Another AZPaintings blog mailing test

Well I suppose I should have guessed that things wouldn't be straightforward although in fact I think it's my fault so I can't blame anyone else!

I've made some changes and sent myself a test mailing and it worked correctly so now I am hoping this will be sent to my subscribers. My own email went straight into my junk box, so I'm hoping this doesn't happen to everyone else! We shall see!! 

Anne

New mailings service for this blog

Following on from my last post, I am now in the process of updating my website - yes again! I am also considering moving this blog from blogger. I have for a very long time disliked the fact that advertisements were included in my blog notification emails which some of you receive and have now moved the service. This will be the first post to, hopefully, be emailed to subscribers and so is a test of both whether it works and also whether it will carry advertising.

I shall wait and see if all is now well. If not, I'm afraid you will have to be a little patient, but I would in that case move from blogger to wordpress. We shall see! Fingers crossed!!!

Anne

New website

Well I've been uploading a new website but having quite a few problems with it. Perhaps I should just stick to painting!! I have been painting too and am hoping that this year I'll be back posting on this blog with some of the paintings I've been working on. Meanwhile, back to the website...

Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIP 6

Now I'm posting the penultimate WIP. Here I'm starting to think about the background for Miami's painting and have come up with an idea..... 

I've also started to put a little movement into his coat. In the reference photos his coat is perfectly groomed with not a hair out of place but I decided that in the painting he would be standing in a gentle breeze. 

I hope you're enjoying this journey in the making of a painting. 

Anne

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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIPs 4 & 5

American Cocker Spaniel - Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

Here are the next two WIPs. The changes in the body coat are I think obvious, but perhaps less easily seen are the changes in Miami's head which are more subtle. At this stage although I'm concentrating on Miami himself, I'm also turning lots of ideas for a suitable background around in my mind. I was still very undecided at this point!

Anne

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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIPs 2 & 3

16" x 20" oil on canvas

The next 2 photos show the progress of Miami's painting. I always start with the eyes first although with very little detail. Just as I would dislike a dog with no eyes to look back at me, I find detailed eyes in a somewhat blank canvas rather disturbing! You can see that I've done a fair amount of work on Miami's head in the 3rd WIP although it was at this stage still far from finished.

Anne

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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink WIP 1

American Cocker Spaniel -Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

Crufts Best In Show 2017

20" x 16" oil on canvas Work In Progress

I've been asked if I could explain the process of creating Miami's portrait, so will start with the first work in progress photo and an explanation of the steps involved.

I was sent some photographs of Miami by the Kennel Club and out of these selected several to sketch to see which I liked best. Eventually I chose one photo of his head and a different one of his body which I felt would work well. At this stage I wasn't sure of the background and had lots of different ideas floating around which I'll discuss later. So here is the beginning stage of Miami's painting.

Anne
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Crufts Best In Show - the American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

American Cocker Spaniel -Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink

Crufts Best In Show 2017

20" x 16" oil on canvas

I was honoured when the Kennel Club approached me once again to paint last year's Crufts Best In Show winner. This painting was presented to Miami's owners, Mike Gadsby and Jason Lynn of the Afterglow Kennels, at Crufts Dog Show last weekend. They will be receiving a limited edition print of the painting and the original will be hung in perpetuity in the Kennel Club in London. 

I am now delighted to introduce the American Cocker Spaniel - Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink. Such a stunning dog! Shown here in his full show coat, his owner/breeders cut it back after his Crufts win and he now lives on with them as a loved pet. 

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Long-haired Weimaraner oil portrait

10" x 8" oil on cradled board

Even in the normal way of things, dogs' lives are far too short. Sometimes however, even these years are cut far too prematurely, leaving an owner grieving when they should have been enjoying the prime of their dog's life. Sadly, this was the case for Parka's owner. 

Love your dogs, cuddle them and be glad for every day you have them. 

