Joe or Emma & Abby

Joe or Emma (working on two cats and not sure which one this is because I lost all my emails from the past month due to an Entourage crash)

10" x 10"

oil on wood

Abby

12" x 12"

oil on wood

Watercolors

The Juggler

13" x 15"

watercolor on paper

 

When it All Falls Apart

9" x 13"

watercolor on paper

One More Cup

13" x 11"

watercolor on paper

Charlie

Sorry to say, a dog I did a portrait of last year, passed away yesterday, peacefully.

Charlie, you will be missed!

Blue Bottle

16" x 19

Oil on canvas

I had this canvas laying around and wanted to do something quick and expressive. May add more later, but I kind of like it.

Springer Spaniel in Progress

8" x 8" 

oil on wood

The humidity in Florida has been relentless - I saw rain three times today. I guess it's great for mosquitoes which is awesome for frogs and dragonflies, which there seem to be mass quantities of all. I can't open the backdoor without a tree frog jumping on me, which makes me jump no matter how many times it happens!

On the other hand, it is not good for paintings in oil. They take forever to dry to paint new layers. Normally it takes about a day in NC, here it take four days and it's still not completely dry. 

I'm not complaining, though. It's been a great retreat and I'm getting a lot done.

On the Easel

Here are some of the paintings that I am working on at the moment. There are more, some are in final stages, some are too awful at this point to post.... wouldn't want to embarrass myself. :)

I just got one more commission today and two more yesterday - things are really starting to crank!

Peach in Napkin

8" x 8"

oil on canvas

This painting was inspired by  Michael Naples - I love his work.

You can see some here:

http://michaelnaples.blogspot.com/

Interview with Dowtown Dog Project Artist

 Here is an interview i recently did about the new book...

Benton Park Photography Co.

Dog Days of Summer: Local artist publishes new book

Encore Magazine

 

CLAIR HARTMANN, ARTIST

WILMINGTON, NC

Lots of Stuff!

Wow! So much has been going on. 

First, here is a new painting that I finished for the Artwalk in Florida. This is based on a past commission and a hat by Jan Wutkowski who owns AMUSE Artisinal Finery hat shop. Her creations are gorgeous and she is a REAL hat maker. 

I started the painting when I did the Dog Days Downtown in Wilmington and was painting in front of her shop. I just recently decided to pick it up again to finish for the show. I hope to do a whole series of these with different dogs and have a show at the end of the year or beginning of next year. 

12"x 16"

oil on wood

The Artwalk Downtown was fantastic! I could not believe how many people attended.  Someone told me an estimated 10,000 people attend the Artwalk in Jacksonville! Which is such an improvement since I lived there - Downtown Vision has done an amazing job!

I sold some books and met a lot of interesting people and even saw a friend from Wilmington!

Lastly, I have an article in Encore Magazine - here is the link:

http://www.encorepub.com/articles.php?i=read&article_id=1267&section_id=3

Chumley at Artwalk living like a rock star!

Earlier he spend his day at the spa getting poofed up, trimmed up and fixed up at Pretty Paws Doggie Salon. Later he said to me "never do that again!".

Pug Wine Label

I did a commission a few months ago for a vineyard in California - well, the label is done and here it isl -  How exciting!

Never would have thought my art would end up on a label!

Bald Head Island, paintings, and other goings on....

Bald Head Island demo was great! I met a lot of people and they had a really nice place for us to stay. I got a lot of commissions and I suspect things are going to get pretty busy around here. 

In case you are wondering about the apron - no, I don't work at Starbucks - my son gave me this apron for Christmas - we are both big Starbucks fans, well, coffee fans and since there is a Starbucks on every corner it's kinda hard not to be a fan.

Here are some paintings I did while I was doing my demo. 

 

I must be getting back into blues - I just noticed both backgrounds are blue. I did get a tube of Phalo Blue and just loving it!!

Wanted to let you know, I'm  having a book signing at Chamblins Uptown and an art show at Bee Gallery for Artwalk in August in Jacksonville, FL. I'm bringing a lot of new paintings that will be at the Landing and I'll be signing the Downtown Dog books at Chamblins.

