Her own Renaissance

2010-06-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

I just delivered this commission to my client yesterday. Her little dog June Bug is actually smaller than the portrait.

I currently have some health issues going on, so there will be a break in my creativity for a time (and hence the current break in posting).

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Renoir...

2010-01-24T15:28:00.001-08:00

There were a few artists with debilitating and chronic health issues. One such artist who painted regularly even when his hands were deformed from arthritis and he had to have his brushes tied to his hands in order to paint, was Renoir.

(Frida Khalo is now thought to have suffered from Fibromyalgia, and painted from her bed).

When you see these towering artists who set examples in their dedication to their craft, it makes our daily trial and tribulations seem like trifles. Who is your art hero who painted or sculpted on despite personal troubles?

As always, if there is anything you want to know about an artist, wikipedia.org is always a great jumping off place.

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"For me a picture has to be something pleasant, delightful, and pretty - yes, pretty. There are enough unpleasant things in the world without us producing even more." ~ Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Phrenological Excuses and ACEO sized thumbnails

2010-01-10T20:37:00.001-08:00

Somehow the holidays crashed onto my head, and I fell ill and fell behind on everything. The upside is that my darling lovely daughter came to visit for a week and she suggested that each day going forward this year, I do an ACEO sized sketch for no one but myself, to loosen up my creative juices (the last year of pet portraits has left me in a creative rut). This little exercise is great not only for creativity, but it is also great to hone up my drafting skills again on a different format than what I've been working in.

How will you exercise your skills outside your comfort zone?

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And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart, till the Devil whispered behind the leaves "It's pretty, but is it Art?"- Rudyard Kipling

Master Monday: Movement with Vincent

2009-12-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Van Gogh Museum some time ago. When viewing so many of this talented and troubled man's work in chronological order, you can't miss his strong use of line, and brush stroke. He invokes such energy and visual movement throughout his paintings so effortlessly.

(I confess he isn't one of my favorites, this Master Monday is brought to you in honor of @chancetrouble, who loves Master Vincent).

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Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.
Vincent Van Gogh

A quick look at Lucian...

2009-12-21T05:22:00.001-08:00

I have been entranced with Lucian Freud's work since I first saw his paintings a few (ahem) decades ago. The power of his brush strokes, the energy of his brush work, and the honesty of his vision. Somehow his work pushes away the superfluous "gloss" and unflinchingly shows the model in harsh honest light.

I strive to work with the honesty and energy of this master painter. What are you striving for in your work? Who is are the masters that inspire you?

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The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.-Lucian Freud

Texture with Hans the Younger...

2009-12-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

Hans Holbein the Younger is probably best know for his portrait work in the court of Henry the VIII, however he is undoubtedly one of the most powerful artists of the 16th century. I prefer his early work, when he not only focused on the sitter in a portrait, but also dealt with pattern, texture and color just as lovingly.

From the wood, the satin and the peeling paint in the portrait shown here, Holbein had an exacting eye and hand. If you are interested in a very interesting bio and views of his other works and periods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Holbein_The_Younger has a very interesting article and further websites to explore.

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“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”- Oscar Wilde

SQUEEEEE (validation feels soooo good)!

2009-12-09T05:10:00.000-08:00

I have blogged before about how much I love Daniel Smith Art Materials (www.danielsmith.com) and periodically they have customer art contests and I have entered them a very few times over the years. This year they had a holiday card contest at the same time I was making my holiday cards by hand and I sent them a copy and entered.

Well, today I received a wonderful comment on my blog from them, that I was a runner-up winner. (here is their official announcement/blog post) http://danielsmithblog.com/2009/12/08/daniel-smith-handmade-holiday-card-contest-winners/

Its amazing what a small "nod" can do to put the wind back in your sails.

My wish for everyone this year, no matter what your specialty is, I hope that you get all kinds of unexpected and sincere "nods" too.

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The biggest place I look for validation is from my mother. That's the little girl in me that will never grow up.-Naomi Watts

Zazzle.com, Etsy and ACEO's oh my...

2009-12-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

make custom gifts at Zazzle

I haven't forgotten this lovely blog. The holidays are happening with or without me, and I've been hunkered down making an Etsy store, developing ACEO's of my work (I will do a post about these baseball sized art reproductions of my work later), and building a Zazzle.com store. Bear with me please.

Getting my (new) Etsy mojo going....

2009-11-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

I have started building an Etsy store and I spend my day yesterday making Yule greeting cards from the carving of the snow leopard I made last week. Please stop by and share with folks who might love animals or love art. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Neotigress

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"The Lord of Misrule - December 17th. This is the first day of the Roman festival Saturnalia. It was a period of great feasting and festivity, with a lot of drinking and eating. Slaves would become masters for the festival, and everything was turned upside down. This part of the Roman festival survived into the 17th Century."- Customs and Folktales for December

Caravaggio upskirts the Gods....

2009-11-09T11:42:00.001-08:00

Sometimes in art its a new look at the classics to make a composition interesting again. This work is painted by Caravaggio on the ceiling, thus the ancient Gods are looking at us from on high. Caravaggio was also a master of lighting and uncomfortable story telling, but those topics are for another day. If you are interested in the history of Caravaggio then as always there is a wonderful wiki here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio

What classic are you thinking of looking at from another direction?

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All works, no matter what or by whom painted, are nothing but bagatelles and childish trifles... unless they are made and painted from life, and there can be nothing... better than to follow nature.-Caravaggio

Getting my mojo going... New Etsy store and a website....

2009-11-06T04:37:00.000-08:00

I have been away a bit from blogging because I've been using my free time to a. create new work and b. build a website and start an Etsy store. The above images are all in stock and available to ship today, with more on the way. You can visit my flickr page and let me know if there is a specific print you would like to see next in my store at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/ and I will announce the url for my website very soon.

PLEASE remember that a portion of every sell from my etsy shop goes to help rescue and animals in need.

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Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.
Tom Barrett

2009-11-04T21:19:00.000-08:00

Just pulled this proof. This is going to be my holiday card on dark paper with silver ink and says "Cool Yule" on the inside. Going paper hunting tomorrow.

Who is your favorite paper supplier?

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Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
-- Hamilton Wright Mabie

The power of $1 and "Furpower"... plus the chance to win custom art.

2009-10-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

From @romeothecat:

http://www.romeothecat.com/2009/10/25/donation-update/

As a big THANK YOU to everyone who has been donating (we’re well over $2K now plus our $1K match from Nutrish!) Patrice DeAvila is upgrading her lovely gift to a free 24×36 custom portrait. We’ll be doing a drawing from donors at the end of the month. Thank you Patrice and everyone who has given their time, money, support and energy to helping animals! xoxo.

From Patrice:

Donate $1 to romeothecat's donation page and be entered to win a custom fine art portrait AND help save a life. Thanks for taking a minute to stop by my blog and for helping animals in need. I try to limit promotion, unless it's truly important. The work Romeo does every month is essential to non-profit rescues.

Prints of my work for sale...

2009-10-22T00:54:00.000-07:00

I am really excited to announce that I've got giclee prints available of my work. They run $28 and free shipping for approximately 8x10 inch on archival paper. I'm really delighted with the quality of the print and you can truly see the pigment strokes so clearly that it looks like the pastel would come off on your fingers! Please email me at patrice.deavila@gmail for questions comments or orders and if you look at my flickr galleryhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/ you can see other images that are available as prints (same size same price).

Wait! There's more, when I hit 100 followers to my blog, the 100th follower and 4 other followers randomly drawn from the previous 99 followers get a giclee of my work.

