PET PORTRAITS, CANVAS BASKETS AND ORNAMENT FUN and MORE! © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

Raja

pet kid

commissioned

Raja is a kitty that has passed on to kitty heaven.  I did this commission for a dear friend who loved her dearly!  These are important portraits for me, they are a tribute...they make me smile, and cry and remember how important life is in all forms!  I loved her coloring all ready, but as is my style, I play with color (all except the eyes)...it's the fun part of being an artist!

Sasha

pet kid

commission

Sasha is the pet kid of a gentleman who owns a business up here in Conifer.  She was commissioned by Raja's mom as a gift, so I try to say very little...no giving away surprises!! :)  I love this dog...she poses for pics...she's a sweetie pie for sure!

This is an unusual but fun time of year for me...I spend a lot of time on commissions and gifts that make it look like I'm not doing anything, when in fact, it's one of the busiest times of year for me.  I just don't post a lot of them as folks who are recipients of the gifts might see!  It is after the holidays that I start back on the main body of my work...so hang on! :)

I've been really busy creating canvas baskets and affirmation ornaments for classes and such...below are just a few of what I've done.

and, a couple more commissions...

My son-in-law LOVES the Huskers...doing a helmet was my daughter's idea...so that is next for my easel...and one that is very important, that I will probably cry through, but I'm honored to do it...My co-grandma's father passed away recently.  She took this photo of her holding her dad's hand...my sweet daughter thought it might be a good gift for her this year, so this will be a blessing painting!

SO, as you can see, busy days here in my studio!  I love this time of year for the gifts and commissions I am honored to do, and know that soon I will be back at my easel with my mixed media paintings...some of which I've already started!  I hope this year finds you able to do blessings in whatever creative way is YOUR way!

KEEP THE INSPIRATION IN YOUR HEART!!

NEW BEGINNINGS AND A LITTLE FINISHING TO BOOT!

With summer coming it seemed a great time to paint a sunflower.  I haven't painted one in awhile, so this will be fun...I want to work on my sunflower strokes...make them a little more loose.  It will be interesting to see if I accomplish it.  This is an 18"x18" MDF cradled panel, so one of my favorite supports.

My youngest niece graduated recently, so it was time to paint something for her...this is her favorite horse; Chance.  And, aunt Saundra had to put him in one of my signature frames. 

Her sister is just about finished with college, so of course I have to paint her favorite pup...Bernie Mac (Bernard).  I've actually painted him several times...but just look at that face!  Gotta do him again!

Busy times in the studio...I'm still adding mountain summits from time to time, but I still want to work on other things...

HAPPY CREATING!

"WANNA PLAY?" ORIGINAL OIL ON PANEL © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Wanna Play?"

4"x4" oil on panel

$35

Available through my ETSY shop

This was an adorable pic I found in the morgue files.  He just captured my heart, this furry friend wanting to play!

HAPPY CREATING!

"BERNARD II" 100/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Bernard II"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

$75

Available through my WEBSITE

"Bernard II" is actually the same Bernard that I painted as #1 in 101 of my 101 Pet Portraits project.  He is my niece Kensey's pet kid.  My brother sent me the first photo of the first Bernard...admittedly it wasn't the best photo, but it's still Bernard.  In this first version, My strokes were pretty loose; which is what I wanted...and I tried to see the detail.  There was no light I could see, but it still was a likeness.  In the second version, there was a bit more light...the detail was a bit more ready to see, so...we can all decide what was to be gained! lol  Again, there are much more purples in both versions that show...I just don't get why they don't translate over!  Either way, I still see Bernard in those beautiful brown eyes!

Bernard II has display ideas to show that the first Bernard didn't.  Those things were added as time went on...the easel I found at Hobby Lobby.  The floater frames were purchased through pictureframes.com.

Maple Floater Frame

CFS10

 Black Floater Frame

CF1

Gold Leaf Floater Frame

CFS3

HAPPY CREATING!

"OLIVER" 98/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Oliver"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

SOLD

"Oliver" is a sweet little Carin Terrier like in the Wizard of Oz.  I had SO much fun painting Oliver.  He is sitting in the arms of someone who loves him!  At first I thought I'd just paint Oliver's sweet face, but quickly I realized; not knowing how his body would look naturally in that pose, I decided to put that loving arm in there, and I am REALLY glad!  It tells a story of love and sweetness!  Oliver's fauvist colors were FUN!  Buttery yellows and turquoise and green make the background colors.  I added a little bit of pattern in the background that adds a bit extra.  Oliver's fur has lots of blue and purple mixed in with some yellows that make some of the darks.  I added a bit of fauvist color to the arm that is holding Oliver; adding some fun!

