Animal Portraits

Scout

2012-02-22T08:14:00.001-05:00

I'm busier than ever, but was totally shocked to see that I never made a post about Scout. The portrait of Scout was painted for the Helping Paws Exhibit, an annual exhibit sponsored by the Canine Art Guild. This is the fourth year for the exhibit and my fourth entry. There is a People's Choice Award, and for the fourth year, I've earned an award. These awards go directly to the animal shelter that the artist has partnered with. Each year, I've partnered with the Yancey County Humane Society. The best "award" for me this year, though, is that Scout got adopted. Thank you to everyone who voted for my painting!

Jackson

2012-01-03T16:18:00.000-05:00

Jackson

Happy New Year! I have been totally neglecting my blog. My apologies. I'm happy to say that part of the reason is that I was busy painting Christmas portraits. Between painting and preparing for the holidays, I just let the blogging (and lots of other stuff) wait till later. But I'm back - and I'm happy to have a painting to share with you.

Jackson is one of the portraits I got to paint to be given as Christmas gifts. What fun that is! First, I'm delighted to be painting, then, delivering the work is another delight. And then, on Christmas morning, knowing that there were some people who were going to be surprised and delighted by that painting just multiplies that initial joy exponentially. And then.... this painting is one of my "giving back" paintings and a portion of the sale was donated to the Mitchell County Animal Rescue in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. So, this one 8" x 10" painting brought smiles to many faces and a great deal of joy to my heart.

Thanks for stopping by.....

peace and love -
and Paint First!

susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Maggie - Final Painting

2011-11-11T08:10:00.001-05:00

I finished "Maggie" this week. The light green background I used the first time around was truly awful. I liked the color, but I sure didn't like Maggie on the color. For a while, I considered adding a pillow underneath Maggie, but decided with all Maggie's folds and wrinkles, the pillow's contours would add too much and there would be no where for the eye to rest. So.... I "fixed" the background color, which turned out to be quick and easy and I really don't know why I didn't choose that shade to begin with. I think maybe my "inner artist child" was just messing with me. <grin>

You probably will notice I've also added a new logo to the photo of this painting in place of my normal copyright notice. Last year I became a member of HeARTSspeak, an online group of photographers and artists that work with animal shelters and rescues, to help promote the animals and find homes for them. One of the other members recently designed this logo for members to use on their work. There is one for "adopted" dogs, too. It's a great way to help promote animal adoptions.

Remember, Maggie is looking for her "forever" home. You'll find her on PetFinder (the link is in last week's post). While you are there, check out all the dogs from FiFi's Friends - you just might find your new best friend there!

If you'd like to purchase this painting, it can be yours for just $240. And I will donate $50 of that price to FiFi's Friends to help take care of the "gang".

Thanks for stopping by and reading.

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Maggie - a work in progress

2011-11-04T10:59:00.005-04:00

This is Maggie, another one of FiFi's Friends. And this painting still has more work before it is finished. I'm letting it dry before I go any further. Maggie is a Bloodhound and a retired Search and Rescue dog. She is 8 years old and good with other dogs. You can read more about Maggie (and see the photo I used for this painting) on her PetFinder page.....http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20305775

I painted this with my Winsor Newton Artisan oils, which are water-mixable. Normally, I use traditional oils, but have recently started using the water-mixables. I like them, especially the fact that I don't have to use mineral spirits to clean up with. At the moment, I have a very limited palette of colors to work with, so I found myself facing two challenges with this painting so far. First, there is the difference in the paints themselves (mostly texture) and then there is the limited palette. I didn't realize how much I used Burnt Sienna, till I didn't have it! In its place, I used a mixture of Yellow Ochre and Cad Red Hue. And a little bit of Burnt Umber.

Before I finish this painting, one of the things I want to work on is the background. Don't like the color, don't like the "flatness". I'm starting to think a pillow might look good. Hmmm.....

thanks for stopping by and reading,
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Dixie

2011-10-27T14:42:00.001-04:00

This gorgeous hound dog is Dixie. She's one of FiFi's Friends and is waiting for her forever home. She is a small Treeing Walker Coonhound. Dixie is good with other dogs and people and has a gentle nature. Just a sweetie. You can read more about her and see a video on her page on PetFinder - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15425708

I've painted this on a 6" x 8" board with oils. I like working on the hardness of the board as opposed to stretched canvas. The canvas always has a bit of give and bounce to it. Almost like it is talking back to the brush. The board just quietly takes on the paint.

If you'd like to purchase this painting, it can be yours for just $240. And I will donate $50 of that price to FiFi's Friends to help take care of the "gang".

Thanks for stopping by.....

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Gypsy

2011-10-20T09:58:00.003-04:00

When I took a "blog" break back in... when?.... August?..., I certainly didn't think that it would be several months long. Most embarrassing, I can't even say where the time went. There were days in the garden, and weeks of vacation, a workshop on writing an artist's statement and a three day plein air workshop. I've been painting, not as much as I'd like, and more landscapes than animals. I want to be able to add more landscapes into my animal paintings, rather than just faces (which I do love doing!). For the past two years, I've painted lots and lots of landscapes. I've read I need to paint 100 paintings to learn. Not sure I've completed 100 yet, but the last few landscapes are looking pretty good. As a result of the artist's statement workshop, I've been thinking more about the words that describe my art. And one thing I found out in all that "thinking" is that when one of my paintings "makes my heart sing", I know it is a good painting. And okay to show to the world.

And that leads me to Gypsy. After so many landscapes, my fingers were itching to create another dog portrait. Gypsy was a stray and part of FiFi's Friends for a while. She's gone to a forever home now. I've painted her with the intention of entering her in the upcoming Canine Art Guild' Helping Paws exhibit. This is the online exhibit featuring works from fabulous artists from all over the world. Best of all, this is the show that each artist partners with a shelter or rescue and donates a portion of sales to that rescue. In addition, the People's Choice award is given entirely to the shelter associated with the winning painting. I'll be sure to let you know when the show opens (another month or so, I think).

Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you were here. And I'll be back next week.

susan
susan@susangarriques.com
www.susangarriques.com

Yin and Yang

2011-08-02T16:01:00.004-04:00

"Yin and Yang", an online exhibit sponsored by the Canine Art Guild, opened yesterday. As soon as I learned that the theme of this exhibit was to be Yin and Yang, I knew I had to paint my dogs, Maggie and Lizzy. They are so totally different. Maggie is a hound dog mix and is about as laid back as a dog gets. She loves to spend time just laying on the top of our ridge and watching over her land. Lizzy is a Jack Russell Terrier who just turned 1. Those of you who know JRTs will know immediately how different a JRT is from Maggie. Lizzy is a bundle of energy that seems to move at high speed anytime she's not asleep.

The challenge was just how to represent the yin and yang that my two best friends are. This was one of those paintings that gets created in my head over a long period of time. I spent about 2 months figuring out what I wanted to do. About a month ago, the image that I ended up painting just popped into my head. (I work great under deadline pressures!)