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Main Entry:	giclée
Part of Speech:	n
Definition:	a printmaking method using an ink-jet printer for photographic images of paintings to produce high-quality reproductions; also written giclee
Example:	In giclee, the ink is sprayed on to your choice of media in millions of colors utilizing continuous tone technology, retaining all the fine detail of the original.
Etymology:	French 'sprayed ink'

Sublime Hiroshige...

2009-10-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

I turned recently from pastel painting, to a relief printing project. Naturally, great print masters from various times and places are attracting me at this time. And no master exemplified the Japanese art of Ukiyo-e better than Hiroshige.

To me there is no other word for his work than sublime... so delicate and perfectly composed.

Composition, craftsmanship, and color can all be learned from looking at this artists work. He did several prints of winters snow scenes and his greatest strength may actually be his use of negative space and lack of color.

Please take time to Google his work.... who is your master of negative space?

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"I leave my brush in the East

And set forth on my journey.

I shall see the famous places in the Western Land."-Hiroshige

(The Western Land in this context refers to the strip of land by the Tōkaidō between Kyoto and Edo, but it does double duty as a reference to the Paradise of the Buddha)

Whistler, not just a Momma's boy....

2009-10-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

The following excerpt is from the wiki page for Whistler:

"...After West Point, Whistler worked as draftsman mapping the entire U.S. coast for military and maritime purposes. He found the work boring and he was frequently late or absent. He spent much of his free time playing billiards and idling about, was always broke, and though a charmer, had little acquaintance with women. After it was discovered that he was drawing sea serpents, mermaids, and whales on the margins of the maps, he was transferred to the etching division of the U. S. Coast Survey. Though he lasted there only two months, he learned etching technique which later proved valuable to his career..."

Sadly, as with most artists that are accomplished etchers and engravers (Durer is another example), Whistler actually made more monies from his print work than from his painting.

I have been focusing more on painters, or wood carvers who are also master printers, because of my relief print project that I'm immersed in at the moment and am taking so much inspiration from these masters.

Who is your inspiration for your current work?

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It takes a long time for a man to look like his portrait.”
James Whistler quote

Buck's Portrait

2009-10-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

This is being delivered to the client tonight and is 36x24" soft pastel on stretched watercolor canvas. (all I can say is Unison pastels are the BEST).

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"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera

Too Sexy for her hat... carving project cont.

2009-09-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Color theory 101 with Jan (Van Eyck)

2009-09-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Jan is considered the father of oil painting for perfecting the medium, yet I wish to examine his use of bold and contrasting color to manipulate the viewer and compose a painting.

With the use of colors Jan can tricked the veiwer's eye into moving throughout the painting. The eye wants to travel from primary color to primary color and is fooled into following the lines of the browns, yet he uses darks as anchors that always bring you back to the start or center of the composition.

The greatest art school we have is the legacy left by those who came before. As always a great jumping off point to learn more is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_van_Eyck

What artist do you admire for their use of color?

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Painting is a form of profound creative release. - Jan Van Eyck

First relief print done... (thanks @Orangecatblues for modeling)

2009-09-24T14:35:00.001-07:00

Here are two versions of the first proof. One is just the print itself and the colored one was colored with pencils and this print is 5x5 inches. Only 11 more to go. Thanks to Loki at http://www.Orangecatblues.com for being such a marvelous model!

They Wear it Well... (beginning)

2009-09-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited back by the gallery that hosted my last show. (they do stipulate that it revolves around cats, which is fine). I coincidentally, heard the same week a very thought provoking podcast from http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/09/believe.html and lastly, I've been down with pnemonia and anemia, so I've been a wee lethargic.

All of these factors and bumping into a large block of carving material that I've been schlepping around my travels and moves for the past 15 years, sparked the idea of doing block prints for this next show. (I can carve anywhere including bed).

At the same time these factors were happening, there was an inside joke circulating about my cat Pinkerton and hoop skirts and Marie Antoinette wigs.

So I am embarking on carving twelve 5x5 inch different pet portraits with the caveat of them in some type of clothing that expresses their particular personality.

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“Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop”. -Michelangelo

Master Monday with Barry Moser...

2009-09-21T13:39:00.001-07:00

Another one of my favorite living artists, is Master Illustrator, Barry Moser. I first discovered his work thru my love of the book Moby Dick.

A lot of his engraving work is published thru Pennyroyal Press and here is the link to his gallery of work there. http://www.moser-pennyroyal.com/moser-pennyroyal/Galleries.html Please take a few moments to be stunned, amazed and awed.

What is your amazing adventure with block printing, engraving or lino carving?

I've been revisiting Mr. Moser's work as I am embarking on a year long project that involves creating one 5x5" detailed block print per month, and

No animals were humiliated in the creation of this concept.

2009-09-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

Inspired by both my daughter's great costume and a little girl in a magical sparkly princess dress, I decided that this would be a great look for Pinkerton and am going to make a graphite drawing of it just for fun.

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“I have seen all, I have heard all, I have forgotten all.” santiz Marie Antoinette

Wyeth Cubed, or 3 masters & one family...

2009-08-31T05:27:00.000-07:00

~Andrew~

~Jamie~

~N.C.~

Three generations of talent in one family. And the impact of their geography and climate similarly on each painter's art. There is a book of Jaimie's work called "Wonderous Strange" that I strongly encourage anyone who loves art to check out from their library.

I learn much about atmospherics from all three Wyeths'. Their time and place weighs so heavily in all of their work.

When I look at the work of all three together, it is really amazing to see the almagamation of fantasy and bleak painterly skill in the grandson.

Who is your Favorite Wyeth? And which painting touches you most?

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“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.” -Andrew Wyeth

“I think one's art goes as far and as deep as one's love goes.”- Andrew Wyeth

How Buck looked in process....

2009-08-26T10:44:00.001-07:00

I have still not had the opportunity to deliver this work, so I can't show it to you in it's completed state, here it is in process.

Have an inspired day.

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“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

Do you know David Roberts? No, the other David Roberts...

2009-08-25T09:17:00.001-07:00

David Roberts is probably more of an illustrator, rather than a "master" but his evocative paintings from Egypt and the Holy Land spark the imagination from an era that has slipped through our fingers. Just a 150 or so years ago, he painted these places as they had been for centuries and caught their histories and grandeur in the flicker before they were changed forever.

Please look him up at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Roberts_(painter)

And if you missed the news check my prior posts to see that I've modified the 100th follower contest so that there are actually 5 winners instead of one!

A gallery of my work available in giclee prints at flikr http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/

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Each man thinks his own horizon is the limit of the world.-Egyptian Proverb

Expanding my 100th follower contest...

2009-08-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

I have such great followers that I am expanding my 100th follower contest... Yes, my 100th follower gets a signed giclee print of my work AND 4 other people from the 1st ninety-nine followers will be entered to also win a giclee from a random drawing.

I really wanted to also show my appreciation the everyone who's been with me since the beginning while celebrating hitting the 100th follower mark. Thank you... and tell your art loving, blog following friends.

Here is a link to my flickr gallery to see current and past works available... http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/

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“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do and may trouble be always a stranger to you.” Irish Blessings

A look back: An experiment with Impressionism...

2009-08-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

This was my second experiment with soft pastel painting and impressionism and was created 5 years ago. I love the light in this photo, however at that time in my artistic endeavors, I thought that planning a painting or gridding was "cheating" and I did everything ONLY by free hand.

As my commissions picked up I was forced to plan better and I broke down and experimented with "gridding" off my paper or canvas. I've grown to appreciate this practice and now as I understand it, "gridding" is merely another tool at my disposal, and all the tools enhance my work.

What is a technique that you avoided or are avoiding? Maybe you should revisit it/them just for fun.

