I’ve finally finished Pete the Pug! He’s turned out so much more lifelike than the reference photos, I’m really pleased with his painting. I’ll add his final scanned portrait to my portfolio once his mom has given her blessing and the piece has dried.

You can see the full work in progress by clicking here.

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Pug Dog Portrait : Pete Complete

Today begins Week #27 of my 2009 weekly graphite portrait giveaway! Each week, one winner will be selected to receive one 5×7 graphite (pencil) drawing from their photograph.

Last week’s winner was Nikole, sharing a sweet photo of her daughter Victoria with her best friend Larry. You can read her entry here.

A note on framing for portrait winners: I recommend
Nielsen Bainbridge Archival Gallery Frames

available through Dick Blick.

Sox & BJ (below) are framed using this frame:

WEEK 27 : CALL FOR ENTRIES
Theme: Cats! (Single cat only, please)
Deadline: Friday, July 3, 2009 (around 5pm CST)
To Enter: Leave a comment, include a link to your photo. If you do not have a photo uploaded online, please indicate that you are e-mailing the photo and e-mail the photo to: gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry must be left below, or it will not be considered.

Note: *G* Rating only

Each Monday, I post the weekly Call for Entries along with the previous weeks completed portrait (above). I may change the subject theme each week, or leave the theme open, so please pay close attention to the details in each announcement.

Entries will be accepted through Friday afternoon around 5PM CST, at which time I will close comments and select one winner from the entries received. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday and post the completed portrait with the following week’s Giveaway announcement.

Qualified entries will include a valid e-mail address, and the comment should include one link to a photograph owned/taken by the entrant. If you do not have a place to upload photos to link one, you can e-mail it to gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry, however, should be included in the comment section below, with your story - should you choose to include one.

The Selection Process: In case you’re curious, I’ll share my little artsy process in selecting the winner. First - I do not read any entries at all during the week. I do not read them because I don’t want anyone’s entries to have any more time than any others to settle in my creative brain. At the end of the week, I close comments. When I sit down to go through all of the entries, I read the story first, and open the photo link in a new window. When I finish reading, I flip over to the photo and my initial reaction is what I go by.

If your entry is not chosen, you may enter again. I encourage you to include a short story with your entry.

Once you have won a portrait, I ask that you refrain from multiple entries, to give others an opportunity to win one as well.

Your challenge? To inspire me! Choose your photo wisely - I will select a winner based on how the photo and/or story moves me.

Good luck!!

 Send this to a friend!

Put this button on your blog to remind yourself to enter each week!
Link it to:
http://intricateart.com/browse/blog/getting-creative/graphite-portrait-giveaway/

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Custom Portrait Winner & Call for Entries - Cats! : Week #27 (6/29-7/3)

My daughter had a friend over, and she brought a small container full of these tiny little swirled paper people. They’re not more than 1-1/2″ tall, and don’t even fit onto my pinki finger. I looked at each one in amazement - little tiny details on so many - a hundred maybe? Some dressed as clowns, some with curly hair (tiny paper, curled and glued) - I don’t know who made them, but I just adore them!

Surely, you know better than to try passing them on the left.

A well protected gosling.

Gosling siblings.

Male Red Winged Blackbird, on top of a sign located next to the river. How, pray tell, do you park in the rear on a river?

My ideal Red Winged Blackbird shot.

Mama mallard and her babies. Awww.

Another mama and her babies.

I hope you, too, stop to look around. There’s so much to appreciate and enjoy all around us! Yesterday afternoon, I watched a hummingbird flit around my delphinium, saw a shrew hustle into his little hole alongside my garage, and watched a young bunny sit underneath my bird feeders and munch on dinner. A storm blew in and the fresh, clean air swept across my face as a few light raindrops trickled down from the sky. I trimmed my roses while warm rain fell on my back.

If you stop to appreciate these things, you’ll find all of your worries just slip from your mind. It’s hard to be troubled when you’re taking in all that is good around you.

Don’t forget to enter to win a custom portrait in my weekly giveaway!

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Appreciation

We took a little walk along the Mississippi River early Monday morning, and I caught several shots of the pelicans (and other birds, which I’ll share tomorrow!). One of them had his wing tucked a little funky and I was a bit obsessed with him because as we walked, he went alongside us and seemed to want to pose for me.

I can’t recall seeing pelicans in our area until a couple of years ago - so I’m not sure if they’ve always been regulars around here and I’ve never noticed, or if they are indeed new to this area of the Mississippi River.

Either way, they’re quite majestic - enjoy!

Coming in for a landing!

Don’t forget to enter to win a custom portrait in my weekly giveaway!

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Pelican Love

Here it is, folks - the reason I cannot make a fist … the reason I am taking 800mg of ibuprofen a few times a day, the reason I mouse with my hand on a gel-ice pak. Yes, indeedy - this might not look like much to the untrained eye, but to someone who has taken on a project like this at their own home - you know what I’m talking about!

