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