Miniature Smooth Dachshund - Tim (work in progress)

Photo 1 of WIP

As promised, I have made the effort to take some photographs of my painting process during my latest commission. I'm just trying to make up my mind whether to include them all in one post or do a few! I think I will post all of the WIP's - there are 3 of them - in one post and then the final painting in its own one. I hope this will be acceptable.

In the above painting, I have drawn the outline and some important features of the dog, painted in the wash blue background and started laying in the base washes on Tim himself. I hope you can already see that in some places there are several layers of wash. I think this is a place where new watercolour artists often have some problems, in that they either make their washes too wet and disturb the colour underneath with a resultant mud effect or put the watercolours on with too little water, making them look harsh and unrealistic. I would say obviously practice is required and also a lightness of hand/brush.  

Photo 2 of WIP

In this photo you can see even more layers added and I should have mentioned in the previous photograph, that there is just the tiniest hint of grass in the background. I suppose one other point which is relevant as far as I am concerned, is that I have painted in Tim's eye with a fair amount of detail even at this early stage. I like to do this with 'my' dogs as I feel then that I have a relationship with them - I imagine that sounds a little crazy, but that's me!!

Photo 3 of WIP

This photo shows  the layering in of brush strokes to form the hairs. As I've mentioned previously, I don't paint the hairs invididually as I'm not very fond of the effect. Instead I splay out the hairs on my brushes (not very good for them by the way) so that I paint several hairs at one time. I also go over many areas with a brush very, very slightly dampened with clear water to blend in some of the hairs. This is a difficult operation to complete successfully as I am trying to get the watercolours to lose a little of their colour and run slightly but so slightly that it is barely visible. Yes, sometimes it goes wrong and needs gently lifting and repainting.

This is the last of the WIP's and the next post will be the final painting.

If you have any queries, please either leave a comment or email me at info@azpaintings.com and I'll be happy to help. 

Stars and Stripes

Stars And Stripes - FOR SALE tiger original oil

About This Painting:

Media: Oil

Size: 6 in X 6 in (15.2 cm X 15.2 cm)

SOLD

The Circle Of Life

The Circle Of Life - 7" x 5" on hardboard/masonite

This painting is very special to me; it was inspired by the monthly challenge on the Daily Painters International Art Gallery which this month has been anything to do with dots and/or circles. 

I think anyone who has the slightest knowledge of me wouldn't be at all surprised to see that my rendition of a 'dots' painting would involve a Dalmatian in some form or other! However, this painting also reflects the 'circle' aspect in that it involves 3 generations of my own dogs - the circle of life. The black spotted dog is Emma. She is no longer with us and I don't think a day goes past that I don't think of her - we miss her more than I can say. She was Hazel's mother - Hazel is the liver-spotted girl - and in this painting Hazel's puppies are snuggling up to their devoted grandmother with the complete approval of Hazel. It was a very beautiful scene and reasonably unusual as often bitches will not allow even their own mother anywhere near their puppies. In this painting the puppies are 9 days old and their spots are just beginning to appear. Dalmatian puppies are born pure white, except for any with patches - solid areas of colour usually on the head - and pigment round their eyes and on their noses. At this age they are totally helpless with their eyes shut and their ears not yet open. We of course kept a puppy from this litter - we only breed when we want a puppy ourselves - and this little girl became our Angel who in her character often reminds us of her sweet grandmother.

I hope that this painting will be purchased by someone who will also find it special.

SOLD

(and to those who wonder, sold to the person who bought my first painting posted online and who has become a special friend)

This painting is straight off the easel and will need several days to dry before it can be shipped.

Summer Breeze

Summer Breeze - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

Another summery painting - inspired by the rotten weather in the UK! The weather forecast is for it to become much warmer towards the end of the week, so maybe my 'painting mood' will change then! I really like the feeling of warmth on this dog's face and the breeze blowing the hair on its ears. 

In fact I have some commissions which I will be working on for the next few weeks, but I will try to keep posting paintings as often as I can - I might even attempt a WIP (work in progress for the non-artists among you) if I can only remember to stop painting and take the necessary photographs!

Once sold I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia in memory of Chelsea (RIP)

SOLD

If you would like to ask any questions, please email me at info@azpaintings.com

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

My thanks to Dan Bennett "Soggydan" at Flickr for the reference photo

Here's Looking At You

 Here's Looking At You - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I decided to paint this little dog as I was very taken with the lighting and I love it's little alert, sweet expression - I hope you do too!

