Baby Raccoon painting available as prints

One of the first paintings to sell during my solo exhibition last April was this adorable little raccoon. I've had so many compliments about him and requests for prints that I decided to make some affordable reproductions available.  A portion of each sale will be donated to Wild at Heart Animal Rescue located in Walden, Ontario.

Please don't hesitate to contact me should you want to purchase a print of  "You Lookin' at Me?"
Print size is 5"x7" and can be framed in a 5x7 frame without mat or in an 8x10 frame with a mat.

Silvery Blue Butterfly (male) Painting in Miniature

Today's work in the studio resulted in a miniature butterfly painting using pastel on sanded paper. Yesterday, I spent about an hour working with my photo references to come up with the resulting composition and then I was able to actually paint it in one day.

Most of you may not realize this tiny butterfly which is resting momentarily on a single blade of grass has a wing-span of only about an inch!!!!  (which means one fore wing measures less than a half inch).   In addition to the striking blue metallic color of the upper wings, you should also notice the fray of tiny white hairs on the outer border of the wings which is characteristic of this species.
I called this painting "A Wink of Blue"  because you only see the intense color when the male opens his wings and it is only for a fraction of a second (like most butterflies, they keep the wings folded unless in flight)! The painting therefore acts as a "teaser" to the observer, offering only a partial glimpse of those splendid blue wings; something that can be easily missed in the blink of an eye.

"A Wink of Blue"

male silvery blue butterfly

(Glaucopsyche lygdamus)

4.5" x 3"

pastel on sandpaper

Wildlife painting of Squirrels complete!

All I can say is YAY! I'm done! Still need to color correct the image but I couldn't wait to show it off.

The final stretch...

I can't believe that I am almost there! Usually, I tend to want to work on the main subjects of a painting first and then work on the background/foreground. Many times, I get bored after I completed the animals and want to quit (like what happened with my cow moose pastel) and work on something else. I'm glad I approached this piece as I did, working rather methodically by filling the "canvas" area. Of the whole painting, it is the dried up dead leaves on the ground that is taking me the longest to complete.

Thanks to all who patiently read and comment on my many updates of the squirrel portrait. I feel the end is finally near...

Inching my way closer...

More leaves please! I figure I mind as well get it over with and continue on methodically inching my way accross the painting. I'm thinking about adding more snow just about now...

Painting update of red squirrels

FINALLY! I was able to sit for a bit and start working on this painting again. It feels so good and I can't wait to frame this piece as I already have the mats and frame chosen. I felt like working with blues today so I completed the last of the maple collection buckets. Next I will attempt the tiny little feet of the red squirrel on the bucket before I continue on to the maple bark on the right foreground.