Pebbles was a Chirstmas 2021 commission which was a total joy to paint. It also allowed me to revisit the importance of VALUES in a painting. Values are the levels of lights and darks. Pretty basic stuff and if you have a good range of a darkest dark going to a lightest light, all will be good no matter what. It is helpful to take a cell phone shot and then convert it to b/w.
Josie
This sweet kitty recently passed and her mom's friend commissioned a 5x7 pastel. Here's the final, the reference photo and the frame treatment. For pets that have passed, I like to add the name to the matte (if it's pastel). What a beautiful animal. Well, they all are really. It was my honor to do Josie's portrait.
Finished art
Reference Photo
Liesl, Jack & Ramsey, pastel 13x19
My first triptych (three portraits) and it was a lot of fun, and a lot of caution not to spill anything near it! I had the art reproduced at Image Tec in Methuen, MA and was able to provide the client with not only the original art, but a beautiful half-size 11x14 print and 5x7 greeting cards.
This was a long-distance client (me in New Hampshire and they in Cleveland, Ohio). I waited with anticipation for their reaction, as I had been providing progress photos via Facebook Messenger.
Their reaction could not have delighted me more! To quote, "It looks great! When Tom saw it, his first word was 'perfect'! We couldn't be more pleased."
Finished art
Reference photos
Pet Memorial Box Portraits, 3" x 3"
Here's Ozzy, our "Best Dog Ever" in a miniature oil, just about finished. I have 6 memorial boxes on my mantel, and all of them will be getting their portrait done.
"She cried when she opened her gift"
Pastel pencil portraits from two individual photos. Found a great matte and frame at Kohl's. Just in time for a Christmas gift. I sure loved doing this.
Read MorePetals & Palettes Art Show at Atkinson Country Club
My Chihuly art glass painting was paired with a floral designer. She interpreted my painting with a most unique and fun vegetable arrangement set upon a mirror to represent the lake. Fun!
Pet Portraits make a great gift
Here's my 8 x 10 oil painting of Tinkerbell, being held by her Dad John on his birthday. Mom Stacey said it "was the best gift ever." I got a kick out of the dog's expression! A photo of Tinkerbell sitting in the family automobile was provided. I loved the basic pose (I call it the "highschool yearbook pose") and decided to give the portrait an "old school" kind of background with dramatic lighting.