This painting was done with Prismacolor Colored Pencils on Bristol Smooth paper. Originally, I intended to paint this on canvas with oils. When I drew the original sketch, I enjoyed my time working with pencil at my drafting table so much I decided to paint it with my colored pencils. It would also give me a chance to try out some new techniques I'd recently read about. The blue background was done by rubbing a colored pencil against a tea strainer into a cup and then picking up pigment with a cotton ball and rubbing it on the paper. This was fun and a much faster way to cover the paper. Another new idea I tried was to use Turpenoid to blend layers of color.

In addition to the yin and yang of Maggie and Lizzy, I used the obvious yin and yang symbol on the stand that Lizzy sits on and on the ball in Lizzy's mouth. I carried the opposites further with using color complements. Purple and yellow. Blue and orange. Red and green. Can you tell how much fun I had?

Grab yourself a cool drink, relax, visit the show and vote for your favorite at the Canine Art Guild's website. Be sure to leave your email so your vote will count. And don't vote more than once, or your vote will be tossed out.

Thanks for reading....
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Vacation Time

2011-06-22T14:42:00.003-04:00

Tuesday slipped away again and my blogging intention went right with it. First day of summer and I'm in vacation mode already! Actually, I've been busy painting. Our local fine arts guild is having an exhibit that opens mid-August and I'm still working on my entries. The theme of this show is "Route 80, Back to Our Roots". We are all painting scenes from along Route 80, which runs north and south through Yancey County (and beyond).

This painting is of the pool at the bottom of Roaring Fork Falls near Mt. Mitchell. It's 16" x 20", oil on canvas. I've done another of the falls itself, but I really wanted to get a dog into one of my paintings and am very happy with the way this one came out. Rocks and water are my next favorite things to paint (after all my critters) and I can see the rocks under the water in this painting which pleases me. Getting that depth is tough. I'm also pleased with the way the dog came out. In my original photo he was in a different place in the pool, so I used Photoshop to "move" him. Then, he had a very large branch at an odd angle in his mouth and his face was a bit distorted, so that had to be "fixed" in the painting. The challenges are always fun!

I'm going to take a little time off from the blog this summer. There's some traveling in the plans as well as the exhibit coming up in August. And some experimenting I want to do. The animal portraits are going to have to wait a little bit.

Enjoy these lovely summer days!
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Studio Tour Weekend

2011-06-14T20:25:00.003-04:00

Tuesday nearly slipped past without a thought about blogging. I spent the day hiking and painting on the Balds at Roan Mountain. It was a gorgeous day. The rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom. This is the first time I've been hiking up there when they were blooming, so it was a special treat.

This past weekend was the Studio Tours sponsored by the Toe River Arts Council. I show my work at Selena Glass and Metal. I met some wonderful people and heard lots of dog stories. This photo is just a part of my display and includes several paintings I've shown previously on my blog.

Thanks for reading.
susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Pookie the Pug - nearly done

2011-06-07T20:32:00.003-04:00

Here is Pookie again - and she is almost done. I still need to add her whiskers, but I like the existing paint to be dry before I start that detail. When the existing paint is dry, if I don't like the whisker after I paint it, I can gently wipe it off and start again without worrying about messing up the layer underneath. Once the whiskers are on and dry, I'll be sending her off to her new owner. (Thank you!)

I have some good news to share! My painting of Ollie, the Jack Russell Terrier, won a People's Choice award in the MugShots exhibition at the Canine Art Guild. Thank you to everyone who voted for Ollie. I truly appreciate it.

This week I'll be busy getting ready for the Toe River Arts Councils' Studio Tours that take place this weekend. On Friday I will load up my favorite paintings and take them over to the Selena Glass & Metal Studio and share their wonderful space for the tour. This will be my third time showing my work on the tour. The studio will be quite busy with visitors. It's great fun. If you are anywhere near Burnsville, be sure to stop in!

And there's one more bit of good news. Snickers, one of the dogs I painted of FiFi's Friends, has been adopted. Yay!!!

Thanks for reading!

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

In-Progress - "Pookie"

2011-05-31T20:59:00.003-04:00

Pookie isn't quite done - but I think this painting is far enough along that I can share it without totally embarrassing myself. Lots of artists say that paintings go through "ugly" stages and I can certainly agree with that. And there are several phases that my paintings go through that I wouldn't want to be sharing here on my blog, that's for sure!

The background color on this one has been, as of yet, undecided. I started with a lighter-medium value purple at one point on the top half. But then I added a darker purple on the bottom half and it was just too much purple. I tried adding a bit of blue to the top, but it was still too much purple. I liked the way the folds in the purple cloth looked, so decided to wipe off the top half, leaving a small purple edge all around the dog. When I left the studio late this afternoon, I still hadn't decided what color to use. There's more painting needed on Pookie, too. Not too much, but what needs to be done will make her look more rounded and less flat.

Thanks for stopping by.

susan
susan@susangarriques.com
www.susangarriques.com

Big Cody

2011-05-24T20:38:00.003-04:00

Big Cody is the patriarch of Laughing Dog Farm, the home of FiFi's Friends. This painting is the fourth in my series of portraits of the dogs that live at this no-kill shelter. From the description I got from Pam, the human behind FiFi's Friends, Cody is pretty special. He's been with her for 14 years - ever since he was a wee pup. Cody is not up for adoption and this painting has already been spoken for, but he has lots of buddies at FiFi's Friends and you can see them all at PetFinder.com. Here's a link to their page... http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC568.html

I've done this on a 6" x 8" Raymar art panel. The oils I use the most are Winsor Newton Artists' Oils. I also use Wintons (also Winsor Newton), but I find that the Artists' Oils are more buttery. The creaminess is addictive. Very easy to use.

Thanks for stopping by and reading.

susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Kitten With Red Pillow

2011-05-17T17:00:00.004-04:00

For several months now, I've been visiting the Daily Paintworks Challenge. It's a simple concept - a picture is posted and artists paint from the picture and post their work. It's free. And I really like looking at all the paintings. Well, this week, the picture is a kitten. How could I resist? So yesterday, I downloaded the photo and started painting. And just to make it fun, rather than paint a line drawing first (my normal procedure), I covered the canvas with a thin coat of a peachy color and then with a paper towel wetted a bit with Turpenoid, I removed the highlights. My goal was to keep it loose and not worry too much about matching the kitten in the photo perfectly. After removing the highlights, I went back and painted them in with a mix of Titanium White and Yellow Ochre. From there, I painted in the darks, then the mid-tones. When the kitten was finished, I painted the red pillow and the chair she is sitting in.

I had a fun time with this one and I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for another Challenge. Here's a link to the Daily Paintworks Challenge.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Challenge/69971AF9-D076-477B-93B5-26A408C9E1C7

This painting is 6" x 8" - oil on Raymar Art Panel. If you can't resist this piece - it can be yours for just $240. Just email me.

Thanks for reading.

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Writer's Block

2011-05-11T20:59:00.000-04:00

It's Wednesday again. Not Tuesday. Being held accountable to a blog is not something I thought I would ever feel, but I do. My apologies for not being here yesterday. I really truly did not know what to write about. In a perfect world I would have a new dog portrait to share. But in my world, I've been working on two other paintings - one a plein air landscape and the other is a studio landscape painting with a yellow lab in it, so at least there is one dog in progress, even though he is in the midst of a landscape.