Anne

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Dalmatian watercolour - Chloe

16" x 20" watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

Today's painting is a watercolour on my favourite paper. It's what I would describe as a good tempered paper, allowing a fair amount of scrubbing before complaining! As I've described before, the surface is neither rough nor smooth but as Goldilocks would say 'just right' - for me that is. NOT stands for not hot pressed and hot pressed means smooth. I would suggest that if you're new to watercolours and want to have your paintings framed, you should avoid using the lightest weight of paper unless your paintings are very small. I've seen countless paintings starting to wrinkle when framed because the paper wasn't substantial enough. I've described sometime ago in this blog about stretching watercolour paper and in my opinion, it's a vital step and something I do even with heavyweight papers. In this way I never have to worry about the amount of watery paint I apply to the surface and always know the paper will remain nice and taut. 

On to the painting now. Well I think you'd have to look far and wide to try and find a prettier face than this little girl. I think she's absolutely lovely... and I hope you do too!

Anne

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Dachshund and mum oil painting on canvas

14" x 10" oil on canvas

This was such a lovely painting to work on. How lucky we are, those of us who own dogs. In them we find the virtues it can sometimes be so hard to find in our fellow man - loyalty, love and forgiveness. I could add more - empathy, bravery to start with. I wonder just how many attributes dogs do possess? If anyone can think of more, please do comment and I'll be happy to add them here. Using the word 'happy' made me think of another aspect of a dog's personality - optimism. I shall be very interested to see what else anyone can suggest. 

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this painting as much as I enjoyed painting it.

Anne

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'Peace' (lion and lamb oil painting)

14" x 10" oil on canvas

I just adore the expression on the face of this lion - what a majestic animal he is. I had actually intended posting this painting tomorrow but have just discovered it's World Lion Day today and so decided to share it this evening instead. 

In a world as troubled as ours, it is soothing to sometimes disappear into a happier, more gentle place and I hope this peaceful painting will help take you there. 

It is, as shown above, a 14" x 10" oil on canvas and is entitled Peace. It is available for sale and if you'd like more details, please email me at the address below.

Anne

info@azpaintings.com

Weimaraner oil painting - Chase

Oil on cradled panel

Happily in this world there are some people who go out of their way to help others in need. Sometimes those who receive this assistance are human and sometimes animal. This painting came about as the result of an auction organised to help a weimaraner rescue and was donated, not by me, but by a lady called Jan Ort, who has given generously both financially and in terms of time, to a variety of charities. The owner of Chase, the weimaraner in the painting, made the winning bid and gave the finished painting to her husband for his birthday. Chase had gone to their family at 6 months of age and was dearly loved, sleeping with his head on his owner's shoulder. He sadly died at the age of 13 and is greatly missed. 

Anne

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Watercolour Griffon Bruxellois - Fern

16" x 20" watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

I'm sharing a watercolour today and this little girl is a rather less common breed. She is a Griffon Bruxellois and her name is Champion Cilleine Another Day or as she is known at home, Fern. Griffons are energetic dogs with a lot of character packed into their little bodies. Their face shape has led to them having the nickname of little monkeys which I think suits their personalities as well!

Anne

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German Shepherd Dog oil painting

The portrait of this very handsome and regal German Shepherd is painted in oils and is a lasting tribute to a much loved dog. He is shown here relaxing in the grass but always on the alert. Now at rest - RIP Alf. 

Anne

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Watercolour Cocker Spaniel Painting

Watercolour painting on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

This week's painting is a watercolour for a change. 

To get the depth of colour needed for a painting such as this, it's necessary to paint in many layers when you're painting in watercolours. One of the issues you might encounter is the lifting of layers when you're trying to add them! Another potential hazard is that your painting can look overworked and dull so I always advise that a light hand should be used, dropping colour in but not pushing it around. It's also important to have a paper which while being absorbent, isn't overly so. 

If you have any questions, please post them here or email me at: info@azpaintings.com

Anne

Weimaraner oil painting - Kassi

10" x 8" oil painting on cradled board

I never seem to have time to update my blog recently and now have quite a few portraits to post here. I am also working on a lion and lamb painting and will be posting work in progress photos, so this blog will probably be a bit of a mix and match for a while! I hope though you'll be able to enjoy it and if you have any questions, please do ask.

