Casey

This little girl is Casey.  I'm trying to get more creative with backgrounds in my pet portraits.  This one was fun to paint. 

Frankie

This little fellow was recently adopted by a friend of mine.  He was bitten by a copperhead and had a long recovery in the hospital.  My friend has given him a loving safe home. 

Doug's Cat

This is Doug's Cat.  Other than painting sessions with friends, I haven't painted in my studio for over a month.  Other than holiday trips, I plan to be back in the studio every day for the rest of 2014. 

September 2014 30 Day Challenge

The first of October is finally here.  This is my collage of the September 30 Day painting challenge.  To view other collages of painters that hung in for the duration, follow this link 30 Day September Painting Challenge.

Elephant Garlic

We grow elephant garlic not only for it's great taste but for it's great looks.  It gets a blue flower the size of a softball that's about 4 feet tall in late spring.  This is painting 30 in the 30 day challenge.  To view paintings from other artist in the challenge follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/. 

Pom Harvest

I'll be chasing down neighbors with bags of pomegranates this year.  Our main tree had dozens of fruits and another tree has started producing.  They are fun to paint.  I found myself pulling out reds that I don't normally use on my palette.   

Limes and Shot Glass

Another little still-life for the 30 day challenge.  This is day 28.  To view work from the other artists hanging in there, follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/.

The Last Harvest

I stopping pulling weeds a couple of weeks ago.  All I'm doing in the garden these days is picking the last few tomatoes and the occasional surprise watermelon.  This watermelon is called a moon and star melon.  I've been wanting to paint one all summer.  

Pomegranate

It's the time of year to paint pomegranates.  I friend gave me a tree several years ago and it finally has started to produce nice fruit.  Mine aren't as deep red as the ones in the store, but they are still tasty and fun to paint. 

Pink Zinnias

There are still a few Zinnias left in our garden, so I thought I have fun with them.  I attempted to paint this in a more whimsical style. 

Pearl Earrings

I decided to give pearls a try today with the focus on their reflection in the lipstick mirror.   They were a challenge to paint.  I'd like to try them again against a dark background. 

Coffee and Egg

This is another little still life in a series of 30 day paintings.  The egg comes from my chickens that run around the yard by day.  Their eggs really are that color. 

Wine and Grapes

This is day 22 of the 30 day Leslie Saeta September challenge.  There seem to a little over 200 artist still posting.  To check out their paintings, follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/.

Wine and PB

I wanted to paint reflections today, so I grabbed the first couple of items I came across.  I thought the mason jar would fit the concept better than a real wine glass. 

This tea cup will be my main cup of choice this winter.  I went to the OCAF pottery festival with a good friend of mind last Saturday and purchased this prize.  After focusing on dogs all month, I realize that I need to focus on vision a bit more, so I'm shifting away from photos to life painting for the rest of the 30 day painting challenge... unless of course, I get a commission or request from a friend. 

Egret in backlight

I didn't have a lot of time today and wanted to do something fun and quick.  This was from a photo I took last time we were down in South Carolina.  There's always an egret hanging out in the marsh behind our house.  This one was late in the afternoon with plenty of backlight. 

Pretty Little Pit

This pretty little pit bull looks very similar to one we almost got to keep.  She found us years ago, but sadly her owner showed up to claim her.  These dogs have great fun loving personalities. 

Border Collie

I love the intensity of working dogs and wanted to capture that with my interpretation of this border collie.  I've never had one as a companion but plan to one day.  I'm still plugging at the 30 day September challenge, and I find I'm getting looser as it goes along... I tend to be too tight, so that's a good thing.   

Nancy in a Tub

This is little Nancy Annie in a Tub.  I painted her in a wet and loose style. 

Ben's in a Tree

How did you get up there Ben?  How are you going to get down. 

Oh no... a Cat

I've made a major departure today from dogs to a cat.  This is Wesley.  He has beautiful markings but a strange personality.  He was feral when he first joined our pack, so that may explain a lot.

Rusty

This little guy is named Rusty.  He's a good dog and was fun to paint. 

Cut Ben off... he's acting silly

This is my niece's pet rat, Ben.  He's not at all like his hollywood counterpart.  He does all sorts of tricks and shares bread (and wine) with the humans in the house.  I know... I've been painting dogs and he's not a dog.  Would somebody please tell that to my niece!!! 

Big Grin

This is one of my favorite things that dogs do, and this girl was the best at it ever.  Her grin always got bigger when I reached for the camera.  She knew she was stunningly beautiful. 

Shana

This little Pom is named Shana.  She was a pleasure to paint.  These are my favorite among little dogs.  They have a big dog attitude in a little package.  This is day 10 in the 30 day challenge.  

Little Rescue

This little girl was rescued by a very nice lady a couple of years ago.  I'd say they are both very lucky!  This is day 9 in the 30 day challenge. 

