama, these two hounds and sketching a painting idea for a client (a non dog related painting, don't tell anyone). Doing all of that work from the same chair, it seemed like I had been painting for 4 hours.

That's a good thing. I really do love creating.

Bri-

Mama Dot

2010-10-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

"Mama Dot"

3.5" x 5" acrylic on wood
SOLD

I had forgotten how quickly the wood blocks soak up the paint. It's strange to have the paint dry almost instantly, as if it were a hot windy day and I was painting outside. It forces me to paint in a very different way then I have been in the past month.

I either have to mix the paint in the palette before putting my brush to the wood, or I have to paint really, really fast on the wood to mix it there. It was also strange to paint small again.

I also started a second one today, which I hope to post tomorrow.

Bri-

Flora Abstraction (final)

2010-10-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

"Flora Abstract"

(work in progress)

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

After taking a couple of days off, I spent most of today finishing up Flora. After reviewing some of the other photos I was given as references I decided to call her owners to check wether or not I had gone dark enough with her fur. I think if you look at the other posts you'll see we decided to go a little darker.

I really enjoyed creating this piece and loved the way it turned out.

I also put gesso on wood blocks today, so you might see some of those in the next few days.

Bri-

not today...

2010-10-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

"Flora Abstract"

(work in progress)

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

So I didn't get any painting done today, but yesterday I spent hours working on Flora. Is she done? Well no.

I think I have a few more days of work, which is great because then I get to spend more time with her, but I'm also itching to start something new.

Bri-

Pain and painting...

2010-10-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

"Flora Abstract"

(work in progress)

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

So I strained some muscles in my back yesterday moving clay for Corrine, and it hurts to do just about everything. You'd think I'd be in better shape, but I guess not.

I've set-up my easel so that I stand at it versus siting. It's a little strange to work standing, since I like sitting when I paint. I think the only difference I feel is in my feet, because even when I'm seated I hold my palette in my left hand.

I think the only way I'd find it to be a problem is if I were working on a smaller canvas, because right now the easel is at it's height limit. In order to look right into Flora's eyes I have the shelf the canvas is sitting on about an inch from the top of the channel it rides along.

Hopefully, I'll have less pain and the same amount of energy tomorrow.

Bri-