Anne

info@azpaintings.com 

Feature in Dogs Monthly

What are you reading Angel? You think it's an article about you? Well, you're in it but it's really about mummy and her paintings! I'm very excited to have been featured in the June edition of Dogs Monthly (available in the shops). 😃

Anne

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Oil painting of a miniature dachshund and a Work In Progress

10" x 14" oil on linen canvas 

I thought this evening I'd post a painting and a work in progress of it for those interested to see a little of the process involved in creating an oil painting, or I should say, my way of creating an oil painting! I'm really not sure - is it possible to have a more appealing expression than this little dog has? I don't think so! I hope you enjoy the painting!

Anne

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Presentation of the painting of Crufts Best In Show 2016 the Westie Ch Burneze Georgie Girl

Crufts - March 9th 2017

Following on from my previous post here is another photograph from Crufts where I presented the Kennel Club Arts Foundation with a portrait of Crufts Best In Show 2016, the West Highland White Terrier, Champion Burneze Geordie Girl (Devon). 

In the photo are Tom Mather, the Chairman of the Kennel Club Arts Foundation, Marie Burns with the lovely Devon, my painting and me.

Anne

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Oil painting of Crufts Best In Show 2016 winner - the Westie Devon

 Ch Burneze Geordie Girl - Devon

Best In Show Crufts 2016

20" x 16" oil on canvas

Painting Presentation at Crufts 9 March 2016

Last year I was delighted to be approached by the Kennel Club Arts Foundation and asked if I would paint the 2016 Crufts Best In Show winner, the lovely Devon - Ch Burneze Geordie Girl. Last Thursday I went to Crufts to take part in the presentation of the painting to Devon's owner, Marie Burns. Here are some photos from the show and of course of the portrait. I hope you like them!

Anne

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Weimaraner puppy oil painting

8" x 10" oil on artists cradled board

A small oil painting today of a weimaraner puppy. 

The painting was commissioned by someone for their friend who sadly lost this little girl at a very young age. It's always upsetting when starting on a painting of a deceased pet and even more so when they have been lost at an age when they should have their whole life in front of them. I hope though that this painting will in a small way, bring her back for her owner.

Anne

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Miniature Poodle Watercolour Painting

Watercolour painting of chocolate miniature poodle on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

 Another watercolour painting today, this time of a smashing miniature poodle. I think maybe poodles aren't appreciated by some for being the lively and extremely intelligent dogs they are (and they come in a different size to suit everyone!) 

It is a common misconception that poodles originate from France but they were actually water retrievers in Germany 'pudels'. Their lower bodies were shaved to stop their heavy coats from being water-logged but the long coat over the front of the body and chest 'mane' was left to protect the vital organs and owners left long hair around the joints to protect them from injury and rheumatism. 

This handsome young man is not only an adored pet but is also the first chocolate miniature poodle to have been made a UK Champion for nine years! An accolade indeed! I always enjoy painting poodles and I hope you enjoy seeing 'Mr Brown'.

Anne

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Watercolour Dalmatian dog portrait painting

Watercolour Dalmatian - Otto - on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

Another Dalmatian today but this time slightly different as I'm going to also show a WIP (work in progress just in case anyone was wondering). This boy was painted in watercolours - I hope you like him. 😊

Anne

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Oil painting of a Dalmatian dog

Jazz - Dalmatian oil on canvas

I shall be trying to catch up on showing you paintings which were completed last year and which I simply didn't have time to share. They will be in no specific order. I hope you'll enjoy them. 

What do they mean to me? Well, they are all my 'babies' and I've never finished a painting and not loved the dog (or other animal) painted. I put my heart into them and try with all my might to make them live, whether or not they still breathe.❤️ Today's painting is a Dalmatian, a glorious dog.

Anne

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