The 10% donation to charity from the profits following the sale of this painting will be going to a new charity for me - it is Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia.  I decided on this charity having read of one of their rescues on their facebook page; a truly tragic story about a poor, abused Dalmatian named Chelsea (now RIP)

I hope you will all bid like mad on this painting to get a high price and so a high donation. If you don't want a painting though, it would be great if you'd consider visiting their site - just click on their name above - and make a donation direct. I simply don't know how they cope with the awful things they see and hope I can be instrumental in helping them financially, even if in only a small way.

SOLD

If you wish to discuss anything, email me at info@azpaintings.com

My thanks to Marlie Kanoi at Flickr for the reference photo

Message to the purchaser of The Sound Of Music

If the purchaser of the wolf painting The Sound Of Music reads this, please contact me. I have emailed you several times to try and confirm the address the painting should be sent to but have had no reply.  My email address is info@azpaintings.com.

Anne

Comment Moderation

Ah well, I thought you'd like to know that I have taken the advice of those who commented - I have changed my settings so that comments are no longer immediately published, but have to be checked by myself before appearing. I think it's such a shame that this is necessary but I have just become so thoroughly irritated by the Chinese comments advertising their porn and other sites, that I decided that on my blog free speech is going to be moderated. As I say, I am really sorry this has been necessary but that's life! 

Anne

Husky Baby Blue Eyes

Husky Baby Blue Eyes by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I recently saw a photograph of a Siberian Husky with the most beautiful blue eyes. I didn't think the photo would make a good painting and so painted this husky instead and gave it gorgeous blue eyes like the other dog!

As usual, I will be donating 10% of the profits from the sale of this painting to charity and the one to benefit on this occasion will be Save The Dalmatians  (another breed sometimes born with blue eyes)

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

If you have any questions, please email me at info@azpaintings.com

Labrador In Black

Labrador In Black - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I originally planned this painting to illustrate a dog portraiture point I wished to make. Quite often when painting dog portraits, an artist will be presented with photographs which are far from ideal. If possible the best course is to ask for further photographs to be taken but unfortunately sometimes this isn't possible - for instance when the dog is deceased or it is a surprise present for someone and more photographs are out of the question.

Very often the advice given to artists in this position is to find photographs of the same breed of dog to use as reference. Whilst it can be useful to look at several photographs of the same breed, and read the Kennel Club Breed Standard, I would never recommend copying features from a different dog as they vary such a lot. To illustrate this, I had hoped to feature three recent portraits of black labradors together with the one above, showing the differences between them. However, when I looked at the paintings I realised that two of them  did actually share the same features (just as well as they were the same dog!) so my little lesson wouldn't work. Oh dear, I obviously need to be more organised! 

So what do I recommend in these circumstances? Well as I said above, look at as many photographs of the breed you are painting to get you in the 'breed mood' and buy a good magnifying glass.  Also of course you can always ask for certain details, ie colours of nose and eyes. If the photograph really is so bad that a portrait cannot be painted from it, then don't. While some owners are really surprisingly unobservant and could probably be happy with any portrait produced, I consider it insulting to both the dog and owner to mainly paint a portrait from a different dog.

SOLD

The donation (10% as usual) will be going to Old Dog Haven

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

My thanks to Cl@re Bear at Flickr for the reference photograph

In Need

In Need - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

This blog post is somewhat different from usual - the painting is for sale as normal and has a donation to charity - also as normal but what is different is that this girl needs a home. She was rescued in the nick of time from being destroyed and is in safety being fostered. However, she needs a loving home of her own. It is because of this that the painting was created and although I am based in the UK, I will be listing it on ebay US in the hope of as much publicity as possible in the country where she lives. If anyone reading this can think of additional ways of publicising her status and need for a home, please do all you can. I think I can do no better than quote what the photographer of this reference photo has written about her.

"This girl was once loved and lived in a home with a couple, even sleeping with them in their bed at night. The woman discovered she was pregnant and they dumped the dog at the pound, stating they did not care what happened to her. This pup would have been put to sleep tomorrow morning had a man named Ryan from Denver not made the trip all the way to Burns Flat, Oklahoma to pick her up today. She is now safe in Colorado Springs, CO. where she will be fostered until a forever home can be found.

This beautiful girl's name is Bryndelyn. She is scared, timid, and shy, and likely really confused; first at an outdoor shelter - not understanding why, a long trip by car (fearfully ducking when passing bridges), and now a new home that's just temporary (note from me: she is now coming out of her shell). Add to this, she has recently had a litter of puppies. She didn't do anything wrong, except to have irresponsible selfish owners. She is about 41 pounds, still needing to gain some weight. 50 pounds should be ideal for her. She has been spayed, so there will be no more puppies for this beautiful girl. Can you find it in your heart to love her and give her the real love and security she deserves? Please share this with anyone who may need a best friend and all the loving they could ever ask for! "

The reference photo was provided by Beverly & Pack at Flickr and if you can help with offering a home to Bryndelyn you can contact her direct here: http://www.flickr.com/people/walkadog/ or you can email me at info@azpaintings.com and I will contact her.

