Let sleeping Coffee Hounds lie...

"Let Sleeping Coffee Hounds Lie"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
SOLD

Here's a commission I just finished tonight. I think I have the one dog a little high on the paper, but if necessary I'll happily redo it.

That's one thing I love about the Coffee Hound paintings is they go so quickly. If I frame it wrong it won't take me much time to redo. I've only redone a few, and it was because I wanted too, not because a client wasn't happy. Us artists are so particular.

Bri-

Two more and one more to go...

"Truck-O-Puppies"
7x5 acrylic on canvas
$125.00 unframed plus $5 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

Yeah! I'm finally back to work in the studio. I didn't work as long as I would have liked but I really like the progress I made today.

Stay tuned for more progress this week.

Bri-

Truck with some puppies...

"Truck-O-Puppies"
7x5 acrylic on canvas
$125.00 unframed plus $5 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

Here's a painting I start last week, but haven't touched because of our wonderful house guests, Phil and Margaret. They're making their way to San Fransisco now, and I'll be finishing this one up soon.

Today, however, I'll be in the pottery studio finishing up some mugs for clients and ski mugs for Anthony Lakes.

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Bri-

Done?

"Lakeside Assata"

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I think all that's needed is to finish the underside of the canvas and a signature.

We had a great time at CX Nats in Bend, not as much fun as Margaret and Phil, because they got to race, but it was awesome fun cheering them on. Margaret took 3rd and Phil took 9th.

I'm off to the Short Term Gallery now for a day of painting and carving mugs Corrine made.

Bri-

The distraction before the finish....

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I'm almost there, but life has stepped in front of progress. We have our friends Margaret and Phil visiting us on their way to Cyclocross Nationals and we haven't seen them in over four years now.

It's been great catching up with them and we even went for a training ride together today. It was a balmy 13 degrees out. Thankfully we were only out in it for an hour.

So this is my current progress on Assata, and once we return from Nationals I'll be straight to work on it and finish up. Just a little detail needs to be added to the hind leg and the bottom of the canvas needs to be finished.

Bri-

Little by little...

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

A little progress here and there. It's all coming along. Unfortunately I'll be at the mountain all day tomorrow and in the X-mas parade at night I won't get any work done. I will be having fun though.

Sunday, could be a very good day for painting.

Bri-

1 1/2 hours plus a little change...

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the most recent picture of progress on Assata. I'm busy balancing the things I need to do, the things I want to do, and the things I feel obligated to do, so I'm getting about an hour and a half of work done a day.

Today's painting was the most satisfying of all my energy used. Second was swimming. The physical activity makes it possible to do all the other stuff in my life. I think if I had found swimming earlier in life, I might be doing something else with myself, but since there are no time machines and this is the life I have, I split my energies in all sorts of ways.

So which of all of the activities that I do keeps me the most sane? I'll just say it depends on the day. Some days it's the endurance sports and others it's the creative outlets. It's a delicate balance. It's a wonder I maintain any sanity at all with all the volunteer stuff I find myself doing.

On to the painting now. I'm using a mixture of Golden Open and regular acrylic again. I love the way I'm able to blend the black with the blues and browns. This painting is turning out great.


Bri-

Cover up on the beach...

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I covered up most of yesterdays work with new paint today. Today's paint wouldn't look so great if it wasn't for yesterday's paint. So, you could say I'm much happier with the results today.

Bri-

Dots on a beach...

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I spent today at the Short Term Gallery making dots on the beach. Lots of layering is going on and it was one of those days where I kept thinking, "Isn't there an easier way to do this?"

Yes it's called photography.

I think the other problem was that I was working without my reference photo and so was making lighting decisions that were wrong and even some color selections I'm regretting a little now. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, maybe it will seem better then.

On a completely different note, the Turkey Trot was a great success again. This year we had just under 300 folks sign up and take part and we almost doubled the amount of money raised. Most importantly we helped local people in need and people had a great time celebrating with friends and family before heading off to Thanksgiving dinners.

Bri-

p.s. I'm sure I'd sound more positive if there was better lighting in my studio for photographs this late in the evening.

Lakeside progress...

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

For the first time this season we awoke to snow everywhere and I was able to do some shoveling. I know it sounds crazy but I really like shoveling. I think because it gives me a feeling of accomplishment so easily. When I start shoveling I know that it will end and then on to the next thing.

