February 18, 2010

Tibetan Terrier Puppy, Ink on White Short Sleeved Tshirt

This is Marlo. I was so taken with this photo of her, I just had to make something! This will show the step-by-step process for a piece done in ink.
First, I lay in some basic shape for reference...

Next, I start putting in some shading for the dark areas. Black is never really 'black' all over, there are highlights and shadows as with any other color. For Marlo, I chose to use blues mixed in with the black.....
 

More shading, with darker blues....


As I work, I need to be careful to make sure the areas that are supposed to be white hairs are left white....


I am now finishing up the black areas, and the base color of the eyes are done.......


Now, let's work on the nose. This will need several layers of different colors to get the look I want...


Nose done, and I have used a pale blue to give shape to the white fur in the face and feet. Now I use fabric paint to accentuate the highlights in the eyes. I also put a little bronze paint to highlight the irises...
 

There has been a little brown added into the areas where the black meets white, around the nose hairs, and a bit in the paws and face to add some depth.....


Okay, all done!

February 14, 2010

Flower and Butterfly Jeans, new pics

I just received these photos today from Barbara, the lady I made the flower and butterfly jeans for- the butterflies were for her, the flowers for her daughter. It's great to see them on the people who order them- thank you, Barbara! :-)

February 8, 2010

Children's jeans, Sammie

These were done for a young girl for Christmas- her mother said she is wearing them almost constantly. So glad she loves them!

Tshirt, Apache

This is a little terrier mix named Apache, done with fabric paint last year. She is just too cute! 

February 6, 2010

White Short Sleeved Tshirt, Kermit

My little Maltese mix, Kermit, is done here in blue fabric ink, eye highlights in white fabric paint....


Dyed Long Sleeved Tshirt, Roo

My other GSP in a black and white rendering in ink, with fabric paint on the eyes. Dye colors on shirt are yellow and deep reddish orange....

Dyed Long Sleeve T, Dante

I have recently started working with fabric inks. Although they are not as opaque as fabric paints, I am finding them wonderful to use on clothing. Unlike the paints, which only bond to the surface of fabric, inks penetrate thoroughly and leave absolutely no feel on the fabric after the first wash. They do not bleed, and have proven to be very wash-fast. Love it!

I now offer 'black and white' artwork, pictured below. I first render the photograph into a completely black and white version, then use that to work from. Although it does not work well for white dogs, it is great for dogs with any color. This is a long sleeved, dyed Tshirt with my male German Shorthaired Pointer, Dante. You can see part of the black and white rendered photo to the left. Dye colors for shirt are purple and blue.....  



I used fabric paint on the eye, to add some 'sparkle'.

Flower Jeans

Another non-dog request, which was fun to make!
She wanted some 'bling', so I added rhinestones and a bit of glitter to the flowers....
Although you only see the front of the jeans here, the design carries over around the back of the legs...

Long Sleeved Tshirt, Julio

This is a shirt I did of someone's first Tibetan Terrier last year, she provided the shirt- love those flowing coats!......   


A painting on gesso board

Occassionally, I enjoy changing things up a bit and working on other materials besides textiles. It affords me the chance to stretch the 'creative muscles', and improve technical skills. It is fun, and keeps things interesting. Art should never be boring! Below is a portrait of two English Staffordshire Terriers I did during the holidays with the 'work in progress' photos, as well, titled, "Holding Hands". Yes, they were really posed that way in the photograph- too cute! :-)



Pair of hand-painted jeans

Here is a pair of jeans I did for a friend. I know, not dogs, but I was happy to do butterflys for her. :-)

Butterflys wrap around the back of the left leg, as well.