Is so very easy and the above portrait of a lovely and might I also add….so very lively Corgi named Scarlet shows just how easy painting fur is. This was a commissioned portrait and I actually was the one that photographed her while she and her person were visiting to help Scarlet socialize with other dogs…the original images had several dogs in the image. I copped the image below to show Scarlet alone.

 The entire portrait was created using the pastels in Corel Painter…and of course the blenders…even the background. You can paint as traditional and or  as photo realistic as you or your client prefer, or as colorful.  A special fur brush is not at all needed….although you could adjust the setting to any brush to give it a more tapered look at the end. Be creative and Never be afraid to just paint

Today finds me with several things on my Digital Easel…a Golden, Beagle and Horse, and on my pastel easel another golden. The above painting is still very much it’s early stages…I hope to complete it sometime tomorrow. Something about a Beagle…you cannot help but fall in love with their eyes…oh and that nose. The many things they can sniff out….such a wonderful breed.

Pumpkins in the cornfields
Gold among the brown
Leaves of rust and scarlet
Trembling slowly down
Birds that travel southward
Lovely time to play
Nothing is as pleasant
As an autumn day!

I love creating the above sketch type portraits. Just a simple sketch on a colored background with a few highlights and the faint bit of coloring added here and there to the background. Always printed on art paper where splashes of oil pastel is added throughout making it a Mixed Media print!

Coming Soon…I have been asked enough times about creating sketches in Corel Painter, enough so I have decided to offer this as a class. New classes will be starting again in September. Check back for the dates and times of all classes.

New class starting today at Paw Prints Studio. I opened the forum to the students yesterday and several have been busy making themselves comfortable, learning their way around. While class really did not start until today, I posted a little something about having everyone create a very quick self portrait (sketch) so that they could use it for this weeks avatars. While this course is about painting animals…this is a fun exercise to help everyone have a good time, laugh a little and just experiment and feel comfortable with the software, brushes and moving the pen around the tablet!

I posted a quick one of me….under 10 minutes…named a couple of the brushes used to create this very quick sketch and several took the challenge and ran with it. This was about having fun…no worries about it being good, bad….just play, experiment and fun with color and brushes. Thanks Cindy and Jeff, wonderful work! Looking forward to what the other students create

If your a student and would like to see your work on my blog all you have to do is e-mail me your permission to do so! Our next online Digitally Painting Animals course will be in Sept. Check back for the official date and time.

Yep, the time has come to have another Big Give Away. I love these This is just a little teaser to get you all excited…

This Big Give Away will be a Paw Prints Studio Tee Shirt…Stay Tuned for I have to make a new design for the Tee Shirt (I do this every so often)… and a video has to be produced. Maybe in a week or two.

It will be the same as our last give away…in order to get the tee shirt you will have to be a subscriber to both the Paw Prints Studio blog and Paw Prints Studio You Tube site. Just my way of saying Thank You to my faithful subscribers….you get the chance to win free stuff and all the discounts and special coupons come to you first! Once you have viewed the video all you have to do is leave a comment on the you tube site and your name will go into the the basket. Oh…one more thing…we actually want you to send us a photograph of you wearing the Tee Shirt (or even a You Tube video if you like) and it will appear on our blog. As in our last Big Give Away…one of the puppies willl be choosing the winner.

Not a subscriber, no worries you actually have up until we are ready to pick the winner to subscribe. Check back for further details and to get a peek at the Tee Shirt (oh, did I mention there will be something a little extra included with the tee shirt….it is a secret and only the lucky recipient will know what it is). Check back for further details

This lovely portrait of sisterly love was created in Corel Painter X.

Working on this portrait made me think of my sisters, I have two. Sadly…we are not very close. One sister I have not spoken to in over a year and a half…the other… once in a while. When I was younger I so thought family was important…I worked hard at keeping in touch with everyone when I moved to GA. I craved their friendship, companionship. I would imagine the fact that I am the “baby” of the family made those feelings stronger.

These days I do not work very hard at it. I never know just what “Not” to say to the one for she will just cut you out of her life over the littlest things and your left wondering just what you did, said. After one to many times I am afraid I have decided it is best to not put myself in that position, family or not. The other….well we are just so busy living our lives, living a distance away from one another….I guess too many years of that have gone by.