Painting is different in that once I start I don't have a concrete idea when I'll be done. After I've been painting for awhile on a piece I get a sense of when it might be done, but not like shoveling. I know on days when it is snowing non-stop you could say those are days when shoveling is like painting.

I need to make some adjustments to Assata's right side to add a little size to her shoulder, but other than that I'm happy with the way this is turning out. I think tomorrow will be spent creating the beach beneath her, so she may or may not change at all tomorrow.

Only time will tell.

Bri-

Look a forest grows...

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the little changes that made up today's work. The forest on the other side of the lake is coming together and the beach has a more accurate pitch to it.

I don't think there will be any progress tomorrow since I'm spending the day xc skiing at Anthony Lakes. Sunday, I'll be at the gallery all day so I'm bound to make lots of progress.

Bri-

What's developing on the beach?

"Lakeside Assata"
(in progress)

10"x8" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Today I started creating the frame work for this painting, by painting base colors for the background and foreground. There's little things that still need adjustment before I start to paint Assata, but overall I really like how it's coming along.

I started listening to John Hodgman's new audio book "More Information than You Require" and I have to be careful where my brush is at times because it's so funny. Well, it's very funny to me, and not everyone likes fake trivia or the other nonsense that's in his books.

Bri-

Lake side sketches...

"Lakeside Assata"
pen and ink on paper
NFS


So I quietly celebrated the one year anniversary of my blog over the weekend. I didn't do a posting, shame on me I know, but it's because I was out of town. Corrine was part of the Wildfire Ceramic Showcase in Bend, OR and I took part in a swim meet there.

We both came away as winners. I won the 200M butterfly in my age group and she won "Best of Show" in the sculpture division. I still can't get her to tell me whether or not she voted for herself. I always tell her she's supposed to, but I never know if she does. We artists are a funny breed.

These images here are for a new commission I'll be starting this week. Tomorrow is my goal. I'm really looking forward to the colors I'll be using in the black fur and the water in the background.

Stay tuned, there's so much to see in the New Blog Year.
Bri-

Restful Dexter

"Restful Dexter"

12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

Here's the finished Dexter. I think I achieved the right amount of sleepiness in his eyes, not to open, not to closed. I wanted him to look restful, not stoned. Although the sheets of the bed he's sleeping in are pretty psychedelic if you ask me.

Bri-

Lazy Eye...

"Restful Dexter"
(in progress)
12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

Today I got the eye of Dexter to seem more restful, or lazy you could say. I think I'll be done by late morning tomorrow and have a new painting started tomorrow as well. Wishful think sometimes, but, I'll be at the Short Term Gallery all day and that should help.

I might not get as much done since traffic has increased quite a bit in the past week. No sales today but there were about ten times the number of people through the door versus the last time I was there. Let's hear it for increased art sales.

Bri-

Restful Dexter continued

"Restful Dexter"
(in progress)
12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

Here's a look at the most recent work on Dexter. I'm working at getting his eyes so he looks more restful instead of surprised. With a few choice brushstrokes I'm sure to have what I'm looking for.

I want to take a moment to shamelessly plug my new Esty store. http://www.etsy.com/shop/dustydogstudio There you can find Coffee Hounds that are new and old, all original one of a kind coffee and ink paintings, and I'll also have ceramic travel trailers that Corrine has made. Check it out when you get a chance.

Bri-

Finished Dee Dee, maybe...

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

Here's what I think is a finished painting waiting to have a signature placed artfully on it. I think that my client feels the same way, but I haven't heard for sure.

One thing I love about this painting is all the color I was able to use in creating Dee Dee. White/Gray dogs, and even black for that matter, give me such creative freedom. I do what I see and I add where I think something needs a little flare. I'm really going to miss seeing Dee Dee everyday on my easel. Oh well, at least I have photos to remember her by. Plus, she's going to a great home.

Bri-

Pumpkins

So tonight we artists here in Baker City, got together to carve pumpkins for the window of the Short Term Gallery. Corrine and I showed up a little late because we went to see "Squall" preformed by the good folks at Eastern Oregon Regional Theater. The show was great and if you're in town I highly recommend seeing it next weekend.

These are two of the five pumpkins we carved. Mine is on the right and the blur makes it impossible to see clearly. It's a dog howling at the moon. Who would have thought? Corrine's on the left, is designed to collapse in on itself as it decays. We'll see.

Bri-

Close up Dee Dee...

