art and the economy...

well, i knew it was bound to happen at some point and here i am at that 'point'...the current state of the economy has really put a dint in my business...in the past years at this time, i would have at least three or more commissions on the painting schedule...this year right now, none with nothing in sight...so, i'm using this downtime as an opportunity to work on personal projects...i'll be continuing with the 'saturday smalls', sculptures and large-scale paintings of carnival scenes...the sculpture work, i'll be posting on a new blog as well as any other work i'll be creating...don't worry, i'll be posting a link here so you won't miss out...

i am hoping that the financial situation in the world turns around soon...we need to start spending money to keep our local economy healthy and prosperous...

buy art, it will make you smile when times are tough...

hang in there...

'adrock'...

'adrock'
12"x12"
oil on canvas

(private collection of d.anderson)

the first day of spring!...

it's here, the first day of spring...the day which leads other days to longer, warmer, light-filled ones...the day where my neighbour takes his lawnmower out to the driveway and dusts it off...in his mind the first day of spring is a segue to sweeping his driveway three times a day, mowing the law three times a week, yelling at his wife in italian everyday, roaming his property in sandals and undershirt as if he were caesar augustus....ah yes, the first day of spring!...the other morning i heard the robin singing before the sun rose in the east...there he was perched up high on the maple tree as if he were the emperor of my hood...the intensity of his song echoed over the sleepy houses...it was haunting, yet lovely in it's performance....i love spring and most everything that comes with it (except the fellow who lives directly east of me)...i wish today to be the first of the best days to come in your life...may you find a patch of sun and have it shine on you, filling your soul with possibilities...go and be your own caesar augustus!...

'thunder'...

THIS PAINTING HAS NOT YET BEEN PAID FOR BY MS. WALSH...SHE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO RESPOND TO MY EMAILS ASKING FOR PAYMENT...SHE HAS HAD THE PAINTING IN HER POSSESSION SINCE FEBRUARY 2009 WITHOUT THE OFFER TO RETURN THE PAINTING OR PAY FOR IT...THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR DEALING WITH A 'FRIEND'...

24"x24" oil on canvas

commissioned by k.walsh

'sophie'....

i know, it's been ages since i have added a new post...but good things come to those who wait...

introducing 'sophie'...she is a 36 x30" portrait currently hanging in the great room in a home located in breckenridge, colorado...both dog and painting are owned by laurie r.

two more of oscar

both paintings are 12"x12" oil on canvas

(private collection of k. plante and oscar)

oscar and the end of october...

well, i've almost finished two more portraits of 'oscar' to complete the triptych...(see the first portrait)...the two paintings will be posted in about a week...

not much has been going on in the studio lately...i've been wondering about what the coming months will provide with the world in a state of financial uncertainty...i am continuing to work on the saturday smalls and have started to post them on ebay...there are several sketches on my desk for very large paintings of mid-west american scenes...despite the uncertainty, i will push on with work...

*sigh*

enough depressing thoughts for now, back to the easel...

'lola'...

18"x14"

oil on canvas

the new howling canvas website!...

well, it is done...i've finished the website in a record three days...three days of staring at a computer screen redesigning it to look pretty and it does...i hope you have a look...

thehowlingcanvas.com

also, during that time i decided to create a newsletter which can also be found on the website...

hope whatever you are doing involves sunshine and maybe a martini!...

'moka'...

12"x 24" oil on canvas

(private collection-commissioned by k.plante)

'back from holiday...'

well, i'm back from holiday and somewhat back in a routine...although next week, i think i'll take off and go camping somewhere before september starts...since returning, i've completed one new commission which i'll post in the next entry...coming up in septmeber i'll be back with a new website, a new newsletter announcing something interesting and i'll be putting together a discussion group/meet and greet blog where clients can get together and talk about their furry companions...so in the meantime, i hope you continue to return to this blog as well as the 'saturdaysmalls' blog to keep in touch...

hope your summer has been great!...

stay tuned....

'on the road again'...

sorry i haven't been updating this blog as frequently as i have in the past, i'll be back to posting a regularly in august...at the moment i'm in joplin, missouri on my way to the state of kansas...this summer we are planning to see most of kansas via the small county roads...part of the purpose of the journey is to take reference photos for future 'saturday smalls' and a future show of large paintings with a mid-west united states theme...

anyway, i'll be back in the studio the first weekend in august and will start work on two new animal portraits....one cat and one dog...

stay tuned!...

'gabe'...

16"x16" oil on canvas

(private collection of a.lychak and m.hodgkinson)

'oscar'...

12"x12" oil on canvas

big hug to oscar!

(collection of k.plante)