I will donate 10% of the profits from the sale of this painting to Bad Rap Pit Bull Rescue once sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped.

If you have any questions, please email me at info@azpaintings.com

Jack Russell Terrier And Sky

Jack Russell Terrier And Sky by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

So far the spring has been pretty poor here in the UK. I really long for hot summer days and so am tending to paint some lovely summery paintings! This painting is of a Jack Russell Terrier set against a hot, blue summer sky. I can almost hear the swifts, returned for the summer, screaming their cries as they perform their air acrobatics - lovely!

10% donation to Save The Dalmatians once sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

If you have any questions please email me at info@azpaintings.com

Papillon Fringes

Papillon Fringes - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

This painting came about as the result of a challenge on Daily Painters International Art Gallery of which I am a member. The challenge was to create a painting connected with 'fringes' so I painted a dog with fringed ears!! The papillon is so named as it is the French word for butterfly which the head and ears of this breed are thought to resemble - and I rather think they do.

When you look at the little dog's face in my painting it is hard to believe that he is a rescue dog. He was rescued from a puppy mill after living his first six years in a cage. He never new kindness, cleanliness, walking or a soft bed. His world was very small and dark, but it has slowly got bigger and brighter. He is now a well loved and happy dog. The reference photo for this painting was taken by his owner RichMurphy at Flickr who has given him his new life.

I will be donating 10% of the profits from the sale of this painting to Noah's Bark pet rescue

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days and as the auction is for 7 days, this should work out just fine

For more information email me at info@azpaintings.com

A Kiss From A Rose

 

A Kiss From A Rose - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I thought you might wish to see the latest painting I have listed on ebay - again with no reserve (which is just a bit nerve-wracking!!).  Once sold I will be donating 10% of the profits to Save the Dalmatians - do check out their website to see all the rescues they do.

SOLD

Background based on a photograph by Photos8.com

Border Collie - Play!

Border Collie - Play! - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

Another summery painting! As I look out into my garden - or yard as my American friends will insist on calling it :) - the view is stunning at this time of year. The blossom on the plum tree is over but the tree is now in full leaf. The pear tree (a wall trained tree) still has some blossom left but the old Bramley apple tree is magnificent, covered in pink blossom as is the ornamental cherry - beautiful and the wall trained apple too! Add some flowering shrubs into the mix, together with some spring flowers and the result is just superb - even the sun has made an appearance! No wonder then that I am enjoying painting 'summer' paintings.

Once this painting is sold the donation of 10% from the profits will be going to Noah's Bark pet rescue

SOLD

If you would like any further information please email me at info@azpaintings.com

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

My thanks to kate.gardiner at Flickr for providing the reference photograph

Labrador Expression

Labrador Expression - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

As well as summer mode, I seem to be in Labrador mode at the moment! There's no particular reason for this; in the instance above, I thought the dog had such a sweet, appealing expression, that I just had to paint him. 

I check in on facebook more or less daily as I have quite a few friends on there and it's nice to see what's going on with them. However, some of my contacts on fb are very involved with dog rescue, and frequently I am reduced to tears by what I see - indeed I tend to try and glance quickly at their posts, as, if their stories are too awful, I don't read them. Yes, I know, this is something to be ashamed of - and I am - but perhaps we who care, need to do what we can. I cannot cope with the shocking details of cruelty meted out by my fellow man, but I can help raise funds to help the efforts of the rescuers and this I do as well as I am able.

The donation from this painting once sold is again going to Save The Dalmatians - they are in real need of funds and so I am concentrating on them at the moment, although I will move on to some other charities soon.

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

My thanks to jespahjoy at Flickr for the reference photograph

A Question

I wonder if I might ask my followers and anyone else interested a question? It is regarding whether to allow uncensored comments on my blog. 

As a general rule, I am not hugely in favour of censorship. I have put my settings for this blog so that anyone can make comments on any of my posts but I am having a problem with comments which are merely advertising. Most of these, although not exclusively, are Chinese and advertise porn or drugs or some just other forms of advertising. I am notified through my email when these are posted, and so I come here as soon as I can and delete them but I am thinking perhaps I should change my settings so that no comments can be posted until I approve them. Frankly it goes against my principles but perhaps I am being silly and I would very much like to hear what you all have to say.

Labrador Beach

Labrador Beach - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

Our lovely sunny weather has been continuing although it is still very chilly in the evenings. It has been making me long for the hot, sunny days of summer and this seems to continually be reflected in my paintings!

