Painting, Dogs, Aging: Brushstrokes

Painting, Dogs, Aging: Brushstrokes: Nali 12x16- Oil on canvas (C) Robin Wellner 2012 I know I have posted this on Facebook, but it is one of my favorites of late.  I...

Brushstrokes

Nali

12x16- Oil on canvas

(C) Robin Wellner 2012

I know I have posted this on Facebook, but it is one of my favorites of late.  It has some of the looser brush style that I am aspiring to incorporate all the time.  Sometimes it seems to just happen -- love that when it does.  I'm hoping to achieve that as well in my people portraits.  I am honored and excited to be a protege for one of the Portrait Society of America's mentor this year.  That means I'll have a mentor help guide me in my portrait painting this year.  Can't wait!!!

Fossil Butte

Fossil Butte

16x20 - Oil on Canvas

(c) - Robin Wellner 2012

Lisa is a good friend and also my riding teacher -- and an incredible one at that!  She asked me to paint this scene from an old photo of her in her childhood.  She grew up in this area of Wyoming.  I gues riding from a youngster.  But I love this outfit-- chaps, hat, gun --- and such a serious face.  All business!  The original photo was a bit faded and quite small so I had to beef it up a bit.  Thanks Lisa -- for the opportunity and all the wonderful riding instructions --- and taking such good care of my boy Captain!!!

www.petwhimsyportraits.com

robinwellnerportraits.com

Painting, Dogs, Aging: Tim

Painting, Dogs, Aging: Tim: Tim Lemmond- 24x30 oil on linen This was a labor of love.  This portrait is of a dear friend who passed away about a year and a hal...

Tim

Tim Lemmond- 24x30 oil on linen

This was a labor of love.  This portrait is of a dear friend who passed away about a year and a half ago.  He was an amazing man and incredible musician.  My husband and Tim played music together. It's a portrait I've been wanting to do for a while.  The perfect opportunity was his Legacy Concert and CD release event.  Tim was a counselor who worked with foster children.  Part of his legacy is a scholarship for foster children who would like to pursue music.  The fund provides funds for music lessons for those children.

www.csarts.org/support-csa

This is the link for contributions.

Anyway -- It was definitely the most emotional portrait I've ever worked on.  I told his wife I often felt like Tim was there cheering me on.  Thanks Tim!  Love ya!  Rock on!!

http://www.petwhimsyportraits.com

http://robinwellnerportraits.com

Ellie - Oil- 18x18

All Rights Reserved-Robin Wellner

Been awhile since I've posted.  I've been painting lots of "presents" that I don't want to post until the person has had a chance to deliver the painting.  So at some point I'll have lots to post.

The other project I've been working on is a portrait of a good friend who passed away a year and 1/2 ago.  The onus of "getting it right" is a little overwhelming.  So overwhelming that I've started two paintings.  I have felt his presence with me though the whole time-- cheering me on and trying to get me to lighten up.  Hopefully I got the message!  Thanks Tim!

Skirt

Skirt - 24x30 - Oil on Canvas

All Rights Reserved - Robin Wellner

Been working on people lately more so than puppies. It a mixed bag -- I love it but I also feel so inept sometimes.  So many directions to go -- looking for a looser style - but wanting to maintain each person's essence.  I like this study -- not complete ---it's from life.  I'm finding that I have so much more energy and spark when I'm working from life.  There are so many more colors and nuances that I don't see in photos.  TO Life!!

Petwhimsyportraits.com

Robinwellnerportraits.com

Trewby - Oil on Canvas - 24 x 24 Gallery Wrap

All Right Reserved- Robin Wellner 2012

Petwhimsyportraits.com

Frustrated today because I had planned to get to the studio to paint and it's not happening because of really good reasons--- but I really miss it!  Had a week of other diversions.  Can't wait until my studio is in my backyard!  In the studio these days besides my puppy paintings I've been working on several people portraits.  I've started premixing flesh tones based somewhat on Daniel Greene's palette.  I do think it's a better approach - it's a great starting place for lots of colors.  I still need to alter them but I have a beginning.

"Stone"

24x24- Oil on Gallery Canvas

All rights reserved - Robin Wellner

One of the challenges of doing this work of painting these beautiful animals is getting good photos.  I'm happy with the end result of this painting --- but struggled with the background.   It's completely blown out.  I finally decided that was a good thing because it allowed me to do a more abstract background - which I actually prefer. But not before I had painted the background three different times.

 Right now I'm working on a portrait of 2 little boys - actually one is just a baby.  The photo is one of those 3x5's we all used to take.  The flesh tones are almost greenish.  I hope I can do it justice!  Definitely a challenge!!  Pray for me!

Painting, Dogs, Aging: "Mouse"24x30 Oil on CanvasAll rights reserved - Ro...

Painting, Dogs, Aging: "Mouse"24x30 Oil on CanvasAll rights reserved - Ro...: "Mouse" 24x30 Oil on Canvas All rights reserved - Robin Wellner Picked up my paintings from the Cabarrus Arts Council yesterday. ...

"Mouse"

24x30 Oil on Canvas

All rights reserved - Robin Wellner

Picked up my paintings from the Cabarrus Arts Council yesterday.  The show "Animal House" closed last week.  It was wonderful to be a part of it.  It's a great facility in the old courthouse in Concord.  They have a wonderful staff who are very dedicated to creating a great show for viewers and artists.  They also have a theater upstairs for film festivals and live theater. "Mouse" was there with friends.  I still love the floral background in this painting - and the soulful expression on this puppy.

www.petwhimsyportraits.com

Copyright - Robin Wellner 2012

Spent the morning doing the other thing I love-- painting people.  This is a sketch from a past session.  We have a "ladies" group and get together to share a model and paint for 3 hours.  It's wonderful.  No pressure of having a real client sitting there wondering what's taking so long!  Great opportunity to try new techniques and share ideas.  I've been using it as an opportunity to try Daniel Green's palette --- not only his colors but premixing lots of flesh tones. I'm excited about it but think I might adjust it some to my preferences.

Can you tell I love to paint! 

12x12 - Oil

"Lab Heaven"

All rights reserved - Robin Wellner

www.petwhimsyportraits.com

Decided to get a little silly with this painting.  It actually evolved from a reject.  So I'm trying to make Lemonade from a lemon -- or in this case- tennis balls!  It was fun to get a little more playful and not be so worried about it looking exactly like the photo someone sent. 

Hope you like it!

16 x 16 Oil

Old Soul

Copyright R. Wellner

This painting seems an appropriate beginning to a blog titled Painting, Dogs, Aging.  For obvious reasons!  I love painting.  Not that I don't get frustrated.  Today I did one of those common things we try when something looks wrong...turned my painting and my reference material upside down.  It didn't help!  One of those paintings that is really challenging me.  Part of the issue is that the dog I am currently painting has paralyzation on one side of his face -- so he doesn't look "normal".  Sometimes it so hard to really paint what you see-- not what you construct in your mind!!!

Oh Yeah -- the aging part --- I turned 60 this year.  Brings up lots of thoughts about where I'd hoped to be by now.  And all those sayings about time passing so fast, etc. are my life!  Challenging but good.  Thanks for viewing my blog!!