Vaughn Fine Art

Saying Goodbye to Nell - Painting of a Dearly Loved Border Collie

Yes, I am preparing to say goodbye to Nell - the painting, as she is now about as dry as she is going to get prior to putting on a coat of varnish and then shipping to Ree - The Pioneer Woman - who lost her precious dog over a month ago. 

Still no sign of Nell, and the world is saddened by her loss as we have all come to know and love Nell.  She was playful.  She loved her soccer ball.  She helped Ree out of some difficult situations on the Ranch - like the time Ree drove her farm vehicle thru a pond and Nell stood on the other side cheering her on. 

I know first hand the kind of love that a human shares with a pet, and I also know the special bond that is shared with a dog.  For that reason, I felt an overwhelming sense of compassion for Ree and her children and her family for their loss.  And so, I did this painting of Nell.  It is the first painting I have ever done of a dog and yet, for some reason, it has taken on a life of its own. 

This painting has become more than just a painting for me as I have come to know the Border Collie behind the eyes that I so carefully tried to exact in the painting.  I worked carefully on every detail, every shadow, every value, every hair, and every flicker of light in her eyes based on the photograph I used for a reference.

And so, this afternoon, my son, Matthew, sat on our bench outside and held the painting of Nell so that I could take pictures.  He looks disturbed behind the painting.  I think he has become attached to Nell too.  He has watched me, daily, fuss over the painting and has walked into my studio on a number of occasions and said "Mom, I'll bet Ree likes your painting a lot.  Nell looks so real."

So I send her on to you, Ree, with love from your friend in North Carolina.  I hope this painting is all that you hoped it would be and more.  I hope it brings you peace of mind in knowing that Nell will always be a part of your family and never forgotten. 

It has been a joy for me to work on this for you.  My gift to you and your precious family.

Blessings, 

Susan

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Nell - Painting of a Dearly Loved Border Collie

I couldn't help but be affected by Nell's disappearance from her ranch in Oklahoma.  Ree (aka The Pioneer Woman) has been very vocal and honest about her feelings of loss.  So much so, that I know that there are thousands around the world, including me,  (and I'm just around the corner in North Carolina), who are praying that somehow Nell will come back home - safely.   It's been a little over a week since Nell's disappearance and even I am wondering what could have happened that she disappeared without a trace.  So to ease my own personal pain (which is obviously nothing compared to what Ree and her family are experiencing) and to hopefully give them back something special to remember Nell by, I have worked all weekend on a painting of Nell for Ree and her family.  It isn't quite done yet.  I still have some tweeks to do before I am happy with it.  But I hope they will like it and enjoy it. 

I am a real mush, you know that?  I've been sitting in my studio all weekend working on this painting and listening to my favorite country music on my iPod and stereo and have caught myself tearing up.  I'm losing it people.  I am much too sensitive.  Oh well, I suppose that is better than being cold as ice.  Somebody ought to write a country song about Nell.  She is such a beautiful dog.

Above is the painting of Nell - in progress.  I still have to finish working on her teeth and mouth and tongue, and then make a few small value adjustments.  By the way, do you think I should add a soccer ball in the background?  Nell loved her soccer ball so much that I was toying with the idea of adding it to the painting in the back of the field.  What are your thoughts?  Do you think I captured her?  Should I add a soccer ball or would that be too much?   Maybe just a smaller one in the background?  I hope I captured her personality.  I can't decide whether to ship it to her framed or unframed.  Your thoughts?  The original photograph that I was working with is on the right.

"Nell - Painting of a Dearly Loved Border Collie" 14x18 Oil on Canvas, 2008

Susan

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Baseball Painting

Why not?  I love Baseball and I have a lot of reference photos for paintings too.  Having a son in Little League helps a lot, so does going to the park and watching the majors.  Love it - love it - love it.  So, with baseball hat on backwards, I have pulled out a blank canvas, turned on my iPod, and put down my color notes for a baseball themed painting.  Fun.  I like paintings that are fun.  Hope this one comes out like I imagine.  Comments?

In process:

I know, I know, impossible to see.  All this is is a white canvas with my rough sketch of the composition for the painting.  Yes, I start with a white canvas.  I know that many artists have a real issue with this, but I don't.  I've tried that process of preparing my canvas with burnt sienna or some other tone, but it doesn't work for me.  Next time I do one of these "process" posts, I'll be sure that my sketch is more visible.  Sorry about that folks!



Next step I do is just put down color notes throughout the painting.  Nothing fancy, nothing precise, just "notes" of color that give me more of a visual of where I'm going - or not.  Better known as the "underpainting," this is what I call the "ugly stage." 



I'm still messin' with the underpainting at this point and still putting down color notes.  Again, nothing precise.  Not even the details or real colors are evident.  It's still ugly, and for all I know the finished painting may be ugly too.  I suppose that's just anyone's opinion.  I'm never really happy with my paintings anyway, but heck, I had fun playing in my paint and that's all I care about.



Moving right along, I add a bit more detail and start to build up my layers of oil paint.  I work from "thin-to-fat" which simply means that you build the layers and give them texture.  You should not start with thick paint from the beginning - just slappin' it on like peanut butter slopped on a slice of bread - ew - and that's what your painting will look like - ew.   

At this stage too, you want to step back and look at your values and color choices.  I always ask myself if I think the color notes and values are correct.  Sometimes I will exaggerate certain elements of color to make the painting sing.  I like there to be certain elements of the painting that are impressionistic, and other elements that are kinda-sorta realism.  "Does she or doesn't she? That is the question" - (No she doesn't) you know, that "Nice-n-Easy" kind of painting.  And no, I don't color my hair although I have many friends who tell me I should. 

Tough tooties.  I'm gray and I'm-ah-goin' to stay that way.



Alrighty then, this is pretty much finished.  I like everything but the face of the guy eatin' dirt.  I've really got to do something with that expression of his.  So, I guess this painting isn't finished after all.  When I finish screwin' up his face some more, I'll post it here.  There is always something to irritate me about my paintings, and this is it.  Dagnammit, and the other guy came out so good too.