Art by Linda Evans Davis

Why I love to paint faces - Linda Evans Davis

2013-06-14T10:05:00.001-07:00

Here is an actual scan of Daxon's pastel portrait. I removed the dark bar next to his face. It was a fence post that was in the reference photo, but it was distracting in the painting. I will be posting a painting of his twin Cash in the next few days.

If you zoom in to see the detail in this portrait, it may surprise you that there are colors there that you don't think belong in skin. I used purples, greens, blues and oranges to add depth and character to the neutral tones that make up the color of skin and hair. Daxon was photographed outside, with cool bluish light hitting him from his top back right. Where light is blocked, the shadow that results will be toned by the opposite of the color of the light. Orange is the opposite of blue, so the shadow side of Daxon's face has lots of juicy warm shades.

I love painting faces and studying the colors of the light as they fold around the planes of the face. It can be a real juggling act, mentally thinking about the light and color while not losing the spirit and expression of the subject. If you focus too much getting the details from the photo right, the portrait will lose the quality that differentiates it from the photo. Below is the reference photo of Dax that I used. As you can see, I used much more saturated color, and I changed his jacket and shirt to blue to balance our the warm tones that I used in his face. The colors that I used are actually there in the photo, but I exploited them to bring zest to the painting.

I am having a solo show in September, and will be including a number of portraits. Stay tuned to see more. If you would like to commission a portrait, email me at linda.evans.davis@gmail.com.

Daxon says Shhhh! - by Linda Evans Davis

2013-06-08T19:19:00.001-07:00

I spent the last two days painting my grandnephew in soft pastel. He is one of a pair of twins. Although people who don't know them may think they look alike, they are yin and yang to each other and best buddies. Daxon is the little engineer -- quiet and brilliantly observant. His wheels are constantly turning in his head as he figures out how things work. I will be painting his brother as well, who is a little firecracker.

This has been a breakthrough piece for me. I have been struggling a little this month as I have been incorporating new, very soft pastels into my work. I had to learn not to be so heavy handed. For some reason with this piece I started to get the hang of it, and I'm starting to understand why the "buttery" brands are so coveted by my fellow pastelists.

I love painting kids in pastel, so don't hesitate to email me if you'd like to commission a portrait (Linda.evans.davis@gmail.com).

June Pet Portrait Special - by Linda Evans Davis

2013-06-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

These petite portraits make wonderful, personal gifts. If you still need something for a dad or a grad, or if you want to get in before the holiday rush, the June Special at my Etsy store is the perfect opportunity.

Thanks!

New fuel for my creative fire - Linda Evans Davis

2013-05-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at pastel landscapes, notably those by Liz Hayward-Sullivan, Kitty Wallis and Elaine Lierly Jones, and I'm dying to do some myself. On Monday I went to the winery and the nature preserve in Liberty and to the arboretum in Overland Park to take photos to use as reference for upcoming paintings. At the time I was thinking that I didn't get much because the sun was too high and there were no clouds in the sky, but I took a lot of photos anyway.

Boy, am I glad I did. I just uploaded the photos to my computer and I'm so excited! I can see the paintings in my head as the images pop into Adobe Lightroom. I'm mentally picking out the colors to use for the shadows and highlights. It's exhilarating! The funny thing is that the images that I thought were going to be great reference aren't the ones I'm most excited about. That'll teach me. My dad always told me that the key to taking good photos is to take a LOT of photos.

I must make reference photography a more regular practice. I need to get a case that will protect my camera outside of my camera bag so that I can carry it with me constantly and grab inspiration when it happens. While driving to Lawrence for an appointment yesterday at 5:00 p.m. I longed for my camera to capture the long shadows, deep greens of the fir trees and the brilliant pops of yellow green from the grass and other leaves. It's amazing how when you start painting that you start seeing inspiration everywhere around you.

What have you found inspiring lately?

Hazel the Jack Russell

2013-05-09T10:56:00.001-07:00

My old loopy friend Susan T recently had a birthday, so I did a 5x7 of her dog very smart dog Hazel in soft pastels. (My dogs only read cheap paperbacks, ha!)

Exciting changes coming

2013-04-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a fun month. I pulled out the pastels and have been exploring people portraits and other subjects. I attended an event about art as a business, and joined the Mid American Pastel Society (fabulous bunch of artists, including this year's grand prize winner of the national Pastel 100 contest). It is clear that my art business is evolving. "Pet Portraits by Linda Davis" no longer encompasses what I do.

So, today I took the leap and started the process of rebranding, which will include a transfer of my domain to a webhost for professional artists. I will still offer pet (and people) portraits by commission and for sale, but I look forward to spreading my wings as an artist and reaching new goals, like becoming a signature member of the pastel society and entering juried art competitions and exhibitions. Teaching workshops is another goal I have added to my list. I have been watching the careers of some artist that I admire, like Kimberly Santini and Carol Marine, and see them as role models of what I want to accomplish.

It will take a while to get my new website up and running. Until then I will maintain this blog, and ask that you send orders directly to me by email at linda.evans.davis@gmail.com. I will also maintain my facebook page even after my new site is up so that those who are particularly interested in my pet related work can follow me there.

