New Commission - Raja

This is Raja.  She was the apple of her daddy's eye.  She has since crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, but this painting is a loving memorial to her sweet spirit.  For prints, click here.  And watch the painting being made, right here!

Don't forget to check out the newest DawgArt project at Indiegogo! Lost & Found: A series inspired by and for rescued animals.

New DawgArt Movie!

Fly to YouTube to see the new DawgArt painting video! Click here to watch it.

A new show... and you get to help!

Many of you know I am an art student, pursuing a BFA in Illustration at Utah Valley University.  In order to graduate, BFA students are required to put together a gallery show, organize a venue and make it available to the public.  I've done this lots already.  So I thought I would try to do a little more than the usual gallery show. I want to create a series of paintings depicting real rescued animals and have the ability to donate many of the pieces back to the rescues for their own fundraising.  But to do this, I need your help!  The cost of supplies (canvas, paint, brushes) is going to be a lot, as is the marketing necessary to get the word out and the shipping to get the selected paintings out after the show.  That's where you come in!  Visit my Indiegogo project here to see how you can help.  Then let everyone know about it!

Here's a link you can copy and paste into Facebook posts, emails and tweets: 

http://www.indiegogo.com/dawgart?a=641394

Thanks for your help!

Artist Highlight: Lynn Culp

Our artist highlight for this post: Lynn Culp.  I found Lynn on Etsy, and her generous suggestions and tips helped motivate me to get my Etsy shop started last year.  You can find her work on Colormutts.

According to her bio, Lynn received her BFA in painting from Rutgers University in NJ.  In 1999, she returned to traditional painting as a hobby, using bright colors directly from the tube (like me!) focusing on complimentary palettes and utilizing an underpainting.  She started painting dogs in acrylic in 2006, challenging herself to do a painting a day since she was inspired by the variety of dog breeds. Can you imagine?  A painting a day!  Her signature style starts with a red underpainting, bright color palette and deep canvas profile painted on the edge, so the small canvases can hang or stand on a shelf.  Lynn is an award-winning painter who has exhibited at the International Exhibition on Animals in Art at Louisiana State University.  This artist takes commissions!

Here are some of her paintings:

Make note: these are not my paintings, they belong to Lynn Culp and many of them are available for sale here!

Aren't these fabulous?  I just adore the expression she's able to capture.  The red underpainting creates such warmth, and the graphic quality of the outline that comes through makes the pieces that much more exciting.  Check out her artwork at Colormutts.  Great job, Lynn. :)  Your work ethic is admirable and your artwork, an inspiration!

Artist Highlight: Svetlana Novikova

I have been out of town for three weeks, and very behind on commissions and work, so I don't have much to blog about.  Since I want to offer SOMETHING, I thought I would do an artist highlight!  If I like it enough, I'll do these more often.  I'll choose artists who do work in a similar vein to what I do.  Work that features animals and bright color.  Because that's what I love!

I believe that, as artists (and humans), we should support one another.  I think there is a place for every artist in the world, and in the industry.  If we are working hard, improving our craft and connecting with clients, then we will be able to make a living.  My favorite instructor, Will Terry, teaches us that when we show support and encouragement for one another, we can all reach greater heights.  I can't wait to show you some work by a very skilled artist: Svetlana Novikova.

According to the bio on her website, Svetlana was born and raised in Moscow, Russia.  She studied classical art during her formative and teen years and moved to the U.S. in 1992 to pursue an education.  She graduated from the University of Maine and moved to Austin, TX with her husband, where they raise their son.  She has been painting professionally for over 12 years and teaches art at a private school.  She specializes in oil, acrylic and watercolor.  She is available for commissions and all sorts of other art related services, including workshops and teaching gigs.  You can purchase prints of her work, as well as originals.

I have been enamored with her work since I discovered it in 2006.  She does absolutely amazing things with color.  Color seems to glow in her paintings.  My favorite Novikova pieces just pulse with life.  Here are some examples:

Let me just reiterate that these are not my artworks.  They were created by Svetlana Novikova and belong to her.  Visit her website to purchase prints or inquire about commissions!

Glorious work, right?  I have learned so much about color and the painterly style in portraying our animal friends by studying these pieces.  Svetlana Novikova's work just gives me warm, fuzzy feelings of joy.  She truly inspires me to greater artistic heights!