Here’s the sketch for Titto’s second portrait. He’s such a gorgeous and colorful sun conure, his tailfeather spread has amazing bold gradients from lime green to deep blue, I’m excited to get to paint him again! I’ll work in his background this afternoon.

I plan to complete his portrait by the end of this week, so you’ll see more work in progress shots soon of his portrait as I paint him.

I am finally starting to catch up with my “to-do” list. Here are some things I’ve crossed off my list, and I still have to get visuals to go along with everything for you.

• Finish up a blog design, MommyHelp.com. That one was an EW project that launched last week, it turned out really neat, new moms will love the tips and information on Breastfeeding and parenting. There’s a forum there, too – lots of nice supportive women there. Check it out!
• Another EW blog design project that I just launched this week is The End User. This is my first fluid blog design for EW, and it’s that black & white one I talked about. It wound up being a really neat layout and project – even though I had to hold myself back from changing just one little hex code to bright red or something. The urge was there, and it persisted – but alas. It’s black, white, and shades of grey, and I shouldn’t even be showing you yet because I still have some tweaking to do. Go on and have a look anyway.
• Live.Love.Read. It just so happy over there. My eyeballs really enjoy it, it’s like therapy. Go. Get happy. I’ll wait.
• One of my blogging buddies enjoyed one of my Ten Little Fishies so much, she wanted a print of it. I’ve got one sitting beside me that I’ll be matting and sending out for her by Monday.
• Sketching Titto for his next portrait – he’s such a ham. His second portrait will be much more colorful as he’s preening and really has a gorgeous spread of tailfeathers. I’ll get his sketch up here later today.
• Two Mother-Daughter banquets. Two nights in a row this week, I’m telling you – it’s been a smidge busy over here this week.
• Balancing the checkbook. Next on my list. Ugh.

I still have some things to add to my list, too! I need to respond to some inquiries and add a photoblog design project, and I also need to find an hour to tell you about the wonderful experience I just had sending off my Great Blue Heron painting to his new home. The whole experience and sequence of events – beginning with meeting Laura – will leave you just as astonished as it did me. Divine intervention indeed.

I also need to tell you about my neighbor. This lovely woman we’ve lived next to for 11 years is not doing so well. I’ve been assisting her whenever she calls for help, and last weekend I waited with her as the ambulance came to take her to the hospice where she is now staying. She’s had trouble breathing for a couple of years, and initially when she was diagnosed they gave her 6 months. She’s well beyond that, but now she’s suffering and the pain she feels just from the effort it takes her to inhale and exhale breaks my heart. I’m going to cut some irises from her garden and take them to her today, and I’ll probably be saying goodbye. It’s very sad, but I’m glad that they are keeping her as comfortable as possible, she shouldn’t have to suffer through her final days. If you’d keep her in your thoughts and prayers, I know she would feel comforted knowing everyone wishes her peace. It seems odd, and I may even sound glib writing about her, but she’s honestly ready to pass on, she has been. She is tired of having to experience the pain of her body failing her before the Lord is ready to take her.

Mother’s Day, aaah Mother’s Day. What do you mom’s want for Mother’s Day? Me, I shared my secret with a friend, and I’m not going to spoil it here but wait patiently to see if my family knows me as well as they think they do.

I was just telling Katie’s mom when she picked up her baby girl’s portrait last month how I have the best clients, ever. It’s not just that they appreciate what I do and how I do it, but that they have the patience of Job and understanding when it comes to my creative bursts.

And then, I receive a phone call from Titto’s mom. His portrait arrived, and she’s a very happy bird portrait owner. She mentioned sending me photos and I’ll also be painting Titto’s portrait again, and tears welled up in my eyes, because I’m a big mushy gushy head. I did not expect what landed on my doorstep yesterday. Not even a little.

{{{huge hugs to Tittto’s mom & family}}}Photos of Titto in his full feathered glory, a wooden palette (I’ve been eyeballing these for months!) some really nice brushes, a tin of Coconut Patties (oh. my. YUM.), the most sweet smelling rose pink peppercorn Caldrea candle, and a hefty amount of Perlier honey and glycerin hand cream. Oh! And also! A blank 5×7 canvas panel for Titto’s next portrait! I feel so spoiled, really. (I love to be spoiled.) This is just so – wow. How sweet is this? I have received some precious, sentimental gifts from my clients before, and each time I am just so grateful that people can be so ding dang kind and giving.

It’s nice to feel special. {{{Group hug}}}
Seriously, the best clients ever. Titto looks incredible both framed and unframed.

Custom Bird Portrait : Titto
5? x 7? Oil Painting
Canvas Panel
© 2007 Leanne Wildermuth
All Rights Reserved
(portfolio view)

Titto’s portrait is complete – this cute little bird (parrot) is a Sun Conure, his painting is in oil on a 5×7 canvas panel. I’ll scan him and post his final images in a couple of days. There’s a bit of sun shining on his head which is making him a bit brighter in that area.

View work in progress

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 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!

I’ve just spent the morning adding all of my latest paintings to my portfolio. I’ll post the thumbs here and link to the detail pages so you can go have a look at the larger final scan of the paintings, if you’d like. Enjoy!

  

  

  

All paintings © Leanne Wildermuth
All rights reserved

Very productive day in the studio, Guildenstern and Jean are both complete now as well, so all four Lovebird portraits are finished! I’ll scan them and show you details as soon as they’re dry.