oil on canvas
artist collection
actual size 24"X30"
www.djfitzgerald.com
This is the first installment of another painting progression. I was contacted last spring about doing the art work for the Aiken Triple Crown poster. The triple crown is a big deal in Aiken. I was asked to primarily feature the steeplechase event. The other 2 weekends are a polo match and a flat race day. I attended last spring to take photos and get a feel for the event. It is very festive! Everyone (practically all of Aiken!) brings in pop up tents and lots of food and decorations. And everyone dresses up... lots of big hats! Unfortunately it rained off and on all that day... so my photos were nothing to write home about. I have ended up doing a compilation of photos for the painting. And after looking at the last 5 or 6 years of posters I realized no one has done a big typical jump piece... which I thought was a little odd... but fine by me! So this is what I am doing! Luckily this year for whatever reason, the dogwoods were in bloom... evidently this is not normal. They usually bloom just after or just before. So I did get some good back ground material. Of course this is due right now (!!!) Typical me! So I am going to try to do this fast... at least for a 24"X30" oil painting! But at least I don't have to worry about getting a horse or rider just so. I really plan to have fun with it. I decided to do it 24"X30" because I found a great frame @ my framer's (Rogers Frame Shop in Ocala)... it is a leather frame, (which I love!) that had been damaged. So I got it at a great price. And Roger will touch up the little bit of damage. But I had been waiting for just the right piece to do it justice!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Aiken Steeplechase Painting
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Studio Project
And for my next project... I lined my paint drawers with aluminum flashing. A wonderful friend (Jim Simms) long ago made this for me when I graduated from college. It has held lots of stuff over the years. But I really like having my oil paints in these drawers. There are two drawers. The second drawer has a sliding pull out tray (seen sitting on the top of the cabinet) Anyone that uses oil paints know that they always leak and get gooey. A first I lined them with aluminum foil... did not work! So I decided to try aluminum flashing. I made templates of the bottom and sides of each compartment. Cut the flashing... which was easier than I expected. Then I taped the edges together with "Gorilla Tape" ( A super sticky duct tape) this will hopefully keep me from slicing my fingers and keep the sides in place. So far this job worked out pretty well... but I did mange to cut my index finger... right thru the nail! ouch! As my husband said... it was inevitable! When ever I start cutting stuff.... At least it is on my left hand! And Neosporin is my friend!! Great stuff! It is healing nicely!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Studio Project
one of my latest projects... I added the partitions in this drawer for all my pastel pencils. Of course I thought it was going to be easy... isn't that just the kiss of death!!! I had it all done... and the drawer would not close!! I really hate it when that happens! I had to put a couple of notches in so that the little guide thingie could pass!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Danny and Ron Rescue new logo
gouache
property of Danny and Ron Rescue
http://www.dannyandronsrescue.com
This is the new art work that I have created for Danny and Ron's rescue. They will use it on their web site and for their stationary, tee shirts, etc..
I took the photo of the puppies while in Camden last spring. I was there to shoot pics for the 2012 calendar (which I really need to start working on!!). The puppies were all from the same liter and looked more like the two puppies closest to the little boy. I changed the other two to more resemble some of the other types of dogs Ron and Danny rescue. I took the photos of the little boy last summer at Blowing Rock while shooting photos for some clients at a horse show. He was actually looking at a caterpillar in some flowers! I knew I could use it in something like this!
Here is a little story on Ron and Danny... just to give you an idea of what they are like... They went on a much needed vacation in the Virgin Islands about a month ago. It had been years since they just went away where it had nothing to do with family or horses. While they were in paradise they found time to locate the humane shelter and adopted two dogs that they could bring back with them on the plane! It is just what they do!
These guys are truly amazing... they have found homes for over 3300 dogs to date! Doing my art for them is the very least I can do to help. If anyone is interested in their cause, go to... www.dannyandronsrescue.com
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Frodo Sage & Sadie
pastel on le carte pastel paper
private collection
actual size 25.5"X19.5"
www.djfitzgerald.com
This is the first time I have tried the le carte pastel paper. I had it mounted on matte board for stability. I almost always have my papers mounted before I work on them... I figure the framer is going to have to mount the piece for framing, so I might as well do it. It makes it easier to work on and ship. And I don't have to worry about it coming back because it was smeared in the mounting process. As for the le carte paper... I liked it for this piece... all the white was a pain. But I like the way I could get more detail in the dogs, being as small as they are here. I think I like the le carte board better... but I don't think I can get it in the bigger size. It has a little bit stickier surface, which I found interesting.
I have just ordered 2 new pastel surfaces... one is a velour board made by Hamuhle. This is my last try with velour! The other is one I am a little excited about... Clairefountaine pastelmat card. All the reviews were extremely positive... including a couple that were ready to give up on pastels until they tried this surface. There was also 2 really nice portraits as examples. I am really excited to try this one... just have to figure out which piece to do on it first!
I hand delivered this portrait to the client on my way up to Tn. for a family reunion in the Smokey Mts.. The client was very happy with the piece and I had a great time at the reunion. I will post some pics from the mountains soon. I drove home a long the Blue Ridge Pky.... one of my favorite things to do. I discovered another craft center on this trip. I love looking at appalachian hand crafts. I have decided I want to take up whittling... in my spare time of course!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Usher Portrait #7
actual size 20"X26"
artists collection
http://www.djfitzgerald.com
Almost done and the client tells me she really wants the portrait horizontal... After pulling my hair a little and screaming into a pillow, I will do it over horizontally. So this portrait is now part of my collection. I could be a stinker and just give this to her and move on. But I really want my clients to be happy... so many of my commissions are from personal referrals. I really can not afford (especially in this market) to have some one unhappy. I am going to put this aside for awhile to work on a few portraits to catch up economically and then do it over... I will also change the back ground to something else from Blowing Rock... they are known for their flower borders. I have some photos of a fence line next to a warm up area with lots of black-eyed susans. The yellow will be very pretty with Usher's dark bay coloring. This is a lesson to me to be a lot more specific with the clients and to write it down! I usually do this, but this was a spontaneous commission for a return client.... lesson learned the hard way! In over 25 years I have never had to do artist/client contracts... maybe this is a time to start.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
UsherPortrait #6
pastel on suede
actual size 20"X26"
private collection
www.djfitzgerald.com
Sorry I have not been posting... I got to go to my Fitzgerald family reunion. It was held in the Gatlinburg, Tn. area of the Smokey Mountains. Had a great time! I have not seen my cousins in over 20 years! And it is amazing how we all just picked up like the 20 years were 2 years instead! I also had a few photo shoots... one in Blowing Rock, NC, and one in Flat Rock, NC.. I delivered a portrait on my way up to Tenn.. I will post that one a little later. I got some really good shots of a bear that was a frequent visiter to the cabin! My cousin Mike got a great short video of 4 bear cubs and mother playing. Of course my camera at that time was in the car!! Could not get to the car because of the bears!! After they left, I got my camera out and ready.. and of course they did not come back! One lone male came by a few times... got some nice shots of him. But he was not nearly as much fun as the cubs! I will post some pics later today... still have to process them.