Stay tuned for updates and exciting things to come. Thanks so much for your continued support. It means the world to me!

Plaza statue pastel painting in progress

2013-04-24T12:40:00.001-07:00

I'm starting a new pastel painting. It's one of the characters from the Plaza fountain. I love all the different colors that are in the darks in the original photo. It will be a good project for showing form with color rather than value, as it was a sunny day when I took the photo, and the image has high contrast.

Work in progress: reacquainting myself with pastels

2013-04-12T10:57:00.001-07:00

I pulled out my soft pastels today for the first time in years to paint a portrait of my friend's daughter. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed pastels. I love having a huge box of pretty colors to choose from instead of mixing every shade and tone needed. And there's just something about the velvety texture that feels lush. I am definitely going to add pastel portrait commissions to my website. So fun!

This portrait isn't finished. I will update soon.

Polka Dot Kitty

2013-04-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

Green polka dots echo this kitty's big green eyes. I painted this at the same time that I painted the orange tabby (also available in my shop) on coordinating fabric. They look great hung together. The canvas is 1/2" thick and ready for framing, but can be hung without a frame. Available at my Etsy shop.

Orange Tabby

2013-04-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

I wonder if this kitty is looking at a bird and licking his chops. Maybe he just finished off a meal. This orange kitty is painted in acrylic on a 6x6 canvas that was first covered with Amy Butler designer fabric and sealed with acrylic medium, and is available in my Etsy shop.

Portable studio

2013-03-26T21:40:00.002-07:00

Today I played around a little on my iPad. The drawing and painting apps are getting really good. I did these two exercises tonight. I like that I can duplicate a piece and abstract it without worrying about ruining the original. I might try to make some print worthy ipad art soon.

Spring Fever

2013-03-20T21:31:00.002-07:00

It seemed like we weren't going to have a winter at all until well into February this year. Now we are looking at the first day of spring and it is still thirty-something degrees outside. I am ready for the weather to warm up and the bulbs to bloom. I've been wanting to get out and take photos at the dog park and fountains around town, but for now I'll have to make do with photos and tabletop scenes to paint from.

Here's my latest, which is up for auction at Daily Paintworks. Hydrangeas are probably my third favorite flower. I love the range of colors found in each … whatever you call the big round things with all the little blooms on them. The number one and two spots are ranunculus and peonies. They both seem so abundant, bursting with layers of lush color and softness. Tulips compete with hydrangea for the third spot. I like their simply oval form and vivid color.

The flower I respect the most is the sunflower, and not just because it's the Kansas flower. I'm amazed at how the thin stalk holds up the weight of the huge sunflower head with all of its seeds, always pointing at the sun. It's a symbol of strength and optimism for me. Maybe I should paint one soon. I'll need both qualities as I build my career as an artist, but it will surely be worth it.

Free portrait of a child by yours truly - Enter today!

2013-03-19T08:56:00.001-07:00

I will be painting and giving away a free painting of a human child. For a chance to be the winner of the portrait, go to my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pet-Portraits-by-Linda-Davis/112770194993?ref=ts and send me the photo you'd like me to use as reference. I will be announcing the winner of the portrait this coming Friday.

A few notes regarding photo entries. Please don't send photos taken by professional photographers (unless you are that photographer) because they own the copyright to their work. I will be using a photo of the finished painting in my galleries as an example of my work, so if you don't want to share then please don't enter. If you commission a painting and request privacy, I am happy to comply, but the purpose of the drawing is to help me build my portfolio of people portraits.

Coming soon, a drawing for a free painting of an inspirational woman in your life for Mother's Day.

Daily Painting

2013-03-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

I am posting work I have done over the last few years. It'll be interesting to see how my work changes as I paint it more frequently. I'm hoping it will loosen up. I love to work abstractly, but when I work on pet portraits I tend to work tightly. I want my work to be more about the medium and the process. I like these paintings, but there is always room for growth. I want to imbue some of the spirit I have when I work on abstract pieces into my objective work.

Leap and the net will appear

2013-03-16T16:04:00.003-07:00

That's one of my favorite quotes. I don't know who said it, but it becomes my mantra in times of indecision and uncertainty. I am at one of those points in my life now, as I recently left a full time job in advertising and am wondering where the universe will lead me next.

My inner artist has been tugging on my clothes begging me to come out and play all of my working life, and I have decided it's time to listen. When I indulge myself and paint on a regular basis, I find myself walking around with a silly grin on my face for no particular reason. It makes me happy.

Artistic talent is a gift, but not for the reason most people think. The gift is not some special inherent ability reserved only for some. It's that those of us who have it get to experience the joy we bring to others with our work. It makes me feel like I have done something good. What some people see as just a painting of someone's cat or dog has true meaning for the loved one of that pet. I feel so honored to be able to provide a small treasure for someone. There's no way to express my gratitude for that.

I hope you'll follow along as I create and grow. It helps to have supporters encourage me while I pursue my art. I will continue to paint pets because I love doing it, but will also be painting people and experimenting with digital illustration and other things as my inner muse beckons. Whether you are here as a fan or friend, thank you, and I'll be talking to you soon.