Art of the Dog: Dawn Secord: A painting of Phoenix

Thursday, August 5, 2021

A painting of Phoenix - Irish Setter

This painting was a gift from one friend to another. It is always so very exciting when a person approaches me to create a surprise for another.

The reference photos were a little difficult to acquire in this scenario. Facebook can be friend and foe at times. This time - a friend. The recipient of the painting and owner of Phoenix had a number of photos on her page. I felt like Goldilocks and the Three Bears- some photos were too far away, some photos were too blurry, this photo was just right!

Phoenix and his owner had gone on a trip across America starting at the East Coast and ending in Alaska. The reference photo was from a selfie. The background from the painting was from a scene photo taken on that trip.

The gift exchange was made at the Irish Setter Club of America National Specialty - 2021. Tears flowed as the gift giver gave the present and the recipient realized the painting on my easel in my art booth was her dog. Okay - I shed a few tears too.

I hope the painting will give Phoenix's mom many wonderful memories as she reflects on their journey while enjoying her painting.

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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!