Art of the Dog: Dawn Secord: Brown Mule - Original Pastel Painting

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Brown Mule - Original Pastel Painting

This pastel painting titled "Brown Mule" will be on display at the San Dimas Western Art Show at the end of the month. I've been working on creating pieces for the show since May 2011. Can't wait to see the work hanging. If you live in Southern California and would like to attend the show, here is the information:

Sam Dimas Western Art Exhibition

36th Annual Exhibition

"Spirit of the West"

April 27 thru 29, 2012

Civic Center Plaza

245 E Bonita Avenue

San Dimas, California

Free admittance and parking on the 28th and 29th

If you need more information please email me at fff@linkline.com

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Pastel Painting in Progress - French Bulldog

Here is a painting in progress. The pastel paintings are done very much in the same way an oil painting is done. I start with a base color. Usually I work with a precolored surface. With oil painting I would lay in a foundation color so the white canvas wouldn't show through. So this is the same basis. Since I am right handed I work from left to right unless it is a landscape or still life in which case the entire surface is worked uniformly. With pet portraits, so I don't damage an area that is completed, the surface is worked from left to right. While working an area of the subject I lay in mid tone values first - then work light to dark. With pastels an artist can "fill the tooth" of the surface so it is important not to over work any areas. Once the entire subject is painted I go back and reinforce the lightest lights and darkest darks. My greatest area of interest is the eyes. If the eyes aren't right the entire painting will look odd. If the painting is about a sleeping animal it is important to convey the comfort of the animal.

Oil Painting in Process

The following pictures show an Oil Painting in process. The first images show my beginning sketch. I use a common pencil, ruler and an eraser. Once the beginning sketch is satisfactory the sketch is secured with a layer of black oil paint. When the first layer is dried I apply a base color over the entire canvas. I love working on a burnt sienna foundation. There are paintings where I start just working directly on the white canvas and there is no base layer or foundation. It really depends on the painting. From the base foundation I start layering colors. It is a slow process due to drying time. This is where it really becomes fun. I should really make a recording of my husband saying, "You're done - stop messing with it!" Thanks for taking a peek. This painting is of a cat named Lynxy!