The Story Behind My Paintings

All paintings may start out with just an idea, that touched your heart, a location or a favorite photo. But now the paintings take on a life of their own. For more information about having a customized piece of art that has a special meaning to you; that special somone, your favorite location or your special pet that has become so part of your family, contact use for more information at jan2150@sbcglobal.net.

To go back to the online gallery, The Fine Art Cafe click on the link - Customized and Original Fine Art by Talented Artists .

Thank you for visiting our blog, we would love to have you leave comments!

Enjoy

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Two Golden Retrievers



The painting of two Golden Retrievers is a gift from a loving mom to her son and his family for Christmas. The son and his family’s Golden on the right side of the painting live a very long life and crossed over the rainbow bridge. From the stories told, you never saw this girl without a ball. The Beautiful young Golden on the right is the families’ new furbaby.


This pet portrait is about half way completed. There is still work to be done on the chest of the dog on the left. At this point the background hasn’t been worked out yet. It is a watercolor, pet portrait on Arches 300 lb. Paper. This painting is being done by JLHackett.


The Fine Art Cafe offers pet portraits in colored pencil art as well as watercolor.

Monday, June 30, 2008

In Memory of Keegan


Keegan was a beautiful doodle that was hit by a car. He was loved by his human family and will be miss terribly.


The link above is the step-by-step of the painting. Click on the link to watch.

This is a watercolor painting pet portrait done by JLHackett, it was done on Arches 300lb watercolor paper.The Fine Art Cafe also offers pet portraits done in colored pencil art.Rice paper batik are also very popular, The Fine Art Cafe has a large selection of batiks.

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Essence of Morgan in Watercolor

People have often asked me “how do you create a portrait”?

My response is so sad, I don’t really know! When I start a painting I start working on the eyes, nose and tongue. Once I start those something happens and I become immersed in the painting and it just happens. I decided I should see for myself, how a painting does really happen. I started taking photos of each step, if I could remember to take the photo. Sometimes I would be through a step or two and all of a sudden remember I needed to take a picture. So the following photos were the best I could do to give you the step by step procedure I use to create the essence of a pet portrait.

To See the Progress
of Creating a Watercolor Painting of a Pet
Portrait.


Click on this Photo.

Tanner, Northwest Ohio's Hospice Service Dog


Tanner was at Northwest Ohio’s Hospice Care Center when my mom was there as she was declining. To try and repay the Hospice and their team of caring staff, I created the essence of their service dog Tanner. Tanner is a beautiful Golden Retriever that has been with Hospice for many years. He is such a caring and loving angel to all the patients, they all want to praise him with treats. When you walk into the patients rooms, there are signs asking them to not feed Tanner. He is just a little over weight. There will always be a soft spot for Tanner and I was thrilled to be able to do this for the center. I hope they enjoy the painting as much as I enjoyed painting Tanner.

Tanner was done on 300 lb Arches watercolor paper. The finished size is 15 X 22.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Yarra, Princess of the Fairies


When I saw Yarr's photo the first time, that look, the way she is looking through the flowers, was like looking through fairy dust. I completed Yarra a few months back and haven’t posted her yet. I really didn’t know how I was going to put my thoughts of this painting into words. LOL, then today, I got a friendly nudge to post the painting from Yarra’s mom with a picture of the painting and rightfully so Yarra needs to be shown off to the world. Seeing that face again in this painting, was like opening the floodgates of memories of when I painted Yarra. This is a painting that just happened, it was as if the brushes took over my hands and the fairy dust was controlling them. With only painting on the weekends, I was obsessed during the week and my only thought was of wanting to get back to work on the painting. It really did control me. I remember when I sent this watercolor painting of Yarra to her mom, via snail mail. I couldn’t stand the waiting to receive that email telling me Yarra’s essences (that painting) was in her mom’s hands. That little girl is now a part of me and always will be. I believe her mom wrote a poem about her and the way Yarra has touched her life. Maybe we can get Yarra’s mom to share that poem, so Yarra can touch your heart with her fairy dust too.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Georgia and Kennie Girl

Meet the California Girls! Georgia is the darker and older doodle, Kennie Girl is the blonde with apricot coloring. They are absolutely gorgeous doodles. Georgia has beautiful coloring and is such a stately being presenting such royalty. I had such a hard time getting Georgia's eyes to not look so serious. In the photo you can tell she watches over her little sister Kennie with very keen and loving eyes. Kennie on the other hand has the eyes of one silly, mischievous and I think I’m looking for trouble doodle. Their mom waited some time to have this portrait done so Kennie to become “her own self”. LOL, I sure believe Kennie has become just that. Kennie Girl has that wooly I can’t keep my hands off of you coat. What beautiful girls to get be able to capture their personalities in watercolor. This portrait is on 300 lb Arches watercolor paper and is 22 X 15.

http://www.thefineartcafe.com/

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Dust Bunny


Dust Bunny is by far my favorite pet portrait that I have done. The first reason is she belongs to my husband and the second reason is my dearest friend took the photo. The photo was one of those photos that just happen buy accident; there was no posing with this photo. Dusty is an American Short Hair Shepherd and her coloring is called blue, which isn’t a common coloring. She is a special girl and we will always treasure this portrait when the time comes and she leaves us to go over the rainbow bridge.

Patty's Kids


Mackenzie, Caya and Brady, wow what can I tell you about them. They are spoiled rotten, but the best 4-legged kids you could ever have. They belong to two wonderful friends and I’m their Auntie Jan. This was one of the first portraits with multiple dogs that I did. We used several photos to build the layout for this portrait. Caya looks like she is ready to hang her head right over the edge of the matt.
My goal is to someday paint individual portraits of each of these gorgeous doodles.

Big Huggable Doc


Doc is a Labradoodle that is full of philosophy. If you ever get a chance to check out the Doodle Zoo Forum online, you should see one of his philosophical thoughts of the day. Doc is one of those dogs that you just can’t keep from hugging. This portrait was hand painted from a photo that was posted on the zoo.

http://www.thefineartcafe.com/new362310.html

Sisters of Tibet


A good friend took a once in a lifetime trip to Tibet, she had a wonderful experience and took tons of pictures. She had posted these photos of the Two Ladies of Tibet on the Doodle Zoo, which is a forum that Goldendoodle and Labradoodle dog owners belong too. I fell in love with these two ladies immediately and asked if I could paint them. They were so much fun to paint. I really felt that I got to know them personally. Even though they look weathered their smiles captured my heart. I wish more people having hard times could smile as these two beautiful individuals portray. They were a true joy to paint