A week ago today, I had 2 cu. yards of topsoil delivered. The “before” photo above is what our foundation bed looked like that morning. The soil sat below the driveway by nearly 2 inches, which meant that every time it rained, 2 inches of water sat in that bed and drown my Roses, Azalea, Rhododendron, and Iris.

With the amount of rain we’ve had so far this year - every one of my Roses was dying. Black spot had taken over the lower 4-5 inches of each of my plants. The leaves were yellowing. The Azalea didn’t even start greening up until 3 weeks after all the other Azalea’s in the neighborhood had finished blooming. The Iris only produced about 4 flowers of the whole bunch - the Rhodie had yellow leaves from the water and burned leaves from the sun. It was all very pitiful.

Enter 2 cu. yards of topsoil.

I pulled everything out of the bed, save the Honeysuckle and a 13+ year old Rose, that wasn’t about to budge. I did manage to work the soil around it up enough to raise it a couple of inches, and shoved soil beneath it to keep it from sinking back down.

My driveway looked like a nursery! I had containers filled with plants lining my driveway. A mound of dirt, covered by a tarp. It was quite the project. The first day, after working the soil, filling it to level with the driveway and stomping it down, I realized that the cedar edging was not going to work. It would not hold the soil in, and I could not sink it below the surface successfully. So after 6-7 hours, I took my sweaty self down to Lowe’s and picked up some recycled composite edging that gave me 3-1/2 inches of height. It would have to do - because it was too late to turn back!

And then, it rained. And flooded. And my dirt? Became mud. And the mud? Was quite heavy. And the sweat? It dripped from the tip of my nose like someone had a hose over my head.

I protected the lowest piece of siding on the house with plastic edging. I set the composite edging against the driveway. I filled the bed. It is about 5 inches higher than it used to be, and 3 inches above ground level (the edging is countersunk against the driveway about 1/2″).

I moved things based on what I’d learned over the last year of watching them drown and do poorly, and I gave them new homes.

The Rhodie, now in part shade, should stop burning and thrive. The leaves are already deepening and it seems very happy. The Azalea, moved over by the northeast corner, gets sun most of the day and with the downspout being redirected off onto the driveway, will get better drainage. The Roses, they’re pitiful. They’re adjusting. I’m praying for their speedy recovery.

I’ve added Coral Bells and English Ivy on two beautiful window-looking trellises to my north wall that is mostly shade. They are very happy, the Ivy is going a little nuts after just a couple of days.

I’ve added Morning Glories on medium-sized heart trellises, because I need hearts in my garden - I am such a girl. They flank both sides of the Roses, on the East side of the house. I’ve also added a white Potentilla, because Lowe’s said it was dead - and how dare they?! Rude! It had plenty of life in it, so for $5, I get a gorgeous, delicate flowering shrub next year. Go me! I almost feel like I rescued a dog from being euthanized. Almost. I have a lot of plant love.

The Iris, well, they’ve got a whole area all to themselves. My old fashioned Iris are in the back against the house, and my Batik (and white) Irises are in the front. They’ll get full sun and I’ll get Iris. Happy plant = happy gardener!

I mulched, and added some garden gnomes (because I’ve come to realize that every garden needs some tacky crap) and some word stones (”Mom’s Garden” and “Believe”, because “Hope” has lost all meaning to me lately), so I am all set.

I have already picked my first weed, so it’s official - I am obsessed with my new raised bed, and also, sporting a very, very wicked back tan.

I might not be able to hold a pen, but dang, I look good!

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Why My Hands Are Swollen

Last week was another very busy week, so let’s try this again! I encourage you to share my giveaway with your friends, and thank you to those who have!!

 Send this to a friend!

WEEK 26 : CALL FOR ENTRIES
Theme: Open (pets, animals, people)
Deadline: Friday, June 26, 2009 (around 5pm CST)
To Enter: Leave a comment, include a link to your photo. If you do not have a photo uploaded online, please indicate that you are e-mailing the photo and e-mail the photo to: gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry must be left below, or it will not be considered.

Note: *G* Rating only

A note on framing for portrait winners: I recommend
Nielsen Bainbridge Archival Gallery Frames

available through Dick Blick.

Sox & BJ (below) are framed using this frame:

Each week, I post the weekly Call for Entries along with the previous weeks completed portrait (above). I may change the subject theme each week, or leave the theme open, so please pay close attention to the details in each announcement.

Entries will be accepted through Friday afternoon around 5PM CST, at which time I will close comments and select one winner from the entries received. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday and post the completed portrait with the following week’s Giveaway announcement.

Qualified entries will include a valid e-mail address, and the comment should include one link to a photograph owned/taken by the entrant. If you do not have a place to upload photos to link one, you can e-mail it to gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry, however, should be included in the comment section below, with your story - should you choose to include one.

