After Dinner Walk in Manhattan

 

After Dinner Walk in Manhattan is a visual story of a couple taking an evening stroll under the magical city lights in the iconic city of Manhattan.

I was commissioned to create the painting using a reference photo taken by a family member.   The completed oil painting measures 6’ tall by 4’ wide.  

When working with a reference photo, it is easy for the viewing audience to assume the artist did their very best to capture the exact likeness of the photo.   Nothing could be further from the truth.   As an artist, I endeavored to capture the essence of the moment that made this photo so beloved by the individuals in the scene.

 Let’s begin with what I did not want to capture in the painting:

·        Objects in the reference photo not needed in the painting:  the shopping bag hanging between the couple, the discarded paper on the sidewalk, the bright red spot reflected off the side of the building to the right of the husband’s shoulder or the bright reddish brown vertical reflected lines on the buildings that ran between the couple from the top of the painting down towards their shoulders. 

What should be adjusted in the painting but not removed:

·        Effects to be adjusted (compositionally) in the painting:  The actual cement breaks in the sidewalk added detail in the lower half of the photograph balancing with the detail in the upper section of the photograph.  The breaks would be much stronger if they were more of a diagonal direction.   The silver blue gray reflective lighting on the building, to the right of the husband, could be extended up towards the top of the painting and down to the husband’s arm creating some interest in those dark empty spaces.  Reducing the width of the vertical red brown reflective lighting on the buildings as well as subduing their brilliance as seen in the photos was needed.  These shapes and vividness of color actually separate the couple by placing a distraction of color between them.   There is a hint of the street light casting a lighter value on the sidewalk in front of the couple.   This will be the most important change.  I have emphasized the street light in front of the couple by giving it a little more detail and ground reflection than seen in the photo.  This last change allows me to push the illusion of depth even more.    The light adds an enhanced warmth to the moment.

What I wanted to see in the painting that did not exist or was almost insignificant in the photo:

·        Effects to be added that do not exist in the reference photo:  The bottom half of the painting, being a middle to lighter value actually draws the viewer out of the painting.  This lighting effect was created by the flash of the camera taking the photo.   Compositionally, we do not want the viewing audience to exit the bottom of the painting but rather find a way to be led back into the painting to find new and enticing artistic shapes, colors or subjects to rest their eyes upon.  To do so, I’ve made the bottom of the painting darker to strategically guide the eye back upwards.   For color harmony, I’ll be adding more red browns (burnt sienna) to the sidewalk to tie into the reflective light bouncing off the buildings.    I’ll also be adding some gray blues, blues, and a few splashes of turquoise to balance the color throughout the painting for color harmony.

Getting Started:

When I begin a large oil painting, I create a graph on the canvas using a pencil or vine charcoal.   For this painting, I chose to use a pencil.   Once the graph is measured out on the canvas, I begin the pencil sketch.  It is a simple sketch and not a great amount of detail.  This sketch will be used as my map to keep the perspective correct.

The second step is to take black oil paint and cover my sketch.  As the painting begins, I will not lose the lines of my initial sketch once they are protected with the oil paint.   This oil paint sketch is then allowed to dry thoroughly.  The next step is to apply an underpainting.  My color of choice is burnt sienna using a wide brush.   The brush strokes are varied, as is the thickness of the paint, to give depth and a slight color change later in places I may choose to let the underpainting remain visible.   Often times, but not always, I will choose to let some of the under painting show through in the finished painting.   The underpainting affect can play a big role in the painting.   Letting the black oil sketch dry thoroughly will eliminate the black paint from being smeared by the burnt sienna when the underpainting layer is being applied during the underpainting phase of the process.

From there the fun starts.   I begin painting in layers.   Some areas may only have one layer allowing more transparency to show the under painting.   Layers are applied until the desired affect is achieved.   I don’t know what is going to be done until I start the painting.  I pray before each painting is started.   My paintings happen as I paint.   I do not plan the layers or how much time will go into the layer.  I simply go with what feels right and let the painting evolve.

