The Lioness's and Babybear continue

This painting this creation is teaching me to be patient and respect the way it needs to form.
I'm learning to breath between movements and the acute ability to accept and recognize the way things need to be to become what I want them to be. A great exercise in muscle mind growth.

So here's the progress thus far

The Lioness's and the Pussy Cat

Babybear has worked his way in to my next painting...all12 pounds of him. No big deal he's hanging with the heavy weights . Nonchalant is prevalent.
This is a 30 x 40 oil on canvas. I'm getting excited by the negative space and thick application of paint.  The next adventure.....The lioness's are Lion Tiger and Bear residents...sisters, Jillian and Suri. Babybear resides with me.

so here it is so far

Finch Painting

This may be a first. To my recollection I have never painted a finch. This beautiful male was a visitor in our backyard. They love grape jelly. We had been putting jelly out for the orioles and found out theses finchs love it just  as much. So here is the beginning of a new adventure. This is an oil on canvas...not yet done.

Second Place and Honorable Mention Wildlife in Art 2015

Two of my paintings were accepted into the Wildlife in Art 2015 Exhibition in La Mesa.
Sumatran Brothers received 2nd Place and Smell 'N the Air got an honorable mention.

Sumatran Brothers

                                                    A Smell 'N the Air

This Kestrel was at the event. They are small falcons/raptors . Kestrels can hover in still air, even indoors in barns. Because they face towards any slight wind^[1] when hovering, the common kestrel is called a "windhover" in some areas.

Conrads Den

Conrads Den probably done.
Enjoyed working the contrasts.

"Conrad was a young male captured in 2007 {tagged #502} by California Fish and Game while roaming near an elementary school in Redlands California  LTB adopted  him so he would not be euthanized".  

So here he is  22" x 28'' Oil on Canvas.

mountain lion oil painting

Conrad the montain lion

Here's what I have been working on. This is Conrad he too lives at Lions Tigers and Bears.
Thank goodness for this wonderful sanctuary giving homes to displaced creatures of this unniverse.
So here is. Mountain lions  are generally shy creatures, Conrad was all comfortable in his den.

This is a 22 x 28 inch oil on canvas. Not done yet...soon.

Cherry Bomb the Grizzly Bear from LTB

Here's the painting I'm working on now.  Cherry Bomb is a Alaskan Silver tip Grizzly.  Albert her brother and Cherry Bomb were rescued from a life of uncertainty and not such good circumstances. When they were cubs they were kept as cub petting props. They were auctioned off after a short time and Cherry Bomb was declawed. They were moved quite often to zoo's etc.  Lions Tigers and Bears were asked to home them and they did. Both now live together happily in their forever home.
Here's Cherry Bomb.....she is still in progress, not done yet.

Rabbit Painting Oil on Canvas

Rennisance Rabbit all tucked in.  I really enjoy working with contrast between light and dark , chiaroscuro, Carrivagio style. This is an oil on canvas 15" x 30". I've been moving a lot more quickly,  painting with a lot more ease. So here it is....the star of the show Pepermint Pumpkin...
Tomorrow I will look at the painting with fresh eyes and see if there is more to be done.
Hmmm I already see an area of concern...

Next painting is raring to come out......

Something in the Air Leopard Painting

I'm done. It's done. Lesson learned. Time to move on....
So here it is 40" x 30" oil on canvas. Conga smelling the air.

Leopard Painting almost done

I'm almost there just a few more touches ...too tired now to finish.
Something in the air, Catching a scent, A whiff of air, ...thinking of a tittle.

Leopard Painting

Started a new Painting. It's a  30" x 40" leopard in oil on canvas. I'm finding it hard to work smaller then 30' x 40'.   I'm still working on it. So here it is:

Bear Paintings

I've begun painting a series of small Bear studies. Working on color, shape and not so much detail.
This is Meatball the L.A. bear that was rescued by Lions Tiger and Bears... Here he is early morning enjoying the beginning of a new day.

11x14 oil on canvas.

Pumpkin update...Rabbit painting

I'm hanging on complete. Perhaps just a little bit more and the painting is done

Creating  a painting that tugs at the heart strings and emotes such happiness is a great experience.

