Art of the Dog: Dawn Secord: August 2014

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Irish Setter Painting - Erin and Cara

This is a painting I've been working on for a while. It is a commission and was done in pastel. I've been also working on three oil paintings at the same time. Working on multiple paintings simultaneously keeps my eye fresh on each painting.

The reference photos for the painting are below as well as the finished painting. The girls owner said the girls personalities were captured perfectly. Erin, the older girl, is always more quiet and wanting attention. Cara, on the other hand, is outgoing and always hunting squirrels.

Thank you to the girls owners for asking me to paint their precious dogs. It has been wonderful getting to know them all better!!

http://www.dawnsecord.com/commissioninformation.html

http://www.dawnsecord.com/printsforsale.html

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Italian Greyhound

Recently finished this painting of an Italian Greyhound. The breeder was kind enough to allow me to photograph her dogs so I could add an IG to my line of reproductions.

Since I am not as knowledgeable with IGs as I'd like to be, I asked her for feedback on which of my photos represented the breed most correctly. She chose a handful of photos and then of those photos, I picked this one.

Hope the IG fancy welcomes this new print once it becomes available. Now to think of a name for the print!

Monday, August 11, 2014

Show Dogs Escape to the Seashore Book Signing Party

We had our first party at Marsha Hall Brown's home a few weeks ago. It was so much fun. Hard to believe our book is out and people are enjoying it.

More photos are on the book's Facebook at at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Show-Dogs-Escape/635951903145270

Take a peek at the photos if you have time.

Autographed copies of the book are available on the website at http://www.showdogsescape.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Show-Dogs-Escape/635951903145270

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!