Meet Josie – again, for those of you who recognize her, this is her second portrait. The first was a pencil drawing, now featured on my blog button, you can see her first portrait here. Josie was a gorgeous and much loved pit bull terrier, and I’m delighted to be painting her in oils this time. Her brindle coat color is going to make her portrait really neat to work.

I’m sharing two progress shots, since I got approval from my client to proceed with the crop of the original photo – I wanted to get as much done today on her portrait as I could, so I can dig in with the underpainting next week. The sketch, above, and the background color, below:

I’ve got a really nice, natural gradation going for her background color. It’s a combination of yellow ochre, naples yellow light, burnt sienna, burnt umber and a touch of raw umber here and there. Very earthy, very warm. It will really draw attention to the lighter shades in her coat as well as her eyes.

Stay tuned for the underpainting progress shot!

This is my very first ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) Artist Trading Card!!! It measures 2.5″ x 3.5″ and I’ve painted it in oils – so when it’s dry I’ll give it a spray of gloss varnish and it’ll be super shiny and pretty.

I’ve been aching to paint something just for me, from my head, for a while. It feels so good to do that! It’s a bit of a dragonfly-butterfly-leaf creature, hence the name, Drabulea.

I’ll list it on Etsy tomorrow. Stay tuned!!

Don’t forget to enter to win a custom portrait in my weekly giveaway!!

In a burst of spring fever (Catybug DID see a robin yesterday), I filled my feeders. I admit, I was lax over the fall and winter months. We put food out occasionally but not religiously as we usually do. Sparrows can empty a feeder in a day – so I made sure to put up more black sunflower and safflower than mixed seed. So far, the feeders have lasted a little over a week.

I wondered how long it would take before word got out that the food was back. Within 10 minutes, we had a pair of nuthatches. Within a day or two, the Cardinals were back. The red bellied woodpecker – then the downy woodpeckers. Yesterday, we had chickadees, finches and – of course – squirrels.

I’ve missed seeing and hearing all of these beautiful creatures around my studio windows! I photographed this squirrel through my studio window. Still pretty timid – they’ll get used to me and my camera before long.

What choice do they have?

Don’t forget to enter to win a custom portrait in my weekly giveaway!!

Today begins Week #8 of my 2009 weekly graphite portrait giveaway! Each week, one winner will be selected to receive one 5×7 graphite drawing from their photograph.

Last week’s winner was Janine who submitted a photo of her baby girl, Juliet, shown above next to her completed portrait. I chose Juliet purely for selfish reasons, it’s a gorgeous photo of a gorgeous baby with gorgeous and HUGE eyes. I could not deny my inner artistic desire to draw this baby. That’s my story – and I’m sticking to it!

A note on framing for portrait winners: I recommend the Nielsen Bainbridge Archival Gallery Frame, available through Dick Blick.

Each Monday, I post the weekly Call for Entries along with the previous weeks completed portrait (above). I may change the subject theme each week, or leave the theme open, so please pay close attention to the details in each announcement.

Entries will be accepted through Friday afternoon around 4PM CST, at which time I will close comments and select one winner from the entries received. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday and post the completed portrait with the following week’s Giveaway announcement.

Qualified entries will include a valid e-mail address, and the comment should include one link to a photograph owned/taken by the entrant. If you do not have a place to upload photos to link one, you can e-mail it to gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry, however, should be included in the comment section below, with your story – should you choose to include one.

The Selection Process: In case you’re curious, I’ll share my little artsy process in selecting the winner. First – I do not read any entries at all during the week. I do not read them because I don’t want anyone’s entries to have any more time than any others to settle in my creative brain. At the end of the week, I close comments. When I sit down to go through all of the entries, I read the story first, and open the photo link in a new window. When I finish reading, I flip over to the photo and my initial reaction is what I go by.

If your entry is not chosen, you may enter again. I encourage you to include a short story with your entry.

WEEK 8 : CALL FOR ENTRIES
Theme

: Open (1 or 2 subject – people or pets)

Deadline

: Friday, February 20, 2009 (4pm CST)

To Enter

: Leave a comment, include a link to your photo. For e-mail submissions, leave a comment with your story as your entry, attach your photo to an e-mail separately, and send to gallery *at* intricateart dot-com.

Note: *G* Rating only

Your challenge? To inspire me! Choose your photo wisely – I will select a winner based on how the photo and/or story moves me.

Good luck!!

Put this button on your blog to remind yourself to enter each week!
Link it to:
http://intricateart.com/browse/blog/getting-creative/graphite-portrait-giveaway/Or just copy and paste this code:
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I’ve finished Taysia Blue’s portrait this afternoon, and will get a better pic up once the painting is dry.

I’ve also chosen my weekly graphite giveaway winner – and this week, I am going to make you wait. Check back Monday to see the winner’s portrait!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

It is so good to see you!

The bird feeders are full – and within 10 minutes of filling them, a pair of nuthatches were all over my trees. I love how he’s stretching out his wing, as if to say “it’s been a long winter – I’m ready.”

Yep, me too!!