Vacation...why does it have to end?

There are no joys when vacation ends and you are forced back to work (well to my day job anyway). Vacation is just way too short, although it makes you appreciate the time that you have to spend with family, friends and pets. So, back to work it is, though I bought a lottery ticket (my fingers are crossed), and am hoping to hit it big this time. Hubby and I got to visit the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory over the holiday, which was really neat to see (pictures below), as well as Wild Water Kingdom, and we even took the dogs across on the ferry to Centre Island. Some day trips, beer and lots of sun really make it hard to get back into the working mode.

I am still working on my poppy painting, most of the main work is done, just have a couple more leaves to go, and just touch ups on the background. I'll be glad when this one is complete ... it's just not the same as painting an animal - flowers have no personalities. Well, actually I lied, my flowers have personalities, just not the same ones as animals do.

Brandy and I competed at a CPE trial this weekend, picking up our level 3 standard title. Only 2 Q's out of 4 runs, I'm guessing that the rats had a party in the building the night before. Brandy, who dilligently does the teeter, though she's not a fan, got to the pivot point, flipped around and walked off the way she came on - caught a sent that seemed better than completing the obsticle. Silly dog.  A lot of dogs were off that day, so I don't feel too bad.  We'll hopefully be attending one day of the upcoming AAC Campaign Dog Academy trial, as well, I am looking forward to the Jack Russell Rescue of Ontario and JRTCC sanctioned trial Aug. 23rd. Man, lots of trails this summer - but I love it!! So does the little dog.

 

 

 

 

One Horse, and a few great runs
Mood:  bright

Well, even though we didn't place in the ribbons this year at the Canada Cup, I was extremely pleased with how Brandy ran. The weather co-operated if you want to speak of rain, but the heat was pretty intense. I don't think I've ever sweat so much in my life (could have had a lot to do with me running ... perhaps?). Thank goodness that the Royackers facility has a gorgeous pond where the dogs, and owners if they're brave, can cool off in.  Brandy acted like the lady she is, and splashed around in the shallows when I wanted to cool her off.

Our first run of the day could have been a disaster - my friend and I (who will remain nameless....cough, cough joanne) ended up missing the walk-though. Don't ask, all I'll say is we are idiots, nothing more. So we ran the course from watching others, reading the course map, and winging it. Lucky for us, both our dogs ran well, and Brandy placed 7th out of 13 in the first round. Becoming wise to our stupidity, we made sure that we didn't miss the second round walk through, and this run was even better, getting us 6th out of 13, placing the little dog 5th overall out of 13 going into the third round. The slate is wiped clean in the 3rd round, and only the top 60% advance, so we had one run left. Well, no excuses here, but the little girlie was hot and tired by then, though she gave it her best shot, we had 5 faults, and time was too long due to some weave pop outs. I'm not sure of the final results yet, but I have to say that I am extremely pleased with her performance, and am looking forward to the event again next year!

I've also been busy trying to finish off the horse that I spoke of in an earlier post. It's been a while since I've put one of these guys on paper, but I'm happy with the result.  A percheron from Mountsberg Conservation Area. Beautiful animals. I think the scan might have turned out a little too dark, but you can get the jist of the image.

 

 

Two more days!!

Yup, that's right, two more days until the Royackers Canada Cup!! I'm hoping that we place well this year (would be nice if we placed as good as last year) but I don't have my hopes set too high. Brandy's been running great, just not as fast as in the past - but I've traded the speed for accuracy, which I am more than willing to do, this fact may reduce her placing - but it should be a good time.

I've completed the 5th piece in my coloured pencil series "Bright Jack". A reference taken from last years JRTCC Nationals. I decided to go a little bolder on this one with the background colours, and am pleased with the result. I can't get away from outlining in black, but I do like the pop-art feel that it creates. My next piece is a horse, and I haven't drawn a horse for a very long time, so I'm anxious to see the final result.

Also, an update on the poppies that have been "haunting" me for the past few weeks. This is the largest piece that I have ever worked on (22"x28" acrylic), so it's hard to find the time when you have to put out that much paint. It's coming along how I envisioned it though, and I should be getting close to completion in the next few weeks. I've stuck to my personal style throughout the painting, so it's more pop-art than realism, but that is the effect I was after.

 

 

Ok, so I chickened out - I didn't use the b-a-l-l at our last trial ... I tried to practice with it - but disaster struck. So, I'm at a bit of a cross-roads as to how we handle the Canada Cup. Do I want accuracy and mid-range range speed, or do I want crazy speed - but uncontrolled consequences? I think I'm going to go with the accuracy. Her final run at the CPE trial was jumpers, and she nailed it ... beautiful run, she was on the whole way, nice turns, good speed and the rewards only at the end of runs are really paying off. She seems to be enjoying herself even more now, so why change a good thing. One more week, and I find out if I'm wrong or not.

