Celina

Celina, originally uploaded by debifitz.

I just finished this one... it is a smaller pastel.... 16"X20". It is of a very nice hunter mare named Celina. The client did this as a gift for a friend. I am pleased with the way it came out. But I am getting frustrated with the suede mat board that I have been using for the last 15 or 20 years now. I don't know if the manufacturer has changed something... but it seems to be harder to get the darker pastels to "take" to the surface. I spend so much time working the surface that it takes some of the joy out of it. I have a couple of samples of paper that I am going to play with. Most of my clients have been drawn to the softness of the pastels on this surface... so I hope I can make the transition to another paper with out to much trouble.

2010 Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers Directory

Fl. Farm Managers Directory, originally uploaded by debifitz.

My first cover on the Fl. Thoroughbred Farm Managers' 2010 farm directory. Worked on this with them way back in June! Very hard to keep a secret for this long! But It is finally out! Yeah! This is a pastel I did of Devon Seek and her miniature horse, Puffy.

Harry

Harry, originally uploaded by debifitz.

oil on canvas
private collection
actual size 34"X46"

This is the final photo of this painting. The photo was taken on Live Oak Stud Farm in Ocala. The farm is known for the trees. it is a thoroughbred breeding farm. The owner's son also has carriage horses. A large three day combined driving competition is held there every spring. It is really a beautiful event. If you are in the area, it is worth the trip!

This painting was really a fun one to do. I really loved playing with this back ground... the moss was a joy to paint! The tree branch was a subject in itself!

Lee

Lee, originally uploaded by debifitz.

This is the oil painting of Lee. (28"X36") The photo was taken on the same day as the last pastel. I really enjoyed working with this family... I did all their children at this age... around 2 years. Lee was the last child. The other two are boys. The mother was bound and determined to have a girl! Luckily three was the charm! Or they would probably have a whole base ball team by now! I also spent a lot of time with them during the photo shoots. The first child I did at their home in Atlanta. The next two were taken in Sarasota, at their family's condo on the beach. We tried to shoot the second boy on the beach... but he was blond and blue eyed... even on a cloudy day he squinted.  We took his photos at the Marie Selma Botanical Gardens in the bromeliad green house.  It is always nice to be able to get to know your subjects. I always think it makes the portraits that much better. This dress was the mother's when she was this age... it was hand made by her grand mother. I really enjoyed this painting.... used a lot of white! Sarasota is known for their white sugar sand. And it was my first beach painting.