I said I could paint eyes and noses all day long.  Well, I finally get to do some cat eyes.  This is a cute little tabby I’ll be painting.  I got to work on her eyes and nose and got a good start on them.  Her eyes are really beautiful.  I’ve pretty much got them, but may put a layer on two more on to be sure they look as translucent as the real thing.  Stay tuned.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Here’s the start of another cute little guy.  I was focusing on making his eyes particularly soft and wet.  I think that worked out pretty well.  I’ve kinda gotten into this thing where I could just paint the eyes and noses all day.  It’s not like I mind filling in the rest, but I really like doing the eyes and nose.  So you will get to see a bunch more of them as it goes on these next few days.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Here’s the final version of the two sweet pups I’ve been working on.  These guys have such nice faces.  I really enjoyed making them look nice.  Their people picked them up yesterday, and seemed quite happy with the painting.  Now, on to the others!  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Here’s the second stage on another pet portrait.  I put the first stage (eyes and nose) on recently.  Here’s the first block in to establish the values and planes.  Again, it’s loose and painterly at this stage.  I will again add more details and adjust things to make sure the portraits are accurate.  Still, I can tell at this stage it’s a good start.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

I posted the very first stage on this one last Monday.  Here’s the roughed in second stage.  At this point, I was trying to get the values and colors in on their faces.  They already look pretty good, if loose and painterly.  The next stages will involve increasing the definitions and making them a bit more realistic.  Then will come the background and final details.  I love how these seem to grow and emerge as the process goes on.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Here’s yet another pet portrait I’ve started and go in the que.  This is a sweet looking pup, and I’ve already got the eyes and nose in and he’s looking pretty good.  These will be in the mix for the next few days, so I hope you like pups, ’cause they’ll be coming.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

I wound up finishing this in record time.  I came back and toned down some things, and added a little more detail around the trees.  It’s hard to see in this photo, but there are trunks and more sense of the water line.  I also punched up the clouds and the reflections.  It’s quite effective in person.  It will be off to Chicago today for my client to hang and enjoy.  This is so much fun, I love it.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Here’s an early stage on the new large commission piece I’ve been working on.  This one is 4′x6′, so it’s quite big.  You may remember the color sketch I posted some days back.  This is the big piece working off that idea.  I am looking for a soft, semi-abstract look, so as this develops, there is more blurring of the images in the painting.  I’ve got a couple of more stages to post, then it will be off to Chicago.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Believe it or not, I’m working on a big piece for a client in Chicago.  But at the same time, I’m starting several pet portraits that I have in the que.  Here’s another duo portrait of a couple of cute guys.  Just getting started with the eyes and nose.  As I’ve said before, I like to establish those well then move out and away from the features.  So more to go, more to do.  Stay tuned.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net

Here’s the start of a new pet portrait.  These two cute guys will share the same canvas.  This is a great way to get your family of four legged children captured for all time.  As you know seeing my working process before, this is the very beginning.  Now I’ll start working out from the eyes and noses and start adding in the planes of their face.  Stay tuned for more as this progresses.  jcannon1@bellsouth.net