CBGB's close but not yet

"CBGB's Bettini"
(in progress)
18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Each day when I work on this it progresses closer to what I see in my head, and because of it's size I can't scan it. So, the photos are taken during the last little bit of day light that comes through my studio's window, but I continue painting into the dark.

Once again you readers aren't getting to see all the work I've done in the day. So who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Bri-

CBGB's teaser

"CBGB's Bettini"
(in progress)
18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD


I'm actually further along on the painting than this picture shows, but I didn't feel like photographing it after dark.

Just wait till you see the progress when I post tomorrow. Both my wife and I said "Wow" when looking at it from a distance. Intrigued?

Bri-

More Changes at CBGB's

"CBGB's Bettini"
(in progress)
18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

The other night while at a gathering of fellow artists the subject of "Finished Work" was the topic of discussion. My personal take on the matter is that I know when a painting is finished the moment I make the first stroke on the blank canvas.

Since I work from references I've got a starting and ending point right in front of me. The dog is always the driving force of my work and the background, if it's not a solid color, is secondary. The main decisions I make during the painting are color related. In my mind I see the finished painting right from the beginning, but it takes the time it takes to get there.

I love where I'm at with this painting now and can see that it's just about what I would call finished.

Bri-

Small CBGB's change

"CBGB's Bettini"
(in progress)
18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I received an e-mail from the art dept. at NY Spaces magazine asking about using this painting in an article they're publishing about "punk". Sure I said, but it's not done. Being that they are on a deadline and they like the way it looks now it will probably run as is. If I'm lucky and they don't go to press until Monday morning, I'll crank this thing out over the weekend.

When I did a web search to see how they found my image, I wasn't able to find it even after 40 pages of CBGB's images. I did see a ton of pictures of Patti Smith, who lived across the street from us in NYC. She even cut in front of me at the corner bodega one evening. I guess she really was hungry for the honey she had or something. I had a basket full, so I let it slide. Cool eh?

Bri-

Still Waiting

"Waiting Outside the Diner"
(in progress)

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

A fellow artist, Chris Cole, asked me the other day if small works take longer than larger ones. Or if there was a real time difference.

With this painting, it's going much faster than "Dewey at the Counter". It's also double the size. So I guess the answer is, in this case, bigger paintings go faster.

I think I'm also spending more time at my easel.

Bri-

Start Waiting

"Waiting Outside the Diner"
(in progress)

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

This is the beginning of a piece for my show in May called "Longing". I wanted to create work of dogs longing for something. I took this photo outside the Apple Restaurant in Burns, OR. The wire haired pointer was resting it's chin on the edge of the pick-up when I pulled in, but when I went to take it's picture it perked up. Eventually it started barking at me.

Once I walked away it put it's chin back on the edge of the truck and sat longing for it's owner.

Bri-

Latte Puppy

"Latte Puppy"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed plus $5 for shipping in the US
SOLD

This is based on a photo of a yellow lab puppy taken by photographer Karl Vester. Karl specializes in rodeo photography. To see more of his work check out Buckaroophoto.com

One thing I like about this picture is how long the puppy's tail is. In the photo it continues outside the frame it's so long.

Bri-

Dewey Finally gets his Treat

"Dewey at the Counter"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I'm so happy with the way this turned out. I love the pinks mixed in with the browns and blues of Dewey. Sparrow Bakery is a perfect setting too. If you're really familiar with the place you'll know that this was from 2007 before they did a little expansion of the kitchen.

I get to spend sometime there in April. Oh boy I can already taste the Ocean Roll.

Bri-

Pink comes to Dewey

"Dewey at the Counter"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I'm starting to work mainly on Dewey now. Yeah, my favorite part of all paintings, the dog. I'm working pink into his highlights and it's a little unsettling. I haven't been able to work for more than a few hours today, off and on, so the progress seems really slow. I can see that by the time I'm finished the right colors have been chosen, but I'm itching to be further along.

The anticipation is greater too, because I'll be gone almost all of tomorrow. Maybe no work will get done. Life goes on I guess.

Bri-

Coffee Barkley

"Coffee Barkley"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
SOLD

This morning when my wife and I were going for a run with the dogs, we saw a neighbor was having a door replaced on their house. So we went over to the guy who was doing the work to see if they were going to throw away the old one. Sure enough they were.