PEPPERMINT PUMPKIN

Peppermint Pumpkin triptych

I have decided to work on a subject that gives me much joy and happiness with a dose of sadness . Peppermint Pumpkin was the source of great joy and happiness in my life, although her stay was brief every second was filled with happiness and wonder. She died suddenly of a rare disease that kills rabbits. It is a disease that is fatal to rabbits. There is no cure here in America. It is transmitted by mosquitoes.

myxomatosis

Here's the start...

Maybe done The Eviction

It's always a bit of a decision to end a journey...
Like when is it done is the big question.

So here, maybe this is done.

Still going the Lion Painting....The Eviction

More work. I'm bringing the pieces together. Continuing the story.
Moving slowly.

Leaves falling, symbolizing the fall of a great species. Rural development, land being taken away.

The Eviction continues

This painting is taking time and that's ok. It's aproximately 65" x 57" , kinda large.
I'm enjoying the process.
Here it is so far.

The lion painting continues

Here's the progress so far.
Great challenges here and I get to use my imagination more.
This is good.

Lion and Lioness Painting Large

Okay so I'm changing the name of the painting .  I will wait till the painting is complete to say what the tittle is.
I have an idea.

Here's my progress thus far.

Lion Painting....The Urban Pride

This might be one of the first times I titled a painting before  I finished it.
A matter of fact I titled it when it was just an idea.
I'm working on a large unstretched  canvas.
These two lioness's and one lion live at Lions Tigers and Bears. The idea behind the painting is an expression of how wildlife is becoming more urbanized....living in captivity...smaller spaces.

 I have started with a burnt umber ground and now I'm pulling out and basically laying out the drawing.

More gold leaf added to Crow Painting

I'm at a stand still.....
Maybe this is done or at least almost done.

Now comes the Gold leaf

Having fun adding the gold leaf to the painting .
Once again concentrating on shapes and composition.
Day 2

Crow painting. The family reunion

New start on a painting.
I decided to use a red under painting. I'm concentrating on shape and composition.
This painting will have gold leaf and I believe the red will enhance the affects of the gold leaf.

So here's the start. It's a 36" x 24" linen canvas.

I took a photograph of one of the weekly extended family crow reunions that takes place in the large tree up the street from me. It was a windy overcast day, lots of drama.
Let's see what I can do...

Leopard Painting, Conga's Run.

So here she is .
A 30" x 40' Oil on linen of Conga the leopard from LTB.

Leopards are very agile, and can run at over 36 miles per hour, leap over 20 feet and jump up to 10 feet.

At Lions Tigers and Bears in Alpine, Conga has an arial sky way run which allows her to have a birds eye view of the Sanctuary.

Almost done leopard

Almost done. This is a 30" x 40" oil on linen.

Leopard Painting

I started this yesterday and am excited about it's beginnings.
This time I painted the background first which helped to create the atmosphere .

My first Grizzly .

I've started working on paintings from the photos I took on my Wildlife photograph workshop with Kathleen Reeder at Lion Tigers and Bears.

So here's my first Grizzly. This Grizzly named Albert was just coming out of his enclosure for his morning search of food.

The painting is on linen board 24" x 30".
It's almost done.
So here it is

Sumatran Brothers are done

Here is the painting completed. The Sumatran Brother.
30" x 40" Oil on Linen.

Tigers almost done

Here they are getting close to being done.
When I took this photo the tigers were behind a glass enclosure. Thus a feeling of an unnatural block between the tigers and myself is reflected in the painting.

Tiger Painting progress

Okay, I'm still working on the Sumatran Brothers Tiger painting.
Thought I'd show you my progress. Ahhh the challenges of bringing it all together.
So here it is

Sumatran Tiger Painting

Here's two brothers I met at the San Diego Safari Park.
This is a large painting 30'' x 40". Not complete yet but here are a few photos of the process.

I'll keep you posted as the process continues.

6 Karat Gold a Rabbits Story

Another Rabbit Story

6 Karat Gold a Rabbits Story

16 x 20 oil on Canvas