On The Easel

"Currently I’m working on a hunting dog scene with my hero ‘Scotchie’. He’s an eleven year old English Setter with grouse hunting in his blood. He was born with a loving soul, is a master manipulator when it comes to wanting something, and a natural born healer to anyone needing TLC. It’s amazing how he can be so tenacious when on the scent of a bird and then be such a sweet animal back home. He’s one of a kind, an all around ‘vocal’ character. We’re thankful to be part of his family.
The background of the painting is a composite of reference photographs I shot in Pennsylvanian woodlands. The grouse were researched by accompanying an avid outdoorsman during his grouse hunts, studying grouse mounted by taxidermists, and perusing books by Frank Woolner, Ned Smith and Gordon Gullion."
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Painting with Autumn Colors<br /> <br /> I start with painting a glow at the far hillsides, and add my woodland and its creatures as I come to the foreground. I'll be making a change to the composition by adding our black lab Brandie as a final tribute to her. She did have a knack for bounding onto the scene just in time to scatter the wildlife. <br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
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Painting with Autumn Colors

I start with painting a glow at the far hillsides, and add my woodland and its creatures as I come to the foreground. I'll be making a change to the composition by adding our black lab Brandie as a final tribute to her. She did have a knack for bounding onto the scene just in time to scatter the wildlife.

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

  • In The Beginning<br /> <br /> I like to do a quick underpainting to nail down my positioning and flow of the painting. It can also help to unify my colors and get my head deeper into the piece.<br /> <br /> As I work the simple color across the canvas, my mind is whirling, I'm able to feel if there's an area that will need additional interest added and become closer and closer to my subject.<br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Reference Photos<br /> <br /> I'll have printed reference materials and digital images to be viewed on screen as the painting progresses.<br /> <br /> 'Scotchie" the English Setter model really is an excellent grouse hunter, but he can assume an angelic countenance and has a tendency to take up most of the bed at night.
  • Reference Materials<br /> <br /> Besides using a lot of photos and sketches from Pennsylvania woodlands, I will collect actual foliage samples to paint.<br /> <br /> This picture has burs and a wild grapevine. <br /> <br /> The burs are nature's first 'velcro'. We use to have bur fights while walking through the woods. They stick together really easily and can be thrown at your 'victim' with a light toss. They don't hurt, but can really stick to your clothes.<br /> <br /> And who doesn't like a good grape vine ? They are such a beautiful, elegant creation and make astounding holiday wreaths. I'm wondering if they are the same vines that we use to swing on in the woods ? Though, we use to call those monkey vines.
  • Adding Background Color<br /> <br /> I start to fill in the background, again, in one color, it helps get the idea of how I want to 'light' my painting and puts the various elements of the painting into position.<br /> <br /> I'll use charcoal to rough in some additional animals, foliage... and after collecting some other reference materials am ready to go full color.<br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Brandie<br /> <br /> I put the 'Scotchie' English Setter painting on hold until finishing a portrait of our Black Lab 'Brandie'. We lost her to lymphoma two weeks ago. She was just 9 years old and Scotchie's adopted sister. As we took her in for her regular 6 month checkup she was having trouble breathing. Tests showed she had advance lymphoma. <br /> <br /> After a week of prednisone, and scouring the internet for more holistic choices, she couldn't hold on any longer. I'm giving dog owners the name of another dog lover who faced the same decisions and compiled a book claiming he was able to sustain his companion for over a year with alternate treatments. <br /> <br /> We miss her so much, but hope that perhaps this information may help someone else in time. We didn't have a chance to find out. Contact Ted Schneck: ted@curing-canine-cancer.com <br /> <br /> Note: Brandie's favorite things are in the painting. She loved water, chasing bugs and small critters and she loved her Scotchie.<br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Painting with Autumn Colors<br /> <br /> I start with painting a glow at the far hillsides, and add my woodland and its creatures as I come to the foreground. I'll be making a change to the composition by adding our black lab Brandie as a final tribute to her. She did have a knack for bounding onto the scene just in time to scatter the wildlife. <br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Adding More Detail<br /> <br /> I start to bring in more of the foreground with shape and color.<br /> Still, as the painting progresses, I'll scrutinize different areas throughout the painting. It's not unusual for me to spend more time looking at the painting from different angles, lighting situations and distances to find inspiration and correction to what's already there.<br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Let's Bring In More Points of Interest<br /> <br /> You'll see I'm adding more wildlife and terrain detail. I've added a few grouse, two brook trout, and two deer in the background. I'll be adding some bugs and other elements to fill out the painting.<br /> <br /> When I actually began this painting, I had done a small watercolor of it to lock down a vivid color scheme to hold myself to. Both with this painting and the one of 'Brandie' the black lab, I wanted richness and 'fun'. I realize that these two beautiful species of animals are bred for hunting, but when you see someone or some creature in its most happiest state of being, well.....isn't it just delightful ? Inspiring, joyful ?<br /> Wouldn't you just love to be able to give that to the people and animals that you care for ?<br /> I feel quite honored to be able to create a 'haven' or 'heaven' for Scotchie. While I dwell on what to name this art piece, the words 'haven' and 'heaven' keep coming up, so perhaps: 'Grouse Haven' or 'Heaven' ....or 'Scotchie's Haven'.<br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Adding In More Detail<br /> <br /> I've been working on the beautiful feathering of the English Setter's coat. There's definition now to the water and added creatures and leaves scattered about.<br /> <br /> I've also decided on the name for the painting to be: Pointer's Paradise. <br /> <br /> In the background a young Llewellin English Setter has been painted in (her name is Shelby) along with our Black Lab (Brandie).<br /> <br /> Just a day or two more and the painting will be complete.<br /> I'll do some test prints on canvas and paper and have some other products made before offering them for sale.
  • Pointer Paradise - Finished Piece<br /> <br /> This completes the Pointer Paradise painting.<br /> The size is 18" x 24".<br /> I've begun the scan process and will create giclees and a few other test products to sell.<br /> <br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Gus and Yia Yia's<br /> <br /> This shaved ice and popcorn stand has been a Pittsburgh landmark on the North Side for many years. This painting is being done as a commission piece. My intention is to treat part of it like an old time photograph then add vivid color to essential areas. <br /> <br /> I've begun with an underpainting to lock in composition and general lighting.<br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Gus and Yia Yia's<br /> <br /> I begin to add more color to the canvas and am rethinking about keeping it strictly like an old time photo.<br /> Did I mention that I am also related to Gus and Yia Yia? Gussy is my cousin.<br /> The commission work was requested by my Aunt who remembers the many good times they had as children and visiting the popcorn stand in Pittsburgh.<br /> With the umbrella being such a colorful symbol and draw to people passing by, I've decided to just keep adding the color (which I'm half making up and half using photos from other sources).<br /> <br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
  • Gus and Yia Yia's<br /> <br /> Here's the final painting. I did keep the background more muted and old time photoesque.<br /> The popcorn and shaved ice stand it still there!<br /> Don't you think it's time for a visit?<br /> <br /> <br /> Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
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