Here in the mountains the art world has been busy with new shows and openings. And in just a few short weeks, the Studio Tours will be happening. It's a weekend event (June 10-12) with about 100 studios participating. I join with Selena Glass and Metal of Burnsville,NC, in their studio. We'll have their wonderful glass and metal pieces, Raven Tata's mirrors, and my paintings. This time, too, I believe there will be a potter joining us. It's a great stop on the tour - 5 artists in one place, so we get a fair bit of traffic. It's all rather exciting.

This painting, "Coyote", is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas. If you happen to be in Spruce Pine, NC, in the next couple of weeks, you can see this painting in real life at the Toe River Arts Council's Gallery. All of the Studio Tour artists will have work on display at the TRAC Gallery. It's a great chance to preview work and choose which studios you would like to visit. "Coyote" is for sale, too, and can be yours for $800. Contact either me directly or the TRAC Gallery in Spruce Pine.

Thanks for reading.....
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Kudzu

2011-05-03T19:21:00.003-04:00

Kudzu's owner told me that she probably should have never named him after that plant that grows so vigorously here in the South. He grew to weigh 120 pounds and his head was counter height! After having only a Jack Russell Terrier for more than 10 years when I met Kudzu, it was fun not to have to bend over to pet him! Kudzu won my heart not long after I met him, when he "protected" me from a Yellow Lab that was barking at me. Kudzu and the Lab were friends, but he growled at her and moved her away from me. She was bluffing, but I was honored by Kudzu's chivalry none the less. Kudzu has "gone over the Rainbow Bridge" now and painting him has been a bit like having him back again.

As I was preparing the photo of the painting for this post, I can see a few tiny spots I'd like to look at in "real life" and make some adjustments to. It always amazes me to see what the camera "sees" that I've totally missed. The color is off a little bit in this image, too. The background is more of a cool blue - it looks a little warm in the photo to me.

This painting, an 8" x 10" oil on Raymar panel, was a commission, so it isn't for sale, but please be sure to email me if you'd like to discuss investing in a painting of one of your pets - or if you'd like to purchase something already done.

thanks for stopping by,

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Snickers

2011-04-26T17:15:00.005-04:00

"Snickers" is the third in my series of paintings of the dogs at FiFi's Friends, a no-kill rescue shelter in Bakersville, NC. Snickers is an adult male dog who has lived at FiFi's Friends for about 4 years now. Pam says he is definitely a "redhead" and his wild hairdo really defines the character he is. Snickers sounds like the perfect companion dog. You can read more about him on FiFi's Friends PetFinder page for him... http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/10538806

I really enjoyed painting Snickers, especially his "wild 'do" - which actually doesn't look all that wild in this pose. The reds and yellows in his fur are beautiful. Mostly, I love his eyes. They remind me a lot of my hound dog, Maggie's eyes. Very "soulful".

If you can't adopt Snickers, but would love to have this beautiful face around, the painting can be yours for just $240. I'll donate $50 of that to FiFi's Friends.

Thanks for stopping by....

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

June 7, 2011 update - Snickers has been adopted! Yahoo!

Rally To Rescue

2011-04-20T20:45:00.005-04:00

Somehow, Tuesday totally got away from me and nearly all of Wednesday did, too. My head has been totally into painting and I've been ignoring my computer. On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of watching Jon Houglum demonstrate his talents at the monthly meeting of the Blue Ridge Fine Art Guild. He is a landscape painter from Franklin, North Carolina. I think everyone there enjoyed his demonstration. He completed a painting in less than an hour and a half and talked to the audience the whole way through, explaining what he was doing and why. Fascinating! Watching other painters paint is always helpful and sometimes very inspirational, which this demo was. He has some demos on YouTube that I've heard are worth a watch, so you can take a look if you like. I gave a try today at his "pool of paint" method, but I'm so totally stingy with my paint it was much more of a "half dry puddle". One thing he does that I haven't been doing is painting from the top down, rather than "lights, then darks" or "darks, then lights". My top down approach today was rather successful, so I may keep working on that. This would be just for my plein air adventures, though, not my animals.

I have some very cool news to share. If you have seen my website, you may have seen that I am a member of HeARTs Speak, a nonprofit organization of "Artists Working Together to Promote Deeper Understanding for the Voiceless". Basically, we are a group of artists working together to promote pet adoptions from shelters and rescues (as opposed to the pet store at the mall - or the puppy breeder down the street). Well, I'm very pleased to let you know that Rally To Rescue, a magazine published by Nestle Purina Petcare, has a wonderful article about HeARTs Speak written by Adam Williams (thank you, Adam!). And... there's a bit about me and my art in there, too! I'm honored. Here's a link to a PDF file of the article, used with permission of Rally to Rescue, Nestle Purina PetCare....... Priceless HeARTs. (just click on "Priceless HeARTs")

I've got another one of FiFi's Friends on my easel. Almost done, but not quite.

Thank's for stopping by. Enjoy the article about HeARTs Speak - and please - tell everyone "Adopt, don't Shop".

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

"Square Bear" - finished (almost)

2011-04-12T11:52:00.003-04:00

Last week I finally decided it was time to finish my "square bear". I've just looked back at my blog posts and see that it was way back in December when I started this piece. Painting him was a challenge. The goal was to create the look of fur without actually having to paint the fur. At least not every strand. I'm trying to "loosen up". Bear paintings are on the walls of quite a few stores and restaurants in Western North Carolina. I've spent long moments studying how other artists paint bears. Many of them paint lots of tiny fur strokes. Not that it's a bad thing to paint tiny fur strokes, it's just that I didn't want to do that. And since this is such a close-up, I had a hard time keeping myself from getting into painting each individual strand.

The black was created with a mixture of VanDyke Brown and Winsor Blue - Red Shade (both from Winsor Newton). It makes a lovely blueish-black. I enjoy mixing my own blacks, as opposed to using a black directly from the tube. Lots of times I'll use Burnt Sienna and UltraMarine Blue. That combination makes a really "black" black.

The tan areas were a mix of Yellow Ochre and Naples Yellow, a bit of VanDyke Brown and Titanium White.

There are one or two small areas that need attention on this, not enough so that you could tell from the photo, and once I tend to those, it will be done. The "Square Bear" still needs a title, though. Any thoughts?

Once finished, the Square Bear will be re-titled and for sale for $450. Shoot me an email if you are interested.

I hope you made it to the Canine Art Guild's website to see the Mug Shots exhibition. If you haven't, here's the link again... www.canineartguild.com/gallery You'll find my painting, "Ollie", on the first page. Don't forget to vote! You'll need to leave an email address at the bottom of the page - this is just so they can make sure people only vote one time. The exhibition is full of wonderful dog portraits, so be sure to take some time to drop in.

Thanks for reading!
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Please Vote for Ollie!

