Emmett maybe?

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I didn't get this posted last night because of a thunder storm. With all the lightening I figured it would be best to unplug everything and wait till morning.

The only thing left to do is minor changes on Emmett's face, if the client asks for them, and then to paint his paws on the bottom of the canvas.

Some artists I know, okay most of them, don't like doing commissions because they have to take input from the client. Me, I don't mind it. I create my work for myself, sure, but it's really for the rest of the world. Mainly it's for just one person, in my case the owner of the dog.

I heard Kurt Vonnegut say something like "You can't make love to the whole world, so why try?" He went on to talk about how he wrote his books with only one reader in mind, his sister. He wrote stories in a way he thought she would enjoy. So, if I had to pick my main viewer it would be my wife, Corrine. Lucky for me, what she likes, so do all my clients.

Bri-

Movies not painting

Sorry no post today. If you're in Baker come to Thursday Art Night at the Eltyrm Theater tonight.

It's an arts film series that I help run and it's on the last Thursday of every month. Tonight's film is "Quality of Life" written/directed by Benjamin Morgan and he'll be on hand presenting too.

More painting progress tomorrow. I did do some painting today, but nothing worth posting.

Bri-

Almost Emmett, almost...

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

So I got a ton of work done today and feel like I'm almost done. Little changes need to be made to his teeth, his tag needs some added details, and then I'll paint the rest of his front paws onto the base of the canvas.

I really enjoyed all the layering of paint I was able to do with this painting. Check back tomorrow.

Bri-

Emmett's limbs are done...

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I made it through the weekend with nothing more than a sore butt. The legs felt great and are ready for more. Back to the painting for the moment though.

Emmett is coming along well, and by tomorrow I'll be moving to the areas above his collar for the first time in a few weeks. Yeah. I'll finally be able to bring some life to his eyes.

Bri-

Fits and Starts...

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I never got to painting yesterday, but today had some quality time with Emmett. Did I have as much time as I'd like. NO. Between doing laundry and other errands run to be ready for this weekends training camp, I worked in fits and starts.

I doubt there will be a posting tomorrow because the Bella team will be doing a 90+ mile training ride, covering the roads the Elkhorn Classic will follow on day 1 of the race. Want to join us? Sunday the short day, 30-40 miles I should be able to get some painting done. Need/want to get some painting done, but Monday will be 100+ miles so no posting that day.

I'll be back in force on Tuesday. Maybe a little sore, but hey come race day it'll be worth it.

Bri-

Emmett continues to grow

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

More details are appearing everyday on Emmett. The tones are all working well together and that makes me happy.

Corrine says the eyes look a little creepy, which is somewhat true, however with the details and shading they seem less so today. I mean hey, I'm not even finished with them. She always knows just what to say to make me a little nervous about some aspect of a painting. She's great in every other respect though.

Bri-

Emmett gets a collar..

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I've been listening to Bill Bryson's "In a Sunburned Country" about his travels in Australia. It's really a great listen. He's both funny and insightful. So if you like travel lodge type writing or you want to learn about all the things that can kill you in Australia, I highly recommend it.

Now to the painting. The more I do it the better I get and the better I want to be. Does that make sense? I'm constantly seeing places where I want to add more colors or adjust the tones already down. Not to mention changing the placement of things like ears or eyes.

Bri-

No picture and why

I've been painting today but didn't get much worth posting done. I did add Emmett's collar, which is something I rarely do. I prefer to paint dogs naked, that could be taken wrong, but you're a smart audience. I chose to add his collar, not because it's particularly special but because I really like his tag.

You'll get to see it tomorrow I'm sure.

Bri-

TV and Sports painting

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I spent most of today in front of my easel and made more progress in some places, and then took a step back in others. One guess as to where that was.

For the first time in years I painted while watching/listening to TV. The Chicago Blackhawks are in the Stanely Cup playoffs against the Detriot Red Wings. Unfortunately the Wings won today. I'm hoping that will change.

It's funny how you can leave the town you grow up in but still feel a kinship to it's sports teams, well not all of them. I'll always hate the Cubs, sorry Cubs fans. But it's not hard to fall in love with the new towns teams either. I guess I'm lucky that in Baker City the only teams are the HS Bulldogs. I mean who wouldn't love the Bulldogs?

Bri-

Bike ride instead of painting

So I did a 100 mile bike ride instead of painting today. Oh it was so worth it. I got good training done and I also spent some time with my friend and fellow painter Don Gray.

I'll be back to painting tomorrow.

Bri-

Emmett gets new colors

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I printed a larger and lighter version of the photo I'm using as a reference and now I'm seeing new color possibilities. Yeah!

It's strange how little changes in my reference can change the way I make a painting. You can see the photo to the left of the painting on my easel. I think it's slightly over exposed in that print but it's giving me more details in the shadow areas. Enabling me to bring more life to Emmett's body.

I'm planning to do a long bike ride tomorrow so I'm not sure if there will be a posting or not. Stop back and see.

Bri-

Emmett continued

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

I played a nurse a little less today which was great, it means Corrine is feeling better.

I changed the spacing on Emmit's eyes today and I'm much happier with them now. I also added a few details to the front legs and the paws will wrap around the bottom edge of the canvas.

The more I work on Emmit the better I feel about the way the piece is growing. More to come tomorrow.

Bri-

Emmett continued

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

Corrine is doing better, but sore and tired, and a little helpless. Learning to do everything left handed is trickier than you'd think.

I did about an hour of painting today after helping out the patient, running errands, cooking and all the stuff she deserves. I can't complain because I got a nice bike ride in on one of the nicest days of this spring.

I love the tones that are starting to show up in Emmit and just after taking the picture I see the need to adjust the spacing between his eyes. The tones of his fur are exactly what I'm going for and can't wait to add more paint to the canvas.

Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Bri-

No post

Sorry no post today.

Went on a long bike ride and Corrine and a friend of ours crashed and so I spent 4 hours at the ER with her. No serious injuries for either of them, and we'll know tomorrow if the bikes okay, but now I'm tired.

I doubt it would be a good idea to do any painting at this point. Tomorrow is a new day for creativity.

Bri-

Downward Emmett

"Downward Emmett"
(in progress)

12x24 acrylic on canvas
$600
SOLD

It might seem that based on my postings lately I haven't been painting. Well the truth is I've been painting, just not posting. This painting in particular has been sitting on my easel for the past few days with a little progress here and there.

I love how happy Emmit looks in the photo I'm working from and so far find that I've captured that. I've been struggling a little with the perspective though, and so have worked an hour, then walked away. When I come back to it each time I make minor adjustments. Right now I feel like I've gotten everything just about right.

So I'm taking a break now and will come back to it a little later. Maybe there will even be a posting later today with more progress. Don't hold your breath though.

Bri-

Harbor House

"Harbor House"
(in progress)

6x6 acrylic on canvas
$125 unframed $6 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

This dog was one I happened to see and pet while on Orcas Island last summer. The Harbor House is part of the Doe Bay Resort right on the water. On Thursdays they have open mic night and pizza night. The ingredients are all locally grown and seasonal. It was one of the best meals we had while on the island.

For those of you wondering the opening went great. If you missed it I hope you'll get a chance to see it while it's up this month.
Bri-