Day 25 - Mya

"Mya" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8) sold

Day 25 of my 31-in-31 for January!

Well, I wanted to paint today, but instead I had a severe case of the Wells Fargo QFX Download Blues. (sigh).

So, here's another cute puppy from last month's commissions.

See more pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

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Day 3 - Puppy portrait commission

A cute puppy (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches, from client photo) sold

Day 3 of my 31-in-31 of January.

Took care of a bunch of paperwork today so I'm posting one of my favorite puppy portraits from the Christmas season.

See more of my pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

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Emma - a poodle commission

"Emma" (conte and pastel pencil, 12x16, from client photos) sold

It's that time of year when my focus returns to the commissioned portraits almost exclusively. Hard to believe another Christmas is just around the corner! This adorable and beloved poodle's human saw my work at the Main Street Fort Worth Art Festival last year and commissioned this drawing of her darling Emma, from 3 separate photos of her. (I flipped one of the pics to improve the composition.)

November had been my traditional "30-in-30" month for the past several years, when I would paint and post every day, completing 30 paintings in the month. That changed this year when I was invited to be a caricature artist at my home town's ever-popular and classic annual German festival, Wurstfest, which runs for 10 days in early November each year. (Only waited about 25 years for the spot, lol! Read more in my newsletter here!)

So now I'm out here enjoying the Wursfest and in between caricatures I'm getting a jump on some Holiday commission work in advance of the annual craft show at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio next month (which I've been doing for a long time!)

If you like my portrait drawings, feel free to share my site RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, and let your friends know there's still time to order for Christmas!

Thanks, I appreciate you!

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Roxy - a Quick-Sketch Portrait

"Roxy" (pastel, 16x12 inches) sold

This is one of what I call my "quick-sketch" portraits. These are very popular in the Holiday Season and throughout the year as a lower-priced gift option, at $75/face.
I use burnt umber and white pastels, and sometimes sepia conte pencils (more of the pencils on human faces.) These take about 30-40 minutes from a photo, or 15-20 minutes from life (mostly with still-sitting humans for that kind of timing!)

This is one of my portrait options at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio during their Christmas craft show. The dates this year will be December 6-24, 2019. If you want to order early and beat the rush, just send me an inquiry through my pencil portrait site, RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, and mention "quick-sketch portrait".

Roxy's photo

 I can get one of these done by mail usually within 4-6 weeks, but in December it's quicker, as the portraits are all I do then. But if you need it shipped back in time for Christmas, don't wait!

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The Girls - a Double Doggie Portrait

"The Girls" (pastel, 10x8 inches, from client photo) sold

Another favorite commission form the Holiday Season, these two little Schnauzers were a sweet combo! The client liked the reference photo pose just how it was, with the clingy Maya closer and braveheart Sasha more independent.

The gift recipient loves it and sent me a pic today:

And I got some good process shots of this one too:

 The first under-painting layers are my gold-colored primer (which is the Golden brand Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold fluid acrylic color mixed into Golden (brand) Fine Pumice Gel at about a 1/4 color/gel ratio.) and the Art Spectrum (brand) Pastel Primer in the terra cotta color. The terra cotta acts an my mid-tone.

On this painting I also used a higher-color mixture of some ultramarine blue (Golden brand) fluid acrylic color with the pumice gel to catch the darker values. I love how this blue mixture (being semi-transparent) remains bright over the gold color, but becomes quite deep over the terra cotta!

 My final under-painting step was to go back and tweak the light and mid-values with more gold and terra cotta where needed.

 Then, the pastel, starting on the darkest, and the lightest...

 ...then everything in between. When the under-painting has the image and values accurately, the pastel part is so much easier!

Thanks for watching! To commission a pet portrait for yourself or a loved one, visit my website ritakirkman.com. Feel free to share!

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Buster - a Pencil Pet Portrait Commission

"Buster" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

One of my favorites from the Christmas season. I've been hibernating most of this month with paperwork and pecking away at some brand new award-winning (knock on wood!) pastel competition pieces for some looming show deadlines, so meanwhile I'll post a few of December's drawings.

See more pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com. (Good time to order for your Valentine!)

