"Milk" & "Brownie"

These two fur babies are California cats.  

I envy them living the life in sunny San Diego.  Mostly because 1. I miss living there and 2. we on the East coast have had rain for weeks on end and it's getting old!  The only positive about this weather is that I am making a blog post instead of mowing the lawn and planting flowers which alway's makes me itchy.  

Moving on.... 

I did enjoy painting each one.  The owner sent several pics of both.  Milk has so much white in his fur that it had to be simplified with subtle shadows which is tricky. I really, really liked his blue eyes and so I thought the blue background would make them stand out even more.

 "Milk" 6x8 oil by 

Renee Brennan
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And then here is Brownie.  

He sure was a challenge because his fur is so dark I could hardly see his sweet face or any shape of his body, I finally got a profile photo of him looking out the window.  

He is probably staring at a little humming bird with those big green eyes....at least that is what I'm imagining :)

 "Brownie" 6x8 oil by

Renee Brennan
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30/30 Challenge Collage 2016

30/30 Challenge 2016

by Renee Brennan

Yay!  Third year in a row for this get off your butt and paint challenge.

Thank you to Leslie Saeta who hosts this on her blog 

and is an amazing palette knife painter.

To see the over 1000 other artist's collages that participated, go here.

Leslie also hosts a podcast called Artists' Helping Artists' with great information 

 on all kinds of art biz topics.   

My take on this years challenge:

1.  I set a lower goal of 15 and did 24...so a happy medium. I had to do this mainly because hubby is recovering from back surgery and I got to be taxi wife....all is good though :) and yes he is doing fine!

2.  I got to paint a pig!! his name is Vance and you may see him again :)

3. Dogs with tongues hanging out are pretty funny to paint.  

4.  With a good photo reference, getting the eyes right is important to me. 

I think it either makes the painting work or not.

5. Cat's rarely look happy, they are just too cool for that! (loved the cats) will be doing more of those soon.

6.  First time painting a chicken and two horses and a pony...probably the last time painting a chicken two horses and a pony.

7. Thank YOU for sending me pics of your fur babies and also thank you to those purchased them on my Etsy Shop!!  

8. Thank you also for your interest in my art!!  

9. Now you can relax and not wait for my next post haha...I take long breaks.

  

Day 30 - Dixie

"Dixie"  6x6 oil

by Renee Brennan
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Day 30!!  I said Day 30! of the 30 paintings in 30 day's challenge.

If you are following close you know that I would have been happy with 15

but I got to 20 something...tomorrow will post a collage as a final whoopty doo, AND I will continue to paint a few others that I have some pics of....not daily but at least I am back with a little momentum:)

About Dixie.  She was a sweet girl who's owner misses her dearly.  

It is hard saying goodbye to our furry friends and they can sure

dig a spot deep in our hearts forever.  RIP Dixie.

Day 29 - Bucky the Pony

"Bucky the Pony" 6x8 oil

by Renee Brennan

Day 29 of the 30/30 Challenge is Bucky.

He belongs to my great nephew and is a feisty little guy...

actually both the pony AND my nephew are feisty

and equally adorable.  I loved the reference photo my niece took 

of Bucky slyly peeking over the rail of the stall door.

He has this crazy shaggy mane and forelock that falls

into his eyes.  Cute huh?

Day 27 - Sycamore

"Sycamore" 6x6 oil

by Renee Brennan
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Day 27 of the 30/30 Challenge 

is sweet boy Sycamore who my 

dear friend rescued years ago.

It's wonderful how rescue animals can 

be the best pets ever.

About the painting.  I had to use a couple different

photo references for Sycamore, and need to tweek just

a couple little things on him.  His owner said 

"There's my boy"!  So at least I captured his personality..yay!

About this challenge.  My very first post said that I would be happy 

to do at least 15 of the 30 day's....This one will be 22 and I have

more than enough to finish.  SO, the others I haven't finished will 

eventually get done, it will just be into Feb...or even March.

Thanks for hanging in there!

  

Day 25 Itty Bitty Kitty

"Itty Bitty Kitty"

by Renee Brennan

Day 25 of the 30/30 Challenge is Itty Bitty Kitty

yup  another green eyed critter!  

If you would like to adopt this painting, go here Etsy 

Day 23 - Bluebird at Bath

"Bluebird at Bath"  8x6 oil

by Renee Brennan
Available on my Etsy Shop

Day 23 of the 30/30 Challenge is Bluebird at Bath.  

I painting one similar last year from a photo my good 

friend Melissa took at her heated birdbath.  She is a 

wonderful photographer!

Day 22 - Smoosh! the Original Grumpy Cat

"Smoosh" 6x8 oil

by Renee Brennan

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Day 22 of the 30/30 Challenge is SMOOSH the original grumpy cat!

His owner say's he has beautiful blue green eyes and 

lives at the clinic where she works. 

I may end up with a face like this after a couple day's of this now happening snowstorm!

Day 21 Ziva

"Ziva" 6x6 oil

by Renee Brennan
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Day 21 of the 30/30 Challenge is Ziva. 

This pose originally had a santa hat on her head but 

I edited the hat.  Luckily I had a couple extra reference

photo's to make sure coloring of her ears were correct.

I loved all of her wispy whiskers and big green eyes!

Day 18 - "Sophie the Sparty Dog"

"Sophie the Sparty Dog"  6x6 oil

by Renee Brennan
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Day 18 of the 30/30 Challenge is a furry little 

Michigan State University fan Sophie.  

She is all cozy in her Spartan scarf and ready for a big game...well probably in hopes of somebody's dropped appetizer!