Working on Izzy-Bella, deciding on photos of Kona and other news...

Here is the progress on Izzy-Bella

I am taking my time creating Izzy-Bella and I'm enjoying making a cat for a change!

She will soon be done as soon as I finish the face and place her on a blanket.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One of the most fun parts of creating portraits is working with the clients.

Taking in all their love they have for their pet (especially the ones who have passed), and narrowing it down to just one photo to work from takes a special kind of insight.  

What I do when deciding is I allow the client to send me several photos they like, and I scrutinize over them, then offer suggestions and wait back for a response.  

Such is the case right now with "KONA". 

Kona was DEARLY loved by her owners and they had to pour over all the photos they had (literally thousands), and decide which ones they thought brought out her personality.  

What helps is when clients show me many aspects of the pet's qualities, like they pointed out, "Kona" had large ears, or that special sparkle she had in her eyes.  It is MY job to take all the photos they have of her, and all the visions they have in their heart of her, and put it all down in one painting.

How do I do that?  By pulling as much information from the client I possibly can.  For example, they noted that she loved the beach, so I suggested whichever photo I work from to place her in a beach setting.  Little things like that make all the difference in the world to the portrait and to having pleased clients.  After all, it will be their final memorial for their dearly departed pet.  

So, here are a few photos of Kona that I have chosen but nothing is finalized yet.

This one has nice lighting.  The background I ignore.

I wish some teeth were showing in this photo.

I like the way the dog is lying down, but you don't see the facial features that much.

Check out the size of those ears!  

This is my personal favorite.  Minus the sandy muzzle. 

I like this one also because I can bring in a portion of her body. 

This is also a nice shot, but she looks so dark, not enough color variation.  

I'm awaiting approval of the owners. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Had an inquiry from AUSTRALIA of possibly the largest Great Dane I've ever seen!  

Also, someone asked me if I would paint their pet pig.  WHY NOT???  

Someone posted on my website about wanting several portraits done.  I followed through with an acknowledgment but they haven't responded back yet. 

...and the beat goes on.

   

Now there's a bigger website and a link back to this blog!

This image is called an "Impossible Triangle".  

Look at it long enough and you'll know why!

I had my artwork for sale on one website, my blog here and my pet portraits on another.  

YIKES!  

That's my "impossible triangle".  

But I found a solution.  One website.

It's in the process of getting it's own domain name, so in time it will be:

www.kathleenevekelly.com

(Simple eh?)

But, having a website isn't simple...it's a process.  

So, for now, if you want to see the website, use this link.

http://kathleenevekelly.homestead.com

Got that?  Haha!

"Dillon's" Portrait and Welcome Izzy-Bella AND Kona!

This is Dillon.  

He passed suddenly.  

He was a "Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier".

This is the portrait I created of Dillon.

It was completed the day they got a new 

Wheaten puppy.  

Here is how it was created step-by-step.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next is Izzy-Bella.

This is the original photo the owner sent me.  The owner is

the lady who commissioned me to do Kota's portrait, her cat just passed. 

Below are additional photos from which to work. 

I will pick up something from each photo.

This is the first ever cat portrait.

Cute cat, I will do my best!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meet "Kona"

Kona is at the rainbow bridge after a battle with cancer.  

She is profoundly missed.

Just look at the love she had for her "Daddy".  

Complete adoration.

The beach was Kona's favorite place!

Can you tell this dog was spoilt?

She loved her Mommy.

These are Kona's owners, you can tell how much Kona loved her Daddy.

BIG KISS!

She would sit at the end of her Mommy's legs

Kona's birthday was March 18th and she would have been 9 years old.

The day prior was when I got the request to do the commission.

Look at that one ear up...is that cute or what?  Look at those soulful eyes!  

Kona's owners have decided for a portrait to be done in pastels.  

He is in the arduous process of finding the best photos to work from but first he wanted me to experience her personality in the quick photos he could find.  

Initially he wanted to surprise his wife, but decided to allow her in on the fun process.  She sure is in for a fun ride...kind of like what Kona is experiencing in the car in the above photo.

WHEW....I'm busy!

(And wouldn't you know it, my website is giving me hassles???)  

Barley in his new home!

I love when I get photos from clients showing me how my artwork is in their new place.  

From my easel to their walls.  

Yup...looks much better on their wall.  (This photo was taken under a strong light and wasn't done yet.  That is why the colors look more faded.)  Above is a better representation.  Barley had about nine coats of paint on him to get the color perfect.  

