Alpha - original wolf drawing

'Alpha' 

6 x 10 inches

colored pencil on toned paper

click here to purchase

I have always been fascinated with wolves. I read White Fang and The Call of the Wild so many times as a kid and teen that I could quote passages of them to people who really, probably didn't want to hear it. But good literature should oft be quoted no? ;) 

When I was in high school I did my senior art portfolio test all about wolves. And all of them were painted with instant coffee and water on brown craft paper, and all of the poses were very stereotypical, slavering mouths agape, and chilling, predatory eyes burning in the night. Those art examiners ate my quirkiness up let me tell you. ;) 

I've since learned more about wolves, and how much of their interaction is very gentle, like a loving family and a parent who sometimes has to put their kid in a timeout. I feel like it's kind of a responsibility for animal lovers, especially wolf lovers, to not promote the vicious animal stereotype that surrounds them still, so now I try to portray them in times of playfulness, or love. Like this one. I love that calm, tolerant expression of the wolf who's getting chewed on. :)

In other news, I finally made a cute little clay pony that I'm really happy with and I'm putting her in my new Etsy shop as a made to order option for anyone interested. :) 

Listening to: 'What Happened to Goodbye' audio book

Watching: Merlin 

Snacking on: mini Snickers bars

Drinking: coconut/lime diet Coke

Reference photo of the wolves by Bob Haarmans, thank you!

Sketchbook Monday

wolf pup sketch

     This sketch was kind of an experiment to see what kind of variety I could get with my marks. All that I used here was a 6B pencil (which used to be my favorite, but now I find a bit too soft) and a kneaded eraser, no finger smudging or tortillons or anything like that.

     While I was working on it I kept thinking that it wasn't turning out, I didn't think I liked it, and maybe I should just trash the whole thing. But I really hate to abandon a project so I just kept pushing through. When I was finished I put the sketch aside and didn't look at it for a while. So when I finally turned it over and saw it I was pleasantly surprised. I kinda liked it now.

     Isn't it funny how that works? Just a little time away from our work and we're able to see it in a different light. I always love to put a painting away at night and then look at it again in the morning, there's almost always something there that I didn't see the night before. Some part of the painting that I really like that I don't even remember doing. Does that happen to you too?

     And thanks for all the encouragement and tips about my oil painting question. :) You guys are awesome. But,I have decided not to try oils right now. I just really don't have the time to devote to learning a whole new medium. But, one day I will. Maybe when all my kids are in school.

     And, for those of you who suggested I do a painting of my half eaten apple still life, you will want to keep an eye on my upcoming works in progress because I have a piece I think you will love. :)

Sketchbook Tuesday

 more wolf sketches

"We are drawn to wolves because no other animal is so like us. . . Of all the rest of creation, wolves reflect our own images most dramatically, most realistically, and most intensely."

Peter Steinhardt, The Company of Wolves

Sketchbook. . . Wednesday and some photos

 

snuggly wolf sketch :)

graphite on bristol

     First of all a great big thank you to all of you who have helped me get the word out about my contest. I really appreciate it and now consider each one of you the ultimate in awesomeness :) If I could I would bake you all chocolate chip cookies. In fact, if you're ever in Utah stop on by! 

     Now, it's back to business folks. I'm a day late with my sketchbook post, but here it is.

     I went to the library and got a bunch of books about wolves and have been studying them and sketching from them, to help me with the wolf painting I have in mind that is probably going to be one of my next works in progress. It's been fun and I just had to share this one of a wolf snuggled up against the back of another wolf. I kind of like the idea of wolves as cuddle beasts instead of slavering attack beasts.

And here are some pictures from my art show that opened on Friday. It was very small, but still pretty fun.

Here I am next to one of my favorite paintings of my baby boy.

     Posing with my model baby (okay he's two, kind of not a baby anymore). And yes I know he needs a haircut, but I just can't bring myself to do it. He's my last one. I think. I'm pretty sure. We'll see :)

    And here's handsome hubby next to his portrait. Smiling. Because I asked him to :) Sometimes he needs a little coaching in that department, he's prone to looking. . . intimidating?? Is that the word I'm going for? Maybe more like serious. No wait, I got it, 'intense.' That's it ;)

    So. . . what's up with you guys? Anybody have any good news to share?

Sketchbook Tuesday # 5

      Just a few, small studies to get me thinking of new painting ideas.

A quick little sketch of my dog that I had when I was in high school. She was a beautiful, sweet girl, even if she was a little crazy.

      Another quick sketch. This is actually two different photos of the same wolf, but I thought it might be cool to combine both of them into one painting. So they looked like a couple.

      I actually didn't know what I wanted to sketch today, so I went through an old (old, as in four or five years) file of photos I had looking for some spark. That's when I saw the wolf photos. I've wanted to do something with them for a long time, but the reference isn't that great, it's small and kind of hard to see. But I think I can turn it into a good painting. I'm putting this on my list of 'things I must paint. . . SOON.'

      I wouldn't have even thought about it if I hadn't been asking myself "what  if?" Kind of cool huh? Yep, I thought so too.

      What have you come up with when you've asked yourself that question?