Well, the fourth piece is complete in the coloured pencil series. This one I took a reference from my own dog, Angel's Mack Truck. Named appropriately because that's how he acts. I think I'm still getting used the the background that I created on it, but I do like the piece - it does show his personality very accurately. Bulldog (gge) through and through. 

 

 

Number 3
Mood:  a-ok

Number three in my coloured pencil series - "Ghost". A weimeraner watching the AAC Ontario Agility Regionals (yes, I got lots of photos from the event). I choose a blue background for this piece (not using the reference photo background) because it offset the grey, yet blended slighty into the tones of the dog. The dog was wearing a halter the reference photo as well, which I removed, and completely changed the collar colour - I felt it was too busy for the piece.

 

And now, Brandy and I are off to a CPE trial with Acton Agility tomorrow - looking forward to it. I'm going to attempt to use the b-a-l-l once again as a reward (I have to spell it or she goes crazy). Long story short, the ball is EXTREMELY motivational for her - too much so, but when I can control her insane desire for that object, her performances are amazing. I'm trying it out to see if I can use it for a reward at the upcoming Canada Cup. So we'll either have a really good day tomorrow, or really bad ... here's hoping she can control herself.

Number 2
Mood:  a-ok

And by "Number 2" I mean the second in my coloured pencil series. This one depicts a couple of our koi angelfish in my hubby's planted tank. I love drawing and painting these guys. They've got great colour, beautiful finage, and they really do have personality. This is a male and female - male being in the background with the larger hump on his head. It's a realistic, but stylized piece, and I'm pleased with the final product. I must admit, the paper has more tooth than what I prefer (it's all I had available at the time for this series) but so far it's working out well. I did have a different number 2 lined up, but was not happy at all with the way it was turning out - so it got trashed. It was a full body image of a auzzie shepherd running agility, but because of the small size of the paper (5"X7"), and the tooth, the full body image just did not work - I wasn't getting the detail that I was after.

 

 

Coloured Pencil
Mood:  a-ok

I'm on a mission to create some more coloured pencil work. I've compiled a series of photos that I've taken to use as references for this endevour. Of course, most of them are canines, however, there is a fish image, and I'm thinking of adding a horse image as well. Things are progressing nicely, I've completed the first one, which is now in the "Coloured Pencil Gallery", and shown below - "Observing". This doberman was photographed at the AAC Ontario Regionals this year, watching the competition with his owner. I loved the colours in the shot, and of course the dobe, so I thought that this one would be a good start. I am now working on the second installment, another regional shot, this time of a competitor. These originals may be available for sale once they are all competed, so please check back frequently for more updates.

 

 

Updated Site
Mood:  energetic

I've been creating a gallery at "ImageKind" for the past little while, and have been offering some of my acrylic paintings as prints. The "Artwork For Sale" page on my site has now been updated to include all of the work that's available as prints. "ImageKind" allows you, the buyer, to choose what type of print that you're getting - canvas, or paper, different sizes, framed or unframed, and you can even by my prints as note cards. Please feel free to have a look...just click on one of the available pieces on that page, you will be redirected to my "ImageKind" gallery, and are able to choose the type of print that you desire. It's a wonderful option to have, and the flexability is great! Below is the link to my "ImageKind" gallery.

http://juliesillustration.imagekind.com/

On another note, Brandy and I are off to a CPE trial today. I'm hoping for a good agility day today - hopefully she's in the mood. She seemed chipper this morning, but she is back in bed already ... I've got a lazy little dog on my hands - sigh - oh well, she's highly entertaining, so I guess that counts for a lot.

On a Roll
Mood:  a-ok

And yet another people portrait is complete. I've got one more on the go after this one, I am also still working on my poppy painting, and then I  will hopefully be concentrating on some agility art (with references being taken from my 2008 AAC Agility Regional photos which can be viewed in my photography gallery).

This is once again, hubby with a fish. "Taking the Fish Off" - a tiny little sunfish...which he seems to catch a lot of. I couldn't resist this picture. I will point out that it is a cigar in his mouth, not a cigarette (though I still don't approve) - he claims it's to keep the bugs away. 

 

 

The Gift
Mood:  a-ok

It's finished, and been given, so I will now reveal the portrait that I was working on, that I couldn't post previously.

Drum roll please.......bbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttttttttttttttt

The Parents! My mom and dad, a gift for them for fathers and mothers day combined. I am very pleased with this portrait, and have high hopes for future people portriats.  They were also pleased with the piece, and so they should be, since I am their daughter - hehe. So far so good with this new endevour, and I have a few more up and coming, so please stay tuned.