Cardinal Card

This is a Christmas card I created for a client. They have been long time fans of my work. They wanted a red cardinal on a snowy branch with a Christmas ball on the end. Since this was a custom card they got to keep the original painting I created for them. They also had complete control on what to put on the inside of the card. The original is 8″ x 10″ and painted in watercolor.

They have gotten a wonderful response from friends and family about the card. To learn how to get your own custom card contact me for details.

Merry Christmas!

Here is my Christmas card for this year. It was painted in watercolor. I wanted to do something whimsical and fun. I usually do pieces that are realistic with reference shots and research, but this I just wanted to be fun and colorful.

This is the inside text on the card:

I hope everyone has a Christmas that is as perfect as a scene in a snow globe!

Bernese Mountain Dog

This is the second commission from this particular client. The first portrait is featured here. 

This was done in a similar way to the first one. Pastels on colored paper, 11×14. This is actually something that the two of them do a lot. The owner has trained the Bernese Mountain Dog, Cooper, to take his hat from him! He takes his hat and parades it around the house! It’s little things like this that make portraits personal. This interaction between the two of them is something that is special to them, and I’m happy to have captured it on paper.

Here is a detail of the dog’s face:

I met this client at Artsake Gallery to get it framed just in time for Christmas!

Soulmates

Here is another portrait I did for xmas:

This was s tough one, because the particular photo that the client wanted to use was very dark. BUT, she took lots and lots of other photos, so I could get the coloring of the dog just right! The doberman is actually a dark brown instead of black and I had to do a lot of mixing right on the paper. The client wanted to put “Soulmates” in the portrait because they both have a special bond with each other. 

This was done in pastel, 11×14.

Greeting Card / Xmas Card

This particular client wanted a xmas card, but they also wanted a card they could use all year round, as a note card. They own a lavender farm as well as a Christmas tree farm. They provided me with several photos of the two of them on their prized Triumph motorcycle in and around the lavender and trees. I did two sketches for them, one horizontal and one vertical. They wanted a vertical format, but they liked the horizontal sketch better. So I reworked the horizontal sketch into a taller format so they would be happy with it. Once I got their approval on the sketch I started the final drawing. This was done in colored pencils. I started in the foreground with the lavender and worked my way backwards to the trees. I created the note card first, then, I created the decorations for the tree using tracing paper. Which I then scanned and added in photoshop.

 

Here is a detail of the bike:

The clients ended up with a portrait they can display all year round of the two of them, and unique, personalized Christmas cards to send out to friends and family.

I need to draw more things…

I have another show coming up! I just booked January 13 – March 10 at the Pond House Cafe in West Hartford, CT. The Pond House is an excellent, innovative restaurant located within Elizabeth Park. They have a small restaurant as well as a banquet room for larger parties. They have excellent food there, if you get a chance you should try and stop in… but not until after the 13th! My artwork will be on display in the lobby — you can’t miss it!

Hope to see you there! For more info: pondhousecafe.com