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"Black & White (Millie)," 8x10, tuxedo kitty portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!).

It's pretty obvious - Millie is a black and white cat, and as such, her painting becomes a mere study in value and line (although I think her precocious personality plays into the equation somewhat too).

In order to properly convey an essentially black and white portrait, one has to understand the finer points of drawing, and reducing one's subject matter to a simplified value range. There is little else for the eye to get lost in when the palette is restricted in this way, and errant shapes or incorrect values will seem even more glaringly wrong.

Quality draftsmanship, the ability to draw and recognize basic values, is essential when it comes to translating those same concerns into color. One cannot be crummy at drawing and expect to be able to excel at painting.

One artist who is exemplary in the art of drawing is artist Sheona Hamilton-Grant from Germany. Not only does she correctly reduce her subject matter to that ever important value range (translating a color photograph to black & white), but she does so with meticulous detailing. I never cease to find inspiration in her work. Her website is http://www.sheonahamiltongrant.com/ .

"Black and white really allows me to get to the essence, to show emotion, it doesn’t sidetrack in the way colour can." Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Sheona has a piece in the Canine Art Guild's new online exhibition, titled Black & White. I have some work in it too - but the show is full of some wonderful canine art from a great cross-section of artists who specialize in painting dogs. You may see the exhibition at http://www.canineartguild.com/ - scroll down the page a little bit to find the banner announcing the show, and click on that. (And if you do visit, make sure to cast your vote for the People's Choice award!)

Thanks, as always, for looking and sharing!
Enjoy your weekend,
Kim

Kimberly Kelly Santini
http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/
distinctive pet portraits
& 4-legged paintings

http://www.paintingadogaday.com/
come. sit. stay.
enjoy the art.

Founding member of the Canine Art Guild
http://www.canineartguild.com/
the gateway to canine art on the web
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