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                                                                 Coming and Going                                                                            9"x12"                        ...

Yes I apologize in advance, but if you think you are looking at the backend of a donkey - well, you are correct.  This is from a PMP photographer, Steve Lyddon where he caught two donkeys.  Hence the title, "Coming and Going".  Keeping with that ying/yang thing I also decided to make the background cool/warm - and yes, right now it kind of looks like these must be French donkeys, and maybe they will be - who knows - it is your story.   We all voted that the left donkey is heavy with child as you will be able to make your own determination when I get the right hand guy in. This again pastel on sanded paper, 9"x12". Hope this gave you a little giggle on a Friday afternoon.  Have a great weekend and thanks much for stopping by.

                                                                      Orangutan                                                                         9"x12"                        ...

I am working this Orang on 9"x12" sanded paper and doing him in pastels.  Still working on Mike the LSU mascot trying to get him finished up this week.  This Mike is taking longer because his reference shot was in the shade and he is sitting in shrubs, so I have to find other reference pics to rebuild his back haunch and his huge paws. This subject, Orangutans, is one that Paul and I have many pictures of because the National Zoo in Washingon has a large group of Orangs.  They are such unusually colored, strangely proportioned and quite unique animals, very humanoid, again being threatened with extinction in the wild.  On the ground they walk upright but their proportions look so odd, however, get them in the trees or air and their long arms make them quite graceful and they put on quite a show as they cross the walk - natural entertainers.  The Zoo has built an Orang walk that is 4-5 stories high above the sidewalk, built of cables, and goes between two bui...

                                                                Long Way Down                                                                       9"x12"                               ...

Here is a just fun piece, wanted to just let loose today and do a pastel as I have been spending so much time working on learning oil.  Just get dusty!! So here is Long Way Down, 9"x12", pastel, on terracotta color sanded paper.  I saw on PMP an artist who used a similar vivid background around a cow and it gave me the idea to try this - really added a bunch of life to the subject and drew your eye.  I wanted to make you feel the hot African day.  When we were at the Birmingham zoo I took a photo of a baby giraffe who was bending down like this, never thought about how difficult and creative they have to be to just get a drink.  I am using a couple of additional reference photos from PMP, Kathryn Hansen has the best spot work photo.  The big challenges in this piece will be getting the intricate pattern on the coat and also trying to get the glaze of the water in the mud - plus I wanted to see if that "red hot" sky could work.  I am thinking this...

                                                                        Lioness                                                                           7"x5"                    ...

                                          Chippie                                             7"x5"                                  Pastel/Sanded Paper Well we are officially half way through the challenge and I am still alive.    YESSS!!!!!    We have a couple of chipmunks (today's inspiration) which provide us with lots of entertainment when we sit on the porch.   ...

Norma's Eye 9"x12" Pastel/Sanded Paper (terracotta) Ok, it is kind of a strange subject, but I just love to do eyes, so....   Thanks to AinslieG at Paint My Photo for her reference photo of her first horse.   While not a horse person I think their eyes really are the windows to what they are thinking, plotting or scheming to do to us.   Oh wow, just got an email from the owner/photographer and she humbles me: "I am all teary!  You have captured her eye perfectly.  That is her soul coming through.  Wow.  I am really very touched and feel emotional (in a good way!).   I love it. :)"             For an artist, it just can't get any better than that.    Congratulations to Alexander as you guessed a horse, and thanks to Danielle for taking a guess.    This was on my "how good is your imagination" earlier post.   This is on the...

  What the heck is this?  I know this is a 9"x12" Colorfix terracotta sanded paper, but can you tell me what the subject is?? Counting down to the New Year, thanks for stopping by and hope you are having the best holidays with family and friends.