Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Kona, step-by-step and finished!

Kona's owners asked me to paint Kona at the beach since that was her favorite place in the whole world.  Wonderfully, I love the beach too, and love painting it.  Here is how Kona was done step-by-step, starting with the actual photo from which I worked.




First thing I did was crop the photograph.



Do the drawing.



Start the eyes.



Normally I do the nose next, but I was having trouble seeing the nose. 
So I started doing the tongue.  
I also put in some blues and browns I saw in the face.



Added in more colors.  



This photo looks lighter because it was taken during the day.
I started doing the nose. 
Since I was having trouble seeing the nose, the owners sent me a photo that showed the nose more.  They also requested I add in more gray to the muzzle area to show her age a little more.



Here is a glimpse of how I work.  I print out a photo copy of the actual face, and I work also with an iPad.  The iPad allows me to focus in on detail you normally wouldn't see.  Such a great artist's tool!  



I started to add in the darks.  For many this is the scary part, and working in pastels, it can get quite messy....QUITE messy...haha!



Starting to shape the planes of the face.



Working my way around the portrait not focusing in on one area at all. 
At this point I was not happy with the eyes at all, the dog had sweet eyes...but my last two dogs I created were police dogs...that have that eye of the tiger in them!



Finished out more of the fur, which takes so much time.  
I made a two part collage at this phase and compared the actual photo and what I've created to this point, and I found 30 things I needed to change...little changes that would capture this dog's personality, not just the breed.



And I made the corrections and found even more as I worked.  I feel her eyes look kinder now.  



I added a sky with about three different color blues, and a ton of white.  I also created some faint clouds which don't get picked up well with a cel phone camera...but they are there.  



I sent this photo to the owners to give them an idea of how big the portrait is.  


Here is a suggestion on how it could be framed.  They could trim it anywhere they'd like.  The size of it like this is 16" high and 18" wide.  

Let me tell you, I love it.  




Friday, April 11, 2014

Future work! Kona, then Boogie, then Pippen & Sasha, and more! Link to my website as well!

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO SEE LARGER!


This is Kona, you've Kona before in a prior post.  
I am awaiting the owners to get back from vacation to start the portrait, just a few days longer!



This is "Boogie", who was from Canada.  R.I.P.
What a cute fur-baby!


And then there's Pippen and Sasha, who are owned by my dear friend Kathleen Procter-Moore who lives in Australia.  Cute, eh?


Another lady from Facebook, is sending me photos via snail mail.  As soon as I have photos, I will post!  








Monday, April 7, 2014

Bruno is complete! AND LOVED BY ALL!

K9 OFFICER BRUNO!




Bruno is complete, and is loved by all who sees him.  I'm so happy I was able to complete this portrait for Officer RJ Young, Bruno's handler.  It has, in his words, "Blown him away".  Right now I'm trying to somehow get people in California to organize for him to get it framed.  I'm working with the Yorba Vet Hospital, and the Canine Association out there to possibly get him framed.  Jamel Reissinger has sent me money to have him shipped...way too much, she's so generous.  So perhaps I'll make it a money order and ship that out to RJ and his wife Rachel to go toward the cost of framing.  Then again, I may print out his 8" X 8" photo of the step-by-step progress, get some scrapbook paper, frame it in one of those square frames and ship it out to him with that money.  Regardless, this has been such a joy to create.   Best news is, so many prayers have been answered with Bruno healing more and more every day.   

Here's the square step-by-step process!  


I gave it a framed look with blue trim to match the uniform the Anaheim Police wear.

Gosh, this was SO rewarding for me...such a joy to do goodness for others!  



Sunday, April 6, 2014

More on Bruno...the portrait is coming together...

This was the last post...I've done a lot since then!


You just have to see this up close...so I'll post it as it looks right now...but remember, 
IT'S NOT DONE YET!

I felt as if today's work was a turning point.  
I feel as if you can pet the dog.  

The handler and his wife, like what I've done so far.  My responses on FACEBOOK and private emails are amazing.  People I don't know are reposting the picture and that is fine with me!

Nice thing is the gentleman and his wife's dog who is after K9 Officer Bruno, is also a German Shepherd and they have been following the progress steadily too!  Their dog died of cancer.

Each portrait I do has a story, some heroic, some sad, some just represent the pet of the family and how much they love it.  Regardless, it's a JOY to create them all.

It's especially fun for those who have never seen an artist do things step-by-step, to be a part of the creative process and see the progression.  It blows them away, and that is good!  

For now, it's heartwarming to know that I may be giving Officer RJ Young some warmth in his heart knowing he has this portrait to look forward to, that I care that much, and it will be something he and his family and friends can cherish.