That old door will be used in the fence we are planning to build this spring. So as a surprise and thank you, I painted their dog.

Bri-

Dewey's order almost ready

"Dewey at the Counter"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I got a lot more done in the refrigerated case today. I really like the reflections in the sides of it. I think it's the last Ocean Roll that looks the most tempting though.

Bri-

More Dewey progress

"Dewey at the Counter"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Well here's a little more progress. As much as I'd like, well no.

Oh us artists can be so fussy.

Bri-

Dewey continued...

"Dewey at the Counter"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

So, Dewey has been added and I love the look in his eye. It's as if he's been told he can pick out anything he wants. He almost can't believe his good fortune.

No matter what he picks it will be great. Everything they make at Sparrow Bakery is delicious.

Bri-

Dewey at the Counter

"Dewey at the Counter"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

This is the rough start of the front counter at Sparrow Bakery in Bend, OR. The owners have a dog named Dewey and he'll be in the picture with his paws on top of the refrigerated case looking over his shoulder. I have a feeling he'll order a croissant. They're so good there.

Bri-

Dinning Room Lounge-Final

"Dinning Room Lounge"

10x8 acrylic on canvas
$200 plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

All done. It turned out great I think and I loved working on it. It's been awhile since I've had the opportunity to paint Zephyr and so I'm glad I made this one.

Bri-

Dinning Room Lounge cont...

"Dinning Room Lounge"
(in progress)

10x8 acrylic on canvas
$200 plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase


My wife came into the studio tonight and said "Wow that's a lot of brown."

True enough, but it sure does make painting light and shadow that much more important. Everything is very subtle and so a little light pigment here or darker pigment there will make all the difference.

I once had a school project where the object was to work from pure white to pure black. The approach we used was to add a single drop of black, mix, then paint that tone into a square. I think there were something like 30 squares. Then once we had the gray scale finished we had to break it down into 7 or 8 squares that showed just the subtlest of changes, going from white to black.

Ah art school projects, you learn from them, but rarely are they any fun.

Bri-

Dinning Room Lounge-Start

"Dinning Room Lounge"
(in progress)

10x8 acrylic on canvas
$200 plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase


I started this painting about two weeks ago, see "Coffee Buffet", and just put it back on the easel today. It depicts our dog Zephyr in his favorite place. His big bed in our dinning room. He could easily take up the whole thing if he wanted, but he always curls up in a tight ball, leaving more than enough room for Bettini to snuggle in with him.

She on the other hand likes to sprawl out in it so there's no room left for him. Real nice huh?

One of the things I like about this picture is that the lines of the buffet behind him give me visual clues as to where other objects should begin and end. It's like working with a grid without having to draw it out. In fact, I noticed a place just before I scanned this, where I'd like to make a correction. See if you can find it in the next posting.

Bri-

Longing to be Out There-Final

"Longing to be Out There"

12x6 acrylic on canvas
$250 plus $6 for shipping in the US
SOLD

I'm really happy with the way this turned out even though it took longer than excepted. I guess it's like training a dog. You want so bad for your dog to behave and understand your commands instantly, but the training will only take hold in real time.

The same is true of painting. It's done when the the signature is added and the wire placed on the back. I had an art teacher who used to say "It's done when the last brush stroke you take makes the piece feel over done."

Now on to a new one.

Bri-

Longing almost

"Longing to be Out There"
(in progress)
12x6 acrylic on canvas
$200 plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase


I'm almost done. I don't know what it is about this piece that is causing me to take so much time on it. Today I painted almost non-stop and I still have work to do.

That said I love where this painting is going.

Bri-

The Longing continues...

"Longing to be Out There"

12x6 acrylic on canvas
$200 plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

Once again I had more on my plate than expected, so I didn't paint nearly as much as I'd have liked. I'm really liking the look of the trees out the window, and the dog is coming along nicely as well.

Tomorrow? We'll see.

Bri-

Longing Update

"Longing to be Out There"

12x6 acrylic on canvas
$200 plus $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

I think you can see why I mentioned the creative options that acrylic painting has for me. I love the look of the blue in the dogs muzzle as well as in some of the shadows.

Can't wait to get to the reflection.

Bri-