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“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Andre Gide

Master Monday : Ferdinand Hodler

2009-08-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

Hodler had several periods of painting in his life (such as traditional landscapes), but what I want to highlight today are both his symbolist work and his use of non-localized color both for emotional impact and at the same time to manipulate value and color harmony. (see the green shadows above with the primary blue strip in the sky and the primary red drape at the lover's feet).

Who among us can't relate to the terror and "weight" of a nightmare in the middle of the night? Hodler's painting captures that moment when we jerk awake, yet at the instant of wakefulness still feeling the heavy chest constricting fear.

If you want to explore a short biographical history Wikipedia is a nice place to start http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Hodler

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To be simple is not always as easy as it seems.-Ferdinand Hodler

I have not forsaken my art....

2009-08-13T10:45:00.001-07:00

I have three new works that I've been dying to share with you and with my Tweeps. One is completed, but is a commission and 2 are in process and gifts. So the element of surprise is paramount.

For those of you who have been following my blog, yes this is the same painting that I've been fretting about delivering (the client and I have just not been able to mesh our schedules).

And for the first time in ALONG time, I had a stroke of inspiration, or artistic epiphany which was wonderful. It has to do with figure drawing and I look forward to sharing that with you very soon as well.

For now I ask you to be patient right along with me. I should be able to post new work starting late next week. (Standard Poodle portrait, Crow on a Native American Bowl, June Bug the Chin, and some really dynamic figurative works...). I will see you on Old Master Monday in the mean time. (it will be worth the wait I promise).

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“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions”
Rainer Maria Rilke

Sargent, So much more than "Madam X"...

2009-08-09T11:27:00.001-07:00

From exotic deserts, gorgeous wealthy women, charming and disturbing portraits of children, and profoundly heartbreaking paintings of WWI, Sargent was a master with stroke, composition and eye for mood.

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing an exhibit of some of his portraits of children. He has the most sensuous eye. The colors, the textures and the mood and personality of the sitter is there for all to witness.

I have included the wiki link so you can explore him more. My favorite works of his are his watercolors. What is your favorite of his works and why?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Singer_Sargent

(remember 100th follower of my blog wins a giclee print!)

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“I don't dig beneath the surface for things that don't appear before my own eyes.” John Singer Sargent

Something to look forward to on your Mondays...

2009-07-31T12:27:00.001-07:00

Ultimately the way I learn and hone my skills best is to study the masters that I admire most. That being said, I am committing to designating each Monday on my blog, "Master Monday".

Keep in mind that I will be looking at, thinking about and discussing both new and old masters.

To start this off, I will be talking about Durer on Monday. He is in the top 5 for his art and techniques, but he may be the artist I admire most for skill and originality in his own time.

If there are old or new masters that you'd love to talk about or if you ever disagree with my nominations, please don't hesitate to comment.

Also please remember that the 100th follower of my blog will win an 8x10" giclee of my work from my flickr gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/

And as always you can tweet me @neotigress.

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As I grew older, I realized that it was much better to insist on the genuine forms of nature, for simplicity is the greatest adornment of art.
Albrecht Durer

Delivery Dread...

2009-07-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Its time for the part of making art that I dread the most. Delivery of a commission.

Nothing fills me with more dread and fear (except maybe the thought of stepping on a slug barefooted) than delivery of a commission.

What if they hate it?
What if they run screaming from the room?
What if they are merely disappointed or its not what they wanted?

This and a zillion more absurd thoughts run thru my head until the moment of unveiling.

And I'm coming up on another delivery this week. There is that cold dread in my stomach which is completely unfounded because EVERY SINGLE commission I've done has been loved, up to and including making the patron cry happy tears.

Thanks for indulging my moment of angst. What artistically makes you procrastinate, or fills you with fear and dread?

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The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Do you know Durer?. . .

2009-07-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

Durer... I love to look at his work endlessly and I always learn something from his paintings and prints. He is the first artist known to have done pure landscapes. A master print maker, philosopher and artist.

His print of a rhino, created from an inaccurate verbal description was used in science text books into the last century.

As I mentioned in my post last week, one of the best ways to grow in your technique mastery as an artist, is to study artists that you admire. And to take the study of their works to another level, copy a work.

Durer was the son of a jeweler. He was meticulous in detail and skill. To remake one of his works teaches the artist that there is no corner cutting and pushes one to the next level of detail and observation.

The Wiki article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer

If you know Durer, what work would you study? What artists are you compelled to study?

Next week's Artist: John Singer Sargent.

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"As I grew older, I realized that it was much better to insist on the genuine forms of nature, for simplicity is the greatest adornment of art."
Albrecht Durer

Giclee for you and me...

2009-07-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

The above is the short version of what all the phoofahrah about Giclees' and the following wiki link is the long version http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giclee.

What I can say is that with the right printer, having your work printed in Giclee is absolutely AMAZING. Bold, crisp, vibrant and you can see the medium or brush strokes in the print. If you have been toying with the idea of getting prints of your work done, I highly recommend this medium and a shout out to my printer who is located in the metro Portand area, Durland Digital http://www.durlanddigital.com/ArtPrinting.htm

To see a gallery of my work available in giclee please go here http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/sets/72157621422816519/

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We are simply a conduit for creativity. - unknown

You know you want one...

2009-07-11T12:03:00.001-07:00

The 100th follower of my blog

will get a signed 8x10" giclee of any

one of my works (their choice) from . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/

Tell a friend.

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The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.
::: Michelangelo :::

Coloring Outside the Lines...

2009-07-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

When creating, sometimes we need to stretch and push ourselves outside all those "trite boxes" and "comfort zones".

I started work with another artist on a book project (hence the strange shape of this work). In order to achieve what looks like one combined image, but is in actuality 2 separate portraits, I went to Kinkos and did a color copy of the man's portrait on transparency and then overlaid the transparency on the female portrait.

The male had a background color in the yellow spectrum and the female had one in the teal/blue range. Then when I overlaid the male on the female, this amazing mix of colors and the magical middle point of the portrait where their faces almost line up happened.

Had I done two basic portraits for the book project and not been inspired to try the transparency experiment, this would not exist. Now whether its a viable piece of art that is a topic for another day. But it IS a great opportunity to build new techniques and ideas into my creative process.

What new techniques or experiments are you going to try?

(Please refer to my last post, that its only paper and some pigment... the worst thing that can happen is that you waste a piece of paper and learn great lessons in the process).

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The first stone was just tried in the spirit of experimentation. The opening of the stone was far more interesting than the drawing that I had done on it. -Andy Goldsworthy

Embracing Gleeful Calamity...

2009-07-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Don't fear your medium or your internal creativity.

I taught silk painting to 4th thru 6th grade students. I found consistently, that the students were intimidated by the silk and "ruining it". The first exercise I did with them was to have them throw their raw silk on the floor and jump up and down on it.

This loosened them up and showed them that a. the silk was quite hardy and still usable and b. there was always another pallet(silk) if that one was ruined.

When I spend in excess of $12 on one sheet of water color paper, or I have a stick of pastel in my hand that I spent $8 on, I find myself wanting to be that child, stiff and fearful of ruining my tools or wasting my supplies on unworthy/unsuccessful art.

Its only paper, it's only chalk and no art is unworthy... (besides those $12 sheets of paper are nearly indestructible).

Go boldly and jump up and down...

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Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.
Vincent Van Gogh

Ilya and Olga...

2009-06-30T11:43:00.001-07:00

Ilya Repin is, in my opinion, one the the greatest painters ever...

He was a master of color, composition, theme, expresion and I could go on and on. I have mentioned before and I will probably say again, find the artists that you love and aspire to be, and study and emulate their art. If you can go to the museum and study it and make sketches of their work in person, so much the better.

