A Bird, A Bear, A Horse and 3 Dogs

I like to paint animals, all kinds and species. I do commissioned pet portraits, but when I don't have any scheduled I still paint every day. Here is this week's collection of critters, starting with,

A Horse of Course!  Tony the Pony

Painted with watercolor on 140# paper

Original For Sale 

Matted and ready to frame.

 From this photo by Emily Vander Haak Dieleman 
on Artists Reference Photos on Facebook

In watercolor class on Thursday last week I painted an Amazon Parrot

8.5 x 11 which is larger than my usual style (not an aceo!). I am enjoying learning to use watercolor experimentally. This class has lots of ways to paint, not just traditionally. The background was done with "negative painting" techniques. I have trouble with that. It means painting around things, not painting them directly.  I always lose my whites, but that takes lots of practice. I have been taking this class for 2 years every thursday for 2 hours.  I have improved tremendously, but still am what my teacher calls, "heavy handed," but that's because I have painted so long with acrylics. 

I have included the reference photos for the following paintings since people have asked for them.  You can see I take some liberties with my final paintings.

This is a Bear done for a challenge on my Ebay/Facebook Group

Buy in Ebay

Inspired by this photo, ACEO size 2.5 x 3.5 inches, wc and pen

Another painting of Bella.  This time in Watercolor and pen and Ink. 6x6.
For Sale on Ebay, Auction

And this is Chipper, or Chip to his friends.  His mama loves this expression of his, so I tried to capture it for her.  4x4 on Ampersand Claybord panel.  

And this is Marvel, Tammy's Dog, 5x5 watercolor and pen on paper.

Painting For Sale on Ebay Auction

Puppy Dogs, Baby Animals ACEO TW MAY

Every month my Ebay Facebook group has a Theme Week starting on the first of the month.  This month the theme is Baby Animals.  I paint pet portraits, all sizes, all kinds of animals, from 2x2 inches to 18x24.  

More info at Pet Portraits by Penny on Facebook

Search for ACEO TW MAY to find more baby animal auctions this week.

Five ACEO puppies I did with watercolor and pen for Baby Animals.

Baby Dachshund Puppy Dog

Baby Bella Fluffy White Girl Dog

Luigi and Fifi the Poodle Puppy

(Inspired by a challenge photo in a Facebook Group)

A Singing Chihuahua Baby (might be crying?)

Sad Eyes Puppy 

(From one of the photos submitted to my Facebook page)

PPF More Belly Dancers

ACEO Belly Dancers:  Watercolor and Pen.  2.5 x 3.5 inches

These are #9-#14 in the series.  I am aiming for 25.

See the entire series at Pinterest or Purchase Online

Please let me know what you think. 

My submissions for Paint Party Friday!

Bid on Ebay for these tiny paintings.

Day 28: Just Clownin' Around

 Day 28 of 29:  ACEO:  "Just Clownin' Around"

Some people love clowns, and others hate them.  I am ambivalent.  This clown is not scary or funny or sad, just a plain old clown and I like him!  

ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.  The photo looks bigger, but it is truly the size of a baseball card.  Original, not a copy, painted with acrylics on heavy paper.

For Sale:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo--just-clownin-around-a-colorful-watercolor-and-pen-clown-face/125594

How to Paint WC wash 10 minute faces

How To . . . 

"Innocence"  Day 24 of 29 Faces in Feb 2013

I was going to write down a little blurb about how I do my loose, sketch, watercolor faces, but then I found a great little article on how to do 10 minute atc card faces with watercolor and pen.  Not as colorful as mine, but the technique is very similar. I leave more white space, I think, and lots of loose washes.  This is a great site for inspiration and information and they have 20 free magazines you can download to your computer for FREE.  Did I say FREE? 

 http://www.arttradermag.com/magazine/sal-scheibe/10-minute-atcs-intuitive-watercolor-wash-faces/ The photos are on the link above:  Here is the text:

10 Minute ATCs: Intuitive Watercolor Wash Faces, By Sal Scheibe

This article originally appeared in ArtTrader Magazine, Winter 2010 Issue 9

Material List:
ATC Blanks (watercolor paper preferred)
Watercolors
Inking and/or Gel Pens
10 Minutes

These fun little ATC watercolors shouldn’t take more than 10 to 15 minutes each. They’re quick and easy to create, even for fairly new painters. The trick is to not worry about getting things perfect. You need to paint intuitively, which means you should be more interested in plopping down some shapes and shadows to suggest facial features rather than painting in actual features.

Start with a wet watercolor board or paper that you have and plop on your paints to form a very basic facial shadow. This should take about 20 seconds. Let dry and continue with another shadow/shape layer, slowing forming into a face. Each layer should take no more than a minute. You’re painting intuitively here, not realistically. Once you have a shape you’re happy with, take your ink pen and outline some features. Add funky lines and bubbles but don’t spend a lot of time making things perfect. These little ATCs are 10-minute bits of fun!

Day 22: "I am not Snooty, just well-bred."

Day 21:  "I am not Snooty, Just Well-Bred." ACEO

She looks smug enough to be married to that other guy I posted a couple of days ago.  But I am sure she is rich and from a prominent family.  She would hate this painting.  She thinks of herself as much prettier and younger than she actually is.

For Sale:  

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-i-am-not-snooty-just-well-bred-original-wc-portrait-of-a-rich-lady/124289

Day 16 of 29 Faces

Day 16 of 29 Faces in 29 Days:  Feb 2013

"Good Bones" ACEO

Watercolor and liner work with ink.  I used less paint this time.  She has a very "clean" look and resembles some movie star, can't think who, but that was unintentional.   It's just a woman with pronounced facial features, or "Good Bones." 

ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.  The photo looks bigger, but it is truly the size of a baseball card.  Original, not a copy, painted with watercolor.