Kota's handler's response...and future line up of commissions!

This is an old photo of Kota and his handler Brittney, but I wanted to report that she was overwhelmed with awe in receiving such a generous gift.  She found it to be so heartwarming to know others care that much.  (Thank Jamel more than me, she brought the story to me...I just did the artwork.)  The portrait will be shipped out tomorrow, and soon K9 Officer Kota's portrait will be in the hands of his owner on the way to the framer.  She promises to keep in touch. 

Next is Dillon, a cute little "Wheaten Terrier" who passed suddenly.

That's the photo I'll be working from, but if you think that's cute, look at this one...what a face!

It's hard to decide which photo for any prospective buyer to choose from, but I know the other photo is better, despite how cute this one is!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then is: Izzy-Bella.

Izzy-Bella was owned by the lady who commissioned me to do K9 Officer Kota!  She died suddenly. I'm sure Jamel gave Izzy-Bella a cushiony life.  May Izzy-Bella rest in peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And after all that, is "KONA".

Kona's owner saw the post I made on Facebook of Kota and inquired about getting a portrait done.

I don't have a photo yet, Kona is another German Shepard whose ninth birthday would have been today, March 18th.  She died from cancer.  The "Daddy" is gifting Kona's "Mommy" with a portrait of the dog.  With each portrait, comes a story and this one is heart wrenching.  Soon I'll be posting pictures of which we will have to choose one.  And as you all know, I love the process!  

I look forward to creating Kona!

Just as I was getting ready to enlarge my website from three pages to ten to include the rest of my artwork, seems I have more important work to do!  

You all know I love this...Love, love, love creating art.

  

Presenting...K-9 Officer Kota

K-9 Officer Kota

This portrait simply has to be the most hardest animal portrait I have ever completed, yet the most rewarding.  It was a distinct honor to create K-9 Officer Kota.  He is (as you have read in prior posts), an obedient, well trained dog, and more than that, he is beyond brave not only in the line of duty, but in his recovery from when he was injured in the line of duty.  

K-9 Officer Kota, I salute you!  

My deepest respect as I am honored to have completed your portrait.  You deserve so much more!  

Sincerely and creatively yours, 

Kathleen Eve Kelly

Kota's progress

Here is where I left off.

The paper towels are there to protect the paper from smudges which happen when I put my hand down to rest it as I'm going in for detail.  

Yes!  This is upside down, and for a reason!  

An old art trick, is to turn your work upside down, and instead of seeing an eye or a nose or mouth, you see shapes, and you can then begin to record the shapes better, thus creating a better portrait.

I found 21 mistakes this way!  

Can you see them all?

Next...Kota will soon be finished.

KOTA!!!

Meet K-9 Officer "KOTA"

(There is a reason I'm posting this on my art blog.)

This is Kota visiting his old workplace.  

Kota is a K-9 Officer who was hurt in the line of duty.  While going in to nab a suspect who was hiding in an attic, the floor collapsed below Kota and Kota fell through.  Yelping in pain, with a broken front right leg, he went back in and apprehended the suspect.  Think that's bravery?  Read on. This is ONE BRAVE DOG!

This is Kota bandaged up.  Vets at the time were not certain of the outcome of his progress.  

This is the hardware in Kota's leg.  This is major, not minor surgery. 

Here is Kota leaving the vet hospital.  He will need lost of therapy.  

Here is Kota doing simple therapy working his leg muscles, and yes, he's winking...he's a ham!

The police station is trying to raise money to cover his vet bills and extensive therapy he will need.  Right now, Kota is learning to walk again inside a water therapy box which has a treadmill in it.  Simply amazing what therapies they have for dogs now.

An area school of young children had this cape made for Kota saying, "Every hero deserves a cape."  Is that sweet or what?

So why am I doing this post?  

Because I have been given the distinct honor of doing a portrait of Kota for his owner.  

Here's the first collage of work...

Now I've added some color.

Added more darks.

Added even more colors.

Worked on that tongue!  

Added more color.

I have a long way to go on the completion of K-9 Officer Kota's portrait, but let me tell you, I am so honored to be chosen to do this portrait.  I'm in Florida, this dog is in Virginia!  The owner doesn't even know it is being created!  Can you imagine the anguish the owner has gone through?  

But the real hero is K-9 Officer Kota.  

Brave on the job and even more brave in recovery.  

...what a dog.

Will post more pictures as I progress on the portrait and when it is finished.  If I ever hear from the owner or whatever happens, I will be sure to post it.