Compositionally, we hear of the “Rules of 3”.    Very seldom do I sit down and plan the rules of 3.  It happens intuitively.  With this painting, there are 3 areas leading directly towards our main subjects.  The lines in the sidewalk were painted so they lead you up into the painting and subjects.   The reflective lights on the upper left corner were slanted down towards the subjects.  The vertical lines in the center and to the right of the subjects brought us to the subjects.  The vertical lines of the sidewalk intersecting the building also created a “stop” to keep the viewer from leaving the painting when gazing down vertically.  Aside from the rules of 3, at the bottom of the painting, the darkened values create a directional change to bring the viewer back up into the painting.

The street light gave me an amazing opportunity to create a space of light in front of the couple allowing the viewer to look through and around the couple and ultimately, out in front of them.  This effect greatly enhanced the feeling of depth in the painting.   I brought the reflected ground light out on the left side of the couple significantly to break up the feeling of the vertical lines of building reflections about the couple.  This rounded area of light enveloped where the couple was walking.   We do not know where they were headed, but we do know it is warm and inviting. 

The camera reflection from the back of the couple made the couple look like they were floating.   In the painting, I added shadows under the couple’s feet to eliminate that floating feeling.  Their feet are established on the sidewalk and the shadows provide us with a feeling of forward movement.

For the husband’s hat, I applied a number of coats as well as a scumbling of the paint using a dry brush to create a thick fabric texture that was true to the hat.  I had the hat on hand for authenticity.

This was a wonderful journey from beginning to end.   

Born to Run - Painting in Process of running Irish Setters

Here is my new print, Born to Run. The painting features 5 Irish Setters running. This painting has been a project since 2019. The original is for sale and the reproductions will be available in a limited edition of 195 prints in two sizes as well as 19 Artist's Proofs. The reproductions will be released in May or June and are available for pre-sale on my webpage at dawnsecord.com There is also a fun Utube video discussing the process of the painting. https://youtu.be/_fP58frlano

As always, my prints are professionally created and are museum quality.

Painting of a Boston Terrier using soft pastels

This is a painting of a Boston Terrier named Honey.    I took a number of photos of Honey for this painting.   We took photos inside the house and out in the yard.   The favorite photo to be used as the primary reference was a photo of Honey out by the pool.  At the end of this post is a video of the painting in process...be sure to take a peek.

In the primary reference photo, the left side of Honey's face (which is the right side of the photo and painting) was shadowed by the direction of the sun.    In the painting, I've lightened up the cast shadows shown in the actual photograph.  Those strong shadows were not only distracting, but important details were lost.   For Honey's eye, I lightened the shadow on her right side of her face to be able to see both of her eyes in the painting.   In the area under Honey's chin, I lightened the shadow so there would not be a dramatic line in the painting that you could see in the photo.   I did the same on her body.  These three examples of changing the photos, for different reasons, allowed the viewer to see more and to see less in the final painting.   As an artist, I need to be able to see what will enhance the painting and what could weaken the focal point - in this case, Honey.

Other changes from the photograph were the elimination of the pool step rail and the lounge chair you can see in the background of the photo.   Those items were distracting and had no important role in the painting.  One other change from the photo is that the chair cushions Honey was resting upon were upside down.  The painting shows the cushions facing the right direction.   I could not see what the actual cushions looked like right side up, I just improvised. 

Thank you to Honey's owners for having me paint your precious girl.   She is as gorgeous inside as she is on the outside.

Below is the video of the painting in process.   

This is a painting in process of a Boston Terrier named Honey.

A painting of Darby - an Irish Setter

 It is always exciting to receive a request from someone to paint for them. 

When Vickie and Tom contacted me about painting their dog, Darby, I could not wait to see the photos.   The photos came in and I fell in love.  Darby had the sweetest expression.    My favorite photo (immediately) was the one where his ear feathering was gently sweeping across his neck.

