Finished this one up today

I was able to finish the painting I started at the dog show this past weekend. It is 12 x 16" and titled Tristan. Tristan is a 10 year old American Eskimo dog. He sure doesn't look or act his age. He is quite the character and you can see that mischevious glint in his eyes.

Charlottesville, VA weekend

I took my art booth on the road this past weekend to beautiful Charlottesville, VA and the dog show. I just love this show site as it is on the Foxfield Steeplechase grounds. Beautiful horse farms all around. Gorgeous green rolling hills and a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The weather was perfect too!

I took along my french easel and oil paints and worked on a small dog painting in front of my booth setup drawing curious onlookers both days. I didn't get it finished, but got a good start so I will show the WIP here.

After I closed the booth on Saturday evening, I toted my easel and paints to the other end of the grounds to get in one little 8 x 10" plein air painting of the scenery. Even though the show was over for the day, I got more onlookers watching my painting progress.

Seriously, I was never really comfortable being watched, so I just have made myself relax and do it and now I am fine with it!

Lot's of work

I did get several new watercolors done while teaching my watercolor class which I have added to my fine art website http://www.yvonnesovereignfineart.com/ as well as a watercolor portrait of a man and his dog which was a surprise birthday gift. I managed to complete two more oils as I was "on a roll". Quiet Lowcountry Lane was inspired by a recent trip to South Carolina. I went there with a friend at the beginning of the month to attend a reception in Hilton Head where one of my paintings had been accepted in their juried show. The show was awesome, by the way, with a beautiful gallery and an amazing selection of artworks from around the country. We stayed in Hardeeville and the next morning took a leisurely tour of a wildlife preserve on Hilton Head and then on to Beaufort and Sheldon Church Ruins. My friend is an artist also so we looked for painterly subjects with cameras in hand. Look for more paintings from this trip as I was really inspired.

As for the next painting. I started this one a while back after my fall excursion to Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Shenandoah Valley. I struggled with it for a couple days and was just about ready to fling it into the burn pile. Instead I left it in my studio and faced it to the wall. Yesterday, I turned it around, put it on my easel and started painting. The paint just rolled off my brushes and the results are Virginia Mountain Mist.

Today, I work on a little oil portrait of a whippet for a client.

New Painting, Watercolor class

January Moonrise was completed this past week. It is a scene from right here at my home, looking down my driveway in the early evening with the moon showing above some beautiful clouds. This photo fails to show the detail in the pine tree. I worked from a photo I took as well as sketching this tree from life to get it "just right". The painting is 18 x 24" oil on linen canvas.

Yesterday, I finished up teaching a 6 week watercolor class at The Art Studio in historic downtown Sanford. I had a great group that worked really hard to improve their skills. I just had to take a photo to share. Plans are to have another class, perhaps in the fall. There is also the possibility of me giving a workshop or two this summer. Hey, if you are interested, drop me a line.

Painting winner....

Cheslie, from Chuluota, FL was the first to contact me and picked the greyhound painting. Congrats Cheslie and thanks for checking in on my art blog.
The little landscape is for sale. These little paintings look so great in heavy frames and yet are small enough to be displayed almost anywhere. They can even go on a table easel. A nice affordable way to add to your art collection.

Time for a giveaway!!

I have a bunch of new stuff to post, but need to get the pictures ready so in the meantime, I thought it was time for a giveaway.

Something different though, you get your choice of two little oil paintings, both are 6 x 8". The black greyhound is called "Soulful Eyes", the landscape is "Pretty View". Whichever one is not claimed is for sale for $45.00. So drop me an email at canineart@windstream.net and be the first one to do so... you then get your choice of paintings. When it is claimed, I will post and the other painting will be for sale. Don't forget though, you do need to pay shipping which will be about $3. for either of these.

American Whippet Club National Specialty booth

I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted, but everything seemed to go on hold for this National. First all the work building up to it, then the week there and now it seems it has taken me another week to recouperate. Everything went great at the Atlanta Hilton Airport. All the vendors were set up in a light airy atrium area just outside the ballroom where all the judging was taking place. In a separate ballroom, several other events were held including the art show. I entered 4 pieces, 1 large Oil painting titled Timeless, 2 small 6 x 8' oils, and a handmade book with whippet watercolors. I recieved placements on Timeless (2nd), one of the small ones (1st) and on the handmade book.

I think my artwork booth looked really good. I made several changes to better display the artwork. My new oil paintings were very well recieved! Thank you so much to all the people who purchased my pieces. I wish you many years of enjoyment.