More tomorrow!  




Friday, April 4, 2014

Bruno so far...



Kind of hard to see, so here's an even greater updated one.  


Started on the fur...


...and blocked in the other areas.  

There is so much to do on this dog.  I feel good about the eye colors, but the shape seems not big enough.  But, I will wait until I get further along, perhaps it's because the "eyebrows" aren't in yet.  And he has prominent lighter eyebrows which arch beautifully.

I did hear from the handler and he is amazed at what I have done so far.  That means the world to me.  This has to be PERFECT.  

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Here are some additional pictures of Bruno, some taken from news footage off the internet and some off of Facebook.


This is the protective piece he has to wear around his jawline.  I read it will take a good two years for it to be back to normal.  Poor dog!  He's got to learn how to swallow and eat all over again.  Wonderfully, there are all kind of fundraisers to help the handler with future vet bills and I'm sure there will be plenty.  


This is Bruno in his kennel...and if you think he looks like he's smiling, he probably is, because his handler is next to him.  


In the video, the dog was yelping and crying...whining, whatever you want to call it because he finally got to see his Daddy and Mommy...such a happy dog!  He wants to go home!  (He probably wants to go to work!)  But...alas, as I was reading, he'll probably be in the hospital for a full month to recover as much as possible, and he will be retired.  This young family of three's life has been turned upside down.  They will endure with the unwavering support from the community, and now, due to the internet, around the world.  Everyone loves Bruno.  


What can you do?  Go on Facebook to find out where you can donate money for this cause.  Promote it on your page.  Tell your friends.  And last but certainly not least, PRAY...this dog needs prayers!  


Because, THIS is the way Bruno should look...such a doll, isn't he?  

BLESS YOU BRUNO!













Thursday, April 3, 2014

K9 Officer Bruno and more news...then back to Bruno!

Meet K9 Officer Bruno!



Bruno is a K9 Officer with the Anaheim Police Department, who was shot in the line of duty.  He was doing better, then had a setback, needing an additional surgery, but, now he's back and progressing to wellness.  I am working on his portrait for his handler Officer RJ Young.

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Yes, I was working on Izzy-Bella last you read this blog, and she is done, actually arrived at her home, the owner getting her framed tomorrow!  Here is Izzy-Bella's final result.


Izzy-Bella's owner requested she be put in the brown blanket she used to like to snuggle up in.  Rest in peace Izzy-Bella, rest in peace.  

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Not to forget Kona also!  Kona's owners have asked me to delay working on the portrait until the third week of April, which worked out perfect, because now I have time to work on Bruno.  

Here is Kona...in a picture form for now...



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But now, back to K9 Officer Bruno...and his step-by-step


This is Bruno drawn in, all ready to be created.




I sent Bruno's handler a photo to get an inside glimpse of what my work station looks like, and to allow him to see how I consume myself with many pictures, not just the one I'm working from.  What I can't see in one photo, I may pick up in another.  


First go in the eyes.  This is just simple basic blocking in of color...I may make them with more highlights, but for now, I'll live with what I have down.  Many students over the years wondered why don't I finish the eyes once I start and the answer is, until you have more of the portrait down, with surrounding color, you won't know if what you have down is correct, so always think of it as a progression, not a completion.  It's kind of like setting a table for a table for 8.  You put down the plates, silverware, etc, but you always go back to adjust the position of the plate or the napkin, or the glassware.  Same things with portraits...a little at a time.


Put in the nose, I feel it's too small, but like anything else, I will work on it, and do it a little at a time.  Of all the people who view my artwork, trust me, I'm my own worst critic.  Even after I sign work, I could find ten more things to change, but you have to know when to stop, and move onto the next one, or, I'd still be on one from years ago!


I started the mouth.  I'm a nervous wreck to do the jaw area and the tongue, which is normally one of my favorite areas of the portrait to do.  Why is this bothering me so much?  That's where Bruno was shot.  The back of his tongue was obliterated, and the bullet landed within an inch of his heart.  This portrait is so important!  I MUST do it to perfection!  

That was as far as I got, and tomorrow after I pick up my flamingo oil painting from a show, I will work on it a little more.  I sent RJ several emails to pump him up knowing someone is working on his special dog, not just a vet!  

Here's Bruno with his handler.


Would you dare mess with either one of these two?  Not me!  

Initially I wanted to paint the two of them together to show the bond between officer and canine, but, he said, "It's all about Bruno"...and I am honoring his request.  This man has gone through so much in the last few days, if my artwork can bring him a little joy, a warmness in his heart, then I know I have succeeded.  And Bruno...well, Bruno, I am praying for all the time...you are one special officer.  

I salute you Bruno!