Pooh the Rottie

This gentle fellow was one of the best dogs ever.  He wasn't mine until he had already reached old age, but we had several good years together.   He wasn't much of a guard dog, but he did guard his food bowl with diligence.      

This week 2, day 8 of the 30 day challenge.  I'm extending the dog theme for another week as I have a few dog painting requests that I need to take care of.  

Little Terrier

This is day 7 and the end of week one in the 30 day challenge.  To view the other the postings of other artists in the challenge, follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Little Shitt.... zu

This little fellow is so bossy and hilarious.  I'm not a little dog person but could go there at some point... I could never go here.  My fondest memory of little Henry is a visit to my sister's house where he terrorized my big friendly doberman girl that never met a stranger.  She found a strange one in Henry that day. 

Little Al the Min Pin

This little man is named Little Al.  The big dobies are my favorite dogs, but I could get use to looking at Little Al's face.  I've never met him, but I wish I could.

Big Footed Pup

This was painted from a photo I took several years ago.  Jason had his behind kicked by his big sister all day long on the lake.  He was so tired that night, he couldn't move, but he didn't want to miss anything and kept an eye half open most of the evening.  He grew up to be the best dog ever.  This is day four in the 30 day challenge and dog week for me.  

Ben the Yorkie

This little Yorkie is named Ben.  He is very loved by his mama and I suspect somewhat spoiled.  This is day 3 in the 30 day challenge.  There are about 800 artists from 20 countries in the challenge.  Every day of this challenge, artists post their paintings to a website.  Here's the link... http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Dylan

Dylan is one of my dogs.  He is over the top with intensity.  He applies that to work, play, sweetness, but mostly to sillyness.   

Little Georgia Fan

This little girl is a big Georgia fan.  I'm told she's always seen wearing her red Georgia bandana.  Appropriate timing, as here in the US, college football started this weekend, and Georgia won it's first game.  Little Gretal is a happy girl.

This is day one in another 30 day challenge.  My theme this week is a dog a day.  I haven't done a lot of painting this summer, so I decide to jump back in full throttle.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Gretal.   

Cosmo at his favorite Place

This beautiful boxer lives in South Wales.  His momma and daddy take him to the beach regularly for fun and sun.  He was a true pleasure to paint.  I always feel like I know a dog after I've painted him or her. 

Zeus

Zeus was a great family guy, very loving and protective.  He was given unconditional love in return throughout his life.  He had a very nice old age and knew he was very loved.  He will be missed.    

Meet Ben

This is Ben.  I've been told he's nothing like his Hollywood counterpart.  He comes when called, does tricks, is very curious and loves his mama.  He's a good rat. 

Happy Birthday

This is one of my favorite people who just turned 95 today.  She's a good friend and sharper than anyone in the room.  Happy Birthday Loy!  

Little Pom

Another little Pom painting... The only problem with painting a new breed is that I want to go adopt one.

Baby the Pom

This adorable little Pom in profile is cute as a button.  I just had to paint her in profile after seeing several pictures of her. 

Coty

This is Coty.  She's cute as a bug and very good natured. 

Shadow

This is shadow, a very sweet Giant Schnauzer/Bouvier mix.  He's adorable and very loving. 

Witness Protection - Painting 3

This is a painting is a series of paintings I'm doing this month in an effort to get back into portrait painting.  I love painting people, and I was the only person available today.  This was painted "alla prima". 

Witness Protection - Painting 2

This is Painting 2 in a series of paintings I'm doing this month.  I love painting people and don't have as many choices of folks to paint living out in the country, so I'm focusing on friends and family. This was painted "alla prima".   

Witness Protection

This was a fun painting.  Tom and I moved from the city to a farm 8 years ago and most of our friends from the city think we are in a witness protection program.  Tom does look a bit different than he did 8 years ago.  I plan to do a series of these this month.  This was painted "alla prima" which in Italian means "at first attempt".  It's the technique I most enjoy when painting figurative work.  The painting is completed at the first sitting and paint is applied wet on wet.

My Red Scarf

I miss painting people and haven't painted a self portrait in several years.  This was painted "Alla Prima" which means in Italian "at first attempt".  It's the technique I most enjoy when painting figurative work.  The painting is completed at the first sitting and paint is applied wet on wet.  It was fun painting from life again even if it was life reflected in a mirror.   

Paint Tube Reflections

A few more paint tubes...

Paint Tubes

I had fun painting tubes yesterday... thought I'd paint some more.

Painting Setup

I decided to clean my studio today and liked the reflections of these paint tubes in my brush cleaning can.  That's about it... 

Lovely Luna

This is Luna, one of my niece's dogs.  I haven't met Luna, but I'd sure like to.  You can tell my her photos that she has great energy.  My first attempt at painting her didn't go well, so I started over with a different composition.  I think this one captures her spirit.  She looks like she's ready to play at the slightest excuse.