Number 19 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Bailey"

5" x 7"

watercolor on Arches

This is our weimaraner 

(vy-mer-rah-ner) - 

we call him 'Bader Boyz'.

This afternoon will be spent on varnishing,

fixing our big pole yard nightlight...

it has been out and without it 

it is VERY dark here at night.

The RV needs some extra TLC in winter,

it's such a nice day, we will

attend to some of that, too!

Number 10 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Gunny"

9" x 12"

oil on canvasbooard

I know Weimaraners - I have one...but 

EVERY ONE is different,

sometimes by just an ever so

slight way.

Gunny is very different from the 'O Gray One

that I have.  He belongs to my cousins

Chase, Taryn and Cade. 

This one took me awhile.

I loved every minute of it!

One third of the way done.

Life is good.

I have ordered a frame for it, and it rocks.

A Finished Painting of Three Dogs

"Three Dog Night"

24" x 36"

 oil on black canvas

NFS

Finished and allowing drying time, and will have it to

LOOK AT while I organize and PAINT ON.

Always see something, but not going to NOODLE this one.

ARTIST AT WORK

WORK IN PROGRESS

oil on 24" x 26" black gessoed canvas

I have had this photograph I took of my three dogs 

hanging on the fridge for many years.

The black and tan Herman, passed 4 years ago, so it's been awhile.

In fact this photo I am using was taken very soon after moving

from Colorado to Kansas.  It was that 'first' winter

and they were all huddled up on their 

dad's lap on the couch to get warm (and vie

for his attention - like a 'me - me - me!!').

I had to paint it, it was just a matter of 

that FEAR you get

when you wonder if you 

can paint it right --- looming

over my head all 

these years.

I have waited and waited and finally

something told me it was time.

I have the dogs likenesses and expressions 

down just about right,

now I just need to work on the 

fur, the light, the shadows...continue

tweaking - it will look so great

hanging in our bedroom

above the Weims crate.

Here it is on yesterday's studio time...

Thanks for stopping by!

Please come back soon to see it finished.

Vacancy - a new oil on canvas

"Vacancy"

6" x 6"

oil on wrapped canvas

This one is painted around the sides - ergo - no frame needed.

There are so many of these falling down farmhouses in the area - thought I better paint a few before they are gone, gone, gone!

Sorry, I have been 'vacant' from this blog lately.  My mother-in-law who was 96, had several weeks of going down hill and passed away on Sept. 26 in New Mexico.  It had our family in a holding pattern.

We have also been remodeling a bathroom with installing a window where there wasn't one and putting in some tile for the shower stall - the plastic one just wasn't doing it for us.

Lots going on.  Lots of travel.  Nice to be back home and enjoying the fall - my favorite time of year!

Here is a photo of Bailey - the Weimaraner - enjoying the outdoors - he is really the best at 'couch potato'ing' lately.  Getting older I guess.

Thanks for checking in - even if there isn't anything new - there will be in the near future!

30 in 30 - Day 6

"Weimaraner II"

6" x 6"

oil on canvasboard

I take lots of photos of my dogs.  This is Bailey.  He was a little peeved that I kept 'snapping' away at him this particular day.  

I loved that look in his eyes of - 'Leave me alone - I'm trying to nap!'

I love how this turned out, it looks JUSSSTTT like him and his attitude.

Painted with a limited (for me) palette of cad red light, cad yellow light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, sap green, alizarin crimson, titanium white

and a little Liquin for a painting medium.  

I love the rich colors I am achieving.

This one is available for notecards, postcards 

and prints on Red Bubble click HERE.

Day 7 - I am on a roll !!  Already started the next one yesterday.

More dogs, stay tuned.

The 30 in 30 Challenge and 

Leslie Saeta's "Slices of Life" Blog  click HERE.

There are some wonderful paintings there - check it out!

Dog Pastel

Sometimes, artists need to freshen their source material archives with new and inspiring photos.  On request, I recently sent some photos of my dogs to Texas pastel artist/friend Karen Hargett.  She has done a wonderful portrait on velour of our weimaraner, Bailey.  I think this is an awesome portrait of him, don't you?  He is a handsome boy.  The title is "Elegance" - altho' if you knew Bailey, he is a diamond in the rough!  Thanks for doing such a great job Karen!  I love it!

"Elegance" by Karen Hargett

Where I Stand Sunday

Other things have taken up so much of my time lately - like this planting season.  Sweet corn is in the ground, vegetable garden has been partially planted, some rosebushes have been added to the landscape (one seen here)...it's the time you need to spend to reap the benefits later.  Lots of projects going on.

I know a lot of you stop by for the art...little - to - NO art right now.  Getting back to the easel soon.  There is one there right now, about 1/2 way done.

