Day 17 of the 30 in 30 - "Chihuahua de pato afortunado"

"The Lucky Chihuahua (With Duck)"
I decided I needed to switch things up today and paint a whimsical doggy with a duck on his head... I've been painting a variety of birds lately and I just needed something different. :)
Today's painting reminds me of St. Patty's for some reason. Sometimes you get lucky... I'm feeling lucky for a lot of reasons lately, and the fact that March, the luckiest month of the year, is right around the corner doesn't hurt matters. :) 

This Chihuahua is feeling pretty lucky, and I don't know why.  But he seems to know something about the little ducky on his head that maybe we don't... And that green tie!  Love it!

Chihuahua de Pato Afortunado, oil,m 6"X6", to purchase click here

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

Happy New Year! & My 3 words for 2017

I want to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year!  May love, happiness, health and good fortune be the trademark of this year for you!

I am not starting any brand new things this year... instead, I feel that I will be approaching the different aspects of my life in a new way.  I am excited and ready to begin.

Chris Brogan is the owner of a company named Owner Media Group. Simply put, he helps business owners grow their businesses.  I follow his blog, so I read his advice from time to time.  One of his annual traditions is to choose 3 words to guide him through the coming year.  You can read more about it here.  I decided to choose 3 words to guide me in my coming year.  I have tried to do this in the past, and just couldn't come up with anything concrete to guide me. This year, the words were almost written before I thought of them!  Below are my 3 words and how I hope they will guide me.

1.Broaden:  I hope to broaden the scope of where my artwork is seen, and by whom.  I also hope to broaden the things my family and me do together, broaden the time we spend together and broaden our bond.

2. Connect:  I hope to make more and better connections with art collectors using social media, my newsletter, and simply through getting out there and talking about my art.  I also hope to connect with my family more often and more meaningfully. 

3. Consistency: I will be more consistent with my schedule - when I paint, when I spend time on the business side of things, when I spend time with my family.  I wish to declutter my schedule of the nonsense and unimportant things to leave room for me to consistently connect and broaden all of my relationships.

Day 23 of my Holiday Painting Spree - "Summer Lovin"

It is sleeting and snowing here in Pennsylvania. But this dog taking a jog at the beach helped to brighten my day as I was painting him today.  I wonder what it would be like to live at the beach (a warm beach, mind you) year round...  :) Ah well, a few more months of cold, damp fun for me. 

Summer Lovin', oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase, please click here

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a pet portrait commission!

Enter at my website, www.karenweberfineart.com

Day 21 of my Holiday Painting Spree AND the winner of this weeks painting!

I have had a lot of fun painting these little bulldogs the past few days.  When you paint something, naturally you are looking at the subject very closely and repeatedly... Because of this, you start to notice things you perhaps had never noticed before.  What I found with French Bulldogs is that they have the cutest little faces and most of them have a huge smile. They must be the happiest pups to have as a pet.  This one, however, doesn't have a huge smile.. in fact, as I look at her, it is more of a Mona Lisa smile.  Makes me wonder, what's she thinking about?

Baby Frenchie, oil on panel, 6"x6"to purchase please click here

AND, the winner of this week's painting giveaway is....

Sea Dean of British Colombia, Canada!

Congratulations!

.

Thank you to everyone who entered last weeks giveaway!

Next week I will be giving away a FREE PET PORTRAIT COMMISSION!

Register at my website, www.karenweberfineart.com for a chance to win!

Day 20 of my Holiday Painting Spree - "Frenchie Smile"

The French Bulldog was officially recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1898.  They are a friendly breed that, after reading more about them, apparently make a pretty awesome companion pet.  I was drawn to this picture as this guy has such a big smile and a look in his eye that is a mixture of confidence and love.  To purchase this painting, please click here. 

Frenchie Smile, oil on panel
to purchase please click here

Don't forget! Today is the last day to enter for a chance to win one of my paintings! Enter now at www.karenweberfineart.com

Day 15 - Canine Constitutional

So, I am a member of a cool, cooperative gallery in West Reading (Art Plus Gallery) and consequently, I spend a lot of time in the town.  One really great thing is that it is a very dog friendly town. Any time of day, you will see folks out walking their dog(s).  It provides many opportunity for photo references!  I took this pic about a year ago and came across it when looking for material for this 30 in 30.  At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to paint it because the little sausage dog is only seen from the back.  But, I did really like the image, and decided to take the challenge... see if I could paint him and make him actually look like a dog!  Hope it worked...

And by the way, the wrinkles in those pants.... not easy!  And that was the last thing I was worried about .  It's funny how certain things present challenges that you aren't expecting.

Canine Constitutional, oil, 9"x12"
to purchase, please click here

Day 9 - Late Afternoon Golden

I knew I'd paint another of these sunlit pups after I painted the first one for Day 4's painting.  I do enjoy painting dogs from behind also!... I have done it for quite a few commissions and one of my own doggies too.. Something about their personality can be seen in the way they stand and how they walk from behind... In any case, this one is an older girl out for a late, hazy afternoon stroll... Going for a walk with the dog.... good for the soul...

Late Afternoon Golden, oil on panel, 11" x 14", to purchase, please click here

Just for fun, here is one I did in 2012 of my two doggies.. 

interesting to see how much my style has changed!

Ali and Scooter, 11" x 14", oil on canvas, private collection