Painting and Other Things

While I was hard at work on a portrait, my cat, Melville, was toiling away at this lovely little composition. Why is it that cats always seem to sleep on something that color-coordinates with their fur?

I did paint today! I'll post pictures soon, after I get approval from my client. Here's some evidence, though:

I also have been doing calligraphy for a friend's wedding invitations:

All in all, a good summer so far! What have you been doing?

Hooray!

We have been searching for a table for our kitchen for the last few years, and today we find it. It was sitting there so unassuming at Target. I would've loved to have bought something used or at least built in the U.S., but it was there and it fits so perfectly. we may have to stain it black to match the cabinets. We've had two meals on it already!

This weekend has been so perfect. I tried out my oil pastels (I'll need to keep trying; I'm not crazy about them), and I started seven different paintings. Six of them are portraits, and the last is based on the picture posted below. Here's that work in progress...

I also searched through all my digital pictures to find some artistic ones that I can use as practice. I ended up printing 115. We'll see what happens!

Trumpeting

Here's a recent painting I've done, again donated. I've still got a half-dozen of donated portraits in the queue, but I'm feeling energized and inspired in this new year. I've uploaded some shots documenting the process as well, though the underpainting is a little pathetic. More to come....

Feelin' Set-sy

I've recently been commissioned to touch up the sets for [BIG] Photo, one of the premier photography studios in Louisville. Here is a link to some of the finished products; I hope to post some samples of their professional-quality photos later on in the summer.

Portrait Samples

I have posted some portrait samples on my Picasa Public Library. My main references (much to the chagrin of my painting professor) are photographs, as you can see. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Work in Progress

This is a portrait I donated to my nieces' and nephews' school. It is really the first major work I've done since graduating from Centre College 5 years ago. I feel like it's taking me so much longer - it's true what they say about practicing. If you don't, you lose it.