Nautilus

12" x 9"

oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Naomi (update)

24" x 36"

Oil on linen

I've been working on this for awhile now, then it was put on hold and now I am back on track. I still have quite a bit of work on this and will send updates as it progresses.

Nautilus (in progress)

9" x 12"
Oil on panel

Merry Christmas to everybody!!
I've been busy on two large commissions and this painting of a nautilus.

I have added two new paintings to Ebay
- a portion of the proceeds will go to The Humane Society:

Hope everyone has a safe and peaceful New Year.

New Ebay Items Listed

I just listed these items on Ebay

Click here to view auctions:

EBAY

Jake & Hedda

Jake
8" x 8"
oil on panel

Sold

Hedda

8" x 8"

oil on panel

Sold

These two dogs belong to friends of mine and I gave them as Christmas presents. Hedda is a downtown dog retouched.

The Missing Ornament

8" x 8"

oil on panel

SOLD

Gift Certificate for Pet Portrait - 15% Off

Go to Gift Certificate Page

Downtown Dog Calendar

I forgot to include the link for the calendar - here it is:

Downtown Dog Calendar

If you use the code: teejunction0909
to get free shipping

"Portia" done and "Downtown Dog" calendar

"Portia"

9" x 12"

Oil on canvas panel

Sold

"Dowtown Dog Calendar"

11" x 17"

I know it's late for Christmas, but not for the New Year. I just got my

first print of the downtown dog calendar yesterday and it looks fabulous!!!

It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be.

So, if you're looking for a cool calendar for the new year, here is the

website to order:

If you use the code: teejunction0909
You'll get free shipping

Corgie

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Sold

"Portia" in progress

9" x 12"

Oil on canvas board

Sad to say, Portia passed away a few days ago. When I received the photos to work from the client, I thought she was a puppy, but actually she was 15 years old. She really looked great for her age. Here is another photo of ( I believe) her peeking through couch pillows, which is absolutely adorable. She will be missed greatly.

Downtown Dog 72

8" x 8"

oil on panel

Sold

This is one on the downtown dogs and I just didn't like the way the fur looked the first time around so I decided to spend a little more time with it. This is for a client that wants to give this as a present for Christmas.

There are about 25 downtown dogs that I will be spending more time on before the book can be completed.

Always busy!

Lolly (in progress)

8" x 8"

oil on panel

Sold

This is one of the most unusual dogs I think I have ever seen. She reminds me of a Maurice Sendak character. I still need to add more highlights and hair after it dries a bit.

Brown Lab (in progress)

8" x 8"

oil on panel

Shepherd

8" x 8"

oil on panel

Sold

Art Sale...

Sold

The Art Sale is still going on on Ebay

Some are still at 99¢!

EBAY AUCTIONS

Border Collie

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Sold

Hot off the easel!

Just wanted to let you all know that if you are thinking about a Christmas pet portrait, the cut off day is Dec 12th. If you go to website, under portraits you'll see pricing.

Poncho Pieta in Progress

This is my, as Guy puts it "project painting" where I paint a little at a time on it, probably taking weeks or months to complete. Still struggling with the flesh tones and not happy with the eyes look "cold" and the face doesn't "flow". I also want a more realistic look, just not sure how to do it.  In the photo he has tattoos on both arms and I'm debating whether to put that in or not. I like the feel of them, but not sure.

Lately I've been layering color using a mixture of linseed oil and mineral spirits. I have used this method before and in some situations it works well.

I have several commissions going on, but can't post them until after Christmas, because the clients have requested they stay a secret.

I also have the Naomi painting still in progress, moving more into the background. Will post photos later.

Bob

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Sold

See Available Paintings on Ebay Auction

Sold

Go Here to See all Available Paintings on Ebay

BIg Sale!!

Click to go to See Auctions

Lilly Bloom

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Wildflowers and a letter of thanks

12" x 12"

oil on canvas

I did this painting right after I moved to NC and it hangs at my lake house in FL. These wildflowers bloom all around the area and are just gorgeous.

I was thinking about what I'm thankful for because I guess it's Thanksgiving and that's what we should do and I always do feel energized and centered when I do - I really should do it more often. I am overwhelmingly thankful to be in a relationship with someone who is unselfish, unconditional, who just loves for me to paint and supports me no matter how much time I spend doing it.  I'm thankful my son who is creative and living his life to the fullest he is able to right now. My mom who is always just a phone call away for advice and to make me laugh. My sister, who constantly inspires me with her strength. My friends, who inspire me creatively. All of you, who keep me painting. The universe that is constantly taking care of me and my sobriety.

Nikita (in progress) Commission

18" x 24"

Oil on canvas

Painting at the Lake

Since being at the lake, I've had a lot of time to work on Christmas commissions and enjoying every minute. 

If you are thinking about a pet commission, now is the time to put in your order so the painting can be done by Christmas. I do offer framing at a reasonable price if needed and it always a nice presentation for a gift. Just email me and let me know.

