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Gus, Not Just Black & White

"Gus," 5" x 7", commissioned Shihtzu portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). You can get one of these paintings of your own - it's super easy - just email me. I've got a handful of holiday 2009 slots left and am currently booking new customers for March 2010.
 
Gus is a darling little guy, a puppy mill rescue who got the Hollywood ending he deserved. Not all puppy mill dogs do. Please, if you are considering adopting a dog (in no particular order), visit your local shelter, find a rescue group (there are breed specific ones if you have your heart set on a particular breed - google them!), visit Petfinder or work with a reputable breeder. There are a zillion options other than going to a pet store, honest.
 
Ok, off the soapbox.
 
I love this painting because it is a black and white dog who isn't - gasp! - black or white at all. Study black and white objects with your eyes (not via photographs). Marvel at the shadows and how they are rarely jet or inky black but simply darker versions of violets, blues or greens. And those whites? Most likely pastel variations of the colors around them. Take those black and white objects and move them about, into different types of light (outdoors, indoors, diffused, etc) and with different colored surroundings. Study the changes and identify patterns - this will make you better equipped to work from photographs.
 
Thanks as always for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family.
See you tomorrow,
Kim
 
PS Are you an artist? then you might want to read my latest article at Art Career Experts.
PPS Thanks to Moira at Dog Art Today for the great article about my paintings. Hook yourself up to regularly read her blog - it's one of my favorites!

Comments

  1. This is exactly what you must convey to our workshop next August, Kim!!

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