Feb 15 - Laying in the Fabric Swatches on "Calicobermans"

It's a lot like doing a jig-saw puzzle. Cutting the pieces to fit, picking the right value and interesting patterns to make the shapes come alive.  I had such fun picking what will eventually be the distant background, too.

Do you see where I'm resolving the placement of the dog paws down front and center? That's the way I work, without confining decisions if I'm not sure. I like working with future puzzles to solve as the art evolves.  Of course, sometimes the puzzles win, and there's a problem to be solved later down the road. If the puzzle wins on those paws, it'll be too late, as the piece has already been accepted to the Art Show at the Dog Show and needs to be shipped this week.  So I'm boxing and filling out forms--part of the duties of an exhibiting artist.

On other news, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the picture I took last Saturday morning from the TOP of the mountain behind my studio (marked with the yellow circle). Making a new trail to the top of the mountain is part of the joy of hiking--and this one will be a good one for horses and people, connecting up to an established trail accessible from the other side of the mountain. I love making trails, and the weather was gorgeous. Today a rain front has moved in, taking the temps down to 60 and there's a misty rain falling as I look out my studio window. However, hiking in the rain is good, too!

My workshop schedule for 2011 is HERE.
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Feb 13 - The Beginning of "Calicobermans"

 On a 24 x 24 inch box canvas (no frame needed, and very contemporary), I sketched in these two dobermans in preparation for what I call a "Fabricritter" painting.  More of a collage, yet still a painting, these are so much fun to do!  You saw the carousel horse be created late last year with the fabric swatches, and this one is no different.

The painting, in final form, was accepted to the Art Show at the Dog Show in Kansas, and I'll need to ship it to arrive by the 25th. It was accepted into the "mixed media, other" category.

As it develops, it takes on a life of its own.  Here's the first fabric scraps added to the black and rust dobie.  I have boxes of fabric in the studio and sorting through the calicos is such fun! Adding each piece is similar to putting the fabric right on a real dog--following the anatomical contours and adjusting the patterns to give a "feel" of fur.  I love doing it!

On other notes, I had the sheep out and I went along with a book and seat and enjoyed the afternoon light as they grazed above the studio. It was one of those amazingly beautiful evenings, and I read my book with the serendipitous bells of the herd in my ears. Hard to believe this is February! That's Vince who just came by for a head scratch and is heading back to eat. The pines of Two Trees Studio are on the left near the edge.

The newest DVD on the Color System is HERE
You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2011 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.