Interesting Challenge!

The local art society that I am a member of hosts monthly themed shows. This month the theme is black and white and one other color. I enjoy working with a limited palette, but usually I have a minimum of 6-8 colors. For this project I chose to work in acrylics using Mars black, titanium white and ultramarine blue.

For my subject I decided to do a native American war pony at night. I have loved and drawn horses since I was age three. They say most little girls outgrow their love of horses, but I never did, and I still think they are one of the most majestic and fascinating of God’s creatures.

I started the painting yesterday, and I am hoping to spend most of my day in the studio completing it today. I will post up a pic soon. Time to get my coffee and get back to painting…

UPDATE 5/29/09: I am just about finished with the painting. It HAS been a challenge!! Between working overtime on my full time job and squeezing in an hour here and there, I have managed to get it done. The three colors I chose were difficult to work with in that everything looked monochromatic without enough contrast. I kept lightening up and toning down areas until it looked acceptable. My painting looks like a moonlight night pic! I will post up a pic of the finished piece tonight and as always, please feel free to offer comments, critiques, etc. I am always learning and appreciate the feedback!

UPDATE 5/30/09: Finally finished “Two Feathers” this morning and entered him in the June 2009 at Pinellas Park Art Society. I also entered a scratchboard “Watcher” that was black and white with yellow. Both pieces were interesting to do and I enjoyed the challenge of working with a very limited palette!

UPDATE 6/8: My scratchboard of “Watcher” the owl won first place at the Pinellas Park Art Society June Show! I am hoping to teach a scratchboard class soon at the society and share the fun of this interesting medium!

Hello from my studio!

I was so impressed by one of my friend’s blogs that I thought it was time to start my own, so here goes! I am looking forward to writing an online journal and sharing my thoughts and art and other areas of interest with my friends and colleagues. The name of my studio is Wildhawk Studio. My favorite subjects to study and draw are birds of prey, horses, wildlife, and domestic animals.

I have posted a photo of my most recently completed work - a 16 x 20 pastel portrait of my husband. He has been after me for years to do his portrait and was very pleased with the results. Apparently my local art group was too as the portrait won first place at their May show! I had a lot of fun doing it - pastels is one of my favorites to do - and I was very happy with the results since I have not drawn “people” since college.

I mostly work with animals and nature subjects, but after doing his portrait I will probably do more human subjects. My favorite media includes: pastels, graphite, oils, acrylics, scratchboard, and colored pencil. I enjoy nature photography and work primarily from my own photographs.

My husband is also a nature photographer, and we enjoy exploring the natural areas of our state - some areas of Florida are still wide open, but development is fast approaching. I have a genuine fear that Florida - particularly the Everglades - will suffer as results of too many people, not enough resources. My goal with my art is to portray animals in their native habitat before it is too late and hopefully encourage people to protect our natural resources.

I will be posting works in progress and finished pieces on this blog, so please check back often.

UPDATE: My pastel portrait won first place at the Pinellas Park Art Society May show! My husband was so excited to see a blue ribbon hanging on his portrait!