Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie, originally uploaded by debifitz.

I am sort of jumping right to the end of this one! The rock was a lot of "busy" work but it allowed me to use most of the colors that I have been working with in the subjects. Even a little of the greens from the back ground. Helps to tie the whole painting together. The dogs were easy but small... always filing down the pastels to sharp edges to get those little details in. Char's boots came out nicely also... I try to keep all those scuffs and scratches in there. Some people want me to make everything perfect... but I have had clients come up to me long after the portraits are done and hung on the walls to tell me that is one of their favorite parts... they KNOW that those are their boots! All those scuffs and scotches tell a story all their own!

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #7

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #7, originally uploaded by debifitz.

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #6

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #6, originally uploaded by debifitz.

Char and Ellie!

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #5

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #5, originally uploaded by debifitz.

Sorry I have not posted this sooner... I have had family over and we have been building... or I should say rebuilding a hay and feed shed. We just got the roof and one wall up for now. But it is already SO much better than the one I had. Husband was fine with the old one... typical!! :) But the roof was gone and we just had a tarp to keep the rain off the hay. I would not let him repair the old roof... then I would be stuck with it forever! So handy brother-in-law came down and they tackled this.... I feed them and was gofer! We have tried to use as much of the old shed as was useable! And got wood from horse fencing to use as siding. The floor and loft storage will have to come later! But it is a start! and of course I did not get much work done!

This is what I have done with Char so far.... Luckily I am using the photo of Char that is actually with Ellie... makes life much easier when they have the same lighting.

Char with Rita, Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #4

Char with Rita, Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #4, originally uploaded by debifitz.

Finished up Rita. Next to work on Char.... I try to do the subjects, back to front also... And since Char is behind Ellie and the dogs, she is next. Dogs will be last. You also might note that there is some of Rita's colors in the background. It helps to pull everything together.

On a personal not... we made it through the first storm of the year... Andrea! The storm was not too much here (north central florida)... just a rainy windy day. But we did end up losing power for about 8 hours! But most of that was during the night! A good dry run... out of kerosine and batteries! Did not have to start the generator... probably should check it out too! Hope Andrea is not a harbinger for the season to come!

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #3

Char with Rita,Bruiser,Doc,&Ellie #3, originally uploaded by debifitz.

Working on Rita...