A More Colorful Owl

This guy started life as a very realistic owl. He belongs to the Birmingham Zoo and I took several good photos of him for reference.  I spent a whole morning painting him and just couldn't make it work. He got wiped off completely, twice.  Then he emerged as this bright, colorful guy, and we were both happy. Oil on 8"x10" canvas.  Click here to buy.

Samson and Crash

Samson and Crash: sounds like a great name for a crime fighting duo, but they are two pet portrait comissions. The photos of these two were oozing with personality, so they were great fun to paint.  Oil on 8"x8" canvas.

Goldfinch

This little goldfinch is one of a trio of birds comissioned as a Christmas gift.  The other two are a bluebird and a cardinal.  Oil on 6"x6" panel.  Sold.

Hummingbirds

Little hummingbird paintings on 4"x4" canvas.  We have a feeder outside of our dining room window. I love watching the tiny birds coming to get a drink.  They perch on a wire nearby waiting their turn. Hummingbirds are really territorial, so there is always some drama going on.  These are ruby throated males.

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Chickadee

My favorite birds on the feeder.  Oil on 4"x4"x1 1/2" canvas.  The canvas is deep enough to sit up by itself.  Looks cute on a shelf.

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Bella the Bridesmaid

Bella was the "Canine of Honor" in her owner's wedding ceremony.  Thus the lovely bridesmaid collar. This portrait was comissioned as a wedding gift to the bride and groom.  So sweet.

Oil on 8"x8" canvas.

When I do pet portraits I usually work from photos that the owner has taken.  I'm careful to grid off the reference photo to get the dog's proportions just right.  You can see other pet portraits on my website, clairehenningart.com

Spotted Cow

Young milk cow.  Oil on 9"x12" gallery wrapped canvas.
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Small Talk

Two birds deep in conversation.  Oil on 16"x20" gallery wrapped canvas.
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Mikey

It's been a long time since I've posted, lots of life happening, but probably it's just my new Iphone sucking up too much of my time.  I've not had a "smart" phone before, and I have to tell you, I have been way too excited about it.
I met this Border Collie (and his human) at a gas station during a road trip a while back.  He was sitting in the front seat waiting while the car was filled up.  I got a couple of great photos of him.  He reminded me so much of my dad's dog, Mikey, who also rode in the front seat everywhere my dad went.

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White Mug

Earlier this month I had the amazing good fortune to attend Carol Marine's oil painting workshop at the Coppini Acadamy in San Antonio.  She was incredible.  Watching her demo each day was a thing of beauty. I am still processing all that she had to teach us.
White mug and oranges wedges.  Oil on 6"x6" gessoboard.  Click here to order.

Snow Day

Last week we had our first snow of the season.  Flurries at first, then by afternoon the roads were a mess, and a couple of inches had accumulated.  But, it is Alabama, so by dinner time most of it had melted.  I painted this little guy in honor of our snow day.  Click here to buy.

Erasers

My entry in the Dailypaintworks "Glass Challenge."  This little jar of pencil erasers lives on my desk next to the jar of rubber bands, and a tiny jar of paper clips.

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