April 15, 2009

"Bigger Big"

Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel 8" x 8"

Mr Big belongs to my friends Debby and Fran. I painted him last year as a lark, to see if I could portray his great stature on a small 6" square panel. Although I was happy with that painting, I really wanted a bit more space to capture his wonderful brindle coat. On a recent visit Mr. Big acquiesced to another model session. He is a bit grayer in the muzzle but is still a magnificent beast.

BTW - I didn't say which Wednesday, did I?


20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mark,

What can I say, you have once again done a magnificent job capturing the brindle coat.

Mr. Big aka "Mr. Big Chicken Dog" actually looks stately here, not the scaredy cat he really is. LOL


Debby

Lis said...

Incrivel, parece real, parabéns Mark, abraços da Lis

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Debby. He may be a chicken, but he is a sweet chicken.

Mark Adams said...

Obrigado muito, Lis

Diane said...

Mr. Big has quite the incredible profile... As always the coat is perfect... you have a way with texture

artbykarieann said...

I would say you've captured his big dog personality perfectly.

Unknown said...

Love that red background reflected in his coat... he is beautiful! You paint fur so believably, Mark. Is there a secret to your method? Once again you have created a fabulous painting of a creature - congratulations!!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Diane. I have always been a sucker for a dog in profile. It must have been those "draw Binky" ads for the talent test from the "Famous Artist School" I saw as a child.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Karie-Ann. That means a lot coming from you. Your work is lovely.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Joanne. This painting actually has some glazing in it. I normally lay these down in one sitting, however dealing with the new house and traveling to New Orleans and then to Boston interupted the flow and I once again questioned my ablity to paint. I got halfway through this painting last week and fearing that I was losing it, found a stopping spot. I came back to it yesterday and went "into the soup" - laying down a glaze of Windor & Newton Blending & Glazing Medium and the painting popped. I may have to rethink ala prima vs glazing. I like the effect.

Bob said...

Welcome back Mark...we certainly missed you! The painting is spectacular, as usual. Your paintings are beautiful, even when they're dogs (pardon the pun). I use the same Windsor & Newton Painting and Glazing Medium and find the effects quite pleasing in layered painting. Just have to be certain the first layer is dry or it lifts the paint right off the canvas. There's a website that shows how to build a UV light overnight drying box (artstudiosecrets.com). I wonder if that would dry the paint enough to glaze it the next day. By the way, what type of final varnish do you use?

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Bob. You're absolutely right about the need for the painting to be fully dry before using W&N blending and glazing medium. This painting dried for 6 days before I went back in. I use Liquin as a final "varnish." It brings up the sunken colors and still allows the painting to breathe. Whether they need more protection than that only time will tell.

Unknown said...

Wow.... such a regal rendering as the Great Dane should have.

Kudos!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Sheila. I just spent the last 30 minutes looking at your blog and the comments therein. Great stuff. Your donations to animal causes is commendable and your work free and exciting.

Edward Burton said...

Absolutely beautiful and regal, Mark!

Angela Elledge said...

Hello Mark, absolutely beautiful...you are the brindle master!

I'm originally from SW Louisiana, hope you had a great time in New Orleans...it's one of my very favorite places...such colorful people and great food!

Dean Grey said...

I love the red background here, Mark.

Very warm indeed just like the dog's coat.

So much detail and pattern in the fur itself. Really great job with that for such a small painting!

-Dean

....... said...

Oooo... This really did come out very lovely!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Susan. New work soon, I promise.

belindadelpesco.com said...

What a great portrait... stunning painting.