Doggie Drool

"Doggie Drool"

6x6 oil on gessoed panel

This painting was done for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. Artist were challenged to do a value study using a black & white photo of their pet and paint in color. I decided to further challenge myself to paint the entire painting with my left hand. I have done this once before and found I tend to paint looser using my left hand rather than my right.

On this particular day when I took the photo, Griff was stalking birds in the backyard and drooling at the mouth.

Shawna with a Smile

"Shawna with a Smile"

6x8 Oil on Linen Panel

Carol Horzempa

NFS

These last three paintings seems to have turned into a series of my dog. My husband suggested I paint Shawna with a smile this time. For reference I used a photo taken of her three years ago while hiking up a steep hill. She beat me to the top and proudly stood there enjoying the view while waiting for me. I was able to capture that moment with my camera. Unfortunately Shawna is in the midst of her senior years and can only take short walks on level ground now.

I discovered a linen canvas in a Sampler Pad from Jerry's Artarama that I love painting on. I used it for this painting. It is called Senso Heavyweight Premium Linen Canvas which comes in rolls and  pads.

By the way, I used my right hand for Shawna's face and the rest with my lefty. I really enjoy painting this way.

Zoning Out

"Zoning Out"

6x8 oil on gessoed panel 

NFS

Another painting of Shawna, this time using my right hand most of the time. In this portrait I focused on the values and tried to capture the way my sweet old dog looks just before falling asleep. I decided to submit this to last weeks "Lying Down Challenge" posted on The Daily Paintworks by Carol Carmichael. Carol challenged fellow artists to paint someone or something in the state of repose. 

Loyal

"Loyal"

6x8 oil on gessoed paper
NFS

I've always wanted to try painting with my left hand, since I have reason to believe I was born a lefty. At a tender age I was forced to switch to my right hand which eventually became my dominate hand. I wonder how many artists also had this experience when growing up? Well, today I found it quite liberating to paint with my left hand. This is my first try and I found it easier than expected. I didn't use my right hand for anything and didn't feel I needed too. I painted Shawna from this same photo in the past as seen here but I think I got the feeling down better in this one. I may try using my left hand more often in the future.

Shawna in Tangerine Sky

"Shawna in Tangerine Sky"

6x8 oil on canvas 
Carol Horzempa

NFS

Last Summer I took a photo of Shawna sitting on the shore of Lake Superior at sunset. The sky and water were ablaze with colors of Tangerine and red.  I decided to use the photo for inspiration in the "Color of the Year Challenge" on Daily Paintworks. Kathy Weber challenged fellow artists to do a painting based around the Pantone color "Tangerine Tango." Thank you Kathy for this great challenge!

Okruszek

"Okruszek"

oil on canvas 6x6
Carol Horzempa
NFS

This is a little homeless dog that was found tied to the inside of a trash can in Poland. A wonderful woman named Ori has a rescue home for homeless cats and dogs that have been abandoned, abused or found in the forests of Poland. Not only does she find homes for them but she takes beautiful pictures of them and has given me permission to paint from her photos.

Okruszek, which means crumb in Polish, is a fitting name for him since he was thrown in the trash like nothing other than a piece of crumb. He is an old dog with health problems but will be taken care of by kind caregivers to enjoy his last days with good food, medicine and a warm bed.

My granddaughter fell in love with this painting so I plan to surprise her with it for her birthday next week.

This painting has been submitted to the DPW Challenge on Color sponsored by Carol Marine.

Update: On April 28th Ori (the woman in Poland that rescued Okruszek) wrote this on her blog about Okruszek (Crumb):

Crumb died yesterday evening.

We had him for three weeks and three days.
I guess I have never met anyone who would be at the bottom of this misery, so incredibly battered by fate, so lonely and helpless.
We tried for three weeks to give him as much love as he should get through his long life. We believed, or rather, I naively believed that in this way manage to outwit the disease, banish it from the Heavens and bargain a few months.
Crumb rewarded us well-being and attempt to return to health, but the forces he was able to very briefly.
He died as someone very dear, important, deplorable as Someone's dog, nestling, farewell, and was buried with great respect.