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

Here's a slightly blurry close-up of the work I got done today. The problem with the sun setting sooner in the fall, I don't get photos that are as clear. Also with the update to Snow Leopard my scanner is having a -1 error that I can't seem to go away. Apple you have finally let me down.

Bri-

Eyes and ears...

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

Can you see the difference? I did lots of small brushwork today and added more definition to Dee Dee's muzzle, her eyes and ears. With a little more work in those areas and some body work, I'll be done.

Tomorrow is Corrine's birthday so unless she decides to spend time in the studio I don't know if I'll do any work.

Bri-

Dee Dee coming along...

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

Lots of the texture in Dee Dee's fur is starting to show. Today I spent most of the day painting at the Short Term Gallery, and thanks to the lack of visitors I got lots of work done.

Hopefully I can kept up the momentum tomorrow.

Bri-

West Virginia Coffee Hound

"West Virginia Coffee Hound"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
for sale at Fur Festival on Oct. 24th

This is a dog that is available for adoption at The Monroe County Animal League. They sent me a handful of pictures of other dogs that were also available for adoption, but as my wife put it "that dog looks like Fairmont." He was the first dog I owned and he was from West Virginia as well.

Maybe Fairmont and this little guy are cousins?

Bri-

I see a body....

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

When I went to bed last night I wasn't sure if I'd get anything done today on Dee Dee, however today turned out to be one of my most productive days on this painting. I think I have such high expectations of myself when it comes to getting work done, but I do so much volunteer related stuff around town, that I'm drained when I get into the studio.

Today I didn't have any of that kind of stuff to do but I just had this mental picture of myself getting nothing done like so many days this week. Thankfully my mental image of how today would turn out was totally off. Not only did I get lots of painting done, I also got the oil changed in Fluffy. Yeah for effective time management.

Bri-

Dee Dee get's some form...

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I actually got more painting done than this picture shows. Why am I posting this then you ask? Well, I wanted to take the picture while there was still daylight coming into my studio.

After the sun had set I added the form of Dee Dee's paws and the rest of her body, plus I sanded down an area on her face where the edge of the teal paint was present. I don't think I'll be eliminating it all together, but I think it will make a difference in the end.

When working on a subject like Dee Dee there are lots of layers that will go into her to create the depth of her fur. I really like this style of painting.

Bri-

Dee Dee begins to peek in...

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I thought I'd get more work done today, but alas that was not the case. After creating a press release for the Bike to Work Challenge from last month, spending an hour in Corrine's spinning class, followed by an hour of lifting weights I'm now to tired to paint anymore.

The several hours I did spend turned out what I think is a great base to work with. In the photo I'm working from, Dee Dee is very light and so that presents a challenge bringing her out of the white part of the canvas, but it's a challenge I'm up to.

Bri-

Modernism

"Modern Dee Dee"
(in progress)
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

This is the start of a new commission of a schnauzer named Dee Dee. I'm really please to start a painting like this one. My customer had seen a painting I had done of a similar style and we've been working on the color scheme until yesterday. I think that these three colors will look great with the way I'll paint Dee Dee.

See more tomorrow.

Bri-

Restful Dexter

"Restful Dexter"
(in progress)
12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

Dexter belongs to a friend of ours and I'm lucky enough to be trading this painting for a mosaic bird bath that she made. This happens to be from one of her favorite pictures of Dexter.

Right now I think he looks to wide awake for the title I've chosen, so I'll need to make some adjustments to his eyes to give the sense of a tired little guy.

I've also made some creative improvements on the photograph. He's resting on cream colored sheets in the photo and the white section of the comforter is striped, but I don't think I'll be duplicating that.

There will be a little time in between when you see this one again because tomorrow I'll be starting another commission, so Dexter will be sitting on the wall of my studio waiting for final brushstrokes. Sorry Andrea.

Bri-

Layouts

Here's three layout ideas I have for a new commission. I really like the top and bottom possibilities the best, but I think I need to lighten the beige color I've chosen.

Here's a blog that writes about Vintage Roadside stuff and they did a few postings about Baker City. It's a great site if you like vintage signs and traveling to out of the way places. Enjoy.

Bri-

Opening

Here's a little video of the "Family Vacation" opening. Benjamin Benjamin had a Sax player, an open fire for s'mores, and great art of course. In the video you can see mostly Corrine's travel trailers and they were a big hit. My paintings were as well, if I do say so myself.

I should have some new work for all to see soon.