2011-04-05T10:00:00.001-04:00

This absolutely handsome little fellow is Ollie. He lives a very good life in Sedona with a favorite friend of mine. Ollie was a rescue dog, given up by someone who wasn't physically capable of keeping a Jack Russell Terrier. I've had the good fortune to spend some time with Ollie and he is quite the charmer.

This is also the painting that I mentioned a few weeks ago that was a surprise. Ollie's mom's birthday was coming right up, and I couldn't resist. I'm so glad I didn't post the "in progress" photo as I had planned. She reads my blog, which I didn't know. Cool.

The painting was done on a 5"x7" Raymar Art panel. They have several different "types" of panels. I like the PleinAir panels and I use the one for Fine Portrait and Detail Artists in a turquoise color package. The canvas surface on these panels have a fine texture. These panels are a cotton/poly canvas on MDF with a melamine finish on the back side (to prevent warping). I've been working on these panels for more than a year now and I've been very happy with them. If you are interested here's a link.... www.raymartart.com
(and a disclaimer - I'm not paid for that recommendation - I just like the product)

Now, for the Voting part mentioned in the title. I've entered this painting of Ollie in the current online exhibit at the Canine Art Guild. This exhibit is called Mug Shots and I thought this portrait of Ollie fit the title perfectly. You can see the exhibit at www.CanineArtGuild.com/gallery

There are four pages of paintings in the Mug Shots exhibit and they are all pretty much fantastic. Go and look and see for yourself. Ollie is on the first page. You need to leave your email address for the vote to count - there's a space at the bottom of the page for that.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the Mug Shots exhibit!

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Mona

2011-03-29T16:21:00.005-04:00

This lovely hound is called Mona. She is the second in my new series of dogs that are living at Fifi's Friends, a no-kill shelter in Western North Carolina. She's an adult female that was abandoned by her original owners. She has a bullet in her leg, but manages just fine. She has a forever home at Fifi's Friends, but can't you just see her hanging out on a front porch next to a rocking chair?

This painting is 8" x 6", oil on Raymar panel (canvas over hardboard). It can be yours for just $240 and I'll donate $50 of that to Fifi's Friends to help take care of Mona and the rest of the gang there.

Thanks for stopping by.

susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Introducing Lizzy

2011-03-23T20:34:00.002-04:00

My apologies for being a day late with this post. The lateness has been causing an extreme case of the "guilts", because I gave an Internet Marketing presentation to the Blue Ridge Fine Arts Guild on Monday night. In that talk, I stressed how important it was to be consistent with your blogging. Don't disappear for months at a time. If you say you will post on Tuesdays, be sure to do that.

Well, sometimes life just gets in the way. And that's what happened. That, and Lizzy.

Lizzy is an 8 month old Jack Russell Terrier. We brought her home on Saturday and introduced her to the rest of the "pack". We've been without a Jack Russell for just over two years and life just isn't the same. Maggie, our hound mix, is the best dog ever. Perhaps even Lassie in a hound dog suit. But she isn't a JRT.

So life has changed dramatically here. I did manage to get some studio time yesterday and started another painting of one of the dogs at FiFi's Friends. She's a beautiful hound dog. If I can squeeze in some more studio time in between chasing Lizzy around, I'll have a painting to show you.

thanks for stopping by,
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Spooky's Sofa

2011-03-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

Last summer, I participated in a fun show in Hendersonville, NC, at the Conn-Art Gallery. The title of the show was "Match My Sofa". I entered two paintings and this was one of them. I found Spooky taking a nap on a blog on the internet. Painting all those "whites" was fun!

The painting I mentioned in last week's post is finished, but can't be posted yet. No promises (learned my lesson on that one) as to when I'll get to post it. I don't think it will be long, though.

Thanks for reading and looking!

susan

susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Happy Anniversary, Maggie!

2011-03-08T17:37:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, March 7th, was Maggie's two year anniversary as my "best girlfriend". This photo is a recent one of Maggie on Hunting Island in South Carolina. Maggie came into my life after my Jack Russell Terrier, Sailor, died. She's a rescue dog. You may have heard me mention her before. Maggie was a shelter puppy from the time she was about 7 weeks, till she was 6 1/2 months old. First, she was given to the Mitchell County Animal Shelter and then, when she had been there "too long", Pam, from Fifi's Friends adopted her and brought her home to her pack. I found Maggie on Fifi's Friends PetFinder page. Maggie has been a great dog and truly everything I wanted in a companion.

I'm working on a new dog portrait and thought I might show you an "in progress" photo of it, but decided to wait. This one is a surprise for someone and I don't want to spoil that. Next week, for sure.

For my local friends..... Mountainside Wine in Spruce Pine is hosting a Wine and Whiskers Event on May 7th. This is a benefit for the Mitchell County Animal Shelter. There will be entertainment, snacks from local restaurants, a wine tasting and a raffle. I will be donating a print of my painting "Ready?".

Thanks for stopping by!
susan

www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

The "BIG" Announcement

2011-03-01T12:16:00.004-05:00

Today is the day! I finally get to make my "big" announcement. You may already know that I use my art to help raise money for several local animal shelters and rescue organizations. You also know that dogs are a favorite subject of mine. I had nearly run out of good reference photos, when I had one of those "aha!" moments. An epiphany. My dog, Maggie, came from a local no-kill rescue organization called FiFi's Friends. There are more than 40 dogs there now and Pam, their caregiver, takes great photos of them. I approached Pam with a plan. Using her photos, I'll paint portraits of the dogs. I've been studying internet marketing recently and I'm going to use what I've been learning to get the word out about these wonderful dogs. If I can help find any of FiFi's Friends' dogs a forever home, I'll be delighted. In addition, these portraits will all be for sale. The paintings will be smallish, so that I can keep the prices low and more affordable. I will donate 25% of the sale of each portrait to FiFi's Friends.

The first dog of this new project is Max. (You'll find a link to his page on PetFinder below.) Max is a Plott Hound/Staffordshire Terrier mix. His owner was deployed overseas and had to give him up. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for both of them.

Max is about 2 years old, about 60-65 lbs and is housebroken. He's a very strong dog, both physically and emotionally. He is very sweet and loyal to his person. He's a big strong boy and would love to be your hiking or running companion. Here's a sweet story Pam told me about him:

"I had him at the vet one day and this lady who had to be at least 70 came out of one of the rooms and Max saw her and he was in a sitting position and he kind of hopped, in that sitting position so he was gazing right into her eyes...only a couple of inches from her. It was all so sweet...and kind of surprised me that he chose her like he did."

Max's page on PetFinder can be seen here:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18336226

FiFi's Friends page on PetFinder can be seen here:
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC568.html

Contact me directly if you'd like to buy this painting. It is 5" x 7", oil on panel. It can be yours for only $80, plus shipping. That means $20 will go to FiFi's Friends.

Thanks so much for stopping by - especially if you made it all the way down here to the end!

