About those roses I showed you yesterday, we’re going with #6. This is the underpainting, and I’ll further enhance the rose (the background will stay as is, and it’s pretty close to accurate) on the next layer. It’s a little bitty thing, 4×6 on a canvas sheet, that’s why there’s a bit of a border around it. Pictured with a quarter so you can get perspective on the size of the bud.

Titto’s underpainting is complete now, as well. (Paint is splattering everywhere in my studio!) He’s a gorgeous and vibrant sun conure, and I’m excited to finish his portrait. That may happen tomorrow – depending on how quickly the darks set up overnight tonight.

I’ve just completed the underpainting on Carol & Jerry’s portrait. I skipped posting WIP #3 as I sent that one along to my client and it was just half the underpainting (I finished Carol late yesterday).

My palette, in case you’re curious, is a small one. French ultramarine, yellow ochre, raw umber, magenta, white, sap green, indigo and cerulean blue. I’ve learned a lot about creating skin tones over the last few years, and the more people I paint, the more I learn.

(I am admittedly kinda happy that Jerry’s face is a bit furry.)

Katie’s underpainting is complete now, and woah! She looks a lot different! (Check out the painting in progress link to see the progress all together.) These are all the darkest values in her coat and muzzle, I’ll lighten things up in layers to give her that creamy yellow lab coat.

(View Katie’s painting in progress)

I skipped the sketch progress shot and intro and went right for the background on Titto’s portrait. He’s a Sun Conure I’ll be working on this week. Another small piece, 5×7 on a canvas panel, his bright plumage is going to be stunning against this dark forest green and brown background.

I’ve got a lot of work to do in the studio! I’ll update with more progress shots of the portraits I’m working on later today.

Have a great day!

On December 11, 2002, I printed my first Certificate of Authenticity. It belongs to Doc Shnurman, a monochromatic chalk portrait of my family physician. Although I had completed several paintings and portaits prior to that date, that was the first one that received official documentation and began my professional endeavor and record keeping. Today I printed #200. And it belongs to Elsie.

I knew starting out that I wanted my work to be worth something – not just at the time of purchase, but to increase in value over time. I know that I’ll be dead when it happens, but I do want to make someone giddy with excitement when their appraisal from the folks on Antique Roadshow exceeds their expectations. I know. I’m wierd. But I want that. I want that for my clients, and I want that for my kids.

I also wanted my work to be worth something emotionally. That’s a big deal, and that carries more weight than the financial gain to me – that’s what keeps me going.

I haven’t done a CoA on every single painting – just on every one that has been sent off to a new home. So this isn’t a record of how many paintings I’ve completed, but how many people are in possession of an original work by yours truly. Two hundred.

That’s an incredible figure to me, two hundred. That’s about 4 full years, about 50 a year. That my work has reached out and affected that many people enough to want to own it is overwhelming, really.

I get to do what I love. I get to use the gifts that God blessed me with, and I’m humbled to know that what I do has meaning.

To those of you who have allowed me and my artwork into your homes, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, it wouldn’t be two hundred without you.

Custom Cat Portrait : Elsie
11″ x 14″ Oil Painting
3/4″ Traditional Profile Wrapped Canvas
© 2007 Leanne Wildermuth
All Rights Reserved
(portfolio view)

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I’m working on Katie’s portrait now, starting with the most detailed areas (as usual). Her eye, nose and mouth (tongue!) are moving right along, I’ll have her ears and the rest of her coat and collar blocked in and the entire underpainting ready for the next layer over the weekend.

(View Katie’s painting in progress)

I’ve just completed Elsie’s portrait, although she’s not *officially* done until her mom gives me the thumbs up. Once she loves her painting, I’ll give it a day or two to dry and scan the final detail shots before she heads home.

(View Elsie’s Painting Progress)Update: Eye color revisions and better daylight pic, click to see additional image…

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