Day 26 - Reflections

 Good morning :) It is day 26 and today's painting was commissioned by a friend and loving mother.  Her son's birthday is today and she sent me this image telling me that it holds special significance for many reasons, and she would love to give it to him as a birthday gift.  The number 7 as well as what was happening on the day the photo was taken are 2 important aspects.. I also see the reflection in the wet sand behind the man as being not only very beautiful, but a key part of the story of this picture.  All together, I was honored to be asked to paint such a special painting, and thankful I was asked to paint something very different from what I usually paint.  Commissions are one of those gifts that bring me continual artistic interest as well as growth.  

Reflections, oil, 9"x12", sold

If you would like to commission me to paint something meaningful, special, cute, adorable or commemorative, contact me here :)

Day 22 - Kensington Porter

 More familiarly known as "Kenny", this longhaired dachshund is the latest commission in my Barktober line-up.  His mom found my artwork in Godfrey's, Welcome to Dogdom in Mohnton, PA (a wonderful all-things-canine mecca) and contacted me to paint this sweetie.  I am always honored to paint other people's beloved pets, and equally happy to do it because dogs and cats are generally a lot of fun to paint.  I feel sometimes as if I kind of get to know them by spending a few hours so near them.  :) I loved Kenny's tri-colored coat and soulful eyes.. Black fur is especially fun to paint because there is always unexpected hidden color.

There are still 9 days left in Barktober to commission me to paint your sweetie :) More information is below and you can contact me by clicking here. Thank you!

Kenny, 8"x8", oil on cradled panel, Sold

Day 17 - Kate

 Today's painting is one that commemorates a beloved pet. I am always so honored to be able to create something to help remember a pet by and strive to bring personality and love to the portrait.  Kate was a beautiful tabby who had hidden pinks in her fur and blue eyes and was just a joy to paint <3  Her owner contacted me shortly after she passed away to ask if I could paint this special painting and after going through several images, she chose this view of Kate.  I loved painting this angle as it makes you feel like you are at eye level and maybe even laying on the same cushion together. <3

Kate, Oil on cradled panel, 8"x8", sold

Barktober commission specials run through the end of this month. 
Contact me here if you'd like more information.

Day 22 of the 28 in 28 - Emmy

 In between creating my own whimsical artwork I usually have a commission or 2 somewhere in progress.  This one, of the patron's late, beloved black lab, was just finished and delivered over the weekend.  Painting special and sometimes commemorative animal portraits is one of the best parts of my job.  I love being able to capture a pet's unique quirks and beauty and I am honored to create a painting that will be cherished for the feelings and memories it keeps alive.  This is Emmy. ♥

Her mom contacted me in early January asking if I could paint her lab who had just passed away as a present for her husband, who was missing her fiercely.  We worked together to find just the right pose and composition. When she saw the finished painting over the weekend, it brought tears to her eyes.. she told me that this was the best present she had gotten in her entire life.  And that was the gift to me, to know that I could help to ease a broken heart, even just a little.. ♥ ♥ ♥

"Emmy", 8"x8", oil on cradled panel
Sold

Day 2 of the Jan 30 in 30 - Ember

I have a plan for a series of paintings I plan on doing during this 30 in 30.  But, I also had a commission waiting to be completed. After helping to hang an art show and enjoying a nice lunch with my son on his last day before going back to school I made it up to my studio and hunkered down to paint this hound dog.  Her name is Ember and I know her very well.  She is a spirited, independent pup and I had a great time trying to capture her loving, slightly goofy face. :)  The painting will be going to a good friend of the family.

Ember, oil on panel, 9"x12", sold

Day 1 of January 2017 30 in 30

 Well, I am doing it again.  It seems like just last month that I did a 30 in 30... wait, it was. (!) Anyway, Leslie Saeta, one of my mentors from afar is hosting her bi annual 30 in 30 again, and I can't help myself.  I must do it.  But, I will be honest here. I did not actually start painting for it yet! With New Years, being sick, just finishing up my holiday campaign, delivering paintings to my collectors and spending much needed time with my family.... well, I ran out of time and haven't been able to get to my studio.  But I will tomorrow!  

In the mean time, I am posting a commission that I just finished and delivered just over a week ago to a good friend of mine, Blair Seitz.  In the 1970's, he lived in Kenya, and was a photographer for National Geographic.  It was a special time in his life and he asked me if I could paint this painting as a way of remembering it.  One of my specialties is compositing many photos and ideas to make one unified picture.  This is what I did here.  Below is the finished painting, and under that are the photos I used to create it.  I love helping people to realize the images in their mind, and this painting was particularly fun to paint.  And Blair's reaction when he saw it for the first time was priceless!