Be patient...I have to be also. It kills me when I don't do art. However, these seasonal things take time when you are managing 8 acres.  In the meantime, here is a photo or two...

Our Weimaraner, Bailey, doing some serious running from one of us to the other one - he loves it!

I try to catch it with "panning" the camera. He looks a little strange in stop action!

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you.

Where I Stand Sunday

Even country dogs need exercise...especially since they have to be "penned" against the elements of other dogs, animals, varmints, people...this dog is referred to in the 'kenneling world' as "dog aggressive". He came that way, we tried many ways to change it, to no avail.

We went for a 3 mile walk around the "section" - saw no humans or cars or farmers - or quite luckily neighbor dogs, however saw evidence of big cat, coyote, deer, turkey, and spooked up 4 pheasants.
He loves being able to run, but stays close. He's a great pointer. We never have had him in a hunting situation. Wouldn't want to.
He is a pretty insecure dude and very highstrung - comes with the breed.
A trainer once told us, "He's no Alpha!", but he is our special dog.
We love him anyway.

A Trip Around the Neighborhood

We took a long trip, over 250 miles...to get a TV antenna tower. In the meantime, we drove into some areas we had never seen. We went from here to McCracken, Kansas (south of Hays) and back through the Wilson Lake area, Lucas and Luray. A nice, but windy day. My camera was buzzing out the window, most of the trip, got some good photos and lots of blurs...but I paid attention and saw spring ever so gently raising it's little head...it's going slowly right now. By this time last year, we were in full swing of spring.

This was a strange looking tree near Wilson Lake. I can’t tell what kind it is. It would be interesting to see it when the leaves come out.

Our biggest friend, Bailey the Weimaraner, came with us. He loves to ride on the backseat floor of the truck. I think I disturbed his peace and quiet…but had to get that look.

Hope to be back in the studio tomorrow!

A Painting for Today

"Three on a Couch" - 11" x 14" oil on gessoed masonite

My three dogs are pretty good friends. You will often find them together on this loveseat, although depending on the configuration that occurs as they join the group, it sometimes doesn't work out...not enough room. Hasty Herman is the black and tan dachshund and he is 7. Chaco is the red dachshund and he is about 5, and Bailey is the Weimaraner and he is about 4. I really enjoyed painting this one, I was successful at staying "loose". The colors worked for me and I like the smooth surface to paint on.

I get a kick out of the pest control person, they call the gray dog a "Weisenheimer". I think I remember being called that once. ha!

Artistry in All Things

Today was another "non-painting" day, but there was other art happening. The art of installing a new storm door, which we have had since our home repairs from the storms last year at this time, but never installed cause we had sooooo much other stuff to do. So since the rain (which is almost a daily) sorta beats against the new entry door, we thought we had better get the storm door in - it's called a 'storm door' ya know.
We also chased neighbors cows, fixed fences and went to town - had lunch at the cafe on the highway and met a waitress named Ludean - she said like after the cough drops (like Luden's). She is from Missouri. I know some of you that read this will relate to that name! No offense intended -BTW.


Here is the new door, with Bailey, the weimaraner, looking out. I can see we are needing to get one of those nifty grates to protect the screen if the glass is open. There are always rabbits in the yard, which he finds terrifically fun!

Also, you see in this part of the country, usually one door on the house is not used, and this is that door. We may put in a deck at one point in the near millennium. Of course that would be very 'Colorado like'.

Where I Stand Sunday

There are probably a cuzillion dog owners throughout the world, doing just what I am doing in my Sunday photo, feeding the dogs. Bailey, our weimaraner, eats so voraciously. He devours so quickly, so you have to stand there to eek out the food, or it comes right back up. So he gets a cup, then a 1/4 cup, then a 1/4 cup. Then he drinks tons of water and paces. Goes outside, comes in and does the drinking thing again and paces, goes outside....well, you get the picture. He's obsessive to say the least and neurotic, and we love him. I think his problems stem (the eating part anyway) from a long ago incident when he was a puppy, left in a garage with a, unbeknownst to them, giant bag of food (well, the kids just had to go out you know). He ate the whole thing. You can imagine the scene. Dog psychologist? I am not one, but for a dog, every action has it's reasons, don't you think? Pavlov would argue. Other's would probably say, he's just a big hungry dog. But you haven't seen him in action!

BTW last night watched "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen on TCM, then Tivo'd the next three movies, "The Rievers", "Love with a Proper Stranger" and "The Thomas Crown Affair" ALL Steve McQueen movies. We like him! I especially like the motorcycle chase in the Great Escape. He motocrossed - for real - in his off screen life. Just watch "On Any Sunday" some time. He rocked!

