June 23rd

It is very interesting for me to look at these photos of the progress on the Prowly Cougar. Although there has been a great deal of work put into this most recent stage of the painting it is hard to tell when comparing it to the last entry. Hopefully you can now see a definite form and structure on this cat as well as feel a presence from him.

It is also interesting to me that I never noticed the white "stick" I had attached to his front leg until I posted it today. You can sit in front of a painting all day long and fall in love with the way the paint lays on the canvas to the point where you become blind to glaringly obvious faults. I guess it is kinda like falling in love... you don't see the faults!

There are a few here I will be fixing!!

I am looking forward to the application of fur and detail work. I am very pleased with the look of this piece as a whole and getting excited about the finishing touches.

June 16th - Burnt Offerings

Again today, the Prowly Cougar in yet another layer of creation! Some of you might think I have gone a step backwards but painting in oils is very similar to sculpting, only in oils you add layers as opposed to removing them.

Unless you've made a real muck up of things... like I do on a regular basis. Case in point, I decided to bake chocolate chip cookies, and I was doing fine and on my third batch when I thought to myself "Almost done." Unfortunately almost done to my subconscious means "leave the house and start planting tress and shrubs in the garden". 45 minutes later I sashay back into my smoke filled home to be greeted by my belching oven spewing cookies that wouldn't even have as much taste as a charcole brikett!

To make matters worse, my daughter decided to take several to school for show and tell and as it happens today is "family picnic" day. All of the staff, students and parents giggled, commiserated or out right laughed at Annas' black morsel. Those of a suspicious nature assumed, incorrectly, that this is a regular occurrence to my daughters lunch bag and of course Anna didn't tell them otherwise. 8D

On the bright side...none of said parents will be dumping their kids at my house for supper anytime soon!!!

So how does this relate to painting? Well, the more layers and the more attention one pays to their art the better it turns out! As long as I don't go anywhere near the oven, this may just turn out to be a great piece!!!!!!!!

Already you can see the formation of the eyes and the facial features of the cat. After the whole body gets a similar treatment then comes the application of the colour/coat which is the FUN stuf.

Cheerio!!

June 11th

Lots of Beauty In Nova Scotia!

Prowly Cougar

What a great day today is! The temperature is reaching summer bliss and the sun is shining at full capacity heating my solar panels up, saving the environment AND my wallet!

The post today is the beginning of something wonderful. I had the good fortune to go to the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park as a chaperone for my daughters class trip. While there I mostly chased along behind the kids because I was too busy photographing the animals there! This new painting is based on the Cougar that is a resident at the park. If you ever have the chance to go to the park and see first hand some of the wonderful exhibits there you would not regret it. There will be many more paintings based on this great trip as I am particularly interested in some really great photos of Red Tailed hawks, Eagles, Big Horned Sheep, Wolves and swans. The list goes on and on but I figure you get the idea!

Just for your viewing pleasure is my Favorite picture of one of the many Peacocks at the park. I am not sure if I will ever attempt to r e create him on canvas but I must admit he made an admirerer out of me!