You can see Ilya's work (and most other artists) at Olga's Gallery online at http://www.abcgallery.com/R/repin/repin.html Very detailed site, a bit rough around the design edges, but great content.

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“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”
Brian Tracy

What Would Andy Do?

2009-06-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

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An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have.
Andy Warhol

Going back to the start...

2009-06-25T10:00:00.001-07:00

Everyone has a teacher that touched their lives. For me it was my first Art teacher, Mr. Downy. I'm not entirely certain I would be on my current path, were it not for the start he gave me.

I hear him still in my head: "A great artwork has shadows that go to black and highlights that got all the way to pure white and all values in between. THAT is what makes it interesting."

I'm currently in a post show funk and in spite of that, I'm still working (albeit a bit slower than usual). That being said, this photo fascinated me for the black BLACKS and the WHITE highlights. I'm not discussing the obvious jacket and hair, note the models lips, the WHITE highlight and the deep pure black of the crease where the lips meet. So I'm off to start a detailed pencil drawing of this portrait.

What are you roots?

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“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”
John W. Gardner

Bustin' your creative slump...

2009-06-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

What are your tips for overcoming creative slumps?

I don't have specific things I do... what DOES help though is looking at other artwork and visiting the museum.

And during a slump, I once doodled this image in a few minutes with only office supplies (sharpie, yellow highlighter and ball point pen).

The one thing I know and try to keep in mind. A slump is usually more of a "chrysalis", rather than a "slump". While I'm not creating, something is gestating inside and when I do resume my work, it is always stronger for the break.

I really would love to hear from you all about your tools, or opinions and feelings about your slumps.

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“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher

What color is black?...

2009-06-20T17:48:00.001-07:00

I'm finishing a comission right now of a black standard poodle. I've posted this picture, to discuss the nature of representing "black" in art. If you paint a large swath of black, it visually goes flat and dull. (see the silhouettes of the large rocks or the shadowed side of the rock in the foreground of the photo).

Black is not the absence of light. Black is all the colors mixed together. (when painting forget everything you ever learned about physics as it applies to light). To make "black" have energy and vibrancy, i.e. "aliveness" mix in all colors.

Be bold with your art, be unafraid... its only a canvas, or a sheet of paper. If it is a failed experiment gesso over it and start again.

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“Only with absolute fearlessness can we slay the dragons of mediocrity that invade our gardens.” George Lois

Contagious Client Enthusiasm....

2009-06-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

I found the past week that after the ramp up to the show, and the great turnout for the show, that I was going thru "post-show blues."

I do have several commissions lined up and one is due and I am completing the work. I emailed the client to ask if I can hang the work and look at it for a couple of week. It gives me a chance to step back and observe the work. Sometimes I find small things to rework and others I just enjoy the work.

The response I got in my email box was positively jubilant. She explained how excited she was and also how much she'd been talking about me and the portrait of her dog Buck, and as I read how excited she was for the work and my art, I found that my blues were lifting and her enthusiasm for the work transferred to me.

Not only was one email from an excited client a great way to shake off the blues, but it put creative wind back in my sails.... If you are an art lover, please send an email to an artist that you really enjoy and let them know. Even if you aren't a patron, there is no better feeling (for me at least) to have people I don't know give me positive feedback about my work... (and thank you to all of you that have done that).

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“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” Bo Bennett

And the critics say...

2009-06-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

The BEST part of my opening, was listening to people discuss the work amongst themselves when they didn't realize that I could hear. To listen to their honest take on each piece was invaluable.

I also adored seeing so many emotional responses to the first "sight" of certain works. There were lots of giggles for instance to "And...?", the yawning Siamese.

All the things I internalized in the creation of this show were verbalized by my guests.

1. When I am insecure about a work, be it the "I'm afraid I'm going to mess it up and should stop now", or the "I don't like the direction this work is taking"... it shows in the line and the energy of the work.

2. (I am paraphrasing Picasso) If you want an exact like-ness, thats what a camera is for. Art is more and goes beyond photo realism. I need to take that next step and listen to my instincts--be bold with line and color (see 1.)

3. I do great with the eyes and expression and when people look at my work they feel "something". (this is the highest compliment I think I can get, and lets me know that I'm on the right track).

There was much more feed back these where the top and what I hope you take away from this is, listen to your gut. If you look honestly at your work, you will see the areas for growth. And then get a group of strangers and friends together and listen to how they respond to your work... at the end of the day that is why we do it, isn't it?

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“The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all” Mark Twain

Lessons from an opening...

2009-06-06T10:44:00.001-07:00

Lessons Learned last night:

1. Make a huge sandwich board and position your most charming and outgoing friend at the door to invite timid folks in. Most people thought it was a private affair and didn't enter until invited.

2. Hound the media to post your press releases.

3. I said this before, plan twice as much time to complete tasks AND complete anything you can ahead of the event. (in my case also plan half as much food)

4. Baked brie is a favorite and while I brought WAY too much food the brie was wiped out even though I brought 2 wheels of it.

5. Ask for help. I did, and I have amazing friends.

6. Thank your gallery, treat them to goodies if you can, and thank your guests and gallery staff (in my case they all stayed 2-3 hours past their normal shifts to allow for my show).

7. Even when another event in the same area calls and give you unkind verbiage during your show, maintain your grace and good humor. (I just chalked it up to having good work if the other artist felt threatened enough to stop her show to call me and complain that my show was infringing on her attendence).

8. If you like the venue and the show has gone well, don't be shy about asking to come back next season/year etc.

Tomorrow I will post what I learned from the amazing criticism I received. (feedback IS a gift).

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“What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.” Octavio Paz

Finishing for opening tomorrow...

2009-06-04T17:32:00.001-07:00

If it were not for the last minute and deadlines, I wonder how many works of art would not exist.

"The Cats Who Keep Us" Feline Fine Art opening, during First Friday in June at:

The Cat Hospital of Portland Gallery
8065 SE 13th Ave.
Portland, OR 97202

June 5th, 2009 from 6-8pm

You are invited, bring a friend.

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“A goal is a dream with a deadline.”
Napoleon Hill

Baroque guitar, Baked brie, wine and you....

2009-06-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

You're invited to art, a lovely repast, and lively conversation in a charming gallery this Friday from 6-8PM.

The opening of the "Cats Who Keep Us" show in the gallery of the the Cat Hospital of Portland at:

8065 SE 13th

Portland, OR

Part of First Friday.

You can see a preview of the show and have a URL to invite your friends at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/sets/72157616827506311/

The sale of any artwork or commissions booked from this show, a portion goes to help animals in need.

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A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski

Readin' and Tweetin'...

2009-05-31T14:03:00.001-07:00

Alyson Stanfield has made the call for an art reading group on twitter (details here --> http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/05/read-de-kooning-with-us-this-summer.html).

I've never been a fan of de Kooning's work, however I was very interested in the discussions that can spawn from a bunch of artists and art lovers micro-blogging on twitter about a Pulitzer Prize winning book. I picked up the last used copy at Powell's Books and just started perusing the introduction.... well, I can't put it down, and I may have the entire thing read by the time the group kicks off on June 8th.

If you love art and or reading please check out this group and join us on Twitter with #dekooning

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A wonderful thing about a book, in contrast to a computer screen,
is that you can take it to bed with you.
~ Daniel J. Boorstin

Looking past next week....

2009-05-30T10:32:00.001-07:00

June 5th is the opening for "The Cats Who Keep Us", my first show, as you who have been following me know already and for those who haven't, please feel free to drop by. Details are listed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/sets/72157616827506311/ If you know people in Portland who might be interested in First Friday and the show, please feel free to forward this link/invitation to them as well.