Bri-

Family Vacation Show

"Zephyr Takes a Ride Through Georgia"
24x12 acrylic on canvas
$1200 unframed free shipping in the US



Corrine and I are doing our first ever joint show at the Benjamin Benjamin Gallery at 114 3rd St. in Hood River, OR this month. The opening party is Friday Oct. 2nd and it's bound to be a blast. Myah and her husband Scott are great and we love Hood River. If you're going to be in the area please stop by to see the show. Like all artists I wish I had had more time to create new works for it. That said I think the whole show looks great and can't wait for Friday night.

Sorry there won't be any postings while I'm on the road. Next week I'll be back to painting.

Bri-

The Chase

"The Chase"

12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400 unframed plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

Here's the finished version. I love the tones that I ended up using on Zephyr. He's such a beautiful dog and I enjoy hanging out with him as much as I do painting him.

This one was painted using only Golden Heavy Body acrylic, I chose to skip the Open so that I could get the colors down thicker and faster. The trees in the background were created using a palette knife instead of a brush. I wanted to work really fast not only because the deadline for "Family Vacation" is so close, but also because I wanted the process to mimic the speed of the dogs in the painting. I figured if I spent to much time working on it I would not have captured the feeling of the scene, and the blur of the moment.

Bri-

The chase continues

"The Chase"
(in progress)

12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400 unframed plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

Here they are running as fast as they can. I have some subtle details to add to this so you'll get to see the results tomorrow.

Again I'm working from a B+W photo on this and I really love the freedom from reality that it offers my mind, yet I found on Zephyr that I wanted to use all natural tones in his fur. There's something about the different tones he has that bring that about I think. Whereas with Bettini, she's white and so I'm open to do whatever I want to her and it translates as white in the end.

Tomorrow's work will bring fun colors to Zephyr though. Can you say "pink"?

Bri-

But where are they?

"The Chase"
(in progress)

12x12 acrylic on canvas
$400 unframed plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

I think this maybe the last painting I get to create for the "Family Vacation" show. It's of Zephyr and Bettini playing a game of keep away. You can't see any of it right now but in the photo I'm working from Zephyr has a deer bone in his mouth and Bettini wants it badly. I had to take it away from him otherwise I'm sure there would have been real trouble.

For some reason little dogs think they are invincible.

Bri-

I see me...

"1st Bike Ride"


5x7 acrylic on canvas
$125 unframed plus $10 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

So I'm pretty much done with this self portrait, but I still have to paint the sides of the canvas. There were lights on either side of the minor, but the canvas, or framing I chose isn't large enough to show them. So rather than do another posting where the only thing that's changed is something you can't see, I consider this done.

One thing that I haven't mentioned with this painting is that I worked from a B&W photograph instead of color, just to see how it would work out. I have such a vivid memory of what the colors of my clothing and the bathroom were, I figured it would be a fun exercise. I liked doing it so much that I'm going to try it on my next painting as well.

Bri-

Lily of the Lake (final)

"Lily of the Lake"
(in progress)

7x5 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the finished painting of "Lily on the Lake". I made a few changes to the picture that I was working from based on my clients request. The kayak in the photo was red, but they own blue ones, easy change, another was the background. Lily was to be the focus of the painting, and to create a pleasing composition I ended up cropping some of the forest along the shoreline, it does however wrap around the top and sides of the canvas. I also saw truck campers in the photo, but since I prefer Airstreams, that's what's in the upper right hand corner.

I'm really happy with how the surface of the water turned out and have to say it's thanks to my growing knowledge of how the Golden Open paints work. I was able to mix and match them so well with the regular acrylic and think it creates just wonderful tones.

Bri-

Here's looking at me...

"1st Bike Ride"
(in progress)

5x7 acrylic on canvas
$125 unframed plus $10 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

I spent today painting, working on Corrine's townie bike, and cleaning and organizing things.

Here's the result of my painting time, well of just one of my efforts. I also worked on the "Lily" painting too. I think I'll be done with that tomorrow, but only time will tell.

Bri-

Working on the boat...

"Lily of the Lake"
(in progress)

7x5 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

It's coming along, but I'm always amazed at how long it takes to do small paintings. I think because I'm just as interested in all the details but end up needind to use more brush strokes and smaller brushes to do it.

It's also a lot later than I thought. Time for bed I've got swim practice in the morning.

Bri-

Thinner Lily...

