Motley the Yorkie, in his PJs

Motley in his PJs, 11 x 11" mixed media on paper

Yorkies are such little charmers. This one belongs to the owners of the Dream Home for the Fall Parade of Homes here in the Twin Cities. His portrait -- two of them; this is the first -- will be on display there.

Watch it Happen

This is at La Patisserie in St. Paul. A 4 x 5' canvas showing the building as it was in the early 40s. I started it today and this is how far I got; will continue tomorrow afternoon. 

Landscape with Freight Cars

5 x 7" sketch from yesterday, oil on panel. Playing with somewhat more vibrant colors. Available, $50. This will fit right into a standard 5 x 7" photo frame; no custom framing required.

For the "blocking in" stage I used a thin wash of transparent iron oxide and quinacridone gold, intending to cover all of it. Then toward the end, someone remarked that they loved the orange color at the lower right, and I decided I did, too. So I left it, and I am glad I did.

Today I am out the door to La Patisserie, my favorite bakery in the Twin Cities. I'm working on a four-by-five-foot canvas for them, based on a photo of the building taken in the 1940s. I'll post work-in-progress photos tonight.

Mounds Boulevard Bridge

Mounds Boulevard Bridge, 6 x 12" oil on canvas

Today was overcast, not unpleasant though. A softly lit day and a grey curve of road that reflected the sky.

I wanted a soft, loose treatment so I painted this almost entirely with a palette knife.

Off to the Horse Show

With the new promo piece I just put together:

... and my camera, and my field kit for drawing and painting on the spot. I'll be at the Reining Futurity at the State Fairgrounds later today and much of tomorrow.

File under: Living less safely.