As a breed Labrador Retrievers love the water and need very little excuse to take the plunge. The dog in this painting is having a whale (sorry for the pun!) of a time and is keeping cool while playing on the beach and in the sea.

Once sold, I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to Save The Dalmatians

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need several days to dry before it can be shipped

My thanks to alexhealing at Flickr for the reference photograph

Jack Russell Terrier In The Shade

Jack Russell Terrier In The Shade - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I think my next painting should be of an airoplane as I am beginning to miss seeing them in the sky since the volcano erupted in Iceland and spread its ash over the UK! We have been having lovely sunny days since the eruption and when I look up into the clear blue skies, it's hard to believe there is ash in the atmosphere. 

At the moment, with all the trees gaining their leaves and flowers seemingly to grow by several inches daily I feel in the mood to paint 'summery' paintings. The dog shown here is resting away from the sun in the cool shade and looks very comfortable indeed!

Once sold, I will make a donation of 10% to Save The Dalmatians

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped


My thanks to Salvadonica, Chianti, Tuscany at Flickr for the reference photograph

Happy Birthday Hazel!

Happy Birthday Hazel - 11 today! 

Here is my Hazel having just received her birthday toy - a squeaky, fluffy lamb. She's having a lovely day with extra walks, extra special food and as usual, lots of love. Many happy returns sweetheart.

Golden Against Wisconsin Sky

Golden Against Wisconsin Sky - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

One of the advantages of being involved in the work that I do is the number of lovely people I meet - albeit mostly indirectly through the internet. I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise, but it has done really, that collectors of dog art are such a lovely bunch of people.

The dog above is owned by the enormously talented professional photographer Lisa Husar at teamhusar.com who kindly gave me permission to use her lovely photograph of Bear (her golden retriever not a bear!!) - thank you Lisa :)

Once sold, I will be donating 10% of the profits to Save The Dalmatians

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

Back In Black

Back In Black - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

There is no doubt to my mind that, just as in humans, there are some dogs who are more photogenic than others. I have used the dog featured today in a previous painting - A Black Dog. His owner MarilynJane at Flickr has kindly allowed his photo to be used as reference and it has been a pleasure to paint this grand fellow once more.

Once sold I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to Noah's Bark whose work is probably best followed on their facebook page  

SOLD

For further information please email me at info@azpaintings.com

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

Border Collie Beach

Border Collie Beach - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

After a long, cold spring I feel more and more that I want to paint summer scenes and so while painting, enjoy the feeling of the sunshine warming me! I decided to paint this border collie running through the surf on a glorious summer day beside a sea of azure blue - ah lovely!

As with many of my paintings, once sold I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to charity. On this occasion I will be donating to Old Dog Haven (http://olddoghaven.org). I always feel so dreadfully sad for elderly dogs who lose their homes, often incredibly just because their owners can no longer be bothered with them. Those of us who have been blessed to own elderly dogs know of the very special bond which develops and it is a priviledge to be able to help in the efforts of these rescuers.

SOLD

If you would like further information please email me at info@azpaintings.com

This painting is straight off the easel and so will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

My thanks to Kyknoord at Flickr for the reference photograph

Stripes - Dalmatian Fashion

Stripes - Dalmatian Fashion - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

The challenge on Daily Painters International Art Gallery this time was "Stripes" - the painting could be about and featuring any subject, but it had to be striped. Well, obviously I immediately thought of a Dalmatian!! 

The model for this painting is once again my own Angel and actually in this painting she was sitting at the top of the stairs sunbathing. As I think may be obvious from the painting, we have a blind on the window overlooking the stairs and it is the shadow from this which is falling on her. The actual painting is slightly warmer in tone but I've not yet been able to get an accurate photo - if I manage to get a better one I will post it. Taking accurate photos of my paintings is the bane of my life!

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

A Black Dog

A Black Dog - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

My third labrador in almost as many days! I decided to paint another lab as the other two sold very quickly and I was hoping to get a labrador on ebay for auction. However, since I have heard from a previous customer that they are interesting in possibly purchasing a labrador painting, I'm not sure how long this one will last - time will tell!

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

My thanks to MarilynJane at Flickr for the reference photograph

Yellow Labrador

Yellow Labrador - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

As the last labrador I put on ebay only lasted an hour or so, being changed to a 'buy it now' listing on request, I decided that I would make my next listing a lab again. The last labrador was a black, so this one is a yellow! I like the attitude of this dog - resting but watchful. 

I will put it on ebay later today as I am now going to take my own dogs out for a walk as the rain has stopped and the weather looks almost bright!

.........Back online now and the painting is listed on ebay - if you would like to bid, or see further details, please click here

SOLD

The donation from the profits of this painting will be 10% towards Old Dog Haven

If you would like further information please email me at info@azpaintings.com

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped