Artist questions and answers

I quite often receive messages from other artists asking if I could share my 'secrets' and also which working materials I use. In the past I've replied to each separately but thought it would be a good idea - and save time! - if I wrote about any hints and tips I can give on my blog. So - if you want to know, just ask in the comments.

To start the ball rolling I will discuss my watercolour materials, colours and brushes so if you have any questions before I begin, please let me have them now. Otherwise, I shall start discussing my working methods in the next few days.

If you want to email me and keep your name private, please do so to info@azpaintings.com

Christmas Is Coming! - Dalmatian dog oil painting

Christmas Is Coming! - 5" x 7"oil on board

I know that thinking about Christmas at the end of May just seems wrong but that's what I'm asking you to do! Every year people end up being disappointed because I'm fully booked and unable to take their commissions for Christmas presents which they'd been planning. So, please, to make sure you have your painting ready for Christmas, consider ordering it now.

info@azpaintings.com

Border Collie - watercolour dog portrait

Border Collie - watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

I think a lot of my readers will have a similar problem to mine - not enough hours in the day! Some things are left or not given enough attention and I have been concerned about my blog. I would love to hear from you to know what sort of contet matter you'd like to see - bearing in mind of course that it will be art related! Do please be in touch to see if I can make my posts more relevant or interesting to you.

My email address is: info@azpaintings.com

Many thanks - Anne

Golden Retriever in Chair

Golden Retriever in Chair - 16" x 12" oil on canvas

This painting took a long time to paint and I have to thank this lovely dog's owner for being so extraordinarily patient! I'm very pleased with the result though (even if it has added a few grey hairs in the process!) and am happy to report his owner is delighted with the painting. 

info@azpaintings.com

Dalmatian Zoe - oil painting

Zoe - 10" x 8" oil painting

I've been making a Dalmatian album on Facebook and so thought I'd put some of them here for you all to see! 

If you would like to commission a painting please click on the commissions link above or email me at info@azpaintings.com

Champion Affenpinscher Watercolour Portrait

Champion Affenpinscher - watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT

I thought it might be nice to show some of my previous paintings - and some them rather unusual breeds. The painting above is of a champion affenpinscher - I wonder how many of my readers have heard of this breed before? Do you agree with the fact that they are often described as 'monkey-faced'? The word affe in German means monkey - hence their name!

If you have any questions or would like to commission a painting, email me at info@azpaintings.com

Snow White (snow leopard) oil painting alterations

Snow White - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

Yes, you have seen this painting before! I actually finished the painting and posted it on facebook and then decided there were a few things I would like to change. The photo below was the photo I originally posted.

Can you see any difference to the final painting above? If you want to try and work it out, don't scroll down as I am going to show there where the alterations were made.

Spoiler alert as they say!

So the alterations were as follows:

No 1 is the outer area lightened, no 2 area also lightened, no 3 shape of eye changed and area above lightened, no 4 highlights altered, no 5 lightened to show modelling, no 6 lightened, both eyes had more cerulean blue added.

I hope you've enjoyed this little exercise! This painting is available - details in the blog post below.

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

SOLD

Snow White - snow leopard wildlife oil painting

Snow White - snow leopard wildlife oil painting

About This Painting:

Media: Oil

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

SOLD

Tiger oil painting commission

Tiger - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

A commissioned tiger painting. 

info@azpaintings.com

Happy 14th Birthday Hazel!

Happy Birthday to one of the two sweetest girls in the world (well yesterday actually as here in the UK it's a little past midnight now). Please have many more darling.

Shining Bright - Jaguar Big Cat Oil Painting

Shining Bright - 6" x 6" oil painting on hardboard/masonite

These beautiful creatures may be threatened with extinction in the near future. If we allow them, and some of the other big cats, to die out, it will be an unforgiveable sin.

SOLD

Seize The Fire - Tiger Oil Painting

Seize The Fire - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

The finished painting!

SOLD

Tiger Work In Progress oil painting 2

Untitled tiger work in progress painting - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

So - quite a lot more still to do. I think it will take about another day to finish this painting.

Tiger Work In Progress

Untitled Work In Progress - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

This work in progress painting doesn't have a title yet - I'd be very interested to hear if anyone has any suggestions. It's available for purchase - please email me for details.

 

 

Anne - info@azpaintings.com

 

 

 

Play!

Play - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

SOLD

 The border collie is based on a photograph by kate.gardiner at Flickr

Rhodesian Ridgeback Oil Painting Commission

Rhodesian Ridgeback - 10" x 8" oil on canvas

A recently completed commission of a very handsome dog. 

If you would like to commission a painting of your own pet or a particular subject, email me at info@azpaintings.com or click the Commissions button in the menu above.

Saluki watercolour commission

16" x 20" watercolour saluki on Saunders Waterford paper

I thought readers might like to see a WIP of this painting, so I am showing it below.

I hope you find it interesting!

Anne

Dalmatian oil commission - Harley

Harley - 10' x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

Another liver spotted Dalmatian today but this time in oils.

Dalmatian Watercolour Portrait Commssion

Stella - Watercolour 20" x 16"

Another completed Dalmatian portrait - what a pretty girl!

Rottweiler pet portrait commission

Rottweiler - 10" x 8" oil on canvas

A recently completed commission. As usual with a dark painting it's difficult to get an accurate photo but this is reasonably true to life.

The Wolf - original oil painting

The Wolf - 24" x 16" oil on canvas

Watchful but peaceful. A beautiful Arctic Wolf.

German Pinscher oil painting portrait

German Pinscher - 10" x 8" oil on canvas

This lovely German Pinscher was another commission which I completed towards the end of last year.

If you'd like to commission a painting, please email me at info@azpaintings.com or click on the 'commissions' tab on the menu above.

Dalmatian Portrait Commission

Rosie - 14" x 10" oil on canvas

A recent commission for which I received a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from the recipient - a great surprise but absolutely lovely! 

Labrador Retriever Oil Painting Commission

A Loyal Friend Is Everything - 10" x 12" oil on canvas

The above painting of a yellow labrador retriever was one of my Christmas commissions which of course I couldn't share before the day as it was a surprise gift. The dog in the painting is called Alfie and his owner wrote and said that they had decided to call the potrait A Loyal Friend Is Everything, which I thought both lovely and clever! 

One of the many pleasures of being an artist is the lovely emails we receive from purchasers of our paintings and I'm delighted to say that the owners of this painting are very happy indeed with it!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I have posted on my blog. Shortly after my last entry promising to post much more regularly I went down with a very nasty bout of 'flu and I am only now starting to feel nearly normal!

Happy New Year!

I would like to thank all my friends and readers for their support during this past year. I apologise for the sporadic nature of posts recently and promise to do much better in 2013! 

In relation to this, it would be lovely to hear from you with suggestions as to the sort of posts you would like to appear here, so please get writing. 

Meantime, I wish you all a very happy and fulfilling New Year!