Labrador Painting is Finished

I've spent some time on this painting. The art collector commissioned two portraits of their Labrador Retriever. The first painting (seen here) features the dog in its adolescence. The second portrait will feature the dog as she is currently at 14 years of age.

The background of this painting is a meadow behind their home. In the reference photo the skyline is almost nonexistent with a slight splash of blue clouds in one small corner. Also, the meadow is laden with the beautiful blooms shown in the painting. However, the blooms were minimized in the painting. The bright color of the blooms combined with the thick blanket of them in the reference photo somewhat stole the show from the dog.

To ensure the dog was the focal point, the blossoms were minimized. The skyline was also greatly increased with a change in direction to draw the view into the focal point.

Gift items with an image of this painting are on my cafepress store at http://www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Now off to wrap the painting for delivery and finish portrait number 2.

English Springer Spaniel

I'm trying to constantly add new images of my art to the Dawn Secord cafepress store before we get to the holidays.

Today the English Springer Spaniel was added to the store and will be available on a number of gift items.

To see the gift items available go to http://www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Check back now and then to see what new images of my artwork are available.

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Monet!

Today is Monet's 4th birthday. We are going to take her to the pet store and let her get a new toy. She wants to drive there....ha ha.

Where did the time go....and hopefully, going forward, it slows down a bit.

Labrador Retriever Painting in process

I've been working on this painting for a number of days now - long days (not an hour here or there - more like 10 hours a day. My arm is sore and my eye hurts.... goes along with the territory)

The reference photo is an old photo that was taken on a very sunny morning. As a result one side of the dog's face is too shadowed and the other side is almost whited out. So, my quest is to balance the lighting while maintaining the wonderful effects the light has created with the shadows.

On the right side of the dog's face I've reduced the shadows and brought the eye more into view. On the left side of the dog's face (the right side of the painting) I've found the bone structure of the dog and brought in slight shadows. These shadows will give the dog's face depth and roundness instead of a flat light area.

I've also eliminated the collar. Some people prefer the collars be left on their dogs in my paintings. That is a personal choice - no wrong or right answer. In this particular painting the dog's owners wanted the collar off.

Will post more as the painting develops.

Tabby Cat Commission

This is a painting of Oliver. Oliver was a very special kitty and loved by a wonderful family. Life throws us some tough situations and sadly, Oliver was lost to cancer at a very young age.

His family had a very tough loss shortly before Oliver passed. Sometimes, when we hear of the tough roads of others we realize our problems are so minor.

Sending Oliver's human mom a big hug and keeping her in our prayers.

Thank you for the honor of commissioning me to paint Oliver.

Irish Setter Painting "Celtic Charm"

This is my newest release in Irish Setter Art. The painting background was created from a photo I had taken in 2009 during a cross country trip. If you really want to see our great Country - the best way to see it and meet the people is by driving.

The original painting is unavailable. The prints are in a limited edition of 195. There are 19 artist proofs. The reproductions are professionally printed, are museum quality, and are signed and numbered. To purchase the prints you may call me or email me. For Pay Pal users, there are Pay Pal buttons set up on my web site for purchasing on line. Please click here: http://www.dawnsecord.com/printsforsale.html

Have a great day!

Corporate Commission

Finishing up on corporate commission. Its been a while since I've done such a large oil painting. We moved our birds to another area of the house and are venting the house for the fumes. Next oil painting will be done outside on the patio! It was fun.

Back to the pastels today to do a commission of a kitty that lost it's life way to early to cancer.

To see more pictures of this painting in process please go to my facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-by-Dawn-Secord/120610651282807

Borzoi

This Borzoi commission is recently completed. There is a very special story behind the painting of two people meeting inter-continentally (USA and Norway) because of their dogs.

The dogs, all Borzoi, have allowed these wonderful people to connect in a way that just brings tears to my ears. The woman, middle aged, met the man, a senior, and immediately had a connection that reminded her of her father.