"Where I Stand Sunday" is posted weekly. It helps chronicle the "journey". Too often we take for granted where we stand and where we are involved. Used as a "vehicle" for journaling and a glance at "human geography", I; along with several others; note this day, in this way. I invite you to check "them" out, their blog addresses are in the sidebar to the right, to compare and contrast the human events of Sunday in different parts of the country and maybe the globe! If you would like to join in please leave a comment below with your blog address and we will note it in our sidebar! Thanks for looking!

Cattle Watching and Dead Mice

Our kids are visiting from Denver. We are having a good time. Teaching them how to play a card game, "99". Dining out for steaks at Duffy's in town. Katie and I scrapbooked for awhile yesterday. Ryan and his dad did some power shoppin at the 75% off Duckwall's sale (yep, Alco's will be open soon - probably the biggest news around here in a while). Ryan was real proud of a utensil set he bought for his camping trailer for $3.00. Ha, hubster stocked up on lots of mice poison, wasp and mosquito yard spray, gadgets and wheel cleaners!
Unbeknownst to me, there have been mice in my studio, one ran across the floor while croppin yesterday. Darned varmints! Well, he has lots of little pellets to eat tonight, plus he had already sampled some over the night before (after art club meeting). I put some in a little dish and count them. One dish was empty! I didn't even have to count!
The photo above is all of them (including the weimaraner, of course, doesn't he look like a person?) looking out the window at the neighbor feeding his cattle across the road. The little calves are so cute. They jump and buck and kick up their heels. They remind me of Bambi or little cartoon lambs.
What' on the agenda today? More of the same probably.

Where I Stand Sunday

Today, as probably in many households, I stand INSIDE the warm house, in the early morning, still in my PJs. The dogs have been fed and they often return to slumber land which is where I want to be, but I am already awake and ready for the day. I am standing over the couch where Bailey, the Weimaraner, is snoozing.
Football is on, says hubster...oh boy.... That means I will be in the studio for the afternoon. I am working in oil right now and I really have a thing for paint and paint viscosity. I like when there is a buttery consistency to it. I love to play in paint. Ask anyone, when I paint (that is painting anything) I get covered in it. I came to Kansas with several good pair of jeans, only have one or two pair left in a year that aren't painted on.

"Where I Stand Sunday" is posted weekly. It helps chronicle the "journey". Too often we take for granted where we stand and what we are involved in. Used as a "vehicle" for journaling and a glance at "human geography", I; along with several others; note this day, in this way. I invite you to check "them" out, their blog addresses are in the sidebar to the right, to compare and contrast the human events of Sunday in different parts of the country and maybe the globe! If you would like to join in (and I encourage you as it is a great writing "prompt"), please leave a comment below with your blog address and we will note it in our sidebar! Thanks for looking!

Art on Sunday

I am working on a series for art note cards of dogs. Thought I would start with two very familiar breeds, Dachshunds and Weimaraners. I like the "zeroing" in part. These are quick pastels. If interested, check out my Etsy to buy them. They should be on there in a day or two. Thanks!

Reluctant Weimeraner

This is an oil that is on the easel right now. I need to do some photo resourcing before continuing, as G's hand was not in the photo and it shows his weight on his knuckles as he bent over to talk to our Weimeraner on the beach at Cape Lookout in Oregon. The dog had just been released from his splint on his broken leg after two surgeries and a couple of months on a "close by your side" leash, and was a little too frisky for the beach and the people around, so G was making sure he understood how the beach walk should go. Our patience and understanding was waning at one time with this one, however, we do enjoy him immensely and wouldn't trade him for anything. His figure in the painting needs much more work and detail, but I do have his stance correct. He wasn't interested at all in what G. had to say. We often saw that response when he was a pup. I'll bet a lot of you have had puppies like that, too! I also have to think about the area surrounding the figures...it is the sand of the beach, but it doesn't read right so far in the painting, so will work more on that too! It's a good thing I stepped away from it for awhile, as I am able to get re-inspired at this time. Cooler weather here makes me very happy!

Happy Bird Day!

Finally a day in the studio. 8 x 10 "Bailey" weimeraner, in pastel
Look at Peepers. He is looking like an adult bird. What a difference 10 days makes! He is using his talons like a BIG BIRD! Flying lessons tomorrow or Wednesday!

Dog Run/Kennel

We finished (except for the Shade-A-Pet sunscreens) the dog run/outdoor kennel today...a place where the dogs can stay while we are away, since none of them can be trusted in the house alone and if we kept them in the open fenced area, Bailey, the weimeraner, would most likely try to climb the fence. AS you can see there are two areas, one for a big dog and one for two smaller dogs. They practiced being in there twice today. Unbeknownst to us how they really did, we just hope it works for all of us. We felt liberated! P.S. The baby bird is still thriving! Mealworms didn't come today, hopefully tomorrow.