That Time in Kenya, oil, 18"x24", sold

Day 22 of my Holiday Painting Spree - "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"

I have been painting dogs for the past few days.  Another one will be comin up tomorrow too!  Dogs are one of my favorite subjects to paint, I guess because I love 'em so much.  I have found that when you love what you are painting, the painting comes out so much faster and easier, and dogs do fit into that category, most of the time.  This guy just captured my heart, because I have often just stopped and admired my own sleeping doggies. There is something so cute and peaceful about a sleeping dog.  And if you have one sleeping by your side, extra relaxing too.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase, please click here

Also, today is the first day you can enter for a chance to win a FREE PET PORTRAIT COMMISSION! Enter every day this week! For all of the details and to register, please visit my website at www.karenweberfineart.com

Day 6 of the 30 in 30 - Lily and Charlotte

I was commissioned to paint this a few months back by a sweet woman who wanted to capture the innocent youth and beauty of her two Grand Nieces.  It is a challenge to paint people who you don't know personally but I was able to spend an afternoon photographing them which gave me an idea of their two different personalities.  I just finished it received final approval from the lady who commissioned me today!  Yay!  For an artist, doing commissions can be a bitter sweet deal.  Creating one of a kind artwork for someone to their specifications can be very gratifying as the final painting holds added meaning.  But it also means that you don't get to be painting your own personal artwork which at times can be frustrating.  But this portrait was special and I had a wonderful time solving all of the problems associated with painting portraits, plus I got to paint white, satiny fabric, so of course I looked at Sargent's work a lot as a reference point.  If you would like to commission me to paint a portrait or other subject, please give me a shout at karenlyn1772@yahoo.com.  I would be happy to work with you!

Lily and Charlotte, oil on canvas, 16" x 20",
sold

Day 7 of the 30 in 30 - Twin Barks sign 2

Happy Labor day! (to those of us who live in the U.S...)  Hope you are enjoying the day and perhaps picnicking with friends and family...

Today's post is the 2nd sign I was commissioned to paint for a cottage in Mt. Gretna, PA.  As I said yesterday, this was such a fun commission to do, as I love to paint dogs and landscapes, plus there is something about painting text that I also enjoy!  So, wow, all three of those elements went into creating these signs, making it a completely satisfying project.  The second sign feature 2 different poses for the dogs, plus different scenery.  My client asked for a landscape that had fall colors in it, as Mt. Gretna is particularly beautiful in the fall.  I am posting another before picture today as well, purely for your viewing pleasure.  I had to strip the original paint off of the signs and restore some areas of the wood as the signs are quite old and had some damage.  After wood puttying, applying a wood hardener and painting on 2-3 coats of primer and gesso, they were finally ready to paint!  Hope you enjoyed this installment of the 30 in 30.... See you tomorrow!

Twin Barks Sign 2, oil on wood, 5" x 23", private collection

Close up of Bouvier

Signs after stripping original finish and restoring the wood

Day 9 - From Distant Shores

Happy Friday and happy day 9 of the painting challenge...
I must confess, I am cheating a tiny bit here.. Today is a super busy day for me - I have a commission I am adamant I will finish today, my son has basketball practice after school and I have a gallery opening I must go to sometime between 5 and 8 tonight... So, I have decided to not paint one of these daily paintings today to take a bit of weight off my shoulders.  Whew.. Anyway, the painting I am posting is a recent commission I completed over the holidays for a very nice couple I am friends with.  The husband had this favorite picture of his wife that he took a while ago and asked if I could paint it.. Of course I said yes!  Without further ado, here is the painting... Enjoy the rest of your day!

From Distant Shores, oil on panel, 11"x14",
sold

Amazed..

I have had a slightly tumultuous few weeks and am happy to be in my studio today....  I was preparing for my gallery opening in which I had 9 paintings... All framed by me.... Then 2 commissions were completed (3 are currently still in process) and then all the prep for the fine art and craft show I participated in over the weekend.... Whew...
And I lost my parttime job in the middle of all this... :(
Can't say I didn't have a melt down a few days ago.... Cause I did... But,
Luckily I have the most supportive family in the whole world... :)

I did o.k. at the art show over the weekend... Actually better than I first thought.   And I met so many nice people who complimented my art in the best of ways.  I feel I am on track... Just a bit frazzled from all this pre- holiday stuff...

But onward!  Today I paint a chickadee commission... and for some incredible reason, it is nearly 70 degrees in SE Pennsylvania and its just 3 days until Thanksgiving!  So my window is open, and I begin...

Will post a picture later...

House Commission

I just finished one of 4 commissions today.... I don't want to post the whole picture I guess because the person it is going to doesn't have it yet, but I wanted to share some zoomed in parts of the picture.... I love the tiny cows in the background.. also love the American foursquare house design, which is what this house is...  This week I am starting framing also, and (I am in a bit of disbelief, but...) I will be making 40+ frames for me and 4 other people!  I'll have some pretty awesome sanding muscles by the end of this week... (and sore shoulders!)

Crosier House Commission, (zoom), 18"x18", nfs

Crosier House Commission, (zoom), 18"x18", nfs