The Selection Process: In case you’re curious, I’ll share my little artsy process in selecting the winner. First - I do not read any entries at all during the week. I do not read them because I don’t want anyone’s entries to have any more time than any others to settle in my creative brain. At the end of the week, I close comments. When I sit down to go through all of the entries, I read the story first, and open the photo link in a new window. When I finish reading, I flip over to the photo and my initial reaction is what I go by.

If your entry is not chosen, you may enter again. I encourage you to include a short story with your entry.

Once you have won a portrait, I ask that you refrain from multiple entries, to give others an opportunity to win one as well.

Your challenge? To inspire me! Choose your photo wisely - I will select a winner based on how the photo and/or story moves me.

Good luck!!

 Send this to a friend!

Put this button on your blog to remind yourself to enter each week!
Link it to:
http://intricateart.com/browse/blog/getting-creative/graphite-portrait-giveaway/

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Custom Portrait Giveaway : Week #26 (6/23-6/26)

Phew! Long overdue progress shots of Pete’s under painting! I’ve been busy trying to rescue my garden from the flooding along the house, and since it flooded again yesterday (well, the half that I don’t have complete), I’m now waiting for the mud to dry out so I can get the raised bed finished and back to non-back-breaking labor!

So, I did get Pete’s under painting complete and took a few pics along the way so you can see how he’s coming along. I’ve darkened in his wrinkles, then move along with bigger brushes to fill in the base coat of darker shades.

Here I’ve got most of his cute little pug face finished, and start filling in blocks of color around his neck and chest.

This is the completed under painting, of course I am sometimes tempted to call them done at this stage because I like how they are coming - but of course it doesn’t take long for me to want to kick it up a notch and get my pet portraits looking much more photo realistic!

Will be finishing up his portrait very soon - stay tuned!!

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Pug Dog Portrait : Pete WIP #3-5

The problem: My foundation planting bed is flooding every time it rains. I have roses in there on the verge of death from all the moisture. I must raise the bed, and I have these two choices. The pavers, standing on their short end, give me approximately 7 inches in height. The cedar edging gives me about 5 inches.

I’m having a truckload of topsoil delivered tomorrow - so I need to figure out (quickly) which edging I’m going to use! Help!

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Landscaping Poll!

Today begins Week #25 of my 2009 weekly graphite portrait giveaway! Each week, one winner will be selected to receive one 5×7 graphite (pencil) drawing from their photograph.

Last week’s winner was Tammy with her daughter Autumn, who passed away at the age of nine of a pituitary tumor. You can read her entry here.

A note on framing for portrait winners: I recommend
Nielsen Bainbridge Archival Gallery Frames

available through Dick Blick.

Sox & BJ (below) are framed using this frame:

WEEK 25 : CALL FOR ENTRIES
Theme: Open (pets, animals, people)
Deadline: Friday, June 19, 2009 (around 5pm CST)
To Enter: Leave a comment, include a link to your photo. If you do not have a photo uploaded online, please indicate that you are e-mailing the photo and e-mail the photo to: gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry must be left below, or it will not be considered.

Note: *G* Rating only

Each Monday, I post the weekly Call for Entries along with the previous weeks completed portrait (above). I may change the subject theme each week, or leave the theme open, so please pay close attention to the details in each announcement.

Entries will be accepted through Friday afternoon around 5PM CST, at which time I will close comments and select one winner from the entries received. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday and post the completed portrait with the following week’s Giveaway announcement.

Qualified entries will include a valid e-mail address, and the comment should include one link to a photograph owned/taken by the entrant. If you do not have a place to upload photos to link one, you can e-mail it to gallery *at* intricateart dot-com. Your entry, however, should be included in the comment section below, with your story - should you choose to include one.

The Selection Process: In case you’re curious, I’ll share my little artsy process in selecting the winner. First - I do not read any entries at all during the week. I do not read them because I don’t want anyone’s entries to have any more time than any others to settle in my creative brain. At the end of the week, I close comments. When I sit down to go through all of the entries, I read the story first, and open the photo link in a new window. When I finish reading, I flip over to the photo and my initial reaction is what I go by.

If your entry is not chosen, you may enter again. I encourage you to include a short story with your entry.

Once you have won a portrait, I ask that you refrain from multiple entries, to give others an opportunity to win one as well.

Your challenge? To inspire me! Choose your photo wisely - I will select a winner based on how the photo and/or story moves me.

Good luck!!

 Send this to a friend!

Put this button on your blog to remind yourself to enter each week!
Link it to:
http://intricateart.com/browse/blog/getting-creative/graphite-portrait-giveaway/

This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature.

Custom Portrait Winner & Call for Entries : Week #25 (6/15-6/19)