I know in my heart that one day there will be regrets. It is not that I do not want to be close to my sisters….after many years I just stopped trying. Still, I know that regret can be such a heavy burden. I often think that I could be the only one with those regrets. I learned over the years….and it really took me a very long time for this life lesson….you cannot force people to be part of your life, family or not!

It is heart warming and a joy to see a family that truly enjoys each others company and have the ability to be there for one another.

Our next online course for Digitally Painting Animals starts July 15th, there is still space available as well as time for you to enroll. The above was completed by Jack Heard one of our students who had so many nice thins to say about our online course. Thanks Jack….great work!!!!

Please know our class is geared towards those wanting to learn a few Corel Painter X techniques painting animals. Each week is broken down….painting the eyes and nose, backgrounds, fur (do you reallllly need a “special” fur brush)? Paper, textures and brushes. Last class is printing and hand embellishing your prints with acyclic paints. Four images are supplied for you to paint and practice with, however for those truly wanting to create their own art, your welcome to use your own images from the start. There are no filters used (unless adding a texture), this is a painting course. You are the Artist deciding on how painterly, colorful your masterpiece will be.

Dee is very free with her time for those students with a desire in improving their painting skills. The class forum is open to students only, a safe environment for you to visit at your convenience….class size is limited. There are also a  few short videos for your viewing pleasure

Those students (such as Jack Heard) that have been the most successful with the course have completed the assignments and shared their work allowing the instructor to view for feedback…maybe a suggestion or two…then up to the student to work on until they are satisfied. This five week course goes by very quickly…and again, the forum is there for you 24 hours a day so you can work at your own pace.

Enroll Now: Paw Prints Store

Our little furry friend went home with his people last night. Dogs are pretty amazing….in all the years I have worked with animals most know when they will be going home, Ziggy is one of those dogs. He was very excited all day, and did not complete his dinner…something very much out of the ordinary for him. he likes his meals. He did not skip a beat having been dropped off….however once he saw his favorite people….home is where he wanted to be. If you go back and view the images of Ziggy when he first arrived you will see it was very difficult for me to get a good photograph of him….much better day four and when he left I must say he was such a little ham

He had Lots of things going on during his stay with us….play, exercise, training….walks, lots of walks. Not to mention three other dogs to annoy….I mean play with My two females adored him for about a day or so….then they treated him as though he had cooties….can’t say that I blame him, he was just a bit too interested in sniffing them….Niki once in while play bowed and ran a bit with him….Gemma pretty much ignored him. Now Rocky…all of my hard work paid off for in the end they were the best of friends. Last few days Ziggy was given a little more freedom in the yard and I got to watch them play tug of war with the frisbee. Now….I saw Rocky look at me once in a while to see if I was really paying attention….since Ziggy was dragging a light line attached to his harness….well he wanted to do his Golden thing and pick the end of the line up and take Ziggy for a little spin. Yes…I was paying attention…same thing when they played tug….I was there encouraging Rocky to play nice.

Each dog I work with I always learn a little something, that is the best part about working with canines….no matter how much experience a trainer can have those that are the most successful will take away with them just as much as the dog….maybe even more. Now, the tough part….working with his people. The dogs, piece of cake….people a little tougher to work with I state that only because most people make too many excuses as why they can’t do something…..or they can’t make the time for the dog….in the end it is up to how well I can teach the dogs people for after all my Job Description is that of Dog Trainer when really my job is that of teaching people

I have to admit I did so enjoy watching the little dog stand his ground. While yes, I worked with him to be behaved in the presence of larger sized dogs (no posturing, barking or whining) does not at all mean I did not admire his little dog attitude. Now, being vertically challenged myself I happen to understand completely

If it has been a while since you have done something with your furry friends, take the time to do so Summer Time Safety Tip: If you have a pool please do take the time to teach your dogs how to get in and out of your pool safely.

It was bound to happen…went through my files and realized I have not painted a pom. So… how could I resist with such a prefect model right under my feet (yep, I mean that literally). After completing the painting I brought it into PS and created a Pop Art Poster…just for color and fun. Digitally Painting Animals classes start up again in July. Gift certificates available for Fathers Day!