New Work In Progress - Dacshund Art

This new oil will be offered to assist dachshund rescue. It is my first holiday themed piece of the season. Pam's Oscar is my model and her images of him are used with permission to help inspire me with ideas to assist raising funds for rescue groups.

In this piece I am concentrating on the eyes and the reflected light.

Thanks for looking and comeback and see the finish soon!

*****

Painting to help homeless animals with all the passion I can paint with.

Inqueries welcome anytime and commissions accepted.

carolchretien@aol.com

Portrait in Oils

MONIQUE & PATRICK

14x18

oil portrait on canvas

***

In a recent commission I was asked about doing a portrait of a Bichon named Monique who had passed on a few years ago. They now have Patrick in their lives.

After some discussion they decided to have them together in a painting as one keepsake piece of fine art.

The oil portrait above is the result of the commission.

Monique was a sweetie with a loving personality and is greatly missed. They always adorned her with ribbons or flowers and she was the light of their lives.

Patrick is a lively youngster with a large personality and penchant for letting you know he is the Prince of their castle.

My goal in this piece was to try to distinguish the difference between the two and this was achieved by placing Monique behind Patrick, using her sweet expression and open look in her face while giving Patrick the spotlight, the side glance of mischief that might be brewing and a jaunty tie.

***

There is a challenge in painting solid colored pets. It is a matter of looking for colors and definition to their coats and to making the most of their eyes to convey life. It is one of the best parts of painting animals for me.

***

If you are thinking about gifting art this holiday season or wish to consult me about a commission for yourself of your own pet...

please contact me at

carolchretien@aol.com

All my commissions also provide donations to rescue.

Thanks for supporting the work of non-profit rescues with a purchase of fine art that helps animals.

A Gracious Welcome Home

SOLD

A Gracious Welcome

10x10

Carol Chretien

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

***

You know from previous paintings and previous posts that this expresses my vision of the welcome home once they have crossed the Bridge.

I believe in the Divine Benevolence that animals must be received with when they cross the Rainbow Bridge.

***

It was difficult to get the accurate colors in the images...They are a bit more vibrant with much depth and texture. I added extra images to try to show the detail.

If this painting resonates with you and you want to add it to your collection then please contact me at

carolchretien@aol.com to purchase.

SORRY THIS PAINTING IS SOLD!

donation to

Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay.

http://www.dalrescuetampabay.org/

to see the Dalmatians available and the great work being done there.

***

Thanks for supporting the work of rescue.

The way it all works...

....Inspiration....your names are Annie and Oscar!

Annie (above) photo by Pam

Oscar (photo by Pam)

Yesterday afternoon after painting all day (on a commission and a piece for rescue) I sat and thought ....What will I work on next?

I stared at a blank canvas, I went through some of my old photos for inspiration and that just brought me to a trip down memory lane.

I spent over an hour totally lost in time. I looked back 20 or 30 yrs at people I love who have passed, at people who have aged...even my husband...I looked at images of our former pets and our current two, Lizzie and Emmi who are 12 and 17 respectively. Lizzie turns officially 12 in less than 2 weeks! Where does all the time go?

When I put the cover back on the box and realized I was back in 2010 it was such a sad feeling. I smothered our Lizzie with hugs and kisses (because she really loves this) and went off to make tea and cookies...we shared a cookie "party" and I felt resigned and better. I even added it to my facebook status. If that doesn't smack you with "2010" what will? LOL!

But then came today and the Muse was just waiting...I was working online and I stopped by Facebook and see my friend Pam's photos of her fabulous dachshund Oscar and one of Annie the beagle and I am instantly INSPIRED!

Pam always generously allows me to use her wonderful images to inspire paintings that help rescue and I am so anxious to work up the immediate visions I see when looking at these two faces.

They will be my first Christmas paintings for rescue this year.

A shout out to Pam for being such a great rescue worker.

She has helped get many beagles and others into good homes matching up families with the right pet. Pam has inspired some of my favorite paintings with the loan of her terrific photography.

Thanks Again ...PAM!

***
Come back in a little while and see where this inspiration takes us!

Inspired by Dusty ...Wait, Love, Pray...For a Home!

" WAIT, LOVE, PRAY...FOR A HOME"
12x12
oil on canvas
CAROL CHRETIEN
***
Painting for
DALMATIAN RESCUE OF TAMPA BAY
where you can adopt the inspiration for this painting!
20% of the sale goes directly to the rescue.
125.00

Dusty is in foster care and is available !!!!
http://www.dalrescuetampabay.org
for information.

***
and if you want to purchase the painting email me:
carolchretien@aol.com
a lovely way to add fine art to your collection of dalmatian art while helping rescue!

