December Artmakings

This December there were several commissions to finish and new prints to send out. Portraits, prints and original paintings were being shipped, picked up, and delivered daily. I am so grateful for the support of my small business. It has really been a great year!

my first round of giclee prints

ready for delivery

the wonderful  Dr. Pepper, for Macy. Water color. 18x24.

The process for completing a portrait like this is very methodical and technical. Here is how I go about getting it done:

 the drawing might be the most important step. Without a good drawing there is no possible way to get  a likeness (for me). This takes a great deal of concentration.

 Then I block in the darkest shadows with a light wash

 I create surface details in very small sections, otherwise it can get overwhelming. Not everyone would do it this way, but it is the best way for me. In this case I had a very high resolution image to work from, so I was able to zoom in and really capture minute details (thank you photographer Mike!)

This is my set up of materials. Paint and water are always as close to my hand as possible.

I build color using many layers of transparent paint so that the image never looks too heavy or wooden.

 The last step is a light background wash. I like to keep it very simple so that the subject has nothing to compete with in the background.

And the very final step is delivery! I wrap up the painting and drive it to its new home.

December Art Show

After months and months of hard work it is all over. Alison McDole and I created 35 works altogether for the show. The opening was a very fine December evening. The gallery was filled with people and many of the paintings have found new homes. Thank you to all who were able to come!

 before hanging

Adjusting the legs into position

  My kingdom for a horse

cardboard

  Photo by Audre Rae Photography

 Bridge

Wood

 Safe Passage 

 Acrylic

Sold

Photo by Audre Rae Photography

 Be Bold

  Watercolor

 Photo by Audre Rae

My artist friend Alison McDole and I are getting close to the opening of our show "Reverie." The opening is December 1 from 6-8pm at the Commonwealth Gallery at 100 South Baldwin Street, Madison. The show runs from December 1-7th. Please stop by and take a look! Here is a link to the gallery for a map and more information: http://www.cwd.org/arts/common-wealth-gallery-showsmediummeditationandmu/


I also have a new website! http://katieryanillustration.com/ Thank you Jeremiah Donohue for building it! Also, here is my most recently finished piece:

 

 Here is the latest. Domestic life meets wild life.

hippo face detail

 Many things have happened since my last post! The summer was a whirlwind of travel, a brief job working at a framing store, and lots of teaching and training horses. Amid all of that I was able to finish a few portrait commissions of some beloved family pets, and a few of my own narrative pieces. I am still working feverishly to get ready for my first big show that opens December 1 at the Common Wealth Gallery in Madison.

 A portrait commission of Callie, for Jen

A portrait commission of Nickers, for Megan

 

Inspired by my trip to California for the wedding of Paul and Sarah Schiek. We drove through a redwood forest to reach the bare hills and shore line of Iverness. The wedding was in an old boat house frequented by pelicans.

 Based on my backpacking trip through the Colorado Rockies. Despite being inspired and restored by the beauty and solitude that comes from scrambling up and over mountains, there were times where I felt totally overwhelmed by the hugeness of it all.

Based on a trip to the Boundary Waters, another very wild place.

This painting ended up being more compact, textural, and colorful than my last two dark and spacious paintings. Enjoy the turtle.

Development of a painting

 

I am always interested in processes (for just about anything and everything), so I decided to share how this painting developed over the week. Enjoy.

First painting of May. All of the geese and ducks and water birds swimming around the shores of Lake Mendota are making their way into my imagery. I can't wait for the arrival of the ducklings.

March and April art makings

 

 

 

Recent Drawing

charcoal. Sharpening my observational skill.