Fur-bruary 28: Moxi the Shorkie

 So I've finally reached the end of the month of Fur-bruary! The ultimate goal was to  be consistent in daily posts that included my work as a photographer and painter. To view the progress of my art and to commit to every day social media! It’s hard to motivate myself but not impossible. (Wine and coffee helps) What was more of a challenge for me personally was the Doggust (August) month last year where I actually illustrated/painted a different dog everyday. This final image is of a sweet and dear mutt named Moxi who belonged to my sister lucy. She was obsessed with her mama and was always by her side. I dog sat her a few times and her description of fun with me was collecting landscape rocks as a game. That and modeling for pet portraits. I miss her. Final pet portrait painted in oils/gouache and dry ink in procreate on my iPad pro. 

Fur-bruary 27: Doug the Bowie Eyed Borsky

 This is not a typical pro photograph of a pet. It is rather a good example of a typical pet photo “happy snap” taken by your humble dog “photog” for a future pet painting. Things to consider in the photo reference when a potential client would like to commission you to paint their pet such as natural light, sharpness, angle of the picture and background. Backgrounds “should” be clear of any distractions. The angle should be taken from a low at the pets level-preferably. Should never be blurry. And the use of a flash is definitely forbidden. If these rules are mostly followed then a fun and fantastic portrait will be created!

Doug the Bowie eyed Borsky painted with oils in procreate. Handsome dude I must say. 

Fur-bruary 26: Blue Pug

 Blue pug was one of my favorite oil paintings of the dog series of last year. I felt the blue and green tones for a black dog brought some fun and whimsy to his darling personality. The google eyes are irresistible and I’m super happy with the results!

Fur-bruary 25: Ming Toy The Fluffy Pekingese

                                      

When I choose to set up a photo shoot I prefer to book as many clients as possible during the August- November months of the year. This is ideal to produce the absolute best photographs. This lil fluffy pal posed so nicely outside in the wooded landscape while a light breeze was flowing though his feathery Farrah faucet fur. Ming Toy turned out pretty good as a painted portrait using oils in procreate. 

Fur-bruary 24: Rolf The Friendly Kitty Cat

 Rolf belonged to the neighborhood. On the local streets of the quiet town of Høybråten Rolf knew every secret hideout and the locals loved a friendly visit from Rolf the cool kitty cat. Rolf appears a bit angry in his photo but he’s only a gentle soul who is curious about new things. That’s all. Painted with oil paints in procreate. In the second photo I had just installed the paperlike smooth and luscious screen protector for my iPad Pro! It’s a truly lovely piece of textured like paper to paint and draw on. In love still. 

Fur-bruary 23: Jessica The Brown Staffy

 This beautiful portrait is a favorite of mine and I just knew I wanted to paint her in an abstract and whimsical style using gouache and inks for a fresh and fun look!

Fur-bruary 22: Elaine The Miniature Aussie

 This cute as a button min Aussie posed beautifully at the pet event. Her blue eyes are so unique. Painted her with oil paints in procreate. 

Fur-bruary 21: Brown Betty The Weiner Doggy

 

 Sweet Brown Betty the wiener doggy posed perfectly for the shot at a pet picture event at a local nursery. Painted with gouache and watercolors in procreate. 

Fur-bruary 20: Furby The Blonde Pom

                                                     

I’ll have dreams about this little fella about once a week rescuing him from danger. Holding his lil fluffy body and petting him tiny apple head. I miss him. 

Fur-bruary 19: Spooky The Halloween Kitty Cat

 Pooka noo. Sim sopp. See saw. Or simply spooky the Halloween kitty cat. He modeled for me many times and I painted this portrait with oils in procreate. Black cat love. 

Fur-bruary 18: Clovis The Silly Mutt

 

I’ve photographed this silly doggy a couple of times and this one photo captured him totally. Clovis was a wackadoodle dog and I’m glad I painted a fun and whimsical portrait of his goofball personality. Oil paint and inks for a fun and colorful final. 

Fur-bruary 17: Gizmo The Boston Terrier

         

                               

Did a little portrait session of this wee doll. Gizmo was a charming and quite portly Boston terrier that posed nicely for a few lovely shots. Painting done with oil pastels in procreate. 

