Downtown Dog 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91

 Downtown Dog 91

Downtown Dog 90

Downtown Dog 89

Downtown Dog 88

 

Downtown Dog 87

 

Downtown Dog 86

Downtown Dog 85

I'm getting close - realized today that my 100th was actually my 99th so I need to do one more tomorrow after I touch up the 8 that are in progress.

I'm experimenting with using a glass paint palette which seems to hold moisture really well so it slows drying and preserves the paint longer, also it wipes right off when your ready to mix more paint. I also realized today that titanium white is a lot more opaque than zinc white in case you were wondering.

Will be posting the final paintings tomorrow.
Then going to Bald Head Island to paint and relax for the day on Wednesday.

Whew!!

Downtown Dog 80, 81, 82, 83, 84

 

Downtown Dog 84

 

Downtown Dog 83

Downtown Dog 82

Downtown Dog 81

Downtown Dog 80

All I can say is I'm tired of painting dogs. 

Downtown Dog 72, 73, 74, 75, 75, 77, 78, 79

 

Downtown Dog 79

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

This dog was a rescue and is blind. The lady that takes care of him now found him found him tied up and starving, close to death and made a brave decision to take care of him.  Now, this dog is loved and living a happy and healthy new life. Despite his handicap he surprisingly gets around really well!

Downtown Dog 78

 8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

 

Downtown Dog 77

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

  

Downtown Dog 76

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

This dog is a rescue also.

  

Downtown Dog 75

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

  

Downtown Dog 74

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

  

Downtown Dog 73

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

  

Downtown Dog 72

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel

I now have 95 either done or in progress. Five more to go!!!

"Rocky" the Cat

 

10" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

As you may know, I had a portrait giveaway on Facebook a few weeks ago and it has generated some commission jobs - Here is "Rocky", a painting I did for a guy in Philadelphia. I'm working on another for a girl in Florida in between the dog paintings.

My 100th Day for the dog paintings is the 13th and I am painting like crazy - at this point my life has been whittled away to mostly that and nothing else. It's really tough, but I see it no different that a runner's marathon, just a personal goal we set in our lives to prove to ourselves we are better than we think we are.

I'm not sure if I will make this goal, there is still so much to do.

I also wanted to let everyone know I will be at the Farmer's Market tomorrow - come out and see me!

Downtown Dog 68, 69, 70, 71 and a Cat

"Downtown Dog 71"

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

"Downtown Dog 70"

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

"Downtown Dog 69"

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

"Downtown Dog 68"

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

"Luci"

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

I saw the movie "Saraphine" the other night and if you get the chance, see it. It's really incredible story about a woman painter on the verge on insanity and genius. It  made me wonder about the old saying if a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it... you know that one... If a painter paints a painting and no one notices, is it art, is it valid and if one person notices and they say it's good and they are respected for their opinions of art, is it good - or is it just the old saying.. "beauty in the eyes of the beholder" and everyone else just follows along. I have noticed that out of all the paintings I have done - I will have some that just are not appealing overall, but that one person will see it and fall in love - they just have to have... kind of like finding a relationship.

Just some rambling thoughts.

On another note, I bought new brushes last night. Good ones. Now I know why I will not waste my money on cheap brushes anymore! A good brush is worth it's weight in gold and now I have seven. It just makes painting so much more enjoyable, on a level that you only see glimpses of with the cruddy brushes. So, if you are an artist, go out today and treat yourself to a good brush.

I did a portrait give away on Facebook a few weeks ago which has generated some commission jobs which I need right now to pay for my fancy brushes. Here is the portrait that I did for Paul Figura of Jacksonville.

I also did an animation of the progress of the painting:

"Luci" Movie

I usually don't work in sections like I did for the cat portrait, but because there were so many patterns in the fur, it seemed to work out well.

Just letting everyone know, I will be at the Farmer's Market this Saturday.

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.