What I usually do is look at the photos sent to me (or taken by me if I've met the dog/cat/horse) and put the best "painting candidate photos" together as a collage.  That way we can look at the photos all together instead of toggling back and forth between the favorite photos.

To my delight, Vickie and Tom picked my favorite photo.   This is not always the case.  Sometimes, the pet's owners pick better than I do.    It is most important for the owner of the animal being painted to love the reference photo.   That reference photo is a map for the painting to be their dog and not any dog - in this case, Darby the Irish Setter.   The other photos sent to me for consideration are more reference material.  Those photos come in handy when the reference photo is lacking something that I need to verify.   Examples would be coloring, eye color, nose shape, etc.  I can never have too many photos.

I asked Vickie and Tom to tell me a little bit about Darby, and this is what they shared: 

He was the sweetest perfect little Irish man, with his call name, Darby, and his AKC registered name, Fleetwod Farms Wind at Your Back.

I hope this painting warms their hearts as they pass it daily in their home.   Thank you for having me paint your perfect little Irish man.  It was a pleasure and an honor.

 

Bling's cancer - how it was found and how we move forward

Bling started her chemo treatment today.

Belgian Malinois Part 4 - Oil Painting Demonstration by Dawn Secord

Above is video 4 of 5 - a large Belgian Malinois oil painting in process. Click on the photo of the computer screen to see the video.

If you enjoy this demo, please subscribe to my Utube channel for more videos - here is a link to the channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlWrXDcpSaNJs7vQeuBdqw

Belgian Malinois Part 3 - Oil Painting Demonstration by Dawn Secord

This is part 3 of an oil painting demonstration of a commissioned dog painting. The art collector wanted a close-up painting of the dog's eye. The photos were taken by the artist, Dawn Secord, and the reference photo for the painting had an amazing reflection in it. The photos were taken to achieve this.

Dawn Secord is an artist, writer and illustrator. Her most recent illustrated book, No Ghoulish Green Monsters Here, is her first authored children's picture book. The book is available on her website at DawnSecord (dot) com or aDogBling (dot) com

Under Sun, Stars and Sails written by Marsha Hall Brown, Illustrated by Dawn Secord

Over a year ago a book came out written by well-known author, Marsha Hall Brown (retired AKC dog judge), and illustrated by me (the new illustrations - there are historical illustrations and paintings in the book as well).   The title is Under Sun, Stars and Sails.    The cover illustration is one of my pieces.   With the craziness of the past almost 2 years, the publicity for the book was impacted.   The book is an amazing historical story.   I am so glad efforts are underway to proceed with the publicity of the book.

The illustration process was more than fascinating.   I created several maps, pencil illustrations, pastel illustrations as well as the cover painting.   The book follows a sea captain, Joseph Marshall who was a master mariner, and his family from 1851 thru 1861 on their voyage at sea from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.   Mind you, at that time, there was no Panama Canal.   Their voyage took them ashore too.    Their trek across the Isthmus of Panama was by train and mule.  The research required to create the illustrations and maps was a journey in and of itself.   I also worked from photos of artifacts and of individuals.   It was an honor to work on a project with Mrs. Brown again.    She is a wealth of information.    She is humble about her background, not only in dogs but as a descendant of the founding families of Nantucket.    Did you know Macy’s founders were from Nantucket?   Nantucket played such a tremendous role in the 1800s whaling industry.   The book is a must read for American history buffs.  The book is filled with actual photos and inserts of historical letters.  It is a must read for those wanting to experience a true-life adventure.

Mrs. Brown just released a captivating book trailer for Under Sun Stars and Sails that I am more than proud to share.   Under Sun, Stars and Sails was published by Spinner Publications, Inc. of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

To see the trailer, click on the following link:

https://youtu.be/FTvj_y6rsbA

To order the book, click on the following link: 

http://www.spinnerpub.com/Under_Sun_Stars_and_Sails.html

Belgian Malinois Oil Painting Demonstration, by Dawn Secord, Part 2

Part 2 of painting Demonstration

Oil painting in process of a Belgian Malinois - part 1

Part one of my painting of a Belgian Malinois.    Bling shows up to give us an idea of the size of the painting.

