Friday, April 19, 2013

3 Dogs

 

Since I am still busy with the jewelry making side of things, here are 3 drawings I did back in the winter. 
 The "Dalmatian" evolved, covering up an old image in my sketchbook and it kind of took over what was underneath.  I say this because I just noticed a nose poking itself through. hummm.
crosshatch, line ,chalk charcoal.


a brief little pen and ink sketch in an acrylic ink, of a "Loyal Dog looking to his Master".


and one, of our smallest dog  "Pirate", waiting to go somewhere... anywhere, please!... as long as he is with a master-type human being, he is ready.
...for this little drawing, I smudged charcoal over the page and wiped the excess off with a cloth, so that it made a smooth gray starting point.. then started the drawing by using an eraser to define the shape. I added the color for emphasis.  a fun way to work... but it wasn't really work. 

at Desideratum Art and Jewelry Studio, St. Martins, NB

20 comments:

jerilanders said...

I like the sepia ink on Loyal dog, he is really nice! It has been many years since I have used pastels. I need a break away from watercolor, you have me thinking of pulling them out of the drawer and putting them to use.

Guillaume said...

I love those dogs. And that comes from a cat person.

Lynne with an e said...

Such a noble looking fellow in that first drawing! Very striking.
The pen and ink sketch brings to mind the delightful sketches that Emily Carr did of her pets. And the charcoal one simply (oh god...brain belch here...can't...oh there it is...the word I was looking for...) EXUDES energy. I've never tried that technique of drawing through erasing. I'm sure I'd be black all the way up to my eyeballs from charcoal smudges if I did.

Andrea said...

:D...Sepia dog is staring at that nose!
I love that nose in there actually...It is a gorgeous piece!
They all are!

Any signs of Spring over there?
xo

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hey Jeri, Funny thing is I had a box of beautiful Grumbacher pastels for 15 years, given to me as a gift from a young vibrant artist. I was hesitant to use them as I was not familiar with the medium, didn't have time to learn about them, or I was just plain scared. But finally, I urged myself to try them and through experimentation... I really see their specialness and I love them... I hesitated to try Linocut for the same reason and exactly the same results when I tried it.

Guillaume, I much appreciate that coming from a cat-lover!!

Lynne with an E, Art can surely be messy. almost any kind.. even jewelry.. if people knew how grubby one can get and how much mess I make from making earrings they would be very surprised.
It's a dirty world!

Hey Dee, ha, the dog knows the nose!
April showers are coming down as I write this. Day lilies and Daffodils are showing more of themselves. and happy to say I can see the brown lawn slowly turning green.
How is it on the "Rock".

Valerianna said...

My favorite is the dalmation - how wonderfully the eyes shine! And, the energy in Pirate is palpable!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Valerianna, I love cats as much as dogs but we don't have any at the present.. wish we did cause they stay still longer than dogs therefore make good drawing subjects....when we did, we always let them roam outside in the field surrounding the house. They are so independent it seemed wrong to keep them inside.

BumbleVee said...

I like little Pirate.... looking for some action....any action pleaase? ..hahahhah

Gwen Buchanan said...

BV, yep. that's him, Please, take me, please, please, I wanna go. I'm ready. come on.

Tracy said...

These are so charming, Gwen... really enchanting--like illustrations from classic children's story books. That sepia drawing really snags my heart too--the expression of expectation so sweet. :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

dixiebelle said...

Beautiful! Dog's are the best. They love us no matter what and have no expectations of us except to please us and make us happy! Thank you for sharing these. They brought a smile to my face!

Gwen Buchanan said...

So sweet of you to say Tracy, it is really fun to just play around with different materials... isn't it?

hey Dixiebelle, you are absolutely right. One of our little dogs had a weird kind of spell the other day... his back legs would not hold him up. he just laid there for two days and he could not walk at all.... then like magic the next morning he was back to normal.. never saw anything like it.

Faye Henry said...

Love your work.. All of them..Such talent you have there my friend..

ArtPropelled said...

The dalmation's eyes are amazing and I'm enchanted by the smallest Pirate. I know that look!

simply blue said...

Love these. The eyes of the Dalmation...soulful. Very nice.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Faye, ah, the dogs are the inspiration!


Robyn, They are always ready to go aren't they? We never lack for a companion when we live with a dog.

Simply Blue, I'm sure you know the feeling, about not knowing how something will turn out till it is tried and finished.. Love that feeling.

pRiyA said...

Okay, I hate to admit this but I will. Your name is now forever associated with that HUGE delicious slice of pizza from the previous post. After you left a comment on my blog, I came back here to look at it.
But let me admit that I've also dropped by a couple of times to look at the soulful eyes of the first dog in the previous picture. The different media you've used creates very interesting layered texture. But it is the beautiful expression that haunts me.

Jane said...

Lovely dog paintings / sketches ...the eyes in the first dog are amazing, well done !

laura said...

Wonderful, Gwen--each has its own special character (like the dogs themselves).
Love the name Pirate ... and that drawing's especially touching to me; looks like a pup waiting to be adopted!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Priya, at least pizza-gazing, is calorie free. When our dogs look at us, with that look in their eye, I feel the wisdom of the ages within.

Thanks Jane, Don't you wish we could talk to the animals. I do.

Laura, Pirate would love to be an only-dog and soak up every bit of attention there is to go around...but alas he has to share.

Cheers All.