"Lily of the Lake"
(in progress)

7x5 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I think I've become addicted to Golden Open. Today while making Lily a little thinner, I used the regular heavy body stuff because it happens to be more opaque than the Open. Then when I'd go to make slight shading changes to Lily's chest the paint had already dried. So back to the Open palette.

I really like how she's turning out and can't wait to spend more time with her tomorrow.

Bri-

Self Portrait 01

"1st Bike Ride"
(in progress)

7x5 acrylic on canvas
$125 unframed plus $10 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

This is my first self portrait since college and that was about 18 years ago. You could also see my face in it.

This painting depicts the first time I took our dog Zephyr for a bike ride in New York City. He loved it and still loves bicycles, but he's no longer small enough to fit in a back pack. So now he goes running or swimming with me instead.

I felt a funny feeling when taking the picture for this posting, because I'm using the same camera to take the picture as the one I'm using in it. It was a little bit of a mirror effect in my mind. If only I was wearing that cycling helmet.

Bri-

Lily of the Lake

"Lily of the Lake"
(in progress)

7x5 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

This a new commission I started today of a dog named Lily. She loves being on the water so I'm working from a photo of her and her owner in a kayak. The finished painting will just have Lily in it.

Right now I don't have the proportions of Lily quiet right. She's not as fat as I have her painted by any means and it's the main thing I need to change. When I painted the lake water I should have gone all the way across, but I stopped short where I thought I'd be placing Lily. This caused me to get the proportions off a little. Nothing a little paint can't fix.

I also started a self portrait today. Tomorrow I'll be posting the progress on that if there's anything worth showing.

Bri-

Tule in the Field

"Tule in the Field"


24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the finished painting of Tule. What a wonder to work on. I'm always amazed at how connected I feel to the dogs in the paintings after the weeks I work on them. Each one is so different but the result, creatively, is always the same, I've become connected to my subject on another level. I guess spending hours looking at the same animal for days or weeks at a time has a positive affect on me.

Most times it's hard to see the painting leave my studio, but since I usually wait a few days for final payment before I ship a finished piece, it still hangs on the studio wall staring back at me. That's also a great thing about this blog, any painting I want to see again, I just search through the archives.

Bri-

Tule installment 11

"Tule in the Field"
(in progress)

24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I spent about an hour painting today. I'm at the point where I'm just about done, but still need feedback from the client make "final touches" decisions. It's a part I really like and I'm always nervous about too. Not because of the clients input by any means but because of what I bring to the input. I'm no exception to the sensitive artist stereo type, but I think I hide it pretty well. Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have written that?

For me it's always a question of "Am I understanding them correctly?" When they say "Go lighter" will I go light enough, or if it's "straighten out the ears" what do they mean exactly? Sometimes I just sit in front of the canvas asking the painting and the photograph I'm working from what I should do. Staring at what I've done so far and what I could do to make it even more like the dog I'm painting. What element of the dogs soul is missing and how to make the paint express it.

Right now I think it's her eyes and her legs that I need to add a little paint to. Plus I'm open for input.

Bri-

Several hours of Tule

"Tule in the Field"
(in progress)

24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I spent several hours on Tule today and here's the results.

Bri-

Onto painting Tule

"Tule in the Field"
(in progress)

24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I spent the morning with Corrine running around Union County, OR. We picked up an old washing machine, the kind with a hand crank for ringing out the wet clothes, that we plan to turn into a planter. Then we went to Edge Gallery and Coffee Shop in La Grande. Pete Peterson who owns and runs the place had some very inspiring works. You may see some NYC night scenes from me because of our visit there. Of course they'll have dogs in them.

After the fun morning out in there, I went into the Short Term Gallery to get some work done. I spent most of the day making adjustments to Tule's nose and right eye. It's one of the things I love about acrylic paint, I can go back and make changes whenever I want. I also spent time shading and making tonal changes to the rest of Tule's head. It might seem as if the painting is moving backwards, but really it's moving forward.

Bri-

Delhi Coffee

"Delhi Coffee"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

I've been going through old photos of our dogs to use as references for this current batch of Coffee Hounds. This one is of Bettini in the yard of our home in Delhi, NY. She was allowed to run around at will when we first got her, but after she attacked a porcupine early on a Sunday morning during calving season she was never allowed out without a leash and an owner attached to her.

She made her bed, when after the quills were removed, the next day she went straight for the porcupine's den. Now she still sleeps in that same bed. No leash, no walk.