Once the dust settles after the weekend, then I will finish up Buster, the gorgeous Standard Poodles', portrait and move on to June Bug, the Chinese Chin. I'm really looking forward to the contrast in stature and structure. I did a portrait of June Bug's sibling, Pablo, last year. So this will be a fun reprise sort of.

I am astounded that both of this magical creatures share a common wolfish ancestor.

What are your next projects and what is it about their individual challenges that you are looking forward to most?

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“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” Winston Churchill

Odd Nerdrum...

2009-05-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

IMHO this is the world's greatest living painter at this time. His name is Odd Nerdrum and here is his main website http://www.nerdrum.com/ you can google him and learn much more of course.

I have always believed that the best art teachers are those who do what we strive to do. To emulate them and look at their work and then try to take it even further. (If you've followed my work thus far, I am thousands of miles short of his work, however I keep striving and growing).

Who is the giant who's shoulders you wish to stand on?

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The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." ~Dan Rather

Brochures (check), Baked Brie (check)...

2009-05-23T16:37:00.001-07:00

Winding down to the show, and every time I get 1 thing checked off my list 4 things pop onto it. I said this in a prior post, but I will repeat it a zillion times. Start preparing 2x's sooner than you think you should and budget 2x's what you think you will need.

My greatest supporter donated wine and advice and I found this AMAZINGLY tasty and even more simple recipe to serve at the Opening... and I thought I would share it with all you foodies out there.

So, please do come and enjoy some great appetizers, some pretty good wine, and some really great art and also help support animals in need.

(preview of the show, directions, date and time and access to my flickr gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/)

Raspberry Walnut Baked Brie

INGREDIENTS

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 (8 ounce) round Brie cheese
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
Lay the puff pastry onto the prepared baking sheet. Center the Brie wheel onto the pastry. Spread the jam evenly over the top of the Brie. Sprinkle the walnuts atop the jam. Fold the puff pastry over the top of the Brie, sealing all openings.
Bake in preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Serves 10 (so I assume that I need to 2x's the recipe based on all my other supply and time calculations thus far)!

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The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese. ~G.K. Chesterton

You're Invited. . .

2009-05-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

Being an artist truly is actually being a business person. More and more of my time is spent on mailing lists, marketing plans, reading books on art law and studying advice from various sources who have gone to the places I have on my goals list.

I'm filling out and mailing the invitations to my opening, "The Cats Who Keep Us, today (approximately 200).

So, food for thought for you, as these things are on my mind of late...

What do you need to do to reach your definition of "success"?
What are your goals and are you taking small steps to get to them,
What is your marketing plan and are you working on marketing every week?
Are you following artists that are at a level professionally where you'd like to be?

(next on my marketing plan, after the show, is a dedicated web page... what's your next goal... I'd love to hear)

If you are in the Metro Portland area, please come enjoy First Friday all the details are here on my flickr sets page, and you can see a digital image for those of you who can't make it to the show http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/sets/72157616827506311/

And please let all the collectors and animal lovers know that 25% all sales (including booked commissions) from this show goes to help animals in need.

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I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.-Unknown

Moving on up to the East Side...

2009-05-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Soap box of the day: Keep your goals in sight, and keep making baby steps towards them. Surround yourself as much as possible with what you aspire to. And if you are forced by circumstance into a situation that isn't to your liking, turn it to an advantage.

I have been moving the last week, and thank you to my guy for hiring two eager and younger moving guys to schlep my stuff from the second story of the house, and then up 3 flights of stairs into the new digs.

The upside to the move is that I'm now living in an art community. Each year I set my goals and being a professional artist is at the top 0f the list consistently, thus this is another step in that direction.

This is a community that was built specifically to house and support serious artists, and the talent in the building is phenomenal and world class.

The down side is that I miss my other 3 cats (they stayed with my guy in the house) and I miss seeing the big guy day and night and those cheesy butterflies each night on the way home knowing I'm going to see him.

Now, to find all my art supplies in the boxes, my easel and get back to eet.

(to see the gallery of my work on flickr go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/ and thanks for stopping by)

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“Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.”
Denis Waitley

"And...?"

2009-05-04T06:42:00.001-07:00

Here is "And...?" in progress. The day of hanging my show arrived, and while I thought I had allowed adequate time for everything, I was off by a factor of about 4 when the day ended and what I had completed was hung.

Here are some lessons I took away from my first gallery hanging experience:

~Start planning for your show months ahead of time not weeks
~Set the "drop dead" date for the body of work to be complete at least one week ahead of the hanging date.
~remember to bring a ladder, and all the other tools you would need to hang your work, including invisible hanging wire (doh!)
~Send a thank you to your gallery host (thanks Alyson Stanfield for this reminder)
~Have your next projects after the show lined up
~Don't stop your NEW marketing efforts just because you have a show (this will help the post show blues)

I'm moving this week, and intend to rap this work up and also finish the Buck (black standard Poodle) portrait commission. By the end of the month.

I will leave you with this question... What color is a shadow?

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To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.~Anatole France

Moo, and I'm not talkin' cows!

2009-05-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

Any of my creative friends or anyone who wants to look great or make cool printed stuff to share... Moo.com is the BEST printer for small batches of cool stuff around. They have amazingly easy site driven software to use, and they do small affordable print runs... and get ready for it, the BEST part is that you can do multiple images in one print run.

They make this really cool product, called a Minicard, that is about have the size of business card if you cut it the long way and made it skinny. I got 100 of them for 19.99 (not including shipping) and you can have up to 100 different images in the run.

Their card stock is extra thick, and they are eco friendly-er than most printers.

I am actively working to make the next level in my art career, and Moo definately makes me look far more professional than my last printer, for roughly the same costs.

Their website has lots of great ideas for other applications of their products and really cute ideas for personal uses for family, craft, and hobby uses too.

Go be inventive... and look great while you're doing it.

(my show is hung at The Cat Hospital of Portland Gallery, and you can see the show online at my flickr set here.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/sets/72157616827506311/

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“Separation penetrates the disappearing person like a pigment and steeps him in gentle radiance.” Boy George

Tightening my act a bit...

2009-04-28T21:09:00.001-07:00

Working on the last two paintings that are not completed, for show the show that starts Friday, and revisited some that I felt were complete, and added bits, changes backgrounds I wasn't quite happy with etc.

Here are two that are now as done as they are ever going to be... Added at least two more subtle shades to each, and on Macro Zoot, the orange Tiger, I also changed/intensified the background a bit.

A hearty thank you to all my friends and family who support me... and many hugs to Mom, Darby and My sweetheart for all the support and for listening to my melt downs and insecurities this past week (or two or ten, or in Mom's case 44 years).

I promise to have more content filled blogs after this week and the show is hung.

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“The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates.”
Oscar Wilde

Well?

2009-04-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite quotes, from out of the ether is....

"Art is never complete, merely abandoned".... not sure who said it but I am working on this body of paintings all hanging around the perimeter of my studio at the moment, and I just revisited the painting from my last post. I changed the color of the background a bit (and used a yellow ochre metalic pastel). I also touched up the feet a bit... could hear my college art professor, Pam Johnson, in the back of my head saying, "Make it sit DOW-ON! on the paper.

Bailey can't sit any more DOW-ON, in this composition..... And I think I'm happy with it, for today any way.

You can see a gallery of my work, and also see the "set" for the show at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/ (if you only wish to see the paintings in the show, click on the sets link at the top left of the page)

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“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”
C. Northcote Parkinson

His World we just live in it...