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Bob the Cat

2011-02-22T07:23:00.003-05:00

I'm still traveling, so another post from the road. This is a photo - not a painting (digital or otherwise). This is Bob. He lives in Beaufort, SC and is one of the prettiest orange cats I've ever had the pleasure to meet. We were parked along the side of a street when I spotted him. I leaned out of the window to take a photo and he leapt right up into the truck. He didn't realize that Maggie, my dog, was in the truck, too. She was in the back seat, but took immediate interest in our new traveling companion. Bob, though, decided that maybe traveling with Maggie wasn't his choice, so he continued on across the cab of the truck and went out the driver's side window. He bent that lithe cat body around the door support and next thing was on the hood of the truck. This photo was taken from inside the cab looking out at Bob. One very cool cat.

Next week, I'll be back in the studio and will have another painting to show you along with some more very exciting news. I've got a new project in the works that I just can't wait to get started on. But more about that next week....

thanks for stopping by,

susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Trevor - and some good news!

2011-02-15T19:24:00.004-05:00

Golden Retrievers have been a presence in my life recently. It started, I think, with reading Racing in the Rain, which features a Golden. Then, I read a Dean Koontz book with several Golden Retrievers in it. My daughter recently adopted a Golden from a rescue. And now, I'm traveling and there is a resident Golden where I am staying. His name is Trevor and he truly has the "smile" I've read about. This "painting" is of him. Note the quotes around the word painting. I created this with a photo I took of Trevor and some Photoshop magic. Not all people consider art created on a computer to be true paintings. I think that art can be created with whatever tools you have access to. In addition to painting with oils and paint brushes, I enjoy working with Photoshop and digital brushes and filters. Since I'm not in the studio this week or next, I'll be posting digital paintings. Once I get back to my studio, you can be sure you'll see a painting of this lovely boy before too long.

And now the good news... my painting, "Charlottesville Hound" was awarded Third Place in the People's Choice Award in the Helping Paws Exhibit sponsored by the Canine Art Guild. Thank you to everyone who voted for my painting. A cash award of $50 will go to the Yancey County Humane Society. You can still see the exhibit if you missed it by clicking here. There are many fabulous paintings in the exhibit.

Thanks for stopping by....

susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Beagle Puppy - finished

2011-02-08T22:10:00.004-05:00

I almost forgot it was Tuesday!

Here is the Beagle puppy - all done. I love how the fur seems almost like it is real. Like there is a real density there. This one is on a Raymar Art panel and is 10" x 8". It can be yours for $400.

I've got some exciting news to share - but it's going to have to wait till next time.

Thanks for stopping by,

susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Beagle Pup - In Progress

2011-02-01T15:57:00.003-05:00

This adorable Beagle pup has been begging to be painted for months and I finally got started on it this past weekend. I'm working on an 10" x 8" Raymar panel - canvas over board basically. I really like these panels. They don't warp and they are easy to pack for plein air painting (painting outside). After applying two coats of white gesso, I mixed up a peachy color. After brushing it on the entire canvas panel, I wiped most of it off and then set it aside to let it dry for a couple of days. One day was probably enough, but since it was the weekend, I could let it sit for a while. Yesterday I began by sketching in the major shapes using a thinned out Burnt Sienna. Then, I started blocking in the largest color shapes beginning with the lighter brown color. I quit after getting the browns and whites blocked in. Today, I worked on the darks - the eyes and the nose. At the moment, I consider this a little more than "blocked in". A little more detail has been completed. A few darker darks are beginning to help give dimension to the image.

Puppies are such fun to paint!

Thanks for stopping by.

susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Come Hither

2011-01-27T10:43:00.006-05:00

Running a bit behind this week. I've spent more time on marketing the past week than painting and as a result had nothing to show on Tuesday. Eventually, though, my studio calls and I make my way back to my easel.

Yesterday I put the final touches on the Siamese Cat. Whiskers, a few more shadows and highlights and my signature. Soon she will be on her way to Key West. I've decided to call this one "Come Hither". She looks rather seductive to me and I keep hearing those words in my head when I look at her, so that will be the title.

I spent sometime yesterday working on my "square" bear face. As hard as I tried, I couldn't duplicate the black I mixed originally (it was a new combination) and there was no way I could make the same one yesterday. Ugh. I should have made note of my mixture and will do that next time. Normally, I don't make notes, and I don't ever have a hard time making up the color again. I usually paint with a limited palette, using the same colors all the time. Guess that is a lesson learned when adding new colors to my palette!

Thanks for stopping by....

susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

What If?

2011-01-18T17:39:00.005-05:00

Earlier this morning, I read another artist's blog that discussed "what if". It seemed especially relevant since I just completed a "what if" with my Siamese Cat. While the painting was drying, it was sitting on a window sill, near a bonsai jade plant. A bit further away is a pole lamp whose light was casting the most beautiful shadows from the jade onto the bottom of the panel the cat is on. The first time it caught my eye, I thought "what happened to my painting?". I spent a far bit of time staring at it and thinking, what if? What if I painted those shadows on? The background paint was still quite wet then, so I let it dry. Then, last night, I knelt on the floor in front of the painting and proceeded to paint the shadows right over the cast shadow. It was much harder mixing the color than I imagined. Ever time I mixed, the value was way too dark. So, I kept making my value lighter. Finally, I got to where I could paint over the shadow without darkening it. But... to my surprise, when I moved the painting out of the shadows and into the light - my shadows disappeared! Ach! Back to mixing and making the value darker. I fetched my flashlight and kept shining it on my painting to make sure my shadows were there. It worked pretty well. This morning, in daylight, my shadows were there. Cool.

I'm including two photos with this post. The first one shows the shadows the way they were when I first saw them. I couldn't use a flash to take that photo, so you'll see the color is way off. The second photo shows the painting now that I've added my own "shadows". This one is nearly done, only the whiskers left to do, I think, and they will have to wait till the paint is dry.

Thanks for stopping by!

susan

http://www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Siamese Cat

2011-01-11T19:41:00.003-05:00

I'm delighted to tell you that I've been asked to create a painting for an upcoming exhibit in Key West! The exhibit is next month during the monthly Walk On White. Held on the third Thursday of each month, it draws quite a crowd.

Usually I create my paintings from photographs. I see something that catches my eye, I take lots of pictures and I create a composition in Photoshop that then becomes my reference photo. This time, though, the painting was created in my head. It is a much bigger challenge for me that way, but I love a challenge. So, first I sketched in my sketch book. Then, I looked at lots and lots of photos on the internet. And I studied my own cat. A few weeks ago, I purchased a beautiful hardwood board that is 8" x 16", originally thinking it would be a fun horizontal format. Once I found that board, I sketched the cat again, this time on a piece of paper large enough for the 8" x 16" format. I gessoed the board with three coats of gesso, sanding in between coats. Then, I toned the board with an unbleached titanium white - which is a lovely warm tannish color. I traced the sketch and then used graphite paper to transfer the image to the board. To keep the graphite from bleeding through the oil paint, I sprayed the board with a workable fixative before I started painting.

At this point the painting is nearly done. I spent hours yesterday painting the eyes on and then wiping them off. They are nearly right now, but still need work. And I'm not quite sure about the background. I've gone over the entire background with a mix of naples yellow and white, which is very similar to the unbleached titanium background I started with. The past few nights, I have gone to sleep changing background colors in my head. Attempts in Photoshop were futile. Tomorrow, I hope it will become clear, because I hope to finish it then!

susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Colored Pencils

2011-01-04T15:38:00.003-05:00

Welcome 2011!

