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).

A quick look at Lucian...

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

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

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

Looking past next week....

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

Sloshing about in the water color....

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

Musings on black.....

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 :::