commission

#The100DayProject – April 2nd, 2019 – Portrait Sketches!

Artwork, daily painting, Portrait, The100dayproject
Miss P, 6″X9″ oil on gessoed paper, matted to fit 8″x10″

#the100dayproject was on a list of different art challenges my friend Jackie Gilbert, Artist, found to share at the beginning of 2019. How quickly time has flown, the start date for this challenge is April 2nd.

I have decided that for this challenge, to go outside my comfort zone, as with any of these projects, but to also go back to my educational roots in art – the figure. More specifically, the portrait. The other goal of this challenge is to help me solidify more of a routine to my studio time. My daughter will be out of school at the end of May, and I will not have reliable studio time until early to mid August.

I will be creating daily 6″x9″ oil portraits on paper, taking no longer than 90 minutes each. My ultimate goal is to continue this for the duration of #the100dayproject and hopefully beyond. If you are inclined to have a portrait sketch for yourself (or give as a gift) they will be $45, matted to fit an 8″x10″ frame, with complimentary shipping in the USA.

How to Order your own portrait sketch – Please send me an email with your portrait image of choice to: danaaldisstudio@gmail.com – I will send you an invoice via PayPal. After the transaction is complete I will begin on your portrait sketch.

She-Ra’s Good Day

Artwork, Dogs

SheRa

SheRa’s Good Day, 12″x12″ Oil on Canvas, Commission. 

It’s a mixed wet & sunny Thanksgiving here in the Pacific Northwest. Winter is here, though, not the GOT ice-wall type, rather, mostly very wet and colder. I wish everyone a great day with friends and family.

When I started working for Michaels Arts & Crafts as a Grumbacher/Chartpak painting instructor, our projects were divided up into four themes – Landscape, Seascape, Still Life and Floral. These I assume are the most popular subjects for their students. I would liken it to an “gateway subject” – which would “trick” you into learning how to paint the different techniques in the excercise.

It got me thinking, where did I fit in? What type of subject was my “gateway” subject? Well, for me, it’s animals. I am always going back to animals. Dogs in particular. That’s what more or less set me on a path of pet portraiture.

I love creating pet portraits. My hope is to capture a beautiful likeness of their pet. I work pretty much exclusively from photographs. Often the pet has passed, so this is especially touching.

She-Ra’s Good Day is a recent commission from a regular client. Not his dog, but he knew her well. I actually ended up combining two images to create the final painting. She appears to be soaking up the sun, taking a break on her walk on a lovely fall day. SheRa is a pittie, so of course, I had a lot of emotions come back from losing our Pete in March. However, this was, in a way, giving thanks for the gift he was to us, and that SheRa was to her family.

A happy holiday season to all – may you be merry and compassionate. And of course, support the arts.

Warmly, Dana