It's been a busy holiday season and I'm happy to be back on a "normal" schedule. Unfortunately, I don't have any new paintings to share with you today, but I have included one of my recent favorites.

This photo is of a colored pencil dog I created several months ago for the Canine Art Guild's 5th year anniversary show. Each entry had to be 5" x 5". Trying to paint a dog that small with oil paints wasn't something I wanted to take on, so I got out my colored pencils. It had been a while since I had worked with my pencils and I really enjoyed the using them again. They are time intensive, but the work is almost meditative.

If you haven't voted in the Helping Paws online exhibition yet, there is still time. This vote counts for the animals -so don't forget. www.canineartguild.com/gallery

Best wishes to you all for the New Year.

thanks for stopping by,

Susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

"Square Bear" In Progress - part two

2010-12-28T17:19:00.003-05:00

I think I'm going to have to come up with a new name for this painting before long. "Square Bear" just isn't going to make the cut of titles, that's for sure.

With the holidays, art was put on hold for a few days. A week ago, I spent three hours on the eyes one day and then spent two hours undoing what I had done the next day. The eyes were way too large for a bear. They have very small eyes for their large heads. Today I did a few tiny touches to the eyes and then moved onto the nose. Put some paint on, took some paint off. Not really sure how I'm going to approach the fur on his nose. I don't think I want to get into painting lots of individual hairs for the fur, but I haven't quite figured out how to get the look I want. That's where the "put some paint on, took some paint off" came in.

The next time I write, it will be 2011. Wow. Have a wonderful and safe New Year's celebration.

See you next year!

susan

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-21T19:40:00.002-05:00

Best wishes to all for a peaceful and happy holiday season.

Susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Helping Paws Online Exhibit

2010-12-17T09:57:00.001-05:00

The 3rd annual Helping Paws online art exhibit, held by the Canine Art Guild is on display now. This exhibit is special - each artist has pledged a percentage of sales to the animal shelter or rescue of their choice. In addition, there will be a People's Choice Award, which is a cash award that will go directly to the shelter or rescue chosen by the artist. I have two pieces in the show, the Charlottesville Hound and the little German Shepherd Dog puppy, and have pledged 10% of each to the Yancey County Humane Society. There are 3 pages of paintings in the exhibit, so be sure to see them all. Remember, too, you only get one vote, which is why they collect email addresses. Here's the link: www.canineartguild.com/gallery/

Square Bear - In Progress

2010-12-15T20:24:00.002-05:00

This painting wasn't quite done enough to show yesterday - even as an "in progress", so I decided to postpone my Tuesday post till Wednesday. The canvas still doesn't have paint over the entire surface yet, but I think there is enough definition now so that it at least is beginning to look like a bear.

The canvas is 12" x 12". After applying several coats of white gesso, I put down a coat of "unbleached titanium" acrylic color. It is a very nice pale tan color - almost a pale Naples Yellow. And a very pleasing color to tone a canvas with.

I sketched the eyes and the nose with a pencil directly on the canvas. When I was satisfied with their positioning, I sprayed the canvas with a workable fixative. This will keep the pencil from bleeding into the oil paint.

The painting began with the darkest blacks. I used a mix of Van Dyke Brown and Winsor Newton's "Winsor Blue - Red Shade". This makes a beautiful blueish black which is just what I wanted for this bear. For the lighter areas, I've mixed a bit of Titanium White in with the "black". For this blocking in procedure, I don't use too many colors, choosing instead to add more color when I get into the final details. The part of the canvas that is light tan hasn't had any oil paint on it yet.

Thanks for stopping by - I've got an art exhibit opening to announce and will do that here tomorrow - so be sure to check back then.

susan

http://www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Studio Tours

2010-12-07T08:52:00.006-05:00

It's a very cold and snowy Tuesday here in the mountains. The snow started on Saturday, the 2nd day of the Toe River Art Council's December Studio Tours. A fun event that involves over 100 artists in 2 counties. For this tour, and this past Spring's tour, I've been fortunate and have been showing my work at the Selena Glass and Metal Studio. There are 5 artists showing their work - stained and painted glass works, jewelry, decorative mirrors and my paintings. It is a bonus stop for customers. The snow was a challenge for most people, although there were quite a few who braved the cold and came out. Thank you very much for those of you who did.

The accompanying photos

show most of the work I had on display. There was more work in the loft that isn't in these photos. The center table is a good place to lay out prints and notecards. I also put out a display of small plein air landscapes done on boards that each sit on it's own easel.

Late last week I prepped a square canvas (12" x12") for the close up of the bear face I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. The way this snow is sticking around, with any luck I'll have a painting to show you next week!

Thanks for stopping by.

susan

http://susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

"Ready?"

2010-11-30T19:52:00.003-05:00

After a fair bit of time struggling with the what to do with a background, I decided that there wasn't anything I liked better than the plain background I started with. I did cover the background with oil paint pretty much the same color as the original tone of the canvas, but this background is a bit cooler than the first, I think.

I'm still planning on entering this painting in the Helping Paws Exhibition sponsored by the Canine Art Guild. The show opens December 15th. Check back here for a link. A portion of the sales from this painting will be donated to the Yancey County Humane Society in Burnsville, North Carolina.

If you would like to add this painting to your art collection - or maybe make this one your first? - it is available for $400. Shipping an insurance included. Just send me an email at susan@susangarriques.com

thanks for reading!

susan

www.susangarriques.com

www.suzun.blogspot.com

susan@susangarriques.com

German Shepherd Dog Puppy - in progress

2010-11-23T13:30:00.004-05:00

Tuesdays sure do come around quickly. Today is a grey and rainy day here. A good day to stay indoors and post to my blog.

This German Shepherd puppy has stolen my heart already. When I was a kid, my mom raised German Shepherds. It was the only breed I had any familiarity with until I was well into adulthood. They are smart and totally devoted to their owners.

I'm painting this one on a 10" x 8" canvas and hope to have him done on time to enter him in the Canine Art Guild's upcoming Helping Paws Exhibit. In this online exhibit, each of the artists will partner up with an animal rescue or shelter of their choice and pledge some of the proceeds of sales to that shelter or rescue. In addition, there will be several People Choice awards. That money goes directly to the rescue or shelter partnered with the winning artists. The exhibit will begin on December 15th. Watch here for a link announcing the opening.

Still haven't decided what to do with the background on this one. Seems to always be a problem. The canvas has been toned with a pale tan color. I like the way the puppy seems emerge from that color. At the same time, I'm thinking of trying some brush strokes of really bright colors - not painted in totally - more random swaths of color. I'll probably work with it a bit in Photoshop to see if I can pull it off with my paints. That way I won't risk ruining what looks to be a good painting.

