"MT. EVANS IN FAUVE" BEFORE AND AFTER © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Mt. Evans in Fauve" REWORKED

30"x24" 1.5" gallery wrap

$900

Available through my WEBSITE

YES..you've seen this before...this was one of my new pieces that went to SAM this summer.  The mountain itself always seemed a little strong for the painting, and as I'm in the middle of growing and changing a little it is always a process.

SINCE it came home with me, I have played a little...I softened the mountain...simplified shapes and the amount of color that existed and I am NOW much happier with it!  There was JUST TOO MUCH going on...and it needed a makeover; at least in my view, and this is the end result.

Here I have the before and after so you can see the change...and you can judge for yourself...I like the after myself!

It really wasn't that complicated, and with just a little care taken to blend the new with the old middle it came out just fine and dandy!

It is a GOOD thing to take stock of work you currently have...and play...it helps in the growing process as an artist.  I will continue to play with a piece or two, cuz that's what happens when stuff is in my house! LOL

HAPPY CREATING!

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

"Domino"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

SOLD to pet mom Diana...thank you!!

Here we are at the end of my 101 Pet Portraits in 101 Days project.  I want to thank EVERYONE who participated in this project with me.  It was an honor to hear all the stories and get to know each and every beloved pet through painting them!  I learned a lot through this process.  The biggest and best thing for me is that I reaffirmed just how much I love color in my work...I do believe it will be a character in my work that I will hang on to!  I also just got a little better in some areas...not so concerned about tightness, but realized that working with simpler strokes in areas is possible and looks better to me.  I will continue to work with a mix of abstract and realism for the time being as I still find value in using both, so that has been strengthened.  THE INSPIRATION abounds after doing all these pet kids!  It leaks to my other subject matter, so on I go!  Next for me is SUMMER ART MARKET which is June 13-14 at 200 Grant in Denver.  Be watching for more information on that!

NOW!...On to Domino; my 101 of 101. Domino is a Dalmatian kid to my dear friend and co-grandma Diana Grimes.  Domino was the family kid actually, and quite a pet I hear; very much loved.  I find it fun that the 101 was a Dalmatian!  My friend Diana had the idea and I loved it from first mention!  Domino was a great fauvist experience even being "white"!  There is green and red and blue and purple and yellow all in this one "white" pet kid's portrait!  I used my honeycomb in this last portrait of this project to add a little interest to the background.

Check out Domino in all her display ideas. 

 The easel I found at Hobby Lobby.  Domino looks good in the easel as a simple idea!

 Black Floater Frame

can be purchased through pictureframes.com

CF1

 Gold Leaf Floater Frame

CFS3

 Maple Floater Frame

CFS10

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!

"ZELLA MAE" 17/100 OF 100 PET PORTRAITS IN 100 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Zella Mae" Grimes

6" x 6" oil on slightly textured panel

$75

AVAILABLE THROUGH MY WEBSITE

I have met this dog; Zella Mae.  She is the baby of extended family Royce and Brittney Grimes.  Not too long ago she was hanging out with us and her pet dad took this photo with the glasses.  I knew immediately I wanted to paint her as she was awesome looking!  Zella Mae is a Shar Pei boxer mix.  I have to admit; she is a big girl, so at first I was a little intimidated.  It wasn't long before I saw what a cutie pie she was, so I smiled through this color interpretation of her following along the lines of the fauvist tradition.  Thanks Brittney and Royce!

I just want to remind you all of the point of this project as it has been awhile since I talked about the fauvist style.  If you remember the fauvists; Henri Matisse; came into being between 1900 and 1910.  It was a break away from Impressionism that was all the rage at that time.  It is a GOOD THING, and COMMON, and HEALTHY for artists to grown and stretch and change.  Change is good, but is not usually always; or really not very often rewarded...it is most often feared and met with negative feelings AT FIRST.  If we did not have the fauves who knows how things might have stagnated for a time.  Fauve literally means "wild beasts".  That is how they were thought of at the time...HOW DARE THEY PUT GREEN IN A FACE...or the WRONG color on an object!  UNHEARD of at the time!  Impressionism is characterized by catching the light at a particular moment...it is BEAUTIFUL in it's own right...but these scallywags who were changing things with color were not well received when they decided to emerge...Kind of funny to us all these many years later!

WHAT THIS HAS ALREADY DONE FOR ME...I am SO very excited at the fun results I have had already in this project.  Personally it has gotten me out of the tight way of working that had begun for me.  My oils are fun, and I enjoyed them, but I was starting to stagnate and get too tight.  I also, have always loved COLOR...and so I wanted to combine the two; exaggerated color and bolder brushstrokes to loosen up and let this project be an avenue for growth.  I STILL like a likeness...but, if you look closely you will see the strong brushstrokes in stead of lots of blending.  I think it works fine...hope you do too!

 This is Zella Mae in the floater frame like I've been talking about.  She is another one that would do fine with a regular frame as there is nothing 1/2" around the edges that would hurt if it was covered up...but, since I have THIS frame, I thought I'd give you the example!

Now that I'm looking at her again...I'm thinking Zella Mae is quite intelligent.  FUN!

HAPPY CREATING!

"ARCHIE" 13/100 OF 100 PET PORTRAITS IN 100 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Archie"

6"x6" oil on panel
SOLD; thank you Tracy!

Archie is a great example of a fauvist animal.  Just look at all the color in this little guy's face!  Archie's pet mom is Tracy Bonney.  I really appreciate Tracy for letting me paint this cutie pie!

This is just an example of how Archie would look framed in a floater frame.  If you remember that is a frame that allows one to see all the edges of a painting.  This works great for Archie because he is painted right up to 3 of the 4 edges!  I just had to have as much of that face as possible!  As a reminder, I have found good frames like this at pictureframes.com.  This particular frame is CF1.

HAPPY CREATING!

"FAUVIST PINE" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PINE ON CRADLE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Fauvist Pine"

24"x24" mixed media on textured cradle

$675

Available on my WEBSITE

There is a lot of texture behind this very colorful; fauvist reminiscent painting of a pine tree from the ants point of view...Modeling paste, cheesecloth, some of my signature paper streaming. The tree and her foliage are painted in oil.  A fun painting to do for sure!  I will be taking this ole girl to the SUMMER ART MARKET on June 8-9, so if you want to see it in person, head on to booth #38!

 

 detail

The sides are stained a rich brown to compliment the painting.  She's ready to hang! 

 

HAPPY CREATING!