Skip to main content

Real Men Wear Pink

My demo painting from last night's presentation - I got a good start, despite talking non-stop for over 2 hours! Take a peek at my reference photo down below.

IN PROCESS: "Real Men Wear Pink (Chester)," 9" x 12", Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord, depicting a Bulldog. This painting will be available for purchase when completed.

Live painting demonstrations can be rather daunting - the key is to find a balance between the focus needed to make painting decisions all the while maintaining a meaningful dialogue with the attendees.

I think I did so for the most part last night, when working with Chester's portrait. I only lost my train of thought twice.

I can see now that I've got to fix the proportions of his face and I still want to lighten the bandanna up, but I remain pleased with what I was able to coherently share and document via my lip-flapping painting process last night.

Coherence is soon to dissipate. This time next week, there will be a horde of summer vacationing children at my house. I must be strong.

Thanks for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family,
Kim

PS I have not forgotten about Boots the goat, who we left in limbo on Tuesday - he'll get his turn next week!!


My reference photo for Chester's painting
Artistic License

Just because a photo shows something in a certain fashion, doesn't mean you have to paint it that way. Here's what I'm changing:

  • The tongue needs to be dangling longer, in order to break up the shape of his head.
  • The bandanna will be a softer pink, so that the tongue isn't the same color/value and stands out more.
  • I'm removing the bandanna tab above his head and the leash/harness lines.
  • I'm shifting the light source so that it more adequately says "noon" - which means adding a deeper shadow and upping the highlights on his topline.
  • I'm also softening the edges/detail in his rear legs and toes, to create a sense of depth and really push his face into the viewer.


Is there anything you'd like to add?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tabby Kit

"Tabby Kit," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tiny little orange striped guy from Morgue File . This painting can be yours for $289, which includes s&h inside the US. And in case you didn't see it, a little doodle of him is also available for sale here . Inquires may come directly to me .  Although it certainly doesn't FEEL like spring here (snow and ice and wind chills, brr!), I can tell that spring is coming. The mercury is rising a wee bit each day and the days are getting longer and brighter. Over the weekend we drove with the moonroof open just to feel the sun's meager and oh-so-very-welcome warmth (although the heat in the car was cranked, too, in the interest of full disclosure!). I wanted to work with spring-like colors today, and this little guy was still on my mind , so I grabbed a small panel and got to work. Of course, I also have Poppy to finish and some changes to make to another po
Post a Comment
Read more
“Rapt (Shadow),” from the Larger than Life series, 16”x22”, acrylic black lab mixed breed pet portrait on gallery wrapped canvas, $699. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. This is Shadow, who went missing on Sunday night. He belongs to a friend of mine, and has been a fixture in our community for many years. Errant fireworks scared the silly old guy into running off, and his family is busy searching for him. (If you happen to be in the Lake Orion/Oakland County area and have seen Shadow, please call 248-391-0867 or 248-391-6817) I’m confidant that he is safe (somewhere!) and awaiting discovery, but meanwhile, couldn’t help myself from posting his portrait as today’s dog a day painting . He’s constantly on my mind, and probably will remain so, until he finds his way back home. Hug your four legged guys while you can! Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ dis
Post a Comment
Read more

NEW! Etsy Store

One of my favorite unsold paintings from 2008, "Lashes & Corkscrews," 5" x 8", acrylic on canvasboard, depicting a tobiano buckskin curly horse, $289. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com (but read further on how you can get a special deal on this painting!). Now it's ridiculously easy to browse my painting archives. All you have to do is visit my Etsy store . Etsy has a Shopping Cart (so you can pile it high with purchases from a variety of artists), is integrated with Paypal (although you may still pay by check if you prefer to), and is terribly simple to navigate. When the week has ended, I will have listed almost 100 of my favorite (UNSOLD!) paintings here, grouped loosely by subject matter. During 2009 I'll update the shop regularly, and add non-Dog-a-Day pieces as a bonus, thus making it easy to search for that perfect gift. Watch my daily postings for announcements, promotions and discount codes. If you do not receive the Dog-a-Day emails (
Post a Comment
Read more