2009-04-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

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"You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals."- George Mikes

....ever onward... Luxuriating in the sun...

2009-04-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

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“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
Buddha

In process... keep moving...

2009-04-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Painting and touching up... 9 days to the day I hang "The Cats Who Keep Us" show.

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“If you hear a voice within you saying, ''You are not a painter,'' then by all means paint… and that voice will be silenced.”
santiz Vincent van Gogh

A look back-Medusa...

2009-04-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

A painful lesson in painting life... always document your work visually. Sadly, due to a variety of poor choices, bad luck and timing... this is the best image I have of this work.

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“Sculpture is the best comment that a painter can make on painting.”
Pablo Picasso

Step one and two and three...

2009-04-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

I really love and appreciate the negative space and foreshortened view of HRH Bailey in this pose.

As you can see after I have the perfect study pose, I print it out in b/w so that I'm working with the most fundamental information possible. I want to try to nail the pose and perspective right. The paint is where the details will come in.

For my show, I'm laying pastel over watercolor on stretched canvas.... so, after the basic placement sketch on the canvas, I wash in boldly with watercolor paint in the basic colors I want. His eyes were still wet, so I haven't gotten to his coat today. That will be for tomorrow.

See you again soon, I'm getting very energized for the show and in addition to finalizing work, I'm also doing several things in the office/business end of things, such as press releases etc...

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“The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck”--Anthony Robbins

the other part of your art career.... You know, the non-art stuff....

2009-04-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

So I finally got enough confidence in my own work and ability, to actually pursue art on a professional basis... but wait!!! School never prepared me for, writing a press release, keeping inventory, writing a contract, maintaining a mailing list or building clientele.

I toyed with the idea of getting a rep, but the idea of paying a percent to a rep and a percent to a gallery and after art supplies, I was running in the red, made my stomach turn. Thanks to the internet, I stumbled upon http://www.artbizcoach.com/ and her book ... "I'd rather be in the Studio".

I think the few dollars I spent on this book were the best monies I've ever invested in my art career. Its all there, every single thing that was lacking in my college training.

I'm not getting any kickbacks, and as you can see, I've not linked to Amazon to sell this. It's just a great wealth of information and support from the business end of building your art career and I wanted to share Alyson's amazing wealth of information with you as well.

My show starts on May 1st, so I have many works in progress. I will be making short sweet blogs of in-progress works over the next two weeks.

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“Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do.”--Degas

Study for Center Piece of the show... Kahplah!!!

2009-04-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

So I've decided that I'm doing a version of this image of "HRH Bailey" as the whimsical center-piece of my show starting May 1.

On stretched canvas, with a formidable 36x24inches of image space and with bold strokes of my pastel, he should command a first look and hopefully his frivolous yawn will cheer the viewer up (or at least snort milk out their nose). I'm really looking forward to finishing all the works in progress and hearing back from my viewers and critics.

HRH (His Royal Highness) Bailey, was a rescue cat and was only a year old when I made his snarky aquaintance. Persian cats are the "Tribbles" of the cat world, and Bailey is living proof that Siamese are the "Klingons". Kaplah!!

Keep an I on my flickr gallery for new work as I finish it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/

(Please share with all your animal loving friends and art enthusiasts).

Photography provided by C. Baron

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At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~Jean Houston

As sunny on the inside as on the outside....

2009-04-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the painting of our elder statesman of the house, Zoot. He posed for me the other day, and I am off to finish more before my show in May and June. This post is brief, but it's only because I'm back to the easel..... see you soon.

This is a pastel painting over stretched canvas, and measures 16x20".

You can see a easily viewable gallery of my work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/ and if you scroll down 4 postings, you can see what this looked like when it was started.

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Cat Haiku from Loki and Pet at www.Orangecatblues.com

i iz an oranj cat
az sunny on the inside
az on teh outside

(they do great, funny, creative stuff, and they do lots to help anipals in need, check them out when you can).

.... working in the studio and immersed in a great book...

2009-04-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

My "Queequeg" in art and animal rescue, is also an English Professor at the University of California, Davis. One day a few years ago, I asked her, "if you were to recommend only one book to read, what would it be?". To my surprise (and honestly dread, as I'd pledged to read whatever it was she mentioned), she said without any hesitation, "Moby Dick".

So keeping the small vow to myself, I picked it up, and fell in love with it by the first paragraph of chapter one. Such gorgeous language is rare in any prose. Now the only way that Moby is savoured more deeply (for me at least), is to listen to Fred Muller's rendition in audio book unabridged (abridged audio books are abominations).... so this is the one I'm enjoying, while working in the studio on paintings, and here is a link to a sample...

http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_RECO_002104&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

enjoy with me. I will be posting new work this week and my show starts May 1st, so working furiously.

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Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.--Herman Melville, "Moby Dick"

HRH Bailey...

2009-04-03T03:56:00.000-07:00

There are certain very unpleasant things that one should experience in the youngest years possible, i.e., Mumps, Chicken Pox, and having one's Wisdom Teeth removed.

I made it to the middle of middle age thinking that 2 outta three ain't bad, and the third one caught up with me last week.... Having my wisdom teeth out... to make a long and pathetic whiny story short... I've spent more time in my jammies and in bed, rather than on art.

However, that does NOT mean that I was not plotting and planning art. My feline only show is May first and I still need a few more canvases completed.

So the one that hits the canvas today, is Mr. Bailey. Who in person, is the most off the chart intelligent cat I have ever had the pleasure to meet. And truly if he had thumbs, he would rule the world.

I will see you all in a couple days.... be well and be creative, and for all that is sacred, if you haven't done so already, get your wisdom teeth out, no good can come from them or putting off the extractions!!!

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Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond. ~Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605

Shiva-A look back....

2009-03-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a look at a painting I did, just for the sake of the doing. I got a new watercolor paint color from my FAVORITE art supplier, Daniel Smith (http://danielsmith.com/). It was called "Undersea Green", and you can see from this painting why. I used mostly green, grey and then a light touch of Veridian (red) for contrast.

This is 8x10" on 300 lbs. hot pressed watercolor paper.

As an artist, I cannot stress enough, get the very best supplies you can afford. If you don't follow this advice, you will forever be fighting a bad brush, cheap paint, or the wrong nib... rather than letting your talent stretch, and having the line, color and stroke be exactly as you want the first time, every time.

And as always, you can see a handy gallery of my work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila/

... be inspired.

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“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” William A. Foster

Whats in the works?

2009-03-16T16:20:00.001-07:00

The orange cat, Zoot, is one of our other cats, and sibling to Jake. The two portraits are going to be a duo logy but not a diptych. (16x20" pastel over watercolor on stretched watercolor canvas).

The poodle is one of two portraits of Buck, that are for a commission I'm working on. (24x36" pastel painting on stretched watercolor canvas).

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“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen” Leonardo da Vinci

Lovely Jake

2009-03-16T15:47:00.001-07:00

I always hesitate to say "I've completed this painting". I truly never feel like a work is "completed", I just know with certainty that I need to quit touching it, as I've hit the point where further work will diminish the whole of this work.

If you've been following my blog, then you've seen the graphite drawing of Jake our lovely little female calico cat. The drawing has always been slightly off. Portrait artists always struggle to not turn a 3/4 pose to face front, and in the drawing, I fairly lost that subconscious battle. This current incarnation of this painting nailed the pose, and this is one of those artistic endeavors that just came together almost effortlessly.

Her coloring and the dynamics of her intense stare make this a fun painting to work on as well.

Please feel free to stop by my flickr gallery page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricedeavila

See you again soon.... go make stuff.

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He who dislikes the cat, was in his former life, a rat.-- Chinese Proverb

Honest Scrap Award.....