 

Before I show Oliver in his display photos I wanted to talk a little about my process.  It's been basically the same throughout this project.  I mark carefully where the eyes go...and some important markers.  I then paint the eyes first, often followed by the nose; then the background and I finish with the rest.  Once I get the eyes placed, the nose is easy in relation to them...and the rest goes quickly.  I used the same brushes throughout the whole process. This project has helped me to improve my painting skills, as well as has given me "permission" to use brighter colors and fun interpretations.  I feel so blessed that so many sent in their photos of their pet babies, which made this whole experience that much more fun!  Thank you to everyone!!

And NOW, here is Oliver in all his precious glory!

 I found this particular easel at Hobby Lobby.

 I have to say, for frame colors I have, this one was my favorite for Oliver.  So simple...

These frames are floater frames. These frames get their name from the illusion they offer—once the art is assembled inside the frame, it appears to float within it. I found these frames at pictureframes.com.  I'm not thrilled with their shipping prices (I think they are way too high, and they often ship one small frame in a giant box! ha), but you can watch for sales and deals that pop up on the top left of their website screen.

MAPLE FLOATER FRAME

CFS10

 GOLD LEAF FLOATER FRAME

CFS3

BLACK FLOATER FRAME

CF1

HAPPY CREATING!

"CABER" 96/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Caber"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

ON HOLD for his pet parents

Caber was my friend Rebecca Ferring Gschwend's husband Dom's first Samoyed.  He was reported to be a real sweetie, but was afraid of EVERYTHING!  Except small animals like skunks! lol  I hear he ruined quite a few first dates as he had gotten sprayed!  However, a wine bottle, a camera; well, any simple household item sent him running!  Poor Caber!  He was well loved, however, so I say made out quite well!  It was fun painting Caber using fauvist coloring.  I kept his white pretty white for the strong contrast...but I used oranges and blues to give that good strong contrast.  The background is a soft green with yellow in it...I'm not sure how that translated on our computer monitors.  Caber comes ready to frame or can sit on an easel as shown below.

The easel is one I found at Hobby Lobby

 This is a floater frame.  That means it shows all the edges instead of how the traditional frames take 1/2" from each side.  These floater frames were purchased through pictureframes.com.

GOLD LEAF FLOATER FRAME CFS3

 BLACK FLOATER FRAME

CF1

 MAPLE FLOATER FRAME

CFS10

HAPPY CREATING!

"LOLA" 94/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Lola"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

SOLD

You know the song..."her name was Lola, she was a showgirl..."...YEP, that song played in my head the whole time I painted Lola!  I don't know her exact breed, but she could be a showgirl. lol...she was fun for that and...she was FUN to paint because of the colors...BUT NOT fun to photograph! HA.  SO MUCH COLOR in her...I LOVED this fauvist dog!  However, our weather is so poor I was forced to take photos indoors with artificial light.  I think it came out ok, but again, some of the things that show as blue have purple in them as well.  I only know to say that she looks just fine either blue or purple!  The background for Lola is a greyish blue, so that was another one that was difficult to photograph accurately. Such is life!  Michael Hofman sent me photo of Lola and immediately I saw all the color...she comes ready to frame or sit on an easel.

Lola's frame suggestions; as with all the others came from pictureframes.com.  They are floater frames, which means all the edges show.  The ptg is mounted from underneath.  This is a great type of frame for paintings that have subject matter that is very close to an edge...plus it is kind of modern.  Museums will have these frames along with the traditional ones.  The easel she is shown in I purchased at Hobby Lobby.

 Black Floater Frame CF1

 Gold Leaf Floater Frame

CFS3

Maple Floater Frame

CFS10

HAPPY CREATING!

"SCOUT" 93/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Scout"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

SOLD

Scout is a pet kid of some friends of Michael Hofman.  He is getting a couple friends some pet portraits as a gift.  WHAT A NICE FRIEND!  I love these faces there the pups have their face right in the camera and they are obviously happy...Michael sent me a couple photos but lets me pick...the face just says...I love you...UNCONDITIONALLY! 

Scout is a fauvist dream...orange, green, purple, yellow! WOO HOO!  His beautiful brown eyes and that sweet come hug me face.  The colors in Scout may be a little off...they are not as bright and strong as here...but buttery.  It has been raining and the light is terrible for photographs!

Notice how the colors change ever so slightly with just the slightly different light in each photo.  I'll try to give you the closest to accuracy as I see them on my monitor!  What a challenge it is sometimes!

 This is TOO BRIGHT in the colors...the light was really dark in this photo, so my changes to get the VALUES correct make the background colors way too bright...think these colors only buttery...ha.  This easel is one I found at Hobby Lobby.

The background colors here are closer to actual...see the difference...the buttery look...however...the changes in the photo lightened Scout's colors a bit too much! HA!  The frame is a floater frame you can find at pictureframes.com.  CF1

This is the maple floater frame; CFS10.  I think color is pretty ok here...Scout MAY be a little darker than in this photo.

Gold Leaf floater frame; CFS3. I think this version edited about the same...but the background is a bit better here...FUN DOINS!

HAPPY CREATING!