A "welcome home" gift!

This is a delayed post- A friend commissioned these as a gift for her husband upon his return from deployment! These were completed in June, but I waited to post to maintain the surprise!

I always feel honored to be asked to do a painting for friends!

 These were the first projects in my studio in our new house!

 In progress:

Finished:

Photograph and painting...

 Finished:

Photograph and painting...

The two together on the easel. Both are 12x12 acrylic on canvas. I really like how the colors of the 2 photographs coordinated, and I ESPECIALLY loved the picture with the tennis ball on the beach!

After I completed the paintings, I got to meet these pups- their personalities were TOTALLY captured in the photographs. I love that!

As always, thanks for reading!

Paintings from August.....

Update: I love my "real job", but I'm not exactly practicing dentistry full time. The good news is that gives me more time to paint, which is WONDERFUL!

Up first: 24x36 acrylic on canvas painting completed today!  This is a piece for the Terrier Ball silent auction for Wofford's Homecoming. I hope it raises some money for the Terriers- I can't wait for Homecoming! This is Old Main on Wofford's campus.

Below you can see the progression from sketch to final painting.

 Finished and hanging to dry:

 Up next: a 16x20 acrylic on wooden panel with palette knife. This is the larger version of some birch trees completed for Claire. See the previous post  if you're interested in studies- I posted the 2 smaller 5x7 pieces she gave as a gift a few weeks ago. I really should have taken pictures as i went for this painting- it went through some transitions!

  I can't remember if I've posted this, but an 8x10 charcoal on paper drawing of the house my husband grew up in- a beautiful house on Main Street in Union, SC. This comes into focus more as you back away from the drawing. This was  completed Spring 2012. Sorry for the glare- I really didn't want to take it out of the frame.

In June I visited Angel Oak for the first time on John's Island with Katie, Anna, and Caroline (after graduation before everyone else dispersed for residencies, and before I started working). It was a wonderful afternoon. From some pictures I took at the tree, I started this painting for behind our couch. This is 32x48" acrylic on canvas.

Below is how it appears right now- it's not finished yet, but I'm letting it sit for a few weeks to decide where it's headed and what it needs.

Thanks for reading!

Fun commissions!

A few fun recent commissions:

First a large (24"x36") palette knife acrylic abstract on gallery wrapped 1.5" deep canvas. I loved this because I love the friend who asked me to do it and it looks just like her. She loves soft colors and texture. I used a super heavy body acrylic for this and loved it! It's so different from what I usually do. 

Next is two 5x7" studies for another friend. She is giving them as a gift, but my friend loves birch trees and these are totally her colors too! I love that. Expect to see a larger work of the painting on the left (the close-up one) soon! These are acrylic on canvas board, done with palette knives. There's so much joy in painting something for a dear friend that you know well, and knowing they'll love it!

Catching you up!

Goodness- I'm embarrassed that it's been so long since I updated this blog! I'll try to catch you up, but a few  recently completed projects won't be posted until after they have been given as gifts!

These two paintings (2 paintings, same dog) were commissioned by a sweet lady from Camden, SC for her daughter as surprise gifts. It's clear from a brief conversation how much this puppy means to them!

 This is the photo:

 This is the painting:

 Photo and painting:

This is the photo:

This is the painting:

 Together, but I forgot to rotate it- please forgive.

 The pair of paintings. Both 11x14" acrylic on canvas. June 2012.

Unfortunately (I could kick myself for this) I didn't get a final picture of these 5 dachshunds. What was I thinking?!?! You can see the what it looked like in progress. 16x20" acrylic on canvas. April 2012.

More dogs! I know it's crazy- I don't know how this happened! Below is a picture my sister-in-law gave as a gift. 8x10" or 11x14" (can't remember) acrylic on canvas. March 2012.

This is the photograph (I've gridded it to draw):

This is the finished painting:

Sweet Caroline! She loved the painting of the Provision Company, and wanted something similar in style, but characteristically Charleston. Here is a painting of Shem Creek, from sketch to finish. 18x24" Acrylic on wooden panel. SO MUCH FUN! This one's headed to Augusta, GA in a great-looking rustic wooden frame! May 2012.

The blue heron: 36x48" acrylic on canvas. This is a big one! Felt so honored that a sweet classmate of mine and her husband commissioned me for a piece for their new home! With some color-planning, they cut me loose. You can see the course the painting took in the series of photos below. I think everyone was happy! I loved painting the feathers! April 2012.

Thanks for following. More to come. If you've been thinking about having something painted, please let me know- now is a great time! I have plenty of time and a new studio, in which I LOVE spending time.