2009-03-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

Ohttp://www.orangecatblues.com/ just selected me for the honest scrap award,

("When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real. Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven (7) friends. Show the seven (7) random victims’ names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.” Well, there’s no prize, really, but they can keep the nifty icon. Next, in your blog, list at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!")

On first blush, feels a little bit like a chain letter, but the chance to share 7 of my favorite blogs with you is a great opportunity to pass on great, fun and artistic mojo. So without further adieu...

7 wonderful Blogs....

1. The Art Department http://igallo.blogspot.com/ (she always has really great Sci/fi and fantasy art featured on her blog.

2. http://www.linesandcolor

s.com/ because they are always posting interesting art things.

3. My Divine Romance http://aprilhauck.blogspot.com/ cause she is always really open and honest and she thinks deep thoughts sometime, and at other times, she's totally spontaneous and fun.

4. Triment Confidential http://danbusdriverman.blogspot.com/ cause who knew that the life of a bush driver in Portland could be fraught with so much danger from Girl Scouts?

6. Globspot http://steveworthingtonart.blogspot.com/ cause his sculptures are so whimsical, yet realistic... (how can you not adore sumo frogs?)

7. and last but not least, is Fuck you, Penguin http://fuckyoupenguin.blogspot.com/ cause it is the anti lol-cat, the curmudgeon of the animal world... love it!

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And 10 honest things...

1. I love contrasting color to a fault.
2. I try to help those in need, be they human or animal
3. I am easily distracted
4. I try to practice loving kindness and acts of compassion (practice practice practice)
5. I like to paint really big
6. I enjoy drawing really small
7. Art and creating is not a choice for me
8. I am blue green color blind
9. I would like to be recognized for all of my art, not just pet portraiture
10. I strive to someday paint like Sargent, Repin, or Nerdrum

Enjoy the blogs I've shared, they are a bit all over the map, but they all share great content and interesting bits of cerebral flotsam and jetsam...

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One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them.--Virginia Woolf

Society of Feline Artists....

2009-03-06T04:36:00.001-08:00

Very excited as I am now an Associate Member of the Society of Feline Artists. (Yes, my membership card arrived yesterday).

Here is their website, http://www.felineartists.org/

Since they are located in the UK, I've not quite figured out the logistics of participating in shows, but I will cross that bridge this fall. Just excited to be part of this really talented group of people.

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There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat. --Wesley Bates

Petite Huntress, Reprise....

2009-03-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

Wow, the paintings I've been doing are minimum 16x24" and Jake the Huntress is no exception. I started this yesterday afternoon and this and viola! It's very close to done.... There is one small correction I want to make and perhaps two more minor layers to the fur texture. I did a graphite drawing last year from the same photo study and it went very quickly as well. For some reason, her calico fur is really great fun to do and the intensity of her look is captivating.

As an artist, proportion is always is always tricky and I find that if a subject isn't straight on, I am forever fighting to not unintentionally turn it face on. You can see this in the graphite drawing in her nose especially. I got the nose going in the right direction in the pastel and am feeling good about the whole progress of this drawing.

Now if I could learn to crank out a drawing this size every two days... I'd have it made.

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Abominable Snow Bubba.....

2009-03-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well here he is, in his winter-esque glory. And after all my discussions about contrast, I actually toned it way down in this painting. I had my sweet heart along the way given very valuable observations, and he much prefers photo realism over my style of work and I do say that in this portrait, the subtle contrast of the teal and the yellow highlights gives that just snowed quiet atmosphere to Bubba's pensive pose. (His full name is Sherman Tank, but it's Bubba to his friends, and Mr. Tank, to his veterinarian).

If there is a day or two between posts, don't be alarmed, as it's more painting and less blogging. I got the contract back from my client so I have less than 90 days for his portrait, and I have less than 60 days to my show. Very heady stuff, this creatin'.....

What a difference a day makes.... (Winter, Almost)

2009-02-26T09:10:00.000-08:00

...getting there....(and I may keep the title "Winter: The Abominable Snow Bubba"), who knows.

Thanks to my sweetheart, in suggesting significant lightening of the background, and other little observations. I still need to add a couple layers on the legs and stomach... there are some "flat" spots that I'm not quite content with.

It is at that stage where I have it hanging on the wall and I'm looking at it and digesting the final bits... and the coward in my if a bit fearful of screwing it up now that I'm this invested in the image.... there you have it.

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“You are a coward when you even seem to have backed down from a thing you openly set out to do” Mark Twain

Winter in progress (another peek behind the curtain)

2009-02-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone. I've been fighting some sort of germ-ish crud, so I did miss a blog post and a day of art. Back in the studio today and working on two versions of Buck, the black poodle for my client, working on Summer and Winter for the quad for the show in May, and going to lay out another painting, so today should be tremendously productive.

Hopefully, you can look beyond the odd colors and see the techniques that I've discussed in prior blog posts. (I know the painting has made the turn towards completion when it looks vaguely messy like this. I am close now to laying in the finer details that will make it "POP" and come alive".)

Sherman (Bubba to his friends), is a very quiet, Zen-like soul. He is very mellow and nonplussed about much of anything. And I'm working at conveying his personality in this painting. Most folks see him and are either put off or are afraid or intimidated by him due to his deformed Exotic face. But after spending time with him, they are always charmed by him and how he's just "there".

In Feng Shai terms he is the rock the grounds our household.

The day that we took him outside, he didn't hate it and he has the coat for winter, so he wasn't environmentally uncomfortable either. He was curious and slightly intrigued by the whole thing, hence his leaning into the experience. He wasn't totally thrilled with the snow in his head but as long as it stayed frozen and wasn't water, he was ok with that too.

So, now you've seen it in progress and I intend to have it competed this week for you to review.

Go do good things.

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"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream." ~van Gogh

Mr. Greeench....

2009-02-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a very recent graphite sketch. It is actually quite tiny at only 4"x5" and again was done as a gift to my Patron and Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue.

For some reason the look in his eyes and his whiskers in particular remind me of "The Grinch".

No art for me today, fighting a wicked cold.

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O great creator of being grant us one more hour to perform our art and perfect our lives.--Jim Morrison

Going on an internet Field trip....

2009-02-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

If you are a lover of wildlife art in any medium, then PLEASE go visit this artist collective/society on the net. Artist for Conservation is where all the giants of wildlife art are located as members.

http://www.natureartists.com/

And for those of you who love only cats (I belong to this organization), but also strive for the former group as well, then check out the Society of Feline Artists web site.

http://www.felineartists.org/

For me, I'm at my day job until 9pm tonight.... be inspired....

Why?

2009-02-21T19:00:00.001-08:00

This is a pastel painting on canvas, and my first foray into these two art supplies working in tandum. And this little guy was only 6"x6".

I was approach to participate in a local Audubon Society fundraiser and I created this in less than a week (with a full time job outside of art) and donated it to the event.

I'm now working on stretched watercolor canvas and LOVE it. I am mixing a bit of watercolor under the pastel, and it is making for some really exciting effects.

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The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game. The cynic puts all human actions into two classes - openly bad and secretly bad.
~ Henry Ward Beecher

Petite Huntress....

2009-02-21T08:45:00.001-08:00

This is a graphite drawing of Jake. She is the only female in our household of male cats (3).

Her calico markings are so distinctive and her intense predatorial gaze are making me seriously consider doing her portrait from this study as "Fall: Petit Huntress reprise", or some such. I think she would be stunning as a pastel painting.

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Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

Fair Weather Prophet....

2009-02-20T04:45:00.000-08:00

....and lots of lovely black tea.