For Sale:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-good-bones-abstract-portrait-of-a-womans-face-watercolor-and-pen-/122616

Day 15 of 29 Faces

Day 15:  ACEO: The Schnoz

Schnoz refers to the large nose on this guy.  I remembered the term from watching Jimmy Durante on TV as a kid, a very young kid.  They referred to him then as The Great Schnozolla.  

ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.  The photo looks bigger, but it is truly the size of a baseball card.  Original, not a copy, painted with acrylics on heavy paper.

For sale on DPW: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-the-schnoz-jimmy-durante-style-watercolor-and-pen-original-art/122404

Days 12, 13 and 14: 29 Faces

Three Days:  #12, 13 and 14 for 29 Faces in 29 Days

 "Peace," "Dreaming" and "Joy."  They are soul sisters.  

Watercolor and pen.  Sold as a set.  

These would work well in a tryptic frame.

29 Faces: Day 9

Day 9 of 29 Faces in Feb 2013:  Teenager ACEO 

This one has an abstract quality with bright colors against stark white background, with black pen details.  I think it looks a bit like my grandson. 

For Sale on DPW: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-teenager-watercolor-and-pen-sketch-portrait-original/120810

ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.  The photo looks bigger, but it is truly the size of a baseball card.  Original, not a copy, painted with acrylics on heavy paper.

Illustration Fridays and PPF: Storm, A Leaf in the Wind

Watercolor and ink on Masa Paper:  Abstract Illustration

for Paint Party Fridays and Illustration Fridays

An abstract Mixed media ACEO/ATC, painted on krinkled masa paper, with loose watercolor and pen. It was a dark and stormy night, and I found a leaf in the wind, so I signed it on the front, and indicated where the leaf appears. My interpretation, of course. This one comes with a FREE mat and heavy backing, so it is ready to frame and hang on the wall, if you like.

Original hand painted art - not a print. On heavy paper. ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.

Matted and ready to frame . . . 

For sale on Daily Paint Works:
http://dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-a-leaf-in-the-wind-abstract/115141

29 Faces in Feb 2013: DAY 2

"BIG LIPS" ACEO

For Sale on ETSY: https://www.etsy.com/listing/122426746/aceo-watercolor-and-pen-big-lips

Abstract, Colorful, and sorta kinda wild!  I love painting these little cards, and using watercolor and pen and lots of bright colors.  Day 2 of 29 Faces.  More to follow.  I need challenges and contests to keep me inspired, I guess.  And it's fun.  ACEOs and ATCs are so much fun to paint, and so much less stressful than a larger work. I have painted almost 300 now. Some I traded (ATC) and some I sold (ACEO), but they are all originals, one of a kind, not prints.  I may make prints eventually, but for now, not.

ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.

Day 26 of 30 in 30

"Walking and Talking" ACEO

For sale: 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-walking-and-talking/117537

Two people, a man and a woman, strolling down the street wearing warm winter coats.  There's a chill in the air, and maybe in the conversation.  She seems to be a little distant and he is trying to console her, or maybe there are too many people around, a crowd, and he is steering her towards their destination.  Who knows?  These little drawings are sort of abstract.  They appear in the painting at the last stage and I have to make up little stories about their lives.  Oh, and it's all happening in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.  ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.

5 ACEOs in a show in Georgia!

5 Mardi Gras ACEOs

5 of my Mardi Gras series cards will be featured in an ACEO Exhibit during May 2013 at http://www.ocmulgeearts.com/ - Ocmulgee Arts, Inc, 2242 Ingleside Ave, Macon, GA - in case you live in the neighborhood. I am mailing the cards along with my bio and artist's statement today. This should be fun!

Day 25 of 30 in 30

"Hailing a Cab on a Cold, Windy Day . . . in N'Orleans

"During Mardi Gras?

Available for sale on DPW

 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-hailing-a-cab/117330

Sorry, I cannot predict what the figures are going to be doing when I start the sketches, so this is the result of today's painting.  Day 25 of 30 paintings in 30 days.  I am on schedule.  I start out with an idea, and hardly ever do the people cooperate with me!  I know it's a stretch to say this is a Mardi Gras theme painting, but I believe it is!  ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve

Day 19 of 30 in 30

Day 19 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days:

"Walking the Dog" - ACEO

For sale at Daily Paint Works:

http://dailypaintworks.com/fineart/penny-stewart/aceo-walking-the-dog/115617

So, a family decides to put on their finest garb and take the family pooch for a stroll - during Mardi Gras.  I know it's a stretch, but I want to keep with the theme.  The bright colors, costumes and such make me FEEL like Mardi Gras.  Done in loose watercolor and pen.

ACEO refers to the size - 2½” x 3½” - also called an ATC or artist’s trading card. Signed by artist. Complete contact info on back - comes in a protective sleeve.

Day 13 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Day 13

30 Paintings in 30 days

ACEO "Marionettes" - I was a professional puppeteer for 10 years and officially lived as Penny Puppet for that time, so I can understand why hand puppets, marionettes, Punch and Judy and others find their way into my paintings.  It's all connected.  These would be string puppets from a show at Mardi Gras, I suppose.

Day 12 of 30 paintings in 30 days

ACEO "Three Clowns" 

Day 12 of 30 paintings in 30 days.

For sale on Daily Paint Works

Day 7: 30 paintings in 30 Days

As soon as I finish this challenge, we start 29 faces in 29 days.  

It keeps me on my toes.

Day 7 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"3 Kids with Balloons"
ACEO size watercolor and pen

For sale on my gallery at  Daily Paint Works

Day 4: 30 paintings in 30 days

Day 4 of 30 paintings in 30 days:

" Moccasins Marching" ACEO

Listed at Daily Paint Works