Monday, February 8, 2010

Gwendolyn

After a pretty heavy couple of months, I wanted to paint something light and bright and fun. This is Gwendolyn, or Gwen as she is called by her two legged family members. She and her big brother Gavin live with my friend Natasha and her lovely family. Natasha has a wonderful family blog called "Behind the White Picket Fence".

Gwen is about 2 months here I believe. She is a real cutie.


oil on 12x12 gallery wrapped canvas.

37 comments:

Edward Burton said...

This is fantastic, Sheila! I love the bold colors and brushwork.

-Don said...

The blue shadows suggesting the shape of the grass and then the grass itself being bold flat brushstrokes is really a cool effect. I also love those orange accents in Gwen's fur. Great job. -Don

Marie Theron said...

Now look at that! Adorable, Sheila. The painted image has a lot of character!

Unknown said...

Wonderful! Again, I like your brushwork, and I really like the blue edges. Nice!

Autumn Leaves said...

What amazing detail you've coaxed from the black, Sheila. Gwen is a true beauty and you've done her very proud! Love that bold brushwork and color in the background; it highlights Gwen beautifully!!

Manon said...

What a doll! I also love your brushwork and the colors are fab!!! Gwedolyn is perfect! Btw.....love the name!

Krista Hasson said...

Wow! I love it. You make me want to paint in oils. Your colors and movement with the brush strokes are always so interesting. Someday I will get brave and try it!

Catherine Jeffrey said...

What a sweety. You have really captured his "puppiness". That awkward stage where they are continually falling down. Love the large brush strokes in the background. Plays off nicely with the dark value and shadows.

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

You really captured her personality, Sheila. Love all your puppy paintings!

Olga said...

Fabulous!!! The colors sing together...

Kathleen Krucoff said...

Hi Sheila! This is so adorable. Another wonderful work. I really love your pet portraits and I so enjoy looking at the one you did of our Newton as a puppy....I get to see it every day. Thank you!

dominique eichi said...

Oh what a cutie, You just want to pick her up and kiss her. You did such a perfect job.

L.Holm said...

OH, so cute!!! Love little Gwendolyn...is Gavin next?? You've worked your magic, Sheila. (Let's hope the next months get better and better from here.)

Jo Castillo said...

Awwwww. So cute and lovely technique with the strokes and bold colors.

Angela Elledge said...

Beautiful! Among other things, the cast shadow is a killer!!!

Pat Burns said...

Hi Sheila! I've passed along the Sunshine Blogger award to you that I received from Lisa Riehl. I rarely take the time to do these things, but it has been quite a while since I told my fellow artists how much joy & inspiration they bring me. Congrats, you can visit my site to retrieve it!

Mary Paquet said...

Sheila, I love your pet portraits. Like all the pieces that you paint, there is such life from the way you make your marks on the paper.

I was so taken with your Rebirth show pieces, and the way you could express your vulnerability and your strength. Sheila, you are amazing!

Special hugs.

Sheila Estep said...

OMG! So Cute!!! This is beautifully done and I like the perspective. Do More! (please :-) heehee

Michelle said...

Sooo cute! Great job on the fur!

Stephen Parker said...

Sheila, the looseness and colors are great. And it definitely looks like you had a blast painting it. Very nice.

Linda O'Neill said...

Love it, Sheila...I can feel how sweet that dog is.:)

Linda said...

Sheila - Just discovered your blog. :-) Love little Gwen and looking forward to a companion painting of Gavin (which I hope you will paint!). You did such a nice job of painting the black - which I find difficult.
Also, want to comment on your rebirth painting and story. Amazing. I think art helps with healing. Both paintings are wonderful with each one being different.

billspaintingmn said...

This is a fun painting Sheila!
Those little paws, and the colors
you've chosen makes this a light and happy picture.

Stephen Dell'Aria said...

Great job. I like the blue accents around the shadow edges. This is also a nice composition too. Not to mention a great likeness of the dog.

Celeste Bergin said...

this is an outstanding painting! No easy task..to paint a black dog and you have just nailed it! I love everything about this. It is accurate...but not fussy. Five Stars and High Five!

Art with Liz said...

She is a real cutie - what a great painting of her Sheila!

Dean H. said...

Wow, Sheila!! You must have been charged up to paint! This is exciting! Love the blue that works it's way around the edges.

suzanneberry said...

Amazing job Sheila! Your brushwork is so free and confident and he is soooo cute!! Beautiful! hugs, suz

Hellenne said...

kawaii, kawaii, kawaii!!!!

artbyakiko said...

Ooooohhh, this is just too cute! Gwen is so sweet and this is a wonderful painting!

Crazy RAvens Studio said...

A great little portrait. When I am an old lady (besides wearing purple and wearing a red hat, I will have a french bulldog!!)

Tonya Vollertsen said...

What a darling dog and so fun to paint obviously! Love your wonderful textured brushstrokes.

Natasha said...

I was off-line while out of town, so this was a wonderful surprise to come home to. Sheila, you are so talented. I think you paint such wonderful pictures of animals because you love them, you really are able to capture them. I adore this pose of Gwen, everything about this is perfection. I love it, and I love that you took your time to paint her.

Natasha said...

p.s. Thanks for the shout out to my blog.

Dean Grey said...

Cutie indeed!!

-Dean

Dewberry Fine Art said...

Love the texture and color. Gwen looks just wonderful. Very nice Sheila.

Diane Hoeptner said...

Outstanding! Sheila I am so partial to your expressionistic, colorful animal portraits. But really everything you do is getting better. I know it's already been said but your brushwork is ever so exciting and it continues to evolve on all of your subjects.