The painting was done in watercolor about 4 years ago.... The little stone head was sent to me from Pakistan, and I was trying to capture the tranquility of the sun in the leaves and the mood of the statues demeanor.

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The first cup moistens my lips and throat. The second cup breaks my loneliness. The third cup searches my barren entrail but to find therein some thousand volumes of odd ideographs. The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration - all the wrongs of life pass out through my pores. At the fifth cup I am purified. The sixth cup calls me to the realms of the immortals. The seventh cup - ah, but I could take no more! I only feel the breath of the cool wind that raises in my sleeves. Where is Elysium? Let me ride on this sweet breeze and waft away thither. ~Lu Tung, "Tea-Drinking"

Remembering Nigel.....

2009-02-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

I have done quite a bit of work with and for Persian Himalayan Cat Rescue www.persiancats.org over the years. In the course of this work I have had the honor to know and to be the parent of some amazing Red Persians, including "Nigel". This portrait is NOT an image of Nigel, however it is an homage to every wonderful, clownish, curmudgeonly red my wonderful Patron and I have known and loved over the years. I am very passionate about animal adoption, and I support any group that is actively working to help animals in need. PHCR is my pet, ahem, project because Persians are the most single abandoned breed of animal. And personally I'm really passionate about adopting special needs or older animals. Kittens aren't the ones who need help (everybody loves a kitten), it's the older gents and lady cats who need the support most.

So if you see an inordinate number of Persian portraits flow thru my blog, it's because the images I paint are used for merchandise that PHCR sells and those proceeds help buy medicine and food for the cats in their shelter. If you see an image that you are in love with send me an email and I can put you in touch with them for a win win.

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Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.--Helen Keller

The other Loki....

2009-02-18T05:21:00.000-08:00

This pastel painting is the "other Loki" as I follow a great blog, twitter and etsy.com page by Orangecatblues.com. Loki, of OCB, is a hoot and does a great podcast, and his owner makes really charming animinis on Etsy.com. (the cool thing is both Loki's are orange cats).

The Loki in this portrait is, ahem, my daughters cat. (I have been told that if the cat is in your sole posession for over 3 years, your child lives 10 hours away in another state, and you've paid over $800 in veterinary bills for the cat, then it is YOUR cat--I will let you decide that issue for yourselves).

This was my very first foray into pastel painting. And as you can see I have a freer more energetic line as this was intended to only be a "sketch" and a test for how the pastels handled and how the paper took the line and pigment.

Building on my prior blog posts, I was very happy with the energy and the way I expressed the severe contrast of light and shadow in this work. And again with the yellow/oranges the contrast would be the blues and turquoises. I love the "zing" of a great contrast.

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“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain...

2009-02-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

I've invited you into my studio in words and now visually. You can see "Winter" in process and a bit of Valentine goodness.

A close-up of "Winter". I would imagine that this is rather under-whelming as the base paintings are always a whisper of what I envision and where I'm going with this painting.

...have a really inspired day everyone.

Gibraltar.....

2009-02-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

I was walking down a street on an unusually sunny Seattle afternoon, and this gorgeous Great Dane, who was tied to a small tree on the sidewalk. He was obviously waiting expectantly for his owner, and was totally devoted to the moment of their return, and when it came to naming this work, I wanted something that not only conveyed his size and demeanor, but also his devotion. I was blessed to have a camera at that gorgeous time of the day with "sweet light", a stunning subject and some great study photos to work from.

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It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.--Monet

This one's for Mom....

2009-02-16T17:03:00.001-08:00

This is a watercolor I did in college, and I have often called it my self portrait.... Mom wanted to see it on my blog.

I love the non-localized color (painting a tiger a non typical tiger color), and this was when I was first branching out in my uses of contrasting colors to make a composition "pop".

Sloshing about in the water color....

2009-02-16T04:59:00.000-08:00

All of the work to date that I've shown you was done in Pastel. This portrait if of "JJ" and was done in watercolor.

I will let the painting stand on it's own without further comment.

.... feel free to chat amongst yourselves.

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Seek the strongest color effect possible.. the content is of no importance.--Henri Matisse

Painting Pablo....

2009-02-15T06:51:00.000-08:00

As the blog suggests, the idea is that we are together in my studio. So I thought today, that I'd let you see where I start with a commission and where I'm going until I abandon a current project ("Art is never completed, it is merely abandoned").

I finished this commission approx. two weeks ago. And I had the great fortune to actually meet the subject before I started on the project. His breed is a "Chin", and he is only about 3 pounds. He is minuscule in the eyes of his wolf ancestors. But his personality is on par with any Mongolian Emperor of old. We are his devoted subjects and Pablo knows it. He also has a very interesting solid Zen-like presence in person. His little personality radiates from his diminutive form, which I would never have understood without seeing him.

So we intersect his coloring (see the blog post previously on the color black), and the play of light and contrasts (see the blog post on light, contrast and hue), and we are at "Radiance".

And yes, even tho he is an emperor, he does have those disheveled ear hairs... even rulers get bed-head.

Photo realism is NOT my goal. As Picasso once pointed out, we have photography, there is no reason to try to repeat it. Art is more than photography. I am trying to capture the essence of my subject and their personality with one image. And I fully exploit light, shade and color to achieve those ends.

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You should keep on painting no matter how difficult it is, because this is all part of experience, and the more experience you have, the better it is.. unless it kills you, and then you know you have gone too far.--Alice Neel

Contrasts in Seasons, Contrasts in Colors....

2009-02-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

I was approached recently by the Cat Hospital of Portland to do a show in their clinic, which I've been dilegently working on since the invitation. Right now, I've started a quartet based on the seasons and just completed "Spring: A Stranger in the Garden".

I am now working on what is tentively called, "Winter: The Abominable Snow Bubba", but will most likely be titled something slightly more dignified. (see photo study). The Background is evolving into an amazing teal and navy colored forest that really makes Bubba's buff colored fur "POP".

Pam Johnson, one of my most cherished college art instructors took us outside one bright day and had us place a turquoise piece of paper on fucsia paper, and had us stare at it for quite a long time, and then proceeded to explain to us how we would never need to do drugs, because as artists, we looked at the world thru unique eyes. And how one could stand in the shower at certian times of day and get high off the refracted light shining through the water droplets. Now, I'm not so sure that I'd take any of my artistic observational skills quite that far; however, I did learn the power of contrasting colors and how to manipulate lights and darks, brights and subtle shadings with color contrast and the manipulation of shades and hues.

I learned many things about color and value, perspective and how to truly see from Ms. Johnson.

So when you are going through your day, look at the shadows of every day objects and REALLY see what color the shadow is.

Be inspired

Musings on black.....

2009-02-14T04:35:00.000-08:00

This is Buck, my latest "muse". He modeled for his studies last Tuesday and he has been waking me at night composing ideas and inspirations in my head for his portrait. I may end up doing two and letting his "Mom" decide which she would prefer. His personality is slightly larger than life and the artistic challenges of his coat color and texture are very exciting.

Because black absorbs all color, I love to put lots of color in the highlights, like I did in "Redemption Value".... and her little black spots which I put, in her case, lots of true blue and a very wee bit of yellow to make it "pop".

I am also feeling that due to his slightly larger than life energy, I may do this portrait a bit larger than I have been... it's gestating in my head and it feels so great to have all these creative yearnings and energy and the time to work.

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A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing.
::: William Dobell :::

Welcome....

2009-02-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not trying to make paintings look like photos. I want to make paintings using photos as a reference, the way painters did when photography was first invented.::: Peter Doig :::

....watch here daily for inspiration, a peak at what I'm working on, musing on and where I will be happening in a gallery or url near you.

Be inspired!