Stay tuned........

and thanks for stopping by,

susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

No Dogs Allowed

2010-11-17T10:29:00.003-05:00

This painting, 11" x 14", oil on board was inspired by a photo my husband took of our dog, Maggie. In a nearby town, there is a lovely town square with paths that intersect, meeting with a circle and a statue in the center. There are huge old maple trees bordering the edges. At the beginning of each of the paths is a "No Dogs Allowed" sign. After painting this one, it was entered in the Canine Art Guild's annual Helping Paws online exhibit, where it tied for third place in the People's Choice Awards.

More important than the award, though, was my chance to make a subtle protest against the signs in the town square. I sent a press release to the town paper with a photo of the painting and a blurb about the Helping Paws exhibit. It was published and I got lots of feedback from people who saw it, but unfortunately the signs are still there.

I'm a day late with this post, with no one to blame but myself. Time got away from me yesterday and I didn't get any time in the studio. Today, though, is a full day in the studio, which I'm using to get ready for the upcoming Studio Tours. The Toe River Art's Council's Studio Tours are coming up the first weekend in December. I'll be showing my art in the Selena Glass and Metal Studio. This will be my second time on the tours and I can tell you that the studio at Selena Glass and Metal will be a busy place. We will have 5 artists for people to see in one stop, which makes it a bonus stop. If you are in the Western North Carolina area, be sure to stop in!

Thanks for stopping by,

Susan

www.susangarriques.com

susan@susangarriques.com

Black Bear Study (Finished)

2010-11-09T14:46:00.003-05:00

I'm calling this one done. This is the first time that I've painted a bear face. And I'm already looking forward to painting a close-up of this guy on a square canvas.

Originally I did this one, which is 12" x 9", as a study for a larger canvas. Perhaps as large as 48" x 36". Now that the study is done, I'm not sure this is going to be what I want on a big canvas. Time to try some more composition ideas.

If you are interested in purchasing this study, please feel free to email me.

See you next Tuesday!

susan

susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Black Bear Study (In Progress)

2010-11-02T13:44:00.005-04:00

This black bear is about half way to being done. Maybe a little more. There are areas - like his eyes - that will get quite a bit more attention. I'll do those with a tiny brush, which then seems to always translate it to large blocks of time. This is 9" x 12" and is a study for a larger painting. When I work on larger canvases, I like to do a study of the subject first. It always surprises me the things I see when I actually start to paint. For some reason, I don't notice some things at all until I pick up the brush. Doing a study first will give me a good opportunity to really "see" my subject as well as let me work out compositional issues.

Speaking of composition - I used Adobe Photoshop to try different backgrounds with this bear. And all the comps I created were done in a horizontal format. But when I sat down with my board and my pencil, to sketch it in, I turned the board vertical and decided I liked it that way.

Also, when I was working out the composition, I found that a tight crop on the bear's face with a square format was very exciting. I really do like painting "up close and in your face" portraits. Time to add a square canvas to my art supply list!

I'll get this bear finished up before next Tuesday, so be sure to stop by next week and see the finished painting.

susan
http://susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

"fixing" a painting

2010-10-26T15:25:00.002-04:00

Just got home from a week in Sedona, AZ. It was a great week of gallery hopping and I even got to see a plein air Paint Out with lots of accomplished artists. For those who might not know, "plein air" means to paint outside, trying to capture the feeling of the scene. It has to be done quickly, too, since the light changes so rapidly.

Since I was out of the studio for more than a week, I didn't get any painting done, but that gives me a chance to show you a painting I recently "fixed". This painting was done a couple of years ago. I wasn't ever happy with the background and it got shoved to the back of the studio somewhere. A few months ago, I was going through old paintings, throwing out the truly hopeless ones, when I ran across this one. It's on a nice canvas - deep frame with a gallery wrap - so I really didn't want to toss it. My style has changed a lot, too, and I was pretty sure I could make it a much better painting without too much work. First, I worked on the dog, softening the values and edges. I did another layer or two over the entire dog. Finishing that, I was still left with a background that made me cringe. It was green and what I had been trying to do was create the feeling of a woods or garden behind him. Didn't work. Not at all. I left it on my easel for several days, contemplating just how to get the background I needed. One that would make him pop off the canvas. Finally, I just let my intuition take over and I mixed a really dark green, using phthalo blue and cad yellow with a little bit of cad red medium. And that truly "fixed" the painting.

This is 11" x 14", oil on canvas. It was recently on display at Blackbird Frame & Art in Asheville, North Carolina during their show to benefit Brother Wolf. It didn't sell during the show, but I'll be delighted to contribute 20% of the sale to Brother Wolf (an animal rescue working towards a no-kill community) if you'd like to purchase it directly from me. $500 and it is yours!

thanks for stopping by,

susan

http://susangarriques.com
email - susan@susangarriques.com

2010-10-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

This beautiful little colt was painted on a 7" x 5" canvas. I really like this little guy. When I painted him, I was concentrating on painting more loosely and not worry so much about detail. That is hard for me, I tend to paint pretty tight and like to concentrate on the details. Here, instead, I tried to concentrate on the shapes and values.

Thanks for stopping by!

susan
http://susangarriques.com
mailto:susan@susangarriques.com

2010-10-12T21:21:00.002-04:00

Another Tuesday! They sure roll around fast.

Here is the finished hound painting. At least, I'm pretty sure he's finished. I like to let my paintings rest awhile before calling them "done".

I'm really happy with the eyes on this hound. No matter where I am in the room, he appears to be watching me.

Thanks for looking.
susan

http://susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

2010-10-05T16:15:00.003-04:00

Another Tuesday. This makes three in a row. I'm on a roll!

Still working on the hound. I haven't had as much time to work on him as I would like. Painting is no fun if I have to rush, so that post will have to wait.

Meanwhile, here is a 10" x 8" painting that I did a couple of months ago. The photo I used for reference was from a wonderful and generous equine photographer, Juliet Harrison. Juliet has a blog called the Equine Painter's Challenge. She posts photos she has taken and encourages painters to create from them. I loved the fat little pony in this one and woman's hand on her hip and the light, especially the light. This painting also brings back memories of my days on a horse farm and my horse show experiences with my daughter. Good days. Painting this one was a true pleasure.

If you'd like to see this one in person, it is part of the Fall Celebration of Arts at the Toe River Arts Council's Gallery in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Opening reception is Saturday, October 9th from 5pm - 8pm. It would be great to see you there!

Oh, and if you are interested in purchasing this one, please send me an email.

Susan
http://susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Charlottesville Hound in Progress

2010-09-30T16:26:00.003-04:00

The hound painting is coming right along, so I thought I would post a photo of it at this "blocked in" stage. My palette is pretty limited. Titanium white, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre. A touch of Van Dyke Brown in eyes. And a bit of Permanent Rose.

Getting the canvas blocked in and totally covered with paint is always fun. Not much detail to worry about. Now, with the canvas covered, it's time for the detail work. It shouldn't take too much more paint to make this hound come to life.

Thanks for stopping by.

Susan
www.susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Charlottesville Hound

2010-09-28T16:36:00.003-04:00

Two Tuesdays in a row. I'm on a roll!

This sketch is the first stage in a painting I just started. I sketched this directly on canvas using burnt sienna thinned with Turpenoid. Next step is to start blocking in the colors. I've actually started that already, but won't post a photo till I get the canvas covered. The canvas is 8" x 10".

