Jasmine and Daly

 

8.5" X 11" Oil on Birch Plywood

I haven't worked with too many cats before, and these two were an interesting challenge, as the painting was built almost as a collaborative between myself and Jasmine and Daly's owner.  B. worked to compose the piece from different photographs, and I did the painting and tuning-up of the color and background.  This is a painting which had to be of a particular size to fit inside of an incredibly beautiful frame, and I think that some of the rough, chunky brushstrokes are going to work really nicely with the ornate frame.  This was also one of my first experiences doing a double portrait, and the way that it turns out is that all the attention to detail that you put into the features of one cat, you spend an almost equal amount of time on the other one.  It is, however, cool to see all of these eyes looking back at you when you catch the painting in your periphery.

Abby and the Chewed-Up Tennis Ball

14.5" x 16" oil on masonite

OK, here's one that I like a lot:  A recent commission was to capture Abby the (Golden/Lab cross) for the client's husband's birthday.  S. is coming into town Thursday to pick it up, and I'm really excited to hand it off to her.  As per usual, I waited until I had just enough time to complete the painting, let the oil and varnish dry before delivery, but that's just how I roll.  I like to work with a bit of anxiety nipping at my heels.  It lets me know I'm alive, and it makes the little decisions more crucial, and I think it makes me a better painter, when I'm under the gun, and I have to perform, and the painting must get done this long weekend or I'll ruin somebody's birthday.  Anyhow, here's what I like about this painting: Again, a lot of color to describe a light dog, and a really wicked tennis ball.  The expression on Abby's face asks to play ball in any language on Earth, and I really worked the reflective, glistening quality of her eyes, and the little bits of light falling on the deck in the background.  This commission is for a Gulf Island home, and I know it's going to be just stunning with some dedicated lighting and some appropriately scaled wallspace.