paints I have missed thee, you bring good things to life

Being away for a month from my paint supplies was a bit more trying than I thought it would be.  When I slopped the paint of the canvas this morning, by body let out a big ahhhhhhh, I am home! 

What I have started here is going to carve itself into a portrait of a family member my sister Sheila, her husband Sam and their two daughters lost a couple months ago, their beloved dog Nex.  Nex had cancer, when they discovered it, he had a ruptured spleen.  It all happened so suddenly for them.

Bear with me while I bring this canvas to life and in a way immortalize Nex for them.  I will be adding to this post as I add to the painting.

18 x 24"  

I started with red oxide and cobalt blue that I mixed right on the canvas.  Red oxide, somewhat the color of blood, mixed with colbalt, the beautiful blue often found in the sky, makes a rich dark brown.  I think the colors are very symbolic in a way.

After the paint dried, I gridded the painting and sketched in the placement and composition of the piece. In the background, on the floor, you can see my impatient way of drying paint...  I like to use a blow dryer when layering paints and glazes.  

Making a few minor adjustments to the sketch, I've now blocked in black areas.   This is a very beautiful animal.  As I work along, I am seeing a myriad of detail I will be adding to him.  I have quite a ways to go still. 

I blocked in some yellow ochre.  At this point it looks crude.  Next I might work on blocking in a bit of red... but then I think I will start on glazes and details before posting again.  

(Sheila, if you are reading this, I hope you don't mind that I am sharing the process of this painting.  I may just end here and let the next post be the finished painting.   I am grateful that you have allowed me to paint Nex.)

I added red.

Details came next.  I am almost finished.  I have to walk away from it for a day or two and come back to it with a fresh eye to see if and where I am off.  I know for certain I need to work on toning down the highlights in the fur and do some tweeking on and around the eyes as they tend to be the most important part. 

I think the hardest part for me in a painting... is knowing when it is done.  

I think this one is done.  

"Love, Nex" 

18 x 24" acrylic

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PS.  I worked from photographs that Sheila and Sam gave me.  Below is the one they chose that this painting is fashioned from: