Pet Portrait...Start to Finish Part 1

I thought it would be fun to share what goes on "behind the curtain" when I create a Pet Portrait.  I don't just copy what the camera sees...it's what I see, Thru My Eyes...into their eyes, their hearts, and their Spirits.

It all starts with several photographs of your companion(s).

 

This first photo is of a little dog in California, Tito, that I was asked to paint a portrait of for a Christmas present.   Several photos were emailed and we decided that this one would work best.

This next one is of Aleutia, a beautiful girl that is now waiting for her beloved human on the other side.  This photo seemed perfect and is a favorite.

Aleutia will be who you will be "following" as her Spirit guides me on a most emotional & rewarding journey!

When selecting the right photo, there is also conversation so that I can get to know the Spirit of my model.  Sometimes additional photos of them at play, work, with friends will also help.  Backround doesn't always play a role as it sometimes takes away from my subject.

After the photo is selected, the backround color is chosen.  I am working in dry (not oil) pastels and I use Canon Mi Tientes Pastel Paper which comes in a wide variety of colors.  Sometimes I just know the color I want to use, and sometimes I look at a few different ones.

 

I've been doing some work with using the black of the paper for the black of my model, and mostly using the pastels for the other colors.  What do you think?

Now, just to remind you...the floor, none of the backround will be there to divert your attention off of our beautiful girl.  The color is all that her portrait will be up against.

 

This is the other color paper that I have favored.  The hat that she is wearing ( it was for a photo shoot for a friend with a shop on etsy & seems to show her embarrassment along with her devotion to "whatever Mama wants") and the colors of her eyes and grey seem to go together well for me.  What do you think?

Here they are at the same time...whichever shall I pick?

Some people ask why it takes me so long from start to finish?...because I need to know that my choices are the perfect ones!
Some people ask why my art work costs so much?...because I give part of myself, a lot of emotion, a lot of energy, and that is a great toll to my very being.

This is as far as I've gotten today...Next time the paper will be chosen and the size determined while Aleutia visits me and helps me to the best of my ability to offer up a timeless treasure.

Thanks for visiting...I do get a little emotional...none of this is put on...the animals are the best thing in my life!
Diane

 

NOT The Recipe for Cornbread & Warm Spiced Pears

As I was getting the hay together into the wheel barrow and pushing it out toward the pasture to feed the horses last evening, I looked up and was so inspired by the light and shadows in the edge of the woods, I had to stop!
"You guys and dolls are going to have to wait for a few minutes for your dinner.  I must go get my camera & try to save some of this glory."
It took a good half an hour for it to unfold and even as I went down to the house, in the gloaming, the sky was gold and pink, low on the horizon.
This morning I came up to the studio early to create this...ah yes, there are many ways to create and to share what we see " Thru Our Eyes".
                                              Please Enjoy!

The Cornbread and Warm Spiced Pears will have to wait for another day.  The mornings are so much cooler now and promising to be even colder in a few days...I will share their deliciousness in a few days!

Thanks for visiting, please come back again!
Diane

A LITTLE AUTUMN COLOR FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE!

 All these images are from our humble home in Cypress Inn Tennessee

I drove into Florence Alabama yesterday to do my monthly heavy shopping.  When I left home the frost kissed leaves were dancing down out of the trees relieved not to hold on to the branches anymore.  Now the ground is inches deep in leaves and they rustle whenever anyone (including the 4 leggeds step thru them.

 

 

These are just a few images of the Creators wonderful mysteries...gifts given to all of us if we take the time to look around.  This is my gift to all that can't take the time to go out and see for yourselves, whatever your reasons...so please enjoy!
Diane

 

AWESOME AUTUMN GRANDFATHER SUN

I find a special quality each season with the changes in the light from our awesome beautiful sun.

I share some of these today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you have enjoyed a little bit of my world today.

Autumn is by far my most inspiring time.

There will be more to share another day.

 

Sending out Joy & Love!

Diane

 

Animal Spirit Totems...Sister Spider Part 2

Welcome to my newest post, part 2 of my "dissertation" on Sister Spider as an Animal Totem or Spirit Guide.  I won't bore you with facts or fantasy from other sources...there are many out there if you are so inclined to do research.  I'm not here to do a "reading" for you or give you questions to answer to see if Spider is your Spirit Guide.  These are the "messages" that I believe Sister Spider had for me at this particular time.  Now please!!! Let's loosen up ....this is not generic woo woo, just some ramblings, perhaps insights and beautiful photographs of mine to share with you.

For me, Spider uses her tool of the web for my "lesson" she is trying to convey.  Webs are very fragile looking, yet are strong.  It is not only her home, but also her hunting ground.  She keeps herself centered, in the middle with all of the activity around her, with a 360 degree view.

The particular Spider that visited me this time, at first put her web up every evening and took it down in the morning, as she would if she were out in the trees and shrubs.  After a few days she understood that she was protected from too much sun, rain, and someone running into it during the day while she was resting.  Now all she had to do was repair any damage that was done the night before.  Lessons I was learning to apply to my own life at this time.

Sister Spider needed a lot of patience spinning again and again.  Creating and recreating...repairing.  I asked myself why would she need to do this over and over?  Hmmmmmmmmm, kind of like Art.  I feel the need and must go to work!  Always the same, but always changing...kind of like Life.   

 

It's raining today...renewal, replenishing,cleansing...a new beginning for all.

Thanks for visiting, taking your time to view what I am sharing.  This time I chose my Art to be my Photography and perhaps my writings!

Joy & Love
Diane