Yorkie --- A Favorite Pup

Samantha - 12x16 - Oil on Canvas

All Rights Reserved - R. Wellner 2014

This cute puppy is a favorite of my client.  This is one of several paintings for her.  She's planning a display of all her favorite dogs.  She also fosters dogs and puppies despite some health challenges.  One of the last emails mentioned picking up 6 six week old lab pups!  Yikes!  She's a better woman than I!! She's a joy to work with --- I'm so grateful for my clients.  I get to do what I love - paint. And since I'm also a dog-lover it's a double win!

Black Dogs

Tess - 12x16 - Oil on Canvas

All Rights Reserved R. Wellner 2014

This painting was not my first solution for this client -- who also happened to be a dear friend.  Initially we planned the tight headshot.  But a tight headshot of a black dog--- it just wasn't very exciting.  So I went back to the photos and decided to do this one.  I see areas that I need to improve on but I'm so much happier with the final result than the first.  Black dogs are a challenge regardless.  Still learning about that!

Photographing Your Paintings

Julie's Pup - 12x16 - Oil - 2014

This is actually one of my favorite paintings.  But I rushed it and didn't verify that I had a decent photo before I shipped it off.  And if you look at it closely it's a terrible photo.  I now ---finally--- have a good setup for taking photographs.  It's kind of a pain in the butt but worth it.  I bought two lights with soft boxes on them from Ebay.  The two were less than $100.  I put them at about a 30-35 degree angle on each side of my painting.  Then I put them up close to the ceiling and pointed at the ceiling so they bounce off the ceiling.  And of course turn off all the other lights.  Then I make sure my camera and painting are level --- with a level--- and my flash is turned off on the camera.  Anyway that seems to give me consistently good results.  

All the best!  Hug your furry friends for me!!

www.petwhimsyportraits.com

Buffalo

BUFFALO

30x40 Oil on Canvas

All rights reserved - Robin Wellner

It's been a long time since I've posted.  A tumultuous year of changes.  Spending as much time as I can working on my people paintings - tho this does not show that.  I decided to give myself this year to explore that.  Painting people was where I began and then went down a little different road with pet portraits.  I love painting period, so the pet portraits was not a detour.  More opportunity to paint.  I know I've said this before but it truly seems the more I learn, the more I need to learn!!

This Buffalo was done for a friend who's a massage therapist and the Buffalo is her totem.  Seems a symbol of tremendous power to me.  I undercoated the whole canvas with a metallic copper acrylic paint, then did a wash of the blue-green before I painted the buffalo.  It was one of those paintings that felt inspired.  LOVE it when that happens.

 www.petwhimsyportraits.com

www.robinwellnerportraits.com

Bernese Mountain Dog

"Bella" - Bernese Mountain Dog

12x16 Oil on Canvas

All Rights Reserved - Robin Wellner

What a lovely, majestic breed.  Have always wanted one of these beauties but it hasn't worked out yet.  Enjoying the "fresh" start of the New Year.  Wishing you and yours all the best!

Happy New Year!

"Tater"

12x16 - Oil on Canvas

All Rights Reserved - Robin Wellner 2013

Sometimes paintings just come together easily and sometimes I struggle.  This was one that flowed - I think in part because he's such a cutie and it's a great photo!  

It's the new year and I'm exhausted from the last month.  Lost my Aunt Robin who I am named after and have been struggling to get back on track with some direction.  She was an incredible woman and I was blessed to have her a close part of my life the last five years.  I miss her.

I am very excited about working with my Portrait Society mentor Natalie Italiano.  She's already taught me tons with one phone call and presented me with some challenges that I hope I can meet.   The more I learn about portrait painting (people) the more I realize I don't know.  

Here's to lots of learning in 2013!

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!!!

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.