Fur-bruary 16: Kali The Min Pin

                                     

I rather enjoyed painting this lil critter. The photographs of her are simply darling so the structure of her cute lil apple head was a really good learning experience using the oil paints in procreate. I don’t so much blend my colors and prefer intentionally adding and layering of each color. Never looking for preciseness and realism, but rather loose and Impressionistic.

Fur-bruary 15: Barney The Viszla

                                           

Taken at another fun pet event at the local dog park-Barney the Viszla doggy is painted with lovely pastels for interesting texture and pops of color. Check out those pork chop ears!

Fur-bruary 14: Rum Tum Tugger aka Rummy The Lynx Point Siamese

 

I’ve been meaning to paint a new picture of Rummy the cat. I’ve been at this digital painting for 2 years now and every year I’ve painted a portrait of him. I feel like I’ve improved about every year that goes by. Which is the goal obviously. I spent an awful long time drawing just because I needed to practice sketching and erasing to create the proper shape before I actually through on some oil paints. Happy with the color palette and pleased with the final!!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Fur-bruary 13: Jennifer The Doberman Pincher Puppy

 This lil gurl came to me on a surprise visit from a friend. Snapped a couple of pictures which resulted in these super shots I’ve always loved as photographs and then also as a super fun abstract illustration/painting with artists crayons in procreate. 

Fur-bruary 12: Vivian The Chihuahua Mix

                                                   

     Sweet Vivian with her rather cute spots painted all around. She is the chihuahua mix who is quite anti social but with a submissive sweet side to her. My favorite medium to paint has been oil pastels. I truly love the chalky rich texture it brings to the paper. Cutie patootie.                                                  

Fur-bruary 11: Gracie The Magnificent Mutt

 She’s a super duper glorious senior citizen doggy. A mutt, mix or mongrel. These photographs were shot with a 50mm 1.2 lens. So the buttery bokeh is extra luscious. This lens is ideal for slow moving pets. And Gracie is totally chill and was mostly comfortable with a having her picture taken. She was a beautiful and loyal family member and I’m so happy to have photographed her and then painting her using oil paints in procreate. Gorgeous. 

Fur-bruary 10: Storm and Sensei Two Pals Furever

    

 I had the pleasure of painting these lovely buddies together because they are like siblings. Sensei is totally chill and wackadoodle and storm is the shy but curious cat. Painted with gouache and ink. These lovelies have some delightful fur patterns!

Fur-bruary 9: Jazz The Lovely German Shepard

 

Smart and obedient and drop dead gorgeous! Jazzy the lovely German Shepard posed in such a beautiful way here in this photograph taken in the early spring -I’m noticing the cherry blossom trees blooming in the background. I went through a oil pastels phase and used this medium quite a bit on my portraits. Love the chalky texture it creates. 

Fur-bruary 8: Stella The miniature Wookie/Yorkie

 

Sweet and shy lil Stella the Yorkie rescued from a puppy mill she was always standing by her mammas side (feet!) this is a favorite photograph of mine showing the bond of human and pet. It was a delight to paint her in oil pastels using procreate. 

Fur-bruary 7: Bob The Big Eared Boston Terrier

Big ears and cool lookin spots on this cool dude. Dog park events were always fun and exciting and a joy to meet and greet new pet people and there furry companions. This is one that I enjoyed painting with the oil brushes. Black and white and lost and found pink and blue pops of color. 

 

Fur-bruary 6-Calico Nabo Katten aka Neighborhood Cat

 

This photograph was shot in my old neighborhood in Oslo Norway a few years ago. I loved the dappled light that sprinkled over the neighborhood kitty cat so I decided to paint his charming loveliness. Oil paints in procreate on my iPad Pro. 

Fur-bruary 5: Doris The Senior Weimaraner Dog

 

The many shining stars at a fun and furry photo event at the local plant nursery this Weimar beauty needed a painting of her senior dog good looks. 
 

Fur-bruary 4: Simon The Sphinx Kitty Cat

 

Taken at a pet photography workshop from back in the day, Simon was a well behaved model for the day. Flash photography isn’t my favorite but it was a great learning experience. The painting is oil and soft pastels. Love the chalky texture of this medium.