BELLE

5x7 oil on canvas panel

Week before last was Spring Break, it was a most enjoyable week of painting. The folks over at Some Texas Artists Like to Paint chose "paint with your other hand" for this month's challenge. I'm right handed so I painted this little portrait study of my parent's dog, Belle with my left hand. Because it was such a difficult exercise, I had to sit on my right hand the entire time I painted. So much fun, I would encourage all of you to try it. I began with a blank canvas, quickly estimated a few reference points with my left hand, then just went for it. Mom, I promise, one of these days you will get a real portrait of Belle.

KITTY CAT

8x10 oil on canvas sold

Kitty Cat lives on the family ranch in Corsicana and is the final commission I completed for the family of Aneta and Mambo. Like Mambo, Kitty Cat wandered up to the ranch one day and soon became family. When her family is at the ranch, which is every week, Kitty Cat roams freely wherever she would like. When her family is at home in Dallas, Kitty Cat lives outside on the ranch, amongst cattle, donkeys, and critters of all sort. And when Mambo and Aneta visit the ranch, Kitty Cat holds court in the bedroom.