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Dash - the other Labradoodle Commission

"Dash" (pastel, 18x16 inches) sold

Dash is the "sister" of Speedo, and was commissioned at the same time for my client's children on the west coast. It's always a joy to paint such fluffy cuteness! I love my job!

 When working on this Chinese MingART pastel paper, I like to blend the base layers before continuing.

Dash and Speedo, together

For info on commissioning a pet portrait for your loved one, visit my Commission Info page and scroll down to Pet Portraits!

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Speedo - A Labradoodle commission

"Speedo" (pastel, 18x16 inches) sold

This adorable Labradoodle is one of a pair that I did earlier this fall for a client on the east coast. He and his "sister" Dash (post coming soon) were an early Christmas gift for my client's kids in California. They've opened their gift and so now I can officially post the portraits!

My client wanted fairly large closeups of each dog; something that would have presence on a wall. I decided to use the MingART Chinese paper (now available from Amazon) because of it's almost infinite ability for pastel layering. I used the medium gray color.

Here's a peek at Speedo with Dash... stay tuned for Dash's post in a couple days...

For info on commissioning a pet portrait for your loved one, visit my Commission Info page and scroll down to Pet Portraits!

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Day 29 - A Pencil Pet Portrait Commission, and Special Offer!

"Sugar" (10x8, conte and pastel pencil) sold

Day 29 of my 30 Paintings in 30 Days of November!

Though this is a drawing, not a painting, it still counts! I've been really getting into the Christmas  rush of commissioned portrait orders this month, and have already done a few, so I figured I'd use this one from last year as a stand-in for today's post (and ok, also because I didn't quite have the time to finish a little pastel today!)

This cute little gal was one that I also painted with her human, Jasmine, last Christmas. See "Sugar and Jasmine" here!

I was happy they wanted me to draw Sugar alone too, because I loved this photo!

"Sugar" photo

 If you or anyone you know might be interested in a pencil portrait as a unique and thoughtful Christmas gift for a friend (or for yourself!) you can see more samples and ordering info on my drawings site RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.  From now through December 12, 2018, mention this post and the code word SUGAR for 25% off your order!!

Thanks, and feel free to share!

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Sadie

"Sadie" (pastel, conte pencil and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

Just finished a pet portrait, but as is my habit, this one's not it. This is one of my favorites from the Christmas Season. I've started using actual black pastel (NuPastel) underlaying the dark tones instead of building all that up with the conte pencil. Much faster, and gives a nicer, deep black!

See more samples and ordering info on my pencil portrait site www.ritakirkmandrawings.com.

Taffy

"Taffy" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

Another adorable pooch from the Holiday Season. See more samples and ordering info at www.ritakirkmandrawings.com.

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Bosco

"Bosco" (16x12 conte and pastel pencil) sold

One of my clients' orders this Christmas Season. Usually I ignore backgrounds, but this was a new fence just built by Bosco's human, and it had special significance. The wood texture was actually quite fun!

To see more pencil portrait samples like this one, and for ordering info, visit www.ritakirkmandrawings.com. Now's the best time to order for Valentine's Day!

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"ChiChi" a Detailed Pet Pencil Portrait

"ChiChi" a Detailed Pet Pencil Portrait (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

That time of year again! I'm back in the craft show at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio Texas, every day til Christmas Eve, drawing Detailed Pencil Portraits, Quick-Sketch Portraits and Caricatures (pets and humans too!)

If you're in the area, come on by and see us! Upstairs across from the food court, open all mall hours.
Or contact me through my Drawings website, RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, where you can see more samples and ordering info. There's still time to order for Christmas, but if you will need your finished portrait shipped back to you don't wait much longer!

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A Puppy Pet Portrait Commission

A puppy pet portrait (black conte and white pastel pencils on gray paper, 10x8 inches) sold

Day 20 of my 30-paintings(drawings?)-in-30-days of November.

I finished an adorable puppy portrait today. This one is not it, as usual, I like to preserve the surprise for the client and so this is one of my favorites from last year (and is now on my business cards!)

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I'm quickly jumping in to the busy Christmas Season of portrait commissions. If you like this one, consider placing an order for yourself or a special gift! Portrait drawings starting at $150. Visit ritakirkmandrawings.com for more samples and ordering info.