Miss Mia....a painting of an Irish Setter

Mia is an Irish Setter I had long admired on Facebook.   She was a beautiful dog.   Everything about her was lovely. 

It is amazing how time flies by.   I saw photos of her as a pup, in the ring as a young dog, in her yard playing and as the dam of beautiful puppies.  Then the photos started showing a graying face...Irish Setter people call this "Sugar Face" which is so appropriate.   The Irish Setters are sweet dogs.  As they age, and they develop white on their faces, our hearts just melt.   Some just get a soft speckling of white while others have faces that are solid white around the eyes and on the muzzle.    Nothing softens a heart like a veteran dog - regardless of the breed.

The time came when Mia passed.   It was heartbreaking news for those who knew and loved her.

When her owner contacted me to paint her, I was thrilled.   It is always such an honor to paint someone's special animal.   This was no exception.

Story Time with Bling and Dawn - Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Do you have little children who love hearing bedtime stories? I am starting a story time video series on my dog, Bling's Utube channel. Here is our first video, Interrupting Chicken, by David Ezra Stein. If you haven't read the story to your children or grandchildren, you all are in for a treat. If you just want a distraction for you little ones for a few minutes, this video might be exactly what you need. Interrupting Chicken is a fun and clever story with amazing illustrations. Please consider subscribing to Bling's Utube channel so you don't miss our next video. Hugs and Wags, Dawn Secord and Bling

To get Bling's picture book, No Ghoulish Green Monsters Here, go to her website at aDogBling.com

#adogbling, #storytime, #childrensliterature,#childrensbooks, #bedtimestory, #NoGhoulishGreenMonstersHere

A painting of Billy - Irish Setter

This is a painting of Billy.   He is formally known as CH Bellary Ride Cowboy Ride BN, RI, SWN, CGC, TKN, ATT.

I've known him since he was a pup and painted a mini painting of him at that time.  Now it is ...gosh....5 years later and that pup has grown into a beautiful dog.  I was thrilled to be able to paint him again.  With this painting we used a photo his owner had taken.  It was a lovely pose of him.  The only draw back was the lighting.   The lighting made the darker areas too dark and the lighter areas too light.   To get the proper coloring, I relied on a number of other photos.  There was one photo where his owner held his ear in her hand so I could see the coloring compared to the skin tone of a person.   My goal is never to copy a photo.  The photo is only the roadmap to keep the likeness to that specific animal accurate.  My job as an artist is to create something special.

My art has opened up the opportunity to get to know so many people and I am blessed to be able to call them friends.    When I paint landscapes or wildlife (etc) the paintings are not as personal.   When I am painting someone's beloved animal

it is personal and we develop a relationship.   I want the recipient of the painting to look at the art and know they are looking at their special pet.

Thank you to Rita for having me paint her boy.   It is always an honor.  

Clooney - The Very Best Dog in the World

This is a painting of Clooney.   His owner described him below as the very best dog in the world.   Isn't that how we all feel about our beloved dogs?   Isn't that what we want for each dog - to know that dog is thought of as the very best dog in the world?   Clooney was a wonderful dog and had a wonderful life.   I can vouch, to his family, he was undoubtedly the very best dog in the world.  

I remember the first time I saw a photo of baby Clooney like it was yesterday.  What I remember was seeing a stacked photo of this pup in front of a gorgeous boat.   All I saw was the most breathtaking puppy ever.   Here we are years later and I've had the honor to paint him.  I've asked his owner to share a little bit about Clooney.  Following is her story about Clooney:

Clooney went on his first boating vacation at the tender age of 10 weeks.  It was so rough crossing the Straits into Canada that I donned my life jacket and sat on the salon floor with him while Patrick took the helm and shook his fist at Mother Nature.  Cloo slept through it all.  I remember cautioning Patrick, “You don’t spit into the wind and you don’t let the puppy walk on the inflated tubes of the skiff when you’re underway unless you’re prepared to go in after him.”  PJ’s wallet and its contents spent the awhile spread out on the dining table – drying. 