Rainbow Bridge Art...WIP

New

WORK IN PROGRESS

This close crop view of the newest painting on the easel is my vision of HOW our beloveds are greeted when they cross the Bridge.

This new piece will benefit Dalmatian Rescue when sold, 20% of the sale will go directly to the charity.

***

If you would like to reserve this painting before it is offered online in a

Gallery, please email me for details and how to purchase.

carolchretien@aol.com

I will mark the painting RESERVED

.

It will be posted as SOLD when the finished piece is shown online.

***

Thanks for following along and helping homeless animals with fine art.

And the Winner Is.....

ABE

This year's winning custom portrait for charity was

painted to help raise funds for the

Lincoln D Lynch Memorial Scholarship Fund.

***

Abe spends his time with his family between MA and FLA

He is a lovable and well loved little Scottie and it was my pleasure to paint him for this worthy cause.

***

The scholarship serves students from the Middleboro MA school system where Mr. Lynch was an educator and the Superintendent of schools for many years.

This was the second annual Charity Golf Event for the scholarship fundraiser in his name. Allendale Country Club held the event in Dartmouth Ma.

Back to Basics

In the beginning I painted Dalmatians to help Dals in need and today I am beginning the return to help Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay.

This new painting just started today is a work in progress (WIP) inspired by one of their Dal Mixes named Dusty.

Sharing a couple of images in close crop format.

I start with basic lines to place the composition, I go right to the eyes to begin the connection to the painting for myself.

It seems more than a two dimensional exercise when the subjects eyes are watching you paint.

More to come and thanks for looking.

Please support your favorite rescues with a donation if you can. Many animals are being needlessly destroyed in this economy.

Wild Woman ...Completed

WILD WOMAN

10x10

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

The sides of this canvas are painted for a contemporary feel

and can be displayed without frame.

***

Painted in my own realistic style with a touch of impressionism for flow.

I enjoyed painting the light in this piece and when sold it will give 20% of the sale to

the non-profit rescue of your choice.

A wonderful gift of art for the gardener in your life while gifting to an animal in need!

Please pass this link on to anyone who may enjoy floral art.

email to purchase.

This painting will be featured in support of

ART HELPING ANIMALS

8/12/10

on

Daily Painters Gallery

I'm BAAAAACK!!!!! Oh happy day!

Well I am so very happy to make it official and say I am back to work again!

It has been an awesome weekend of painting for me. What a great start. I always wonder when I have been away from it for awhile how hard will it be to pick up again from where I left things. I used to be afraid I would forget "how" to paint. Each time I have come back better for taking the break. It always surprises me and humbles me when it works out.

First of all, the weather was perfect to have all the windows open, no fans or a/c needed and just great light all the way around.

Below is the second pass of this new painting:

"WILD WOMAN" is the title of this piece.

Very fluid piece of painting. All about the light as usual. It is so much fun painting the effects of light that create drama and hopefully draw you in.

100.00

WILD WOMAN

10x10

oil on canvas

email to reserve this painting.

carolchretien@aol.com

20% of the sale will help a rescue

I have several other things on the easel that are commissions and a very rough start to a Rainbow Bridge inspired painting. Will be posting updates soon.

SO GOOD TO BE BACK!

Thanks for looking.

And so it goes....

As the minutes tick by with me watching my hiatus from the studio fade off into the sunset,

the latest reference images for new work are arriving, as we speak, into my mail box.
***
Like the painting above...I feel wistful.
I have enjoyed the time I carved out to get our home refreshed and in order and that lead me to exploring many other areas that also needed to be simplified and downsized:
Menu planning, reviewing budgets and savings goals, just having time to know what the heck is in the pantry and freezers...
I have found the timesaving of "tweets" and Facebook status updates very helpful with online time management.
I'm finally doing responsible things like reviewing insurance policies and making wills and wrapping up "grown-up" issues that are overdue on our end.
This was definately the year to redefine my whole environment and personal growth goals and find time to reorganize the details of living that will make this last third of my (our) life a bit more manageable.
You find yourself just at that age when it is time to "take stock" and really do the work on what needs to be done.
So now, when I am back in the studio I am not letting all the other things I need to keep up with get lost in translation.

There had to be a better way to reign it all in, sort it out and have some sense of flow. I think I have achieved this ...not perfectly, but I can at least see it all.
***
I will be painting on a regular basis soon. I am sure at first it will feel funny being back on "the job" with purpose and structure.
Many new subjects waiting to be explored with oil paint. I am excited to get back to making art with passion. All the pieces of my life are moving into place for the next game to begin.
August is on the way.
***
I look lovingly to Fall...my very favorite time of the year.
see you soon!

