WIP: Pet Portrait Commission

This is a work in progress... a commission from two different photographs.

Trey and Wilson
5" x 7"
oil pastel on board

If you're looking to commission a pet portrait, please check out the Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale in my Etsy shop!  All prices are automatically discounted 10% through midnight tonight (Monday, November 28).  


There are lots of Etsy sellers offering discounts, so take advantage and shop handmade this holiday season!  For shops offering sales for this weekend, add "cyber monday" or "black friday" to your search terms.




I'm also working on a few winter scenes for an upcoming show...look for a post on those soon!

Locally Grown / Sale for the Season

Two of my works have been accepted into a juried art exhibition, Locally Grown, at the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh.   

And two others will be a part of the annual Sale for the Season, also at the Visual Art Exchange.

Locally Grown   December 2-23, 2011:  Locally Grown will feature 2D and 3D artwork that represents local places, food, and events.

Sale for the Season   December 2-23, 2011:  Sale for the Season is the best opportunity for VAE members to make their art available for purchase this holiday season and for shoppers to get original, thoughtful gifts!

There is an opening reception for both shows on Friday, December 2, 2011, 6-9 pm.   

I hope to see some familiar faces at the reception!

I'm busy preparing for a few more shows and painting holiday commissions!  Happy Thanksgiving! 


Bethany

Just off the Easel: Hadleigh

After the first version of this portrait got all muddled, I decided to completely start over.  I'm very glad that I did, since I love the way the final version turned out!

Hadleigh
8" x 10" oil pastel on paper

I've been painting lots of animals lately, and this was a challenge that I really enjoyed (even though my husband would say I wasn't loving the process a few days ago!).  

I just have to remember to take my time in the beginning laying out all of the structure before laying down thick layers of oil pastel.  Once you get a lot of pastel down, it's hard to make drastic changes without everything looking muddy!

I also decided to do the painting on white paper instead of my usual terracotta so that her face could be bright and light without using a lot of white pastel.  I used a watercolor wash to underpaint in everywhere except for the lightest areas of her face.

I'm going to be busy for the rest of the week getting some submissions ready for some shows.  Stay tuned for updates!

PS- If you're interested in commissioning a custom portrait or painting before the holidays, don't delay! Check out my Etsy shop for more information or email me your photos.  I'm booking up my calendar now! 

Just off the Easel: Drew

I finished this portrait last week for a client's husband for his birthday.  Drew was a sweet black lab who always was right by his owner's side and had a loving personality.  

Drew
8" x 10" oil pastel on paper
commission

I hope Drew's family loves his portrait, and that it brings back wonderful memories of their happy boy.  It's such an honor to memorialize a pet and I'm always grateful for the opportunity.


I've just finished another pet portrait that's very different for me...stay tuned!

WIP: Little Girl Custom Portrait

So far I'm loving how this custom portrait is turning out!  

She is an adorable subject, so it's hard to go wrong!  Painted from a client's photograph.  I have some major work still to do on her, like lower the eyes and tweak the chin and neck.  Probably have another 2 hours of work to do still!

I also am working on a custom pet portrait in acrylic, and just finished another pet portrait in oil pastel.  The holidays are getting near, and I'm loving creating some really special gifts!

I'll post the pet portrait that I just finished later in the week, since it's a birthday gift and I don't want to ruin the surprise.

Stay tuned!

Painting at A Shopping SPREE!

Last night was a fun night of painting at the Junior League of Raleigh's A Shopping SPREE!

One of my paintings was showing in the Carolina Color Gallery at the event 

for the Southern Menagerie show.  They asked if anyone would 

like to paint live at the Preview Party, and I was ready to go! 

Here's a photo I took of my framed piece hanging in the gallery, and my easel set up:

I abandoned the first painting when I got bored and moved onto a farm scene...

Blue Ridge Farm
20" x 10" oil pastel on board

 I finished it during the show and it's in my Shop!

I had a great time painting at the event, and hope to show at SPREE! again.

(Even though painting in high heels on a concrete floor for 3 1/2 hours is hard work!)

I'm busy getting some custom portraits done, as well as some entries for upcoming shows.  More soon, so stay tuned!