Bri-

Sleeping Coffee

"Sleeping Coffee"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed plus $6 for shipping in the US
SOLD

This is our dog Zephyr the day I brought him home from the shelter in Harlem. He was so scared of the outside world that I had to carry him almost everywhere we went. Understandably he was very tired after his first day out in the world.

It didn't take long for him to warm up to NYC, but the first few days there was a lot of waiting at street corners so he could make sure that I wasn't going to trick him into walking out into traffic. As he got older we curb trained him and when he'd go to the bathroom in the city he would just step care-freely out onto 6th Ave. He no longer cared that taxis were flying by at 40mph. He had to go, so he went.

Bri-

Stone Coffee Puppy

"Stone Coffee Puppy"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 plus $6 for shipping in the US
SOLD

This is the puppy my friends just got. They are also the folks responsible for the delicious coffee I drink and paint with. The Stone family own Sorbenots Coffee, it's Stone Bros backwards. Clever eh?

For my birthday last month Andrea gave me a CD of dog pictures their son Hunter had taken, because I had been talking about wanting some new subjects. So this was based on one of those photos. Fun to do a Coffee Hound after a long break from painting with coffee.

Bri-

Back in the studio with progress...

"Tule in the Field"
(in progress)

24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Tiny little brush strokes have made a big difference in the grass. It's by no means photo realism, but it reads as grass more now than ever in the whole process of this painting. I think that just because there was green on the background before it didn't seem anything like grass, even with some of the earlier brush strokes suggesting longer/taller strands. Those strokes are still there, but now they blend in instead of standing out and looking disconnected.

Maybe I can get back to painting Tule now. Well, that is if I don't spend my time building mountain biking trails, trimming bushes and trees in the front yard, or any number of things that have nothing to do with painting. Fall is approaching and sometimes I feel like the ant who prepared for winter, instead of his friend who didn't. I know that sounds smart but I do have a show to get ready for that opens in 4 weeks and trimming trees doesn't cover the walls of a gallery. Well I guess it could if I was a different kind of artist.

Bri-

Watching Grass Grow

I spent most of today working in the yard. With the days getting shorter and the sale of plants at the garden store, we've done a little more yard work and a little less artwork.

I did get some painting done today though. Not much just more work on the grasses of the "Tule" painting. It's changing in a way I hadn't seen or thought about and I'm liking where it's going so I may continue this way. It will be a major/slight change to the background. Who knows when you're talking abstract grass really.

Whatever I do I plan to do so that Tule looks great in the setting.

Bri-

Luka Waits on Red

"Luka Waits on Red"

6x12 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

This is a commission I painted about two years ago that was recently damaged by a contractor during a remodel project. There was a scratch arching across the lower part of the canvas. So to fix it I sanded down the affected area and then added acrylic medium in an effort to level the surface again. Sanded again and then added red back to it.

It worked to a degree. I would have liked it to have worked better. This scan doesn't show it off, which is good I guess, but when I'm really looking for it and in certain light I can still see it. The problem with sanding the paint down is that eventually I would start to sand away the fabric of the canvas. Then I'd be in a worse state.

The only thing left to do is re-sign it.

If I get my Baker Loves Bikes paperwork done tomorrow before the board meeting I should be able to show some progress on the Tule painting. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Also we're showing "Inspirations" by Michael Apted at the Eltrym. There will be a panel discussion with local artists starting at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there.

Bri-

Friends opions on grass...

"Tule in the Field"
(in progress)

24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

My friend tom novak stopped in at the Short Term Gallery today and we discussed the grass of the painting. He suggested I go lighter on the upper part to bring a little more depth to the piece. I agree and so I'm slowly making it lighter and adding details to the foreground. Adjusting grass length as I go.

There are parts on Tule that I'm still working on too. Like her legs and muzzle. I think both areas need to go a little larger.

It will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.

Bri-

Tule work on Sunday...

"Tule in the Field"
(in progress)

24x18 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Lots of progress and still there's work to be done. I spent the day working with two different palettes, one with Open Acrylic and the other with regular. I have to say it again, I love working with Golden Paint.

Tule now has some color in her eyes and I think she's coming along great. One of the reasons I leave the eyes as the background color for so long, is so if I decide to place them higher or lower on the face. That way there isn't a texture created by paint built up from the original placement. For me it just works best that way even if it does leave the dog looking kind of creepy for a few days.

I'll be spending most of the day at the gallery painting again on Monday so I should come away close to finished. But only time and my creative tastes will decide when I'm done.

Bri-