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.
Yesterday found me sitting on the floor grooming the dogs. I have a grooming table, however this pack of dogs….I am terrified Niki will fall off for she cannot stand for long periods of time, so to groom her I actually have her down and on her side…she is till so very sensitive through out her spine and hind legs and paws. I never taught Rocky to Hup onto the table for he has Pano (sore joints) and did not wanting him jumping off and I cannot lift him off the table. Gemma…well what can I say…the easiest to groom soI just do the same with her.
So, Niki the ckr mix has her face clean shaven with a #10 blade and body shaved with a # 7 blade, then paws, tail and ears are scissored with straight shears, the top of her head is trimmed with thinning shears. Then her nails are “sanded” with the dremel tool. The nails come out nice and smooth when doing it this way. If wanting to give that a try remember to introduce it to the dogs slowly…the noise, the vibration and very important to make sure they understand stay. Paw fur should be neat and trimmed…you can even put a little sock with whole cut out the toe end onto the dogs paw to protect the fur from getting caught on the rotating sander drum. Now, grooming Niki is time consuming for I need to take a lot of breaks, as does Niki. Since the dogs were not getting a bath following thier hair cuts their ears were cleaned with a home made ear cleaning solution and they are also flea combed (yippee….fleas are under control). Niki was given a good waterless bath, then sprayed with a mixture of vinegar, water, cedar wood, lavender and tea tree oil. For being such a good girl some Peanut Butter as a reward
I have three 7f blades that at the feel of them getting warm I swap for another, this way I do not have to use the spray to cool them down (I cannot handle the smell). Plus the fact we take several breaks everything stays pretty cool.
Then Rocky’s turn…good brushing. I do not remove the whiskers on his face….just a personal choice. The thinning shears are used on his ears, the inside of his ear flaps….all the fur near the ear going down on the side of his neck. Then his front legs….Rocky has a lot of “fuzzy hair” growth that is removed on the front of his legs with thinning shears then the backs are trimmed with straight shears. His rear legs….again a lot of fuzzy fur growing every where….thinning shears used….then rear feathering and tail. He is then told to down, over onto his side where the fur growing out between the pads of his paws is removed with a #10 blade. Then fur on top of the paw is brushed against the fur growth and the thinning shears is once again used to remove all of the fur….and he has allot of fur that grows fast like a weed. Once the paws are completed I also shave the fur in his groin area….followed up by some medicated powder. He is told to stand ears are checked and cleaned with the appropriate cleaner and he is brushed once again then sprayed with the vinegar, water, cedar wood, lavender and tea tree oil mixture. PB is given as a reward. Rocky is never ending for he has sooo much fur.
Gemma….easy, easy…easy. Good brushing, told to down over and nails are sanded. Placed in a stand and another good brushing, ears looked at and wiped clean and then she is sprayed with mixture PB is given as a reward.
All three are kept neat and trim, I will not be winning any grooming awards anytime soon. They are brushed just about on a daily basis….grooming takes place about every four to five weeks….I do try to sand their nail more often…about every two to three weeks.
All three will be bathed over the weekend then a quick going over with the comb and scissors.
Grooming Tools Used: Pin Brush, Greyhound Comb, Flea Comb, Straight Shears, Thinning Shears, Dremel Tool with Sander, Clipper, #7 F Blade, #10 Blade, Home made Ear Cleaning Solution, Ear Flush, Waterless Bath Spray, White Wash Cloths, Vinegar-Water-Cedar Wood Oil- Lavender Oil- Tea Tree Oil Spray, Gold Bond Medicated Powder
I have so many images of the wild life found in our yard, especially the raccoons Several weeks ago our raccoon stopped visiting us…I am not happy about that for I tend to get attached and worry about them. Going by the past years it seems normal that we would stop seeing them….only the short period early summer are they really out and about during the day….and this one was. Oh well, maybe she will visit again with us next year….or I will happen to catch a glimpse of her for her favorite trees are right behind my home.
Late yesterday I got to hang out with a few friends for a little while. Needed an image or two of Rusty so that I can paint him (Molly the Beagle is too cute to have not shared her with you… and she is one of Rusty’s best friends)….looking for that look that his favorite person adores. You all know the look…the one that just melts our hearts. Each of our furry friends have an expression or two that conveys just what they are thinking…or feeling. I know….so many believe it impossible that our furry friends can have such feelings as love, Oh but they Do!!!! I have shared my life with several wonderful furry friends, as have based my career around working along side these wonderful beings….I know this to be true
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.
Today found the dogs and I hanging out…playing, exploring and even resting a bit. Look at each of their faces and really, what is there not to love about them. They are adorable…even if only through my eyes The best thing about them…they are the best fun police dogs! They know when I need to get up from the PC and just play and romp with them. Have you had fun with your dog<s> lately? Weekend is here…go for a nice walk…explore, have fun. Don’t forget to bring your camera along, make sure you share those images with us!!!!
Several months ago I painted the above portrait of Miss Caraboo. I often will ask if at all possible, a photograph be taken when the painting arrives. Some folks are wonderful and take the time to respond, some just get too busy. To those like Beth and Miss Caraboo, I so Thank You for taking the time, as I am pleased that both of you are so very happy with Miss Caraboo’s Portrait. She is lovely and it was such a joy to paint her
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.
While Paw Prints Studios donates to rescue organizations throughout the year, we have never done a raffle, mainly a Painted Portrait would go into a Silent Auction…always bringing in more then the value of the Portrait. Heartland Golden Rescue is a Good cause! I know thhings are tight for everyone so for those readers that are ever faithful…for just a few dollars you could win a Mixed Media Painted Portrait of your beloved furry friend (good for one subject).
You do not have to have a Golden in your pack…it could be a bird, horse, dog or cat. I’ll post again tomorrow so make sure you check back for the link to purchase your ticket<s>
Again…this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity for you will not ever have the chance to win a portrait of your favorite furry friend created by Dee for the price of a Raffle ticket.
