define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature » Blog

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>> Wildermuth Creative Portraits <<

  • Custom Web Logo / Painting

    January
    30
    2008

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    I had the privilege of working on this custom painting that is going to be used for a logo/header on the web. My client purchased full license along with the commission, so she’s free to use it wherever she’d like. It would make a nice notepad paper, don’t you think?

    She asked for flowers on a table, an open book, a stack of books – tea, and soft pretty colors. I worked up a sketch first, which she approved. I then created a watercolor painting from the sketch, which is hers to keep. Once I scanned in the painting, I re-watercolored it digitally to enhance the pretty pastels and soften up the artifacts that scan in with “real” artwork, and what you’re seeing here is a 1/3 scale version of the full sized web-ready painting.

    It’s a very unique way of branding, I think, original artwork goes digital. I really enjoyed working this up as it turned into a nice cozy and feminine piece, and it was good to get out the watercolors again.

    Lacy the Eskimo : WIP #3 (Portrait Proof)

    January
    29
    2008

    dog portrait work in progress original oil painting leanne wildermuth art' class=

    Lacy’s portrait is almost complete. This is the “proof”, where Lacy’s mom gets a larger digital image of the painting and has a closer look at the details and has the option of requesting any revisions to the painting. This also gives me the opportunity as the artist to step away for the evening, allow the portrait to dry a bit, and make any additional revisions that I see needed in the morning before I sign her – the final act in completing a painting!

    I know I’m a little biased, but *woof* I wanna fluff this pup right up. She must have 3 inches worth of depth to her fur! And her eyes – I could gaze into them all day.

    Good girl, Lacy. Good girl. :pats on head:

    Once she’s totally complete, the painting will have time to dry, it will get a nice coat of gloss varnish, I’ll scan the piece and you’ll see a much better representation of her portrait. Stay tuned, that usually takes a couple of days – so I should have the final scan images up for your viewing pleasure on Friday.

    Lacy the Eskimo : WIP #2

    January
    28
    2008

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    I’ve worked a bit more on Lacy today, this time deepening the ears, eyes, nose and mouth. If all goes well and this is pretty dry tomorrow afternoon, I’ll start working on her fur and possibly finish up her portrait by Wednesday.

    The Results are IN.

    January
    28
    2008

    I am now an official iStock photographer.

    the iStockphoto administrators have determined that your images are commercially and technically ready for iStockphoto.com.

    I’ll take it!!
    (Will start uploading to my iStock portfolio this week, and link you when I do!)

    Awesome WordPress plugin of the day: WP Easy Admin. This presents a fixed menu at the top of the blog when you’re logged in (admin only) so you can access any item in the dashboard right from your blog. WooT!

    How Far I’ll Go For $2.

    January
    27
    2008

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    You got it, folks. For just $2, I’ll wear furry flip flops in the middle of winter. I found these awesome little flip flops on clearance at Meijers while on a trip up to the Burbs to see my family this weekend. Of course Chickeymonkey had to re-paint my toes before I’d take a photo to show you (so don’t judge the polish – or you’d definitely get the big puppy dog eyes from my sweet six year old who did a FANTASTIC job.) – these are just pure genius. Like UGG’s for flip flop addicts.

    I hate winter. I do. (This is not new to most of you.) Winter makes my feet dry out to the point where the edges of the cracks in my heels could kill a person, or maybe just perhaps give an irritating sharp little jab. I don’t know that these will cure the dryness, but they sure as heck make me feel a little bit closer to summer!

    Lovin’ my new furry flip flops. With a big huge pink puffy heart.

    Pending Approval.

    January
    26
    2008

    Welp folks, I did it – I submitted some of my photography to iStock for consideration. If approved, my photography will be available for use through iStock, and maybe I’ll see it floating around in print or used in blog designs. Wouldn’t that be cool?

    “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”

    (…at least I hope so! Cross something! Quick!)

    What is my Niche?

    January
    24
    2008

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    I’m a typical blogger, curious to know how much, if anything, blogging will bring to my business – and also curious to know about the types of people who visit me and find what I write useful or interesting enough to come back.

    I signed up for Google Analytics and took a look this morning – and you see what I saw. For an undisclosed period of time (so I don’t seem arrogant, boastful or lacking in my traffic), I took a screenshot of my visitor loyalty. I am absolutely curious about the first group – “who are you and why don’t you come back?” But more importantly, I want to hug and sqwish (as translated by my fantabulous lovey doodle) the rest of you. You all are some dedicated people.

    I can only surmise that the absence of drama and posts that create friction between people make me “ho-hum”. I’m okay with that. I like my little drama-free corner of the web. It’s happy over here, and most of the time you can find me singing “tralalalalaaaa”, smiling broadly and spreading bird seed in the forest backyard. Birds land on my finger, poo on my pretty dress and though I’m irritated, I merely shake my “no-no” finger at them and kiss them on the head before they fly off.

    But I digress.

    I do feel like I’m having an identity crisis. Thanks to those blog awards that shall remain nameless and without link (because I’m not a finalist, and neither is anyone I nominated), I have to wonder – how on earth should my blog be classified, then? What am I? Am I such a jumble of mish-mash writings that no one can really tell? Because I’m certainly not like the ones who are finalists in what I think should be my category. Not even a little.

    So now I’m leaving it up to you – the 663 (or however many) people who stop by more than once, how would you classify my blog? And to those of you who are just a flash in the pan – well fooey on you. You don’t know what you’re missin’. So there.

    [poll id=’6′]

    Lacy the Eskimo : WIP #1

    January
    23
    2008

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    This is Lacy’s underpainting, sitting beside the photo I’m working from. You can see she’s a beautiful white American Eskimo, and her portrait will reflect that as I add more layers of fur. Right now, she’s the color that I see under that top layer of fur. Since I paint so thin, this layer will dry and then I’ll begin applying thousands of fine brushstrokes, building layer upon layer of fur until I reach the whitest whites in her portrait. I’ll also be enhancing her eyes and nose, deepening and brightening the color and – as is the very last thing I do with every portrait – applying lashes and whiskers.

    To be continued…

    Lacy the Eskimo : Dog Portrait Sketch

    January
    22
    2008

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    Lacy is an American Eskimo, fluffy and white and I just want to dive into her fur and hunker down for the winter. She’s going to be a pressie so “sssshhhhh”, keep her portrait progress on the down low until after Valentine’s Day. Seriously – what a nice gift to get from your Honey on Valentine’s Day, a custom portrait of your dog! Personally, I’d bawl. So knowing that, I’ll be sure to package her portrait up in something water resistant.

    Two white dogs portraits in the studio – Lacy is also an 8×10 and will be painted in oils.

    Stay tuned for more studio progress this week!

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