ART FOR LIFE: fauvist style

Friday, May 1, 2015

"SWEETIE PIE" 90/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Sweetie Pie" is a precious little white German Shepherd pup. There was so much opportunity to play with color and pattern with this little pup. If I could GUESS, her background colors MAY be a little lighter than shown, but the effect of the contrast of strong color against the white fur of Sweetie Pie it's hard to tell. I promise she does NOT look garish...just full of color and spirit! As with some of my latest paintings that had some background pattern, I slipped a little in with Sweetie Pie. I have TONS of different stamps, but for the moment I am enamored with the honeycomb pattern. Sweetie pie is "sister" pup to Norma Newton who is giving her to her dad Norm and his wife Kathryn for his 80th birthday. Is is a surprise...so...SHHHHH. :)

Sweetie Pie is a darling girl in each of her display choices. The easel was purchased at Hobby Lobby, and the floater frames were found through pictureframes.com.

Maple Floater Frame

CFS10

Gold Leaf Floater Frame

CFS3

Black Floater Frame

CF1

HAPPY CREATING!

Monday, April 27, 2015

"BAILEY" 86/101 OF 101 PET PORTRAITS IN 101 DAYS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Bailey"

6"x6" oil on slightly textured panel

$75

Available through my website

Bailey is my first horse in this project of 101 Pet Portraits in 101 Days. I don't know much about Bailey, but the interesting thing about her was the composition; to make it ok to paint her in the 6"x6" format and keep it cohesive with the rest of the project. I solved the problem in a fashion with pattern. There is a larger negative space in this portrait than in most others, so I utilized pattern stamped into the background to "break up" the vastness of this negative space. I very much liked the end result. I have to say that the orangy color in the background is a bit darker than in this photo. We have a very grey day and it affects the photos. sigh...I have decided, by this time in the project that it has has a profound effect on me...I will most likely continue to paint in the brighter color fashion that is the fauvist tradition. As you will see in the reference photo there is a strong light on top of Bailey and I utilized that contrast, but added some awesome cerulean blue/turquoise in a very light value, contrasted with the burnt oranges, purples and reds in her coat. White is white with a little blue and orange here and there. All in all a great fun painting to do! Bailey comes ready to frame or she can sit on an easel.

I want to make mention again WHY I add texture to these paintings. Well, the first answer is I absolutely LOVE texture, even implied (not actual, but it looks like it) texture. I think it adds another dimension to the interesting"ness" of a painting, it also makes it clear it is original and not a print. It is part of what makes me a mixed media painter. I've loved the many aspects it affords other than JUST a painting...which is OK too...just not for me at this time in my career!

Here is Bailey in all her glory with his display ideas! Keep in mind the floater frames shown can be purchased through pictureframes.com. This particular easel was purchased at Hobby Lobby.