(This has been translated from Polish to English by Google Translate)

The Help Japan Challenge

"Waiting"

on canvas 6x6
Carol Horzempa
Sold

I decided to do another painting of Shawna, this time with her head resting on my husband's boots. I took the picture yesterday and she was a great model, waiting patiently for me to snap the picture while giving me the eye.

We adopted this sweet dog 10 years ago when she was a year old. While my husband was writing out a check to the rescue people Shawna laid down next to his feet and put her head on his boot. I knew then this homeless dog was adopting my husband and they have been inseparable ever since.

I will be donating this painting to the Daily Paintworks website: "The Japan Challenge." I thought this painting would be fitting for this challenge since "home" is the theme. This painting comes with a solid cherry wood frame.

All proceeds will go directly to the Humane Society International. The HSI team will be taking in animals that have lost their owners and helping the Japanese people who have managed to survive with their pets.

Please click here to the auction page to place your bid.

Update: Here is a photo of the solid wood cherry frame that comes with this paintings.

Finally Framing My Work

"Walkin' the Dog"
6x8 oil on canvas panel
Carol Horzempa

This January my well-intentioned plan was to frame everything that needs frames before starting another painting. All month I have been touching up and rescuing paintings, some of which I thought weren't worthy of a frame. It is a lot more time consuming than I thought.

I have learned one thing though, no more odd size paintings! I am fortunate enough to have a spouse who has a special gift in woodworking and can make beautiful frames out of recycled wood any size I want.

This painting, which was an odd size, was done for a Karen Jurick challenge. I was able to enlarge it to a 6x8 by adding more background.

The frame is made from recycled wood that my husband rescued from an old house that was being torn down several years ago. I think this pine wood taken from an old paneled wall looks beautiful in its second life or should I say third as a frame. I even like the little dings and patina that gives it a rustic look!

Tishie Trouble

"Tishie Trouble"
6x6 oil on Masonite panel
Carol Horzempa
NFS

This little dog is an American Eskimo who belongs to my 96-year-old mother-in-law, Estelle. I have been taking care of her "baby" for a couple of months while she is recuperating from a fall in her home.

In this painting I tried to focus on capturing Tishie's spirit and that mischievous look he gives me every time he's about ready to get into trouble. He will hopefully be returning home to his "mommy" the beginning of June.

In Memory of Holly

"In Memory of Holly"
6x7 oil on canvas

Carol Horzempa
NFS

This little Border Terrier will be truly missed by my sister. Below is a poem she has written that best described her little companion that kept her company for the past 10 years.

"Holly"

So cute you are little Border Terrier

Whether closely shorn or hairier

Rain, snow, sleet; no matter what pours

Kin from Northumberland's harsh shores

My life you fill with joy and hearty laughs

In the house; teasing, kissing, snuggling naps

Out the door; a wild predator, oh so fun

Chasing squirrels, rabbits, bugs in the sun

Roll over tricks for a doggie bone

You keep me young and not alone

You take me places I would never go

Dog companion, sniffing weeds, exploring a hole

For this little pet thank you God; I do

She depends on me for everything, and I on You

By Elaine Schneider

Walkin' the Dog

"Walkin' the Dog" 
5.x7.25 oil on canvas
Carol Horzempa

NFS

This is my interpretation of Karin Jurick’s DSFDF challenge. I took the liberty of cropping Karin’s reference photo again. I added the girl who is supposed to be me (like about 20 years younger) walking Shawna.

I experimented with a textured surface made from priming a canvas panel with Utrecht Oil Priming White. I love this surface to paint on since it doesn’t absorb the paint like water base gesso does and I like how my brush glides across the oil base surface making it easier to control. I am also pleased with the fact that my paint stayed fresh and didn’t become dull as it dried.