The man, a senior, has a new "family" member who loves him and extends a long distance friendship of compassion and interaction. It seems, too often, we forget about relationships with people.

It has been said when people are asked what they would have done differently with their lives they would have spent more time with their loved ones. The greatest gift we can give is of our time and in this story the people involved are giving each other their time. And....it all started with their love of dogs.

El Mirador Estate - Montecito, California

Here is a plein air painting done on location at the El Mirador Estate in Montecito, California. The estate is absolutely breathtaking and it was quite a thrill to be allowed on the grounds. It was a difficult choice picking the location in the Estate to paint as the grounds were extensive.

This painting is currently on exhibit and for sale. The exhibit will be at the gallery through October 16, 2010. The painting measures approximately 7" x 11" for the image - not including the frame. The framing is professionally done by the gallery. The painting is $425.00.

If you are interested please drop me an email: fff@linkline.com.

Thanks for taking a peek at my work.

"Sonoma Summer" Original Pastel Painting

This painting was rendered in soft pastels (one of my two favorite mediums). My husband and I were recently in Napa, California specifically to photograph vineyards for paintings. This painting was created from photos taken in Sonoma.

The painting will be in an exhibit for mini paintings opening tomorrow in California. All paintings must be 8" x 10" or smaller. This framed painting is approximately 8" x 8" with a professional frame. The painting is available (pending sales at the gallery that I am unaware of) for $325.00.

My cat, Cash, was very jealous of me looking at photos while painting that were on my computer screen. So the little bugger sat behind the screen giving me the "eye". Was tempted to put him in the painting!

Abyssinian Cat Portrait

The portrait of Cinder is complete! He is 12 years old and was a joy to meet. He tried to be really brave with the camera when I was taking photos of him.

It is always so heart warming to paint some one's special pet for them. I hope this painting gives many years of enjoyment to Cinder's family.

Drew and Carrots

I was writing a story about my dogs for my September newsletter that goes out to art collectors and friends. The story was about our dogs and carrots. So, it seemed like the appropriate move to take Drew outside and pose him with a carrot in his mouth.

At first he looked at me like... "you have to be kidding me!" I put the carrot in his mouth and gently told him "hold it". And he did. Then a cat came by hunting lizards - he held the carrot. Then I moved him to a second location for better lighting...and he held the carrot.

Finally, I moved him to a sunny area by a hedge and asked him to hold the carrot....which he did for about 10 shots. He then ate the carrot. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. Drew is a little charm. Let me know if you want to see my newsletter and I can forward it to you. Take care - enjoy those carrots!!!

"A Great Moment" Great Dane

The Great Dane painting is finished. I switched things up a bit. Usually, with pastel paintings, I work from left to right so my hand doesn't interfere with anything I've already laid down.

The background is started first and finished last. However, with this piece, I painted the subject first and then decided upon the background.

Originally, the background was going to be an a prestigious entrance to an estate. Hours were spent photographing entries of beautiful homes for this purpose. I have the most amazing carriage house type entrance from Rhode Island that was considered along with the latest photos taken.

In the end, simplicity won out. The background is a quiet antique"ish" feeling of an old landscape painting. I hope you enjoy viewing "A Great Moment" as much as I enjoyed painting it!

Bob and Billie

This is a commission of two mixed breed dogs - Bob and Billie. I met their owners at a show over a year ago. To my surprise, I went to the post office one day and found an album of photos and a request to paint their dogs.

Many months later my husband and I were at a dog show in their area. We decided they should bring Bob and Billie over to the show grounds so we could meet the dogs in person and I could take additional reference photos.

It was a thrill to meet the dogs and spend time with their owners. They had a previous commission done of a dog since passed. In that painting were daffodils. So, to tie the paintings together it was requested that daffodils be in Bob and Billie's painting too.

Thanks so much for the honor of painting your dogs!

Simon's Cat in 'The Box'

Thanks Victoria for finding another great U-Tube video!