Sleepy Sketch

Way past time for me to be in bed, but I wanted to post this sketch for a new painting: Bailey asleep on a stack of paint tube boxes.

Since my cats spend roughly 97.982% of their time napping, I guess it stands to reason that in roughly 97.982% of the pictures I have of them, they're snoozing.

Speaking of snoozing (*yawn*) ... I think I’d better hit the hay myself.

Sweet dreams, everyone!

Italian Daydream

Italia Soleggiata (Sunny Italy) © 2008 Karen Mathison Schmidt
6x6 • acrylic on Gessobord
gloss varnish for protection and easy cleaning • sold unframed
sold • private collection, Puyallup, Washington

I’ve always wanted to visit Italy, and even though I haven’t made it there yet, I spent the afternoon on an enchanting hillside in Tuscany, thanks to my imagination (and a composition I put together from a few reference photos). I used a Napa Valley winery for the villa, and I added the sea in the distance. This one was pure fun!

Love like that!

Ephesians 5:1-2 (The Message)

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Honey Bunch © 2008 Karen Mathison Schmidt
6 x 6 • acrylic on Gessobord
gloss varnish for protection and easy cleaning • sold unframed
sold • private collection, San José, California

Here are work in progress photos:

1. First layers of color blocked in:


2. Red violet color glaze added over entire painting:


3. Added more defining layers of color:


And then I think I must have entered “The Zone” because I complete forgot about taking more work in progress photos and the next thing I knew it was finished!

Here’s a close-up detail to show some of the texture:

Buster ’n’ Matilda

Let ’em Lie ©2008 Karen Mathison Schmidt
6 x 6 • acrylic on Gessobord
gloss varnish for protection and easy cleaning • sold unframed
sold • private collection, Riga, Latvia

I love these dogs! (and when I say that I mean the actual dogs, not the painting - although I like the painting a lot, too.)

I know I said I would tell more of their story back when I first mentioned them, and now, a whole month later (did March blow by in a whirlwind or what?) I realize I haven’t done that yet. But I will soon (I’d say tomorrow, but you know how that goes), I promise!

I will sleep in peace

Psalm 4:8

I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Work in progress - not quite finished, but almost, I think!

And a quote from Daily Strength for Daily Needs:

We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence, in a delightful consciousness of His tender mercies; no more restless uncertainties, no more anxious desires, no more impatience at the place we are in; for it is God who has put us there, and who holds us in His arms. Can we be unsafe where He has placed us?

François de la Mothe Fénelon (1651-1715)

Snoozing pups, continued ...

I managed to squeeze in some more painting time on this today; here’s how it’s looking:

Sleeping Dogs

Work in progress:

1. The pencil sketch:


2. The black and gray paint sketch:


3. Blocking in shadows and highlights with cool and warm colored glazes:


Check in again on Thursday to see the fun part!

I managed to sneak in another half hour on this today. It must be noted that all the while I was painting these sleeping pups, the actual subjects were up to all sorts of shenanigans, tomfoolery, rough-housing, horseplay and monkeyshines (yes, you heard me - monkeyshines!) in the kitchen, where they currently reside during these rainy days.

I feel I must be congratulated on my powers of concentration ...
I kept on painting while ignoring a solid half hour of pretend
growling noises, wrestling noises, bumping into cabinet and kitchen table leg noises, a minute or two of sudden suspicious silence (during which I could have sworn I heard puppy whispering), more puppy tumbling noises, ripping paper noises (I wasn't too alarmed, as I recognized the familiar sound of their doggie house-training papers being torn to shreds), dragging noises and more sliding into the walls and cabinet doors.

I should probably mention that this morning I complimented the little angels on the fabulous job they’re doing on demo-ing the kitchen floor for us. They’ve started pulling up the vinyl flooring over in the corner by the back door, which is going to save us oodles of time down the road when it’s time to put in the new kitchen floor. Hopefully by that time these two will be cozily ensconced in the back yard with a new fence and doghouse to call their own.