Downtown Dog 64, 65, 66, 67

Downtown Dog 67
8" x 8"
Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 66
8" x 8"
Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 65
8" x 8"
Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 64
8" x 8"
Oil on panel


Well, I have been crackin' at these paintings!
I have a lot lined up that are half done, trying to get two started and two completed everyday for the next week and a half.

My date to be done is September 13th which is not far off!!

Paintings from BHI

4 x 7 

acrylic on panel

5 x 7 

acrylic on panel

5 x 7 

acrylic on panel

 

4 x 7 

acrylic on panel

 5 x 7 

acrylic on panel

5 x 7 

acrylic on panel

5 x 7 

acrylic on panel

5 x 7 

acrylic on panel

Well, it was a great birthday! Hotter than heck, but a really good day of painting. I was wanting more, but it got so hot and we were so drained (and burnt) by 4:00 we had to get back. 

The water was a beautiful blueish green and was looking quite tropical for NC. I wanted to go swimming, but didn't bring my suit - maybe I'll go back for a swim and some more painting. 

Guy took lots of photos while I painted and we both passed out when we got home. 

Birthday trip and taking a break

Today is my Birthday and I am going to do some plein air painting (a fancy word for outside painting) at Bald Head Island today - I am so excited! I have all my panels ready, my easel, paints, everything I can think of.

I'm working in acrylic, so it'll be an experiment because I have only worked in watercolors with this kind of painting. Since I usually work in oils everyday, I'm not thinking they would be a good outside medium because they dry so slow.  Acrylics dry fairly fast and I want a "thick paint" look so, I made a "panel carrier" that keeps the panels safe from anything touching them once they have been painted.

I'll post them when I get back!

Solitude

6" x 8"

oil on panel

$125

Click to Purchase

Downtown Dog 60, 61, 62, 63

Downtown Dog 63

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 62

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 61

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

 Downtown Dog 60

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 56. 57, 58, 59

Downtown Dog 59

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 58

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 57

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 56

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 53, 54, 55

Downtown Dog 53

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

 

Downtown Dog 54

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 55

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Farmer's Market was great!  My next date is the 29th.

Got a lot of positive responses to the new paintings and I talked to a woman from Fox News and they are wanting to do a story on the paintings, which is very exciting. I'll let you know if and when it materializes.

Got a lot of paintings in the works - I think I got my steam back for painting!

Downtown Dog 51 & 52

Downtown Dog 52

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 51

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Just letting everybody know I will be at the Farmer's Market Saturday bright and early - hope to see some of you and if you have a dog you want painted come out and I'll take a photo - I'm running out of photos to work from!

I posted the article from Encore Mag. and the mention in Focus on the Coast on my website:

http://hartmanndesign.net/paintings/press.html

Downtown Dog 47

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Hello everybody, sorry I've been so slow on the posts.

I've been having a lot of problems with humidity and the paints have been drying reeeaaallllly slow. I'm considering a dehumidifier for the studio.

I have a few in progress and as soon as I can get a handle on this problem - they will be posted.

Downtown Dog 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

Downtown Dog 45

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 46

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 47

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 48

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 49

8" x 8" 

Oil on panel

I am almost half way there!

This project has been so rewarding and I've learned so much that I thought I'd share a few tips if you are a painter using oils or thinking about it.

1 - Always clean your brushes with soap and water when you are done with a session of painting - it really preserves the brushes which can get expensive as you know - never leave them sitting in mineral spirits for long periods of time.

2 - It really helps (for me) to paint the painting half way though (lay out the color) then finish it later in the day. Less stress to complete and the oils have enough time to semi dry to complete the painting.
If you've spent a lot of time working on something - walk around, check your email, do dishes or (my fav) take a nap - get a "fresh look" when you come back to the painting. I only work for an average 20 mins at a time.

3 - I like to keep a canvas cloth on my lap to brush off paint or dry the brush - it's really handy.

4 - A palette tray with a cover comes in handy when you are painting every day - it preserves the paint (oil only). Also wax paper is great for a liner in a palette tray. No matter how wet the paint gets it holds up without tearing. Then when it's used up just throw it away.

If I come up with any more I'll let you know.

Well, I'm off to FL for a week - time for me to pack!

One more thing - I am featured on a website called Dog Art Today.
Here is the website:
http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/

Downtown Dog 43, 44 & Clamshell Still Life

Downtown Dog 43

Oil on panel

8" x 8"

Downtown Dog 44

Oil on panel

8" x 8"

Clamshell Still Life

Oil on panel

6" x 6"

I'm slowly catching up on these. I've got a few in the works and should be sending more tomorrow.

I decided to get away from the dogs and painted my favorite Clamshell which I'm happy with the way it turned out and because of all the painting I'm doing, it was a very easy paint and took maybe an hour.

Downtown Dog 42 (Peppy Earl) unfortunately passed away this week. He was a sweet dog and will be missed greatly.

Plans to be at The Farmers Market this Saturday have fallen through - so the next Farmers Market date will be August 15th. For those of you who have purchased a portrait and were planning on picking them up I will get them to you when I get back from Florida.

Which brings me to my next point - I am leaving for Florida Sun to see my sister and family. I'll be back the following Monday, but will be posting paintings while I'm gone. I'm looking for to spending some time away and since I'm catching up on the dogs maybe I'll take some time off from painting.

Downtown Dog 40, 41, 42

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

This breed  is called a Papillon which means butterfly in french. I have never noticed how much these dog look like butterflies until now - amazing!

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

And of course, my Chumley!

Downtown Dog 36, 37, 38, 39

Downtown Dog 39

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 38

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

Downtown Dog 37

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

 Downtown Dog 36

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

The Farmers' Market was a great success. I have lots of new photos to work from and possibly a place to show.

I'm starting to get inquiries to do portraits which is very exciting.

Guy asked me tonight "are you starting to get burned out?"  I thought about it and I told him sometimes when I do a lot of paintings at once I feel like... I can't take it!! I'm tired! And yeah, a little burned out. But it passes quickly and then the next thing I know I'm losing myself in another painting. What I'm getting out of it surpasses all the "being burned out" feelings.

Downtown Dog 31, 32, 33, 34, 35

 Downtown Dog 35

 Downtown Dog 34

 

 Downtown Dog 33

Downtown Dog 32

Downtown Dog 31
8" x 8"
Oil on panel

There is an interesting interview with Duane Keiser, who started the Daily Painting movement which I wanted to pass on to you. He has some interesting ideas on art & discipline: http://keiserpress.blogspot.com/
(second article - "Meet Duane Keiser"

I've been trying to catch up to my goal and it really has been a true test of discipline. I thought today this is probably the hardest I've ever worked on anything in my life (like art boot camp) - which feels pretty good and I guess that's how I know I'm moving in the right direction because although it's been really tough, I can feel and see the rewards.

Downtown Dog 30

8" x 8"

Oil on gesso panel

I realize this isn't consistent with the rest, but when I saw this photo, I just had to do it. This little guy (or girl) is about as cute as you can get.

In addition to the Café Press shop, I have added a Red Bubble shop, where high quality prints & cards can be ordered in different sizes and formats - I plan on adding daily.

Red Bubble Shop:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/clairhartmann

Cafe Press Shop:
http://www.cafepress.com/clairhartmann