Past Glories...Future Dreams

(this painting from last summer sold to help rescue)

***

I am still on self-imposed hiatus...incase you may have wondered. :-)

Seems like forever but I have been using my time, behind the scenes in my life, to get things in some kind of order as this decade of my life comes to a close. Ah yes....the 50's will soon be a faint memory.

...but don't fret...I will be kicking off the next one with style. LOL!

***

It has been long overdue. I had a lot of "stuff" to cull from my home and head.

I have wanted to spend more time with family and with my Lizzie who will be 12 yrs old next month.

She was the model for the painting above...by the way!

***

I have the studio all ready to be used ...Emmi, the little thug cat who rules the house has been keeping watch over the room and spending lots of quality cat-time energetically sleeping soundly in the rocker in there.

She is coming up on age 17 yrs in the fall. Cranky to Lizzie at times but adorable in my eyes.

***

Past Glories are the 300+ paintings that have sold to help homeless animals in need that I have created over the past few years...

Future Dreams are swirling about somewhere in the back recesses of my creative brain.

My Muse has been traveling abroad all these months and I am counting on her to bring back some new and fabulous ideas that will help me go forward in this decidedly punk economy when it comes time to donate my percentages to so many, many animals in need.

***

Currently I have promised 2 charities a 100% donation for fundraisers for the winners of a custom portrait and I will be fulfilling those promises as soon as said winners give me the images to work from.

In my heart I am hoping that it will give me the juice I need to get back to work with the passion that this kind of work takes to do well.

***

Hope you are having a wonderful summer so far and hope to be in touch with you soon.

ALL MY VERY BEST

Carol

oops! so sorry ....

The updated version of

Our Lady Of the Roses

a work in progress...

(out of practice posting new work!)

Our Lady of the Roses ...wip

Phase 2 ... still working it out....

Stay tuned.

:)

It's Only A Beginning

"Our Lady of the Roses"

****

You need to start somewhere, and for me, it is always difficult to return to painting when I have been away.

The only thing a painter can do is put some paint on the canvas and get to it.

This piece is in the works and we'll see where it leads...it is a start.

10x10 oil on canvas

As always thanks for looking.

feel free to comment or email me anytime.

Inspiration....YO Adrianne!

You just KNOW you are going to have a great time with this crew!

This pic was taken just before we took off on a walking tour around the city.

The little whipper snapper in pink on the far left (Mom) kept up with everyone ...80 is just a number she says!

***

Most of us know the message of the " Rocky " movies... to keep going, to keep trying your best to be better no matter what roadblocks life can put in your path. My Hiatus from painting is coming to an end and I found some things to feed my Muse while I was away.

I just returned from a fun family vacation to PA, particularly the Philadelphia area.

Thought it would be fun to show a few pics of what inspired me.

I had my trusty iPhone cam to snap a few shots and here are some of them. :)

***

The steps of the Art Museum was on our bucket list. Inspiration comes in the form of my Mom (the figure in pink) who just celebrated her 80th birthday climbing the steps with her grand daughters! (I stayed at the bottom to take pics ;o) )

People I know re-creating the famous training scene from the movie "Rocky"
***

Here is Mom again in the Independence Visitor's Center with her French Lieutenant...it was her idea to take this one. :)

The center is full of greeters in period costumes who stay in character.

***

Just one of the MANY fabulous pieces of art in Philly. This one is near the art museum and it was incredible.


***

I just like to call this one "The Three Graces"... my glass flowers (!)...my beautiful nieces. They are my heart!
Just before we got on the most fun ever duck boat tour.
Ask for Capt. Stormin' Norman if you get to go! I'm STILL laughing.

***

One gorgeous shot inside Indepenence Hall. As I say...I am inspired!

***

This gem is where the founding Fathers did their work ...everyone should visit the city where so much began!
The chair on the dais to the left is the one George Washington used while they worked on our rights.

***

Some shots of the very beautiful city of Philly. Wonderful architecture. My Mom (in pink) and cousin are the little figures to the left of the statue...look at the size scale!

***

More of the beautiful architecture showing juxtaposition of Old & New design.

City Hall on the left.

Another view of the City Hall. It has statues carved into all the alcoves and ledges around the entire building. So beautiful.

I hope I get a chance to see this city again

We had a wonderful time in Philadelphia.

Big thanks to my brother who sent us off on this trip he surprised us and joined us on the last day :o) ...great blessing to be able to all be together and enjoy it with my Mom!

Lizzie Update :)

This is Lizzie a few minutes ago making believe she does not see Emmi walking by ...LOL!