Cloo blossomed into a lovely adult who finished his Championship quickly and easily.  Peter Kubacz handled him to his first huge win, a BOS at the 2010 National.  There is simply no way to describe what it was like to be having Thanksgiving Day dinner with the family the following November, celebrating our 43^rd Anniversary and watching our dog go Best In Show on national TV!  Peter took Cloo to #1 All-Breed points, #2 Breed points in 2011. 

That following spring we moved to a waterfront home and it was perfect except for one thing - It was time to bring Clooney home to enjoy it with us.  Cloo spent the ensuing years working with our son, Michael in the field, trialing with me in Obedience and Rally, running the beaches, swimming, boating and riding around in the skiff with Patrick.  We were fortunate to have him in excellent health to the end.  Sometimes I would hide so Cloo had to find me, then he would trot away ahead of me, down the long hallway to the cookie jar in the kitchen.  It always made me smile as I watched him going away – dead true to the last.  How I wish I could follow him down the hall one more time and tell him again that he was the very best dog in the whole world! 

Where do I begin?? It is all about the love from a dog....Maggie's story

Where do I begin?   I guess it starts back when I was showing Monet (GCH Rusticwood Spellbound CGC) - Bling's mama dog.   Monet was gorgeous.   She just didn't enjoy showing.   At one show in Palm Springs, a well known judge (whom I'd never shown to before) said to me quietly, "She is gorgeous, can you get her to move out for me?"   I shook my head no.  "Not today,"  I replied.  I understood Monet and loved her with every breath I had.  I loved her independence.  I laughed at her "I only do what I want" attitude.   I shrugged my shoulders the time she was excused from the ring when she tried to fake limping.   She was a smart dog; as beautiful as the day was long.   She was one unique and special girl.

Back to my story....I was showing Monet at a specialty at the Irish Setter Club of Southern California's summer show.  In our class, standing behind us, was a woman with the most fabulous mane of blonde hair and a beautiful Irish Setter named Maggie.  I thought to myself, that is a beautiful dog.   I am not sure we can defeat her in this show.   If Monet wanted to show, we had a chance.   What caught my attention the most was how much fun Maggie was having - how much she loved her mom.   They were a special team with a special bond.   Years later, the two were standing in my front yard so I could photograph Maggie for her painting.

On that day, taking the pictures, the vibrant Maggie with a white speckled sugar face still looked up at her mom glowing.   We were laughing and having a grand time taking the photos.   Maggie was healthy given her age.   Both her mom and I knew that her days were fleeting as time will rob us of memories the future could hold.  They say with an Irish Setter, or any large dog for that matter, any time past their 10th year is a gift.   We were in Maggie's gift time.   

Maggie would pass a year later.   We sat outside the home while the vet went inside to help Maggie on to rest.   We were there for Maggie's mom.   After Maggie passed, it took Maggie's mom a few years to be able to look at the photos again for the painting.  There was no rush.   It would happen when the time was right.    A few months ago it was time.    We had gone through the photos while Maggie was still with us and made notes of favorites.   When it came time to choose the primary reference photo, though there were many wonderful candidates, one jumped out.   The one that jumped out was Maggie looking up at her mom...that look of love I'd seen so many years ago when Maggie and Monet were youngsters.

I hope Maggie and Monet are once again young; I hope they are jumping around chasing butterflies and waiting for their moms to play with them again when those days come.  You see our love for our dogs never dies.   Our love is always in our hearts and when we close our eyes, we see those priceless memories that will keep us together until we meet at the rainbow bridge.