Yes, I do Pet Portraits Too

Bonnie, 12"x12" oil on canvas

Hello Friends,

Yesterday I met a friend I had not seen in 6 months.  Her dog had just passed away a few days earlier. Her dog, Bonnie, was in too much pain and the vet told her it was time to let her go.

She called me as she recalled I had taken some photos of Bonnie a while back because I felt the desire to paint Bonnie, and wanted to know if she could have copies of the photographs.

I emailed her the photos and told her I had completed the painting of Bonnie months ago and it was hers. She immediately came over to pick up the painting. Losing a pet is like losing a family member whom you were very close to.  She told me letting her go was the hardest thing she had to do.

When I showed her the painting she started crying. She said I had captured Bonnie's spirit and she would hang the painting in her living room, as an honor to Bonnie.

She then told me how people told her how lucky Bonnie was to have had her as her owner as she took great care of her but people didn't understand that it was her, who was lucky to have had Bonnie in her life. That people had no idea how much love and joy Bonnie gave her.

It's so true! Our pets give us unconditional love no matter what, even when we neglect playing with them or are too busy to really connect with them.  I have painted our three pets and have the paintings in our living room.

I wanted to capture their spirit so I could always remember them, and feel their love, if some day down the road they too depart from my life.

Love,
Glad

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My Favorite Place in California

Yosemite, Graphite on illustration board.



Hi Friends,

This month I had seven more people join the Facebook Fanpage for Glad's art.  I'm always happy to see friends join me on this art adventure.

I received my first drawing back from drawing 2 class with an "A" and the professor said it was "impeccable"! It sure made me feel good. It is now on my portfolio. It's a drawing of my favorite place on Earth...Yosemite! If you haven't been to Yosemite I must urge you to go. It's just such a beautfiul place to visit in any season.

I did my very first color pencil drawing.  Part of the drawing was meant to have a crackle finish which I wanted to draw with pencil but my professor suggested I use an exacto knife to give it that effect. I wasn't sure about following his suggestions, and in the end I didn't like the effect. I felt I had damaged the paper instead but he was fine with it. Next time I think I'll follow my instincts instead.  Overall, I like the drawing though and will be putting it up on the website as soon as I take a photograph of the final drawing.

Looking back at photographs and paintings I have done in the past, I really have enjoyed taking photos of older people and painting them with oils.  I've been wondering about my own style of painting and my signature, and I think for a while I may spend sometime creating this type of artwork, since it speaks to me. I would love to hear your feedback on this.

Have a wonderful Spring break.

Love,
Glad

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Back to School

Black and White, 16"x20" on canvas panel

Hi Friends,

This year I went back to school. Being a self-taught artist, I always wanted to have all those wonderful art classes I didn't take in college, so this year I went back. I am loving every single art class I have.

I must admit that learning the fundamentals is hard work. I've never worked so hard on doing black and white oil paintings as I am right now with Painting 1.  But it's so much fun too.  

I love my Color and Theory class as well.  It amazes me that nothing has color, that an object is simply absorbing from the spectrum a particular hue, thus the lighting can change the color of an object.  

I've also been working on graphite drawings for my Drawing 2 class. I forgot how rewarding it is to create just using a pencil!

This month my artwork "Chance" will be on exhibit at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery.  I hope to meet some of you during the Artist Reception.

Love,
Glad

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