The vet trip was a good one. Not only did I get an appointment first thing in the morning with the Vet we like but she was only half as anxious as she usually is!

The exam was done, the urine spec was handed over and suggested a possible UTI.

She got a manicure (it takes a village to clip her nails!) and an antibiotic and is doing well.

No further bloody drainage noted from that first incidence ...when she finishes the med we resend a new urine spec two days after she is off the med.

Hoping everything keeps going in the right direction now. She seems back to normal and our best girl!

thanks for all the good thoughts and emails!

we so appreciate it... HUGS!

My Girl...sunshine on a cloudy day....

Lizzie is "our" girl, "daddy's girl" and my very special Muse.

While I worry with today's latest finding that she needs to have a vet check tomorrow, and that we pray will be easy to correct a problem she is having.... We are so keenly aware of her age and the changes that come with it.

Up front we are thankful for a healthy, illness free life for her almost 12 yrs. More than many get. Still hard to accept when things change. And they always change. Thanks for all the well wishes and thoughts from our friends.

I thought I would share the "real deal" pic of Liz below and some of my inspired (you have seen them before but indulge me) by Lizzie works on canvas.

She is one of the greatest Blessings of our lives.

:)

Photo from this winter.

I'll post how she makes out in the next few days.

keeping the faith

Along the way... and here and there....

Above... Keyhole desk under the stained glass window of the front entry.

The front door is open here to let in the light for the pic. This is a light yellow "Whisper Yellow" that I really liked. Nice and soft. My portrait of Leo hangs in the entry.

The house was actually built around this window. It was a Christmas present from Leo the Christmas before we looked for land to build the house on.... '78 I think. He found it in an antique shop in Newport RI. Probably from an old church.

Coming up to the top of the stairs ...I found a nice chest for this little space and I was happy.
Pottery by Leo in college art class. :)

Lizzie demonstrating the Snooze before lunch. We are very casual in all things as you can see.

The little half wall behind her houses shelves with her toys :)

Liz in the kitchen. There are 2 paintings I kept of mine for the Kitchen. The other is on the tall wall ober the fridge.

When the TV bites the dust we will have lots of room for the flat screen spectacular. But ...no hurry. :) this is looking back from near the sofa bed.

Views of the living area on the second floor. Yes we did everything backwards...kitchen and bathroom on the second floor. It is where the view of the yard and river are. So again lots of light and space and yes...a kingsized platform bed (sofa?) in the living room. We gave up a normal couch and chair for a place where we can all hang together at night and watch TV or read or just relax and all fit together with lots of room.

We got rid of the table and chairs and built the island instead ...the pic is deceiving...it is 8 ft long and 4 wide. I do all my shipping and wrapping duties for paintings here. It has lots of storage under it with 2 cabinets on this side with drawers and 4 big cabinets on the other side.

And the last room I painted (pics at top) was the entry (foyer) all paint was BEHR premium plus. If you want great wall paint... I recommend it.

If Life goes as planned or near to it I should be back to the studio by middle of June. Some little things to wrap up and some family things at the end of this month to do ... Thanks for looking and see you soon. :)

Peace and Cheers!

Carol

It Is All About The Journey ...part 1

I started this project in March but the long and winding road has had a few unplanned detours.
Here are pictures of the 1st two rooms and you will note that they loaded backwards...
Not in the order I thought these would load, the BEDROOM was the second room that I rehabbed. The STUDIO was the first ...it seems so long ago!

Below is 3 shots of the bathroom with the new color "Minted Lemon" I am very happy with the way it turned out. The very tall ceilings were a challenge ...the light is fabulous.

Nothing like having family photos in the bathroom. LOL! I used to have books there. There is so much space on that tall wall...there is a window up at the top so lots of glowing afternoon light. The color of the paint deepens and lightens as the light changes all day.

Lots of mirrors in this house. Have them on the closet doors and the one over the sink shows the shelves over the toilet.



It is nice that the toilet is in that alcove so the view from the living room is a bit more scenic! LOL!
****
(below)
The Bedroom was repainted a lighter color than previously painted...we now have "Hosta Flower" ...it has a soothing light. There used to be a ton of paintings in the space above the closet, they are now in my Niece's hands so just a few keepsakes up on top now.

Cleaning and polyurethaning those louvered doors was a real treat.

(above) Looking from the studio doorway, Lizzie looking back at me.

(above) Looking from the bedroom door back to the studio. Emmi is sleeping on the pillows.

Note the basket that she steps on, to the trunk and then up to the bed. She is 16!

The cat-tree allows her to sit up high and watch the birds. :)

more to follow in the next installment!