With the New Year comes new art in my studio. These are the rest of the commissioned works that I’ll be completing in oils over the next few weeks.

A. Custom portrait of two very wonderful people, this is 8×10.

B. Custom cat painting – this is Elsie. This portrait will memorialize her, as she’s recently passed over the rainbow bridge. Her mom sent me the story of her life, and by the time I was finished, I was reading through blubbers and drips. She had a beautiful life, and she’s got a wonderful mom. This is an 11×14.

C. Custom cat painting of Willie, a pretty longhaired tuxedo cat. He’s 8×8.

D-E-F & G. Custom lovebird paintings. These are 4×4 little bitty canvas panels that will get matted and framed out to a larger size to really make them a focal point. Lovebirds are gorgeous, as you know, and there are two pair in this family. I have all of their names, but they’re a bit jumbled as I’m not sure yet which name goes with which pretty bird.

H. That pretty little kitty, Cheeky, done up in a larger, 6×6 portrait.

Then there’s Katie’s portrait, and then I’ll get crackin on the Heron painting – because it won’t be long before it’s time for my first exhibition (in March) – and I’m a last minute crunch kinda gal.

Suffice it to say – my New Year’s Resolution? To Paint. A lot.What’s your biggest most important goal for the New Year?

A few months ago I was contacted by AVMA, aka the American Veterinary Medical Association about my painting, Coon. Some of you may remember this painting I created back in 2004 for the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley (California), it was auctioned off to the highest bidder to raise funds for their rehabilitation and release facilities. I was happy as a clam to find out it brought them a few hundred dollars, especially since this raccoon is one of their very own rescues.

Now I’m thinking this must be good karma that the AVMA selected this painting as one they wanted to feature on the cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association this month.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), established in 1863, is a not-for-profit association representing more than 74,000 veterinarians working in private and corporate practice, government, industry, academia, and uniformed services. (source)

Of course, I am positively proud and absolutely flattered and humbled both that so many professionals will get a glimpse of my work, and perhaps catch a sense of my love for wildlife. There’s no better reward for me than this, really. Truly. It’s like being in a room of 74,000 who all have everything in common – especially since my “what do you want to be when you grow up” answer was always “A Veterinarian”. Now that didn’t happen, obviously, but I am doing what I’m meant to be doing, and it does involve animals. And for that I feel blessed, and grateful.

I don’t ask for much – I just do what I love to do, and hope that people see that and remember what I’m representing when they’re looking at anything in nature – right down to the intricate veins of a Cecada.

Today, I’m honored. I’m excited, I’m elated – I can’t even identify all of the feelings swirling around right now. This is just – in a word – cool.

Drilling into this fiberglass pig was no easy task. Slipping on his frames, getting them to stay in place – easy as pie. His sides are sketched and you’ll be seeing more work in progress over the next couple of weeks. He’ll be in full color (underpainting) by the end of the weekend!

There’s a pig in my studio. Yes, I said a pig. Thankfully, it’s not greased. That would have definitely been problematic. I’ll be painting the pig, of course, because that’s what I do. Paint. Pigs, Catfish, Walls, Frogs, Bricks, whatever. I’m a EOP. Equal Opportunity Painter, dontchyaknow.

The design of the pig will be unveiled as I go, so for the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be all absorbed in the pig. Forgive me if things get a little barnyard’ish around here. In case I haven’t said it enough, this is a pig. A Big Pig. (Can you see my treadmill in the background? The wheel of the bike?) He’s elevated up onto my Bowflex bench, so you know I won’t be working out for a couple of weeks. I know what you’re thinking – nothing would say “dedication” like a piggy back ride – but I’ll pass on that gross display of visual artistry. heh!

In a few weeks, when the pig is complete and has a clearcoat on it, it will be on display in Geneseo, Illinois for their “Pigs on Parade” during the last weekend in July.

Tidbit of braggery: My large scale fiberglass paintings have historically been the top dogs at our local auctions. Go me!

Just call me Ms. Piggy!

I finally got to paint a bit, and worked on the sky and ocean. I’ll work on the grasses next and put another layer on the sky to give it a pretty solid shade of “takes your breath away”.

View the whole work in progress

Painting on the Great Blue Heron today (thanks again, Laura!), as much as I can before contractors start showing up. I wanted to get this progress shot in before the sun bears down and floods the studio.

View the whole work in progress

Finally getting a chance to paint a bit today, here’s a shot of my progress on that lovely Great Blue Heron I’m working on.

View the whole work in progress

This is the new painting I was telling you about, the reference photo was taken by Laura @ Vitamin Sea and (of course I asked) she gave me permission to use her photograph to paint from. I am really anxious to get color down on this guy (painting in oils) – he’s incredible.

This canvas is 18″ x 36″. Mmhmm. That means this Great Blue Heron will be just shy of life sized at around 30″ tall. This will be an amazing piece indeed – thanks Laura!

Commemorative Patriotic Paintings
From top left:
(1)Patriotic Squirrely, (2)Patriotic Harley Mouse, (3)Patriotic Angel,
(4)Patriotic Gator, (5)Patriotic Wolf, (6)Patriotic Bluebirds,
(7)Patriotic Polish Chicken
For detailed explanation, see Commemorating the Countdown.

4″ x 4″ Oil Paintings
Canvas Panels
Paintings © 2005 Leanne Wildermuth
All Rights Reserved