Oscar

Oscar is starting to look like he's romping, but I still haven't quite got his expression right yet. I'm confident that I will get it, however, and that he will come to life! A little too much green right now, but we'll see how I can resolve that with some complementary colors. Some shadows have been added, and the layers are building on the grass.
I'm so glad you could visit, and check back again!

Oscar

A few more colors and textures were added today and the background is starting to have some shapes. Again, these are layers and there will be many more to come. I want to portray mischief and energy in this wonderful little dog, so the eyes and posture keep getting worked on. Sometimes, I realize that the changes I've made were not good choices and that I need to repeat what was there before. This is all part of the creative process...problem solving, and trial and error. There is so much that I learn from each painting!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving...we have so much to be grateful for. Personally, every day, I feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have the gift of another day and another opportunity to do my best and to give love, light and gentleness wherever I can.

Oscar

Today, you see the facial features coming and the first layer of the background. Oscar's "person" requested greens and blues as his favorites, so I'm incorporating as much of that as I can while still allowing the final wild colors that I love to come at the end. The spirit and personality are what I most want to capture.
The heating repair people came and found that they had ordered the wrong part, so my little cocoon of a studio will have to proceed with little space heaters.
I've been asked if I listen to music while I paint and I do! I have Serius satellite radio in my studio and I'm usually tuned into Marguaritaville for prancy and lively music, with a lot of Jimmy Buffett thrown in.
Thanks for tuning in!

Oscar's Progress

Today you see more of the underlayers being laid down. It's a bit odd to see a painting at this stage, but have faith that it will make sense as more is added.
I appreciate the feedback I have received, and I hope this will be a fun part of your day to check in and see how each painting comes to life. This is also an opportunity to see new paintings before they are listed on the website for sale, so if you see a piece that you like, email me to reserve it. Oscar is spoken for, but there will be many other opportunities with new paintings coming along.

It's not too cold today, so the little temporary heaters are working well. Tomorrow is studio heat repair day! Time to take a break and go play with the two little furballs, Shetland ponies Little Richard and Butterball, who are chestnut with flaxen manes and tails, soon to be subjects of paintings.
If you have friends who would like to share in the cheerfulness, and sometimes silliness, of watching paintings materialize, please give them the blog address. I welcome all viewers!
I look forward to your comments, and thanks for watching!

Painting of Oscar in progress

Hello everyone! Today is November 23 and I am showing you a painting of Oscar in progress. Please come back often to see the updated painting as it comes along. You can give feedback and comments at lwmellon@gmail.com, and visit my website, littlehouseart.com, to see more paintings. The heat is off in my studio so I have little electric heaters going while I work. Hopefully, the repair people will be here soon. The dogs come in to check on me, they plop down to stay a while, and I have to step over and straddle them to paint! Would I make them move? Of course not!