Crappy Camera - Box on Blue

Sorry for the absence.  I've been painting but not posting because I have a really crappy camera which I intend to eventually replace.   My friend Sheila took this picture back in 2004 in the French village Eze. 

I think it's a pretty cool picture.  When I showed her one of Raimonds Staprans' paintings, she said his painting reminded her of the photo she took in Eze.  So I took a stab at painting Box on Blue. The painting isn't finished, and, of course, there is the crappy camera issue.  I think compositionally, I followed the photo too literally which does not work for the painting as it puts everything dead in the center.  I may shift everything to the right (except the window of course). See how Raimonds' table is set off to the right?

Here is the beginning of Box on Blue taken with my crappy camera.

Running Sleet

Sleet is all dry now!  Overall, I'm pretty happy with him. I didn't mention before, but Sleet is a reference image (copyright free) from the vast supply of images provided by members of Wetcanvas.  The Wetcanvas member who provided the photo is "Canis Lupess".  Thank you for the image!

A Grey Beginning

GREYHOUND STAGE 1
20x16
In addition to the FOUR -- potentially SIX -- commissions I have going on (not to mention my job, and working at the Very Venice Art Gallery on Saturdays), I thought I would keep a big dog painting in progress because I just don't have enough to do.  I started this greyhound Saturday night.  Got the basic drawing down, and covered the canvas.

Occasionally I would jump up from the sofa and add a little bit more, but decided to take a breather and sleep on it.

Sunday, I spent most of the day making a delicious broth from the Thanksgiving Turkey carcass, and two soup followed!  Chicken Lentil Soup, and Truffle Turkey Soup.  Both are delicious, and there is plenty of turkey broth leftover to freeze.

GREYHOUND STAGE 2

After resting after all the cooking, grocery shopping and walking a bit, I jumped back into the Greyhound.  I shortened his snout, added more paint and refined the drawing.  I still need to fix his left eye.

Running Sleet - Lunch Hour Painting

Started this little guy on my lunch hour.  I only had 45 minutes or so, and my co-worker's blackberry.  It's all I had at the moment!  I will finish him up either tonight or tomorrow morning and re-post.

Seashell Study - 10 min. Exercise

I painted this one at least six months ago (maybe longer).  I challenged myself to only spend 10 minutes painting it.  To get the stripes on the shell without fussing too much, I put different colors of paint on the brush at the same time.  I definitely think my painting has improved since then!