| 12 March, 2011 01:20
ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions & Originals) are highly collectable miniature artworks. They can be traded or sold, and range in price from one dollar to hundreds of dollars. These cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a trading card. Artists from around the world are creating, and selling these little gems as editions or originals in a wide variety of mediums and of different subjects.
Art cards or miniatures where the rage in the 16th century. These were mostly portraits used in place of photographs and were sold, not traded. Today there is resurgence of art cards for sale. On any given day at least 100,000 ACEO originals are sold on line through auction venues such as eBay by independent artists worldwide.
Just today I happened upon a striking miniature (ACEO) portrait of a Maltese dog named Nikky as painted in an illustrative style by Artist /Illustrator Melody Lea Lamb. As a dog lover I could identify with the sentiments of Nikky's person Karen Lideen as she told the story of the little dog who "went over the rainbow bridge". Of the unconditional love of a dog. I found Melody's artwork is amazing and her blog an engaging read...
If you'd like to learn more about this fun way to collect original miniature art you might also enjoy the following links...
My own ACEOs, predominantly painted in watercolor and water soluble ink, consists mainly of narrative portraits of animals, including cats, dogs, horses and wildlife in a realistic style. You may find some of my animal ACEOs either originals or prints for sale here and through my eBay store. Commissions accepted.
| 07 March, 2011 20:18
I am pleased to offer signed and numbered giclée reproductions of this painting "Eternal Home", with a Percentage of Proceeds to benefit Animal Rescue Network of New England.
Your purchase will help ARNNE in it's mission to save lives. By transporting dogs and cats from over crowded shelters that must often kill the pets to make room for incoming animals, to more remote shelters that have waiting lists for incoming dogs, ARNNE can save lives. To Learn more about ARNNE visit their website.
Prints of "Eternal Home" have been reproduced from my original pastel portrait (my interpretation) of Jesus standing on an ocean cliff, just this side of heaven, surrounded by dogs, domestic pets and wild animals. "There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together..."
Two purchase options are available:
Giclee Prints, Edition Size #100. 35% of proceeds to benefit ARNNE.
Available through Dale's eBay store for $19.98. 8" x 10" UNMATTED.
Giclee Prints, Edition Size #25 Artist Proofs. 10% of profits benefit ARNNE
Available directly from DaleBegley.com for $28.00. 8" x 10" MATTED to 11" x 14".
The signed and numbered prints measure 8" X 10" with image being approximately 7.5" x 9.5". Eternal Home is printed on archival matte with pigment based archival inks.
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In creating this pastel painting of Jesus and the animals I was reminded of this poem entitled "Rainbow Bridge"...
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. Our pets are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes with intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
| 04 March, 2011 17:57
Initially I did a few thumbnail sketches of this toy dog in various settings, including a flower garden. But then I thought perhaps an ornate antique chair might better befit a Yorkie princess!!
Working on a mid-toned sanded pastel paper, I used charcoal to sketch the dog's proportions and establish the dark values. Blocking in the background I used dark red, hard pastel to help define the outline of the chair. And I lightly roughed in some of the floral pattern of the chair upholstery using a soft red pastel pencil. Before proceeding to the painting stage, I lightly sprayed the sketch with workable fixative.
Early in the painting process I concentrate on roughing in the major shapes. I always paint from dark to light when working in pastel or in oils. Gradually lighter tones are added - it is a process of layering. I blend sparingly, careful not to losing the spontaneity of the pastel by overblending. Highlights and details are reserved for the final painting stages.
At any given time I may have several portraits of dogs, horses, cats
and people in progress, as well as preparatory sketches. It's always
fun!
You may visit my main website: www.dalebegley.com to see more samples of my animal artwork. Feel free to leave comments here - I would love to hear
from you.
Prints of Yorkie Girl are available.
| 01 March, 2011 00:36
This post shows the progression of a pastel horse painting in progress. Meet my elegant Morgan mare Jewel observing a butterfly. While Jewel is actually a jet black horse, I decided to push reality just a bit by using a more vivid palette. In contrast, when I paint portraits of pets of people for commission I tend to emphasize realistic colors in order to achieve a highly lifelike portrait.
The paper I am using here is a soft umber shade of Colourfix pastel paper which has a sandpaper finish that holds a lot of pastel. The surface allows me to work in multiple layers of pastel.
First, I used a charcoal to lightly draw in placement and establish shadow patterns. Rather than spend time drawing in every detail at this stage, I focus on making sure the shapes are right in relation to each other. I then loosely block in the background colors, blending them just a bit. Next I loosely fill in all the shadows to define the light structures of the head from the ears to the tip of the horse's muzzle.
The planes of the head become more defined by laying in a map of values. I develop different values within the shadow shapes, separating dark shadows from lighter ones. As the painting progresses I develop the midtones to further refine the likeness. Next I apply a few strokes of lighter colors as I build the pastels from dark to light.
Here I add foreground elements, a Monarch butterfly on a flower. In the final stages of the painting I add the highlights and final details to the mare's face. Such highlights give sparkle and dimension to Jewel's fine bone structure and features. I just love her delicate features and huge expressive eyes. Mare and Butterfly, Pastel, 11" x 14". Prints of this horse painting are available.
| 25 February, 2011 13:24
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