Painting of an Irish Setter

This painting was finished recently.   I need to do better about posting my paintings.   The dog in this painting was photographed at a show.  The photos were to provide me with reference material for his painting.   We were taking photos at the end of the day, on the last day of the show, while people packing up.  So many distractions were going on and it was hot outside.   Everything was going on that you don't want going on when you are photographing a dog.

With all that said, this boy did a stellar job during his photo shoot.   I isolated about 10 of my favorite photos of him for the painting.   Then I took those photos and paired them up with a head study and a stacked photo for his people to review.   His owners loved all the photos and ultimately gave me the artist liberty to choose the photos for his painting.   

In the main photo for his head study, I loved the angle of his head and the sunlight peeking through the trees.   Those dabs of light reflecting on his head and ears gave the painting a realistic outside feeling.   As always, I don't copy a photo exactly.  Light was added where needed, shadows were subdued or added where needed.  His ears were blowing so the hair was adjusted slightly.   A great deal of light and shadows were added to his muzzle.   My painting is an opportunity to give the art collector something truly unique and different from the photos they may have.   Not diminishing photos at all - they are a work of art as well.   As a fine artist, I want each painting to feel like a painting that was created using specific reference material so the likeness of the animal is captured correctly.   I want people to know it is an original piece of art - tangible - valuable - and something that was created specially as they ordered it and with the creativity of a true piece of real art that came alive as the artist sat at an easel.  I got my hands dirty with raw pigment, my clothes get dirty too, I used fine art materials, and I had to clean up the floor and easel around me when I was done.   Real art in process.  I so enjoyed painting this gorgeous boy.   Thank you to his people for choosing me to do so!

A painting of 4 boys

This painting had been in process for a while.  With four dogs in the piece, there was a great deal of thought and discussion about the composition.

The bottom two dogs, Reilly and Rusty, had passed.  Therefore, reference material was limited.   Thankfully, their owners had some lovely snap shots from years passed.

The top two dogs, Grady and Patrick, are with us and we had plenty of opportunity to get reference material.  Grady - top left - is much grayer in the face than depicted.  For the painting, his owners wanted less gray shown in the painting.  Then there is Patrick - upper right.   He was not as interested in having his photo take as was Grady.   It took a little more work to get a photo everyone was happy with.   My goal was a reference photo that would compliment the blend of poses into our composition of the 4 dogs.   Most importantly, his owners wanted a reference photo that showed his true expression.   It took a while to get "that" photo of Patrick.  In the end - we were all pleased.  I had a wonderful photo for the painting and they had a photo that was truly their boy.

I've asked them to share a little bit about their boys.  Below is the story of Grady, Patrick, Reilly and Rusty!

Reilly came to us after we had lost our first Irish Setter.  He was a joy to have from the very first day.  He loved everyone especially his Kitty friend Noel. they were inseparable. Reilly enjoyed  Agility Rally Obedience ,Hunting,  but he excelled as a  therapy dog.  Hr worked with oncology patients  and  the memory impaired  . It was amazing to watch him interact with these people they all loved him.  Another of my very favorite activities that we did was to work at the local library doing the R.E.A.D. program  The children loved to read stories to him , had birthday parties and wrote books about him. He even had his own Mail Box were the children would write letters to him Reilly was very special to me.

Our breeder of Reilly decided he needed a friend , Rusty came to us from the rescue of Vermont.  they were just about the same age.  Rusty immediately  took to Reilly  they would sleep and play together.  It was like they had known each other forever. Rusty never like obedience, agility, he just wanted to be close to you all the time.  Rusty joined Reilly also becoming a Therapy and R.E.A.D. dog.  He was very gentle and would put his head in the persons lap to be petted.  Rusty became know as "BIG RED" by all his friends.

We had tragically lost Reilly and felt Rusty needed a companion  Grady came to live with us.  Again Rusty accepted this puppy like his own.  Grady was a very fast learner. If you showed him something once he would never forget it.  He has been working on his Ch title,  Just recently got his beginner novice title with a first place finish in a all breed trial.   Also at the same time got his Novice Rally title with a 2nd place at at last years Nationals in RI.

And then there is PATRICK, he is the youngest.now.  Patrick on his first day as at our home caught a baby bird.  There is not a day that goes by when he does not gets into trouble.  One minute is very lovable and then that devilish personality   He is also showing and just needs his Majors. He is very mischievous, has chewed several pair of glasses, hides my shoes, ate my watch .  Always thinking of what he can do next. He loves to just be by my side 

They all have different personalities  I love them all  

Thank you for the very special picture of my "BOYS"