Heidi dog

Heidi dog is known by that name because she is... umm, a dog.

That might seem obvious really, but to me, she is actually the first dog I think I've had in the house. All of the other furry children we'll loved and owned have been just that - children with lots of body hair that bark.

Pixie and Cookie (commonly referred to as The Buttons) most certainly are not dogs. Pixie - we believe, is actually a guinea pig crossed with a burrito, and Cookie is a widow in her latter years, who has travelled extensively and seen things that some will never get to experience.

Heidi is a dog. She barks and chews stuff, fetches a ball or stick, and eats poop. If she has a more complex and intriguing character in there - I am yet to meet it. She's very good at being a dog though. Almost as if she was born for it.

This is the canvas I have been working on recently. 24 x 30" acrylic on canvas. This one is a little different for me, as I used modeling paste on the canvas before painting it - so it has some real texture to it - I like the textural finish and will use the paste again for future work.

I'll show a picture of Heidi Dog too - so you see what I painted from, and I'll try and show a picture of the texture .

Cookies' frame

Cookie's new frame is here, and I'm really pleased with it. It's a 'floater' frame, so the canvas seems to 'float' inside it. The finish is a perfect look to compliment the style of the portrait.

War and Peace

This morning, the waters raged. Battering the rocks and shredding the brittle kelp into strange green snow on the beach.

And yet Peace existed nearby, out of reach from the grip of the tides.

Some kind of life.

Life is finally settling into a new groove. The fact that I have some part time daycare for baby, means I can actually plan to get some work done too.

I'm at my most content when I'm working, and have especially been enjoying painting of late. Having finished painting Cookie, I have now started work on painting Heidi Dog. Painting Cookie was easy really, each little hair leapt off the brush onto the canvas, but Heidi Dog is another story. She has this crazy salt and pepper hair, which looks random enough until I try and paint it. It's been a real challenge trying to get her to look just right. This is a much bigger painting also - so naturally more hours will go into completing it.

Today's picture is a captured moment this afternoon. It's the trolley I have next to my drawing board, with my brushes and paint. Yes, thats a whole pot of tea - just for me! I always make a pot, even if it's just for one cup - it's tastes better. In the afternoon though - I do indulge in a whole pot. Yes - I do occasionally dip my brush in my tea instead of the water.

If you look closely, you can just see Heidi Dog's paws on the canvas in the background!

My Cookie

I've been meaning to paint my dearest Cookie for a long time now, but there are always more pressing things to do. So, having just moved, I thought I'd snook in some time to paint her, before other jobs and work take over. I'm glad I did. I finished her yesterday, and suddenly there are several other projects demanding time and attention. She is not framed yet - I just ordered a 'floating frame' for her, so will wait for it's arrival.

To me, Cookie's character is one of an older lady. Someone who has seen many things, and experienced a great deal in life. Because of that, I decided to paint her 'portrait'. Just her head, with rich detailed 'Morris' style wallpaper behind, and a necklace instead of a collar. I think the image captures her character well. Cookie and I worked together to design our own wallpaper, and she oversaw the entire project, of course!

The painting is an 8 x 8 inch canvas, painted with acrylics, and she is presented actual size!

Lost month

April got lost at the bottom of the Magic Bag, and rummage as I might - I couldn't find it.

But what I found instead was May! All moved now: packed and un-packed, wrapped and un-wrapped. Pictures down and up again, and new locations found for teapots and ornaments. Baby faired well, and her bedroom has been virtually duplicated, so in her 22 month old world - life goes on.

Dogs faired fine really, except for Cookie who seemed to think the sky might fall on her head, so took to standing on my toes at all times. That way, I guess, she decided it would fall on mine first? All better since everything settled in one place only, and not in two.

After boxes and sorting came baby arrangements and husband needs, and when everything and everyone else has found a grove, it's time to find mine. So, back to work for me, starting with this poly clay heart (another custom order) destined for the UK.

The brief: Cats, ballet and motorbikes! Which seemed a tricky mix, but I think I pulled it off ok. There are also dates and names, and special song words.

Cookie wanted to sit with the heart when I took it's picture, so here's one of her too.

Talking of Cookie - a portrait of her is coming next! Already started, I'll post when it's done. I like to try and document our dogs with a painting, but don't often get time. Now I have catching up to do, as I haven't painted any of the current family!