If you're looking for something of mine, it's probably here.

I write gen, almost always focused on House and Wilson. Comments are bliss, no matter how old the story. Often, I play in the sandbox with other fan writers, so I have a specific list of my collaborative stories at the bottom of the page.

( Stories beneath the cut. )

Belly Up.  Mixed media on paper, 6" x 11".  The model for this is a lovely girl named Hosuni, who lives with an acquaintance of mine from elsewhere on the 'net.

 

Red Rooster #1 and Red Rooster #2 (Loose Chicken).  Both 12" x 12" oil on panel, done last night.  #2 seems to photograph much better than #1, although I have no idea why.

Mixed media on brown paper, 7" x 6.5".  Click to enlarge.

I'll be on my way in a few minutes -- meeting the woman from the animal rescue organization at Panera for lunch, just a few miles from here.  To discuss the animal portrait thing.  I've got Biscuit's portrait on hand because I just varnished and framed it, so I'm taking that with me.

I've made a nice little toy horse drawing this morning, just for fun and practice.  Lots to do today -- prep for tomorrow's classes, and that portrait of Cyrus, and something for the Red Show (different from the auction; the deadline for dropping off my entry is Saturday).

Hope you're all having a nice pleasant morning, and I'll check in upon my return, which should be fairly soon.

30" x 10" oil on canvas, for the fundraiser auction this Friday night.

Click to enlarge. 

I ended up correcting some things in the painting -- as usual, I only saw them once I photographed it. Heh.  Lens distortion is still a problem and I had to crop a bit because of it, but this is better.

Soft sunshine and fat little snowflakes at the same time.

Coffee; the painting I finished last night (well -- I was still touching up a couple things just now, but finished for all intents and purposes); I'm setting it up now to photograph.

( ... aaaannd here's the boring junk. )

It is almost 1 pm here.

I am going to give myself until three to finish the painting for the auction.  This has to happen or I'll be up at midnight with a paintbrush in hand, stressed to the gills, and the thing won't dry before I deliver it.

   

So here's the thing, two hours ago on left, and current state on right.  Click to enlarge.  Sorry for the glare problem.

I didn't finish but did get a lot more done than I would have if I'd not set the goal.  So I'm taking a lunch break now and will set the timer all over again when I'm done with food.  I do see what needs doing, btw -- among other things, the flowers need to be somewhat less bright and the top spire must be straightened out a bit.  The little ironwork gates aren't finished, nor the highlight areas of the red birdhouse, but that needs to dry and tack up a little bit before I can do it.

I've been huddled in bed all morning.  Getting out now, despite the cold.  I have work to do!  And breakfast and coffee to make first.

Barn may end up being Wednesday, after I no longer have the art gala deadline hanging over my head.  :-P

7" x 5" pastel on paper.

( Done at last! )

I emailed that portrait of Rio to the rescue organization that placed her with Ron.  Said I thought they'd like to know how happy and loved she is, and if they'd like to use the image on their "Successes" page (or elsewhere to promote the rescue) they were welcome to do so.

( I knew they'd like it, but this was unexpected! )

   



Scanned image from last night; photo I used for reference; photographed work from this morning, with some tweaks to the eyes and nose.

A couple months ago I was talking to Nicole the Art Dealer and sketching out one of the Stillwater Griffins as best as I could remember it off the top of my head.

In ballpoint, on thin paper in a notebook she had on hand. 



Tonight I played with the sketch, for fun, and this is the result.  It's about 5" x 7.5" -- just long enough to not fit a standard mat.  :-/

Just emailed this to the client.  I hope they like it, because I really don't want to have to do another one.  I'm thinking they'll ask me to change the color of the big flower, which I did mention I could do.  It's amazing the things people think they aren't allowed to ask for.

If I had it my way, that big flower would be white with dark pink shadows.  I don't think white is what they want, though, so we'll see.

I have kind of a bad feeling about this job.  I won't be earning much on it, and I think these people are going to wish-wash me half to death.  Here's hoping I'm wrong.

Playing around with a demo drawing from one of my classes, and a ready-made mat I had on hand.  11" x 14" overall size.

10" x 8" oil on canvas.  Isn't she a lovely girl?  Click to enlarge the image.

This is where you can really see the difference a good source photo makes.  I didn't have that luxury for the other two of this gentleman's dogs, since they were deceased and I had to work with what few snapshots he had.  For Rio I was able to take my own photo of her, and the result is a better painting in less time.

Or, that's what it seems I'm doing.

Demand for mural work: zero
Demand for dog portraits: considerable

( Woof, a list, and a bit of minor rambling )

... because I get to try this again.  Just a List of Crap for the day; feel free to ignore if you'd prefer.

( Mercifully cut. )

Taking the little seed drawings to the Art Dealer this morning.  In fifteen or twenty minutes.

Hope everyone's morning is going well; mine is.  Hannah, that decaf you sent me makes a delicious blend with my standard whole bean Eight o'Clock -- yummy half-caff.  I'm getting a third cup before I leave.

Dee, I'll be sending your drawing today.

It's good to be in my own space again. So:
( List of Stuff today. )