You can get the info here if you want to go:

http://downtownjacksonville.org/first-wednesday-art-walk

Longfellow

 

17" x 24"

oil on fabric panel

Renamed "First Day of Summer"

24" x 12"

Well, I'm done and just submitted this to the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition. This painting was tough and I am so glad to be done!!

I hope I get in - we'll see. 

I'll be at Bald Head Island - The Woods Gallery Friday and Saturday do a painting demo and taking reservations to do portraits - we'll be photographing as well. 

Leap on Faith

24" x 12"

Oil on wood

I'm almost done with this and couldn't wait to post it - This is my submission for the Oil Painters of America competition. I have been working on this for weeks.

Whew!

Painting Demo at Bald Head Island Next Weekend

Wilmington 10:00 Fox News

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hri56ujc2sw

HERE'S THE STORY:
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12809188

What a rush!!

Wilmington 10:00 Fox News

Just wanted to let everyone know, just got a call from Fox News in Wilmington - If all goes as planned, I'm going to be on the 10:00 News to talk about the new book and the paintings!

Boston

18" x 15"

Oil on fabric panel

Available on Etsy

Paintings in Progress

 Boston Terrier

 Bermuda Rocks

Angel

Here are some paintings that are on the easel right now. There are others - let's just say I'm a multi-tasker.

Upcoming Events

June 12 - August 15th, 2010
Showing THE DOWNTOWN DOG PROJECT & New Book, Bottega Art Bar

July 23 & 24, 201
Painting Demonstration - The Woods Gallery, Bald Head Island

August 4, 201
Artwalk Jacksonville, FL - Bee Gallery, Landing - Paintings and Drawings

August 4, 2010
Artwalk Jacksonville, FL - Chamblin's Book Mine, Downtown - Book Signing

Red Sail

14" x 8"

oil on wood panel

Dog Art Today

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm featured on Dog Art Today!

Here are some more illustrations:

 Asleep in the Moonlight

 War

 Dog Dreams

Mermaid

Random Facebook Pet Painting 13

 

12" x 12" 

Oil on Wood

New Experiements

I have been playing around with the ipad and converting them into watercolors and paintings.

 "Smoking Bluebird"

"The Girls"

 

"Maybeline"

 "Night time Kitty"

The Downtown Dog Book

The Book is Available!!

There are still a few books left at Bottega, but you can also order online at Blurb.

It was a great show last night - a BIG THANKS to everyone that came out! 

All proceeds from the book sales online go to Adopt-an-Angel

The Downtown Dog Book

I have been getting a lot of questions asking when the book will be available....

I will have about 10 copies at the show on Friday, June 25th and then after that they will be available online. All profits from the sales of the book online will go to Adopt-An-Angel.

Here is the invite for the show - I saw a preview yesterday and it is spectacular!! 

Gardenia

10" x 8"

Oil on Panel

Gardenia season is coming to a close here in Wilmington. I try to paint at least one every year. Behind my studio, there are about 10 bushes that explode with these wonderful, fragrant flowers every year and sometimes, if we are lucky, twice in a year. 

This smell always takes me back to my grandmothers kitchen. The white bowl sitting on the white enamel table that now sits in my mother's kitchen. It would be filled with these fragrant, short-lived flowers. Her house smelled of clean linen, waxed hardwood floors, and with this unique scent, it was heaven. 

I was very close with my grandmother and spent a lot of time with her listen to her stories of when she was young, depression times, tough times. She was a great story teller and she always had my undivided attention.

Random Facebook Pet Painting #12

12" x 12"

oil on wood panel

Peaches Paint Sketch

10" x 8"

Oil on canvas panel

Yesterday's and today's paintings are quick paint sketches done in under an hour. 

Gardenia Sketch Painting

Painting on the kitchen table.

10" x 8"

Oil on canvas panel

Show Date...

I think I posted earlier that the Bottega Show where all 100 dogs will be showing was June 12th, well it's actually the the 25th. Sorry, If I confused anyone!!

Downtown Dog Retouch for the Book

Love the collar on this one!