Sunlight

9" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

Everyday when it starts to get cold Chumley searches for spots of sunlight to sleep in. One of his favorites is my chair in front of the computer. Unfortunately for him the chair spins and when he jumps up it starts up - it's quite funny to see and once it stops he goes to sleep until I need to sit, then he goes off and finds another sunlit spot.

By the Sea

Here is a better shoot - I just took it outside for better lighting.

By the Sea

8" x 8"

oil on panel

I didn't bring my tripod so I couldn't get a good shot of this. Will send a better one another time. 

This is taken from a photo shoot I did about a month ago - I was able to get a lot of really great shots for future paintings.

Yesterday's Paintings

I forgot to include a preview of the book.

Here it is:

Preview the Book

"Yesterday's Painting" Book Release

I have put together a book with 52 of my favorite paintings from the last year! Click below to see a preview. It comes in softback, hardback and image wrap.

Also, Get 20% OFF PLUS FREE SHIPPING
Use promo code HOLIDAY at the end of the checkout process to receive 20% off your books, plus we'll cover shipping charges up to US $7.99.

Yesterday's Pa...

a collection of pa...

By Clair Hartmann

Book Preview

Sleeping Fox

Here is a little experiment I started and wanted to share it with you - I'm probably going to change quite a bit before it's all over.

Also, I hung some of my work at "The Smudge Pot" on Wrightsville Ave.  - stop in for a great cup of hot chocolate or a coffee some time and see the art!

Well, I'm leaving for FL a day late - should be there tomorrow if everything goes as planned.

Manny And Jampa & Downtown Dog 98

Sold

Sold

I'm getting ready to mail these out, so I wanted to scan them in and post the final images. I'm really proud of these two paintings. I feel as far a pet portraiture this is the direction I'm wanting to take... lot's of detail in the fur, spending more time on the paintings, etc.

I can really see the where the Downtown Dogs have brought me as far as skill and mind-set and that the 100 dogs was a long exercise to get me here. I really love working in detail and getting "lost" in the painting.

I'm taking a few of the Downtown Dog paintings that I wasn't completely happy with when they were done with and going back over them and adding more detail.

Here is one I just completed. The original was flat and "un-puppy like"

Now he looks cuddly like a puppy should.

Sleeping Dog

7" x 5"

acrylic on panel
view auction

This week I'm going to Florida for a few weeks to spend Thanksgiving with family. I will still be posting daily and I going to diligently work on commissions and of course, will post as they progress. 

I have found a woman artist that you should check out. She teaches at the NY Academy of Art and is incredibly talented.
http://www.alyssamonks.com

Added to "Perez Fine Art Gallery" Online

Just wanted to let you know I am now in Perez Fine Art Gallery online with some artists that I really respect.

Check out the "Emerging Artists" section.

See Barbara Kacicek's page, she's a really great artist.

"Pancho Pieta" Update

9" x 12"

Oil on canvas panel

Still have a lot of work to do on this - studying up on mixing flesh tones. I really don't feel comfortable with it yet - it's a lot harder than it looks. Flesh tones have so many colors and transparencies. It has to look alive and not "plastic", I've been looking at artists like Jeremy Lipking and Michael Klein who are the masters of people painting, trying to see how they do it with developing my own style.

If you would like to see their work, here are their sites - amazingly, they are both very young, but incredibly talented.

Michael Klein:

http://www.michaelkleinpaintings.com/PaintingList.html

Check out the "At Rest" painting

Jeremy Lipking:

http://www.lipking.com/gallery.htm

Cameron's Art Museum's "Toying with Art" Show

Well, I'm officially in a real museum!
The show went great and I've posted some photos from last night.
Cameron's "Toying with Art" Show Photos

"Jampa" Commission

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

The woman who commissioned this painting owns Pug Wine in California.

Downtown Dog Purse & Cameron Tomorrow!

Local artists have come together for the YWCA, transforming "OldBags"into artist designed purses, Silent auction at St. Thomas Hall 4-6 Nov. 12.

http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=drLSK0PFLuF&b=448085

"Pancho Pieta" in progress

9" x 12"

Oil on canvas panel

I saw this photo in a friend's photo file and asked if I could paint it - I love the contrast of the two figures.. this kind of tough guy with this helpless little dog. It reminded me of Michelangelo's Pieta in a way - really just hit me right.

I worked on this last night and a little tonight. It'll probably take me quite a while to finish  - If it comes out the way I'm thinking it should - it'll be a good one to submit to competitions.

"Naomi" Painting in Progress

24" x 30"

oil on canvas

I started this commission and thought it was going pretty good, then realized the whole body was off, the head was too big, legs were too small, etc. She looked short and squat taking away from the "regal look" she needs for this portrait. So, I started over on another canvas.

I painted on this for about 4 hours and I already feel better about this - it has (as my sister puts it) good cha-cha.

I'll send more photos as it progresses.

Don't forget about the Toys Show at the Cameron Thursday!

Under a Gray Sky

9" x 12"

Acrylic on canvas panel
View Auction

Manny Completed

8" x 8"

oil on panel