I'm working from a photo I took in Charlottesville, Virginia, two years ago. The look of intensity on the hound's face intrigues me. I hope I can capture that on the canvas.

2010-09-21T11:39:00.005-04:00

Hmmmm.... more than two years have slipped by since I last posted. How did that happen? I'm pretty sure I think everyday about how I should be blogging and yet, I never seem to get here.

Regardless, here I am with another goal of blogging with regularity. Tuesdays. Maybe Thursdays too. And maybe more often if there is something interesting going on in my art world. But for sure Tuesdays.

Today's painting was a commissioned portrait of an 8 month old yellow Labrador Retriever. His name is "Duke". The painting is 8" x 10", oil on canvas. One of my goals with this painting was to capture the "young" dog. Not a puppy look anymore, but not an adult either. I'm happy with the results. He was on my easel for about a month and I was reluctant to send him off to his "new" home. When I paint animals (as opposed to my landscapes) I find I have a hard time letting them go. I become attached. It must be the eyes. He was so much like having a well behaved pet in the studio with me! Quiet and non-demanding.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week! (or maybe sooner.....)

Susan
http://susangarriques.com
susan@susangarriques.com

Tiger Kitten Finished

2008-03-25T20:55:00.005-04:00

Whew. It's been a long time between posts. But now the tiger kitten is finished. After the last post, I spent one day adding the fur lines over the blocked in areas that were shown in the last post. I'm happy with the texture that has been created.

This kitten and two other cat portraits left my studio today for an exhibit in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Arts. They are going to be exhibited in the current exhibition "Facing South : Portraits by North Carolina Artists". I'm honored to be a part of this exhibit.

I'm all caught up now with my paintings and it is time to start on "what's next". This is an exciting space to be in. I have several new painting ideas in my head and right now I'm not sure which one I'll do first.

Once again, thanks for looking.

susan

In Progress

2008-02-29T16:45:00.003-05:00

Finally, a chance to paint with oils again. As I started today, I realized that this is my first oil painting of 2008. I've been busy practicing with acrylics for the Glory of Horses project. Today's work confirmed my love for oils.

This painting is in progress. I started it this morning, first with a rough pencil sketch directly on the canvas. After I was satisfied with the sketch, I sealed the pencil with a workable fixative. This is supposed to keep the pencil from leaking through the oil paint. Usually, I sketch with a paint brush. For some reason, today, I felt like sketching with a pencil. After the fixative dried, I began by blocking in the colors. Working with fur can be a problem for me. Especially if there are lots of colors in it, which is common. For this kitten, I've decided to block in a basic color, and after it dries, go back over with a fine brush to lay in some hairs in the actual colors.

Not sure when I'll get a chance to finish this one, but I'll be sure to post it when I do.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jesse

2008-02-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

"Jesse" was a commissioned piece for a Christmas gift. (Thank-you!) While painting this portrait, I learned the value of good photos for portraits. This portrait was the second I did of Jesse. The first one I painted from a tiny photo of him, which only got blurry when I tried to make it large enough to see clearly. I wasn't happy with the resulting painting, so we decided to take some new photos of Jesse and try again. This time I was very pleased with the resulting painting. (16" x 20", oil on canvas)

I have a few "rules" in my life that I try to follow consistently. For example, "always bring my camera". Now, I've added "always paint from decent photos" to my list of rules.

Changes

2008-02-19T08:49:00.004-05:00

We finally have completed our move from the Florida Keys to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Just two days from now we will have been here for one month. Moving certainly does eat up studio time.

The last thing to be packed and the first to be unpacked is always my computer. That means that even if I don't get a chance to paint, I am still able to spend sometime working on digital art. Since last fall, I've been working on some new ideas that combine photography, Photoshop, colored pencil and ink.

The photograph that I created this image from came from the wonderful reference library at wetcanvas.com.

Molly

2008-02-15T10:50:00.003-05:00

I realize that blogs really should be kept up on a regular basis, and now that it is a new year, I'll add "keeping my blog up" to my resolutions. Better yet, I'll even commit to posting on Tuesdays and Fridays.

This painting is of Molly, a black Lab that belongs to a dear friend. Molly loves sitting on this colorful couch and I couldn't resist the way the light was coming in the window and shining on her. Since Molly is black, I used Pthalo Blue and Cad Red with a touch of Cad Yellow to create my "black", which really came out a bit on the blue side. I like the way it works with the colors of the couch.

"Molly" is also part of the online art show currently being exhibited at the Canine Art Guild. My painting of the Boston Terrier is also in the show. The Canine Art Guild members are talented artists. If you get a chance, be sure to stop in and see the show. Here's a link: www.canineartguild.com/gallery

Pugs

2007-09-02T11:31:00.001-04:00

This cute little guy is Harry. He belongs to the friend of my daughter's. He's 8" x 10". Oil on canvas. SOLD (thank you!).

http://www.susangarriques.com/

Cats

2007-08-21T09:42:00.000-04:00

This lovely cat is a Bengal Tiger Cat. He is quite the character. I love his eyes.

This painting is 8" x 10" and available for $400.

You can see more of my paintings on my website:

http://susangarriques.com

Back to blogging

2007-08-05T11:18:00.001-04:00

The past four months have been busy. I've been painting, but also am in the process of moving. My time seems to get devoured by the days, with no time for blogging. Nearly everything I read mentions blogging. Good for self-promotion. So, with that in mind, I will continue.

This Bull Mastiff is oil on canvas, 8" x 10", and available for $400.

"On Watch"

2007-03-20T16:40:00.000-04:00

This handsome guy is #41 in the series. I've named it "On Watch" and given it to a local scholarship fund auction. The scholarships go to local high school art students.

Black Lab

2007-03-20T16:33:00.000-04:00

#40 in the series. I spent a long time on this guy. I need to remember to step away. Too many times I find myself messing about with the littlest details.

I painted this one with a limited palette. Phthalo Blue and Cad Red Light and Titanium White. Tiny bits of Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre and Cad Red Medium for the eyes and the collar.

Finding my space

2007-03-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

Not to be confused with myspace.com. I mean my space in the art world. Just what is it that I want to paint?

I started a 100 Paintings Project last summer (August, 2006). My goal was to paint 100 landscape paintings, using 8" x 10" canvases and limiting my time to 2 hours on each. I chose landscapes because I have a hard time painting landscapes. The time limit was meant to force me to be faster. And hopefully not so tight.

A few weeks ago, I finished #38. I do these small paintings inbetween other painting projects, so they are not accumulating very quickly. But.... lately I found myself looking longingly at paintings of animals by other artists. One day I found myself wishing I was painting animals instead of landscapes. Right away I realized how silly wishing was when all I had to do was change my 100 Paintings Project to animals. So I changed spaces.

Yesterday I painted #39, which is a Boston Bull Terrier puppy. This one took 3 1/2 hours to finish. I'm delighted with it. Maybe this will be my space.

p.s. The paintings can be seen on my website, as well as my other paintings. http://susangarriques.com