Susan Monty Fine Art

Portrait Unveiling

2/7/2022

Every fall brings lots of portrait commissions. Portraits and ornaments are popular holiday gifts. This year I have done painted portrait commissions, as well as commissioned ornaments - both pet portraits and special request subjects like hiking ornaments and landscape scenes. I even did a boat portrait. Now that the holidays are over, I can add some of these portaits to my website.

Monty by Monty, I had so much fun doing this little fluffball's portrait. Since his name is Monty, I couldn't resist the title. This is an 8x10 pastel portrait done on pastel mat paper - my favorite paper for pastel painting!!!

Remy, a memorial portrait of a very special dog. I did this portrait as a surprise for my brother. Remy was a great dog, and an importrant part of my brother's family. It was a rewarding challenge to get that beautiful coat just right. Rem Dog will be missed. This one is also a pastel on pastel mat paper.

Lucie, I've done portraits of all the dogs in this family over the years. So much fun to capture all that white fur and big brown eyes. This one is colored pencil on suede matboard.

Here's a sample of some of this year's commissioned oraments. I'm still working on a backlog of orders from last fall. Although I no longer offer glass ornaments in my Etsy shop, I get so many requests for them that I end up doing them anyway. I still have about 9 to go to finish up my 2021 books. If anyone here is interested in commissioning an ornament or a portrait as a Christmas gift, order early - August or September - so I can guarantee delivery before Christmas.

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BLUEBIRDS

3/30/2021

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Snowy Bluebird, watercolor, SOLD

This winter I was lucky enough to have a group of bluebirds visit my feeders. I've had the occasional bluebird stop by in past winters, but this year, I had as many as eight at a time here. I bought a little bluebird dish feeder and lots of mealworms and set about keeping them around. I kept my camera by the back door, and I would quietly sneak out onto the porch for a photo shoot. I got quite a few photos, but always want more! I think this little watercolor of a snowy bluebird is my favorite.

My first bluebird painting was a very detailed, very realistic pastel pencil piece. I had taken only a few photos at this time, and chose this pose for my painting. I liked the way he was perched and fluffed up against the winter cold. The warm background, branches and orange feathers made a great foil for his bright blue plumage.

Chilly Bluebird, Pastel, 8x10

Winter Branches, watercolor study

Every bird needs a place to perch so I spent time practicing branches. I loved playing with the textures and colors. Practicing branches is a big help in my work because even though I'm using reference photos I will freely change the shape, size and color of the branches to make a better composition. I can add twigs, berries or snow to pull the painting together. I like to take the colors I've used in the bird and mix and mingle them on the branches for unity. These practice branches were done using the blues and oranges of the birds I was painting.

As the winter continued, I got more photos to work from. It was a little too cold to sit outside and work from life so I was happy to get photos through the window even if they weren't great. I just needed enough information to get me started on a piece. I did a couple of journal pages about the birds in watercolor and ink, and I realized that watercolor studies and paintings would be a great way to capture the colors and poses I was seeing in a spontaneous way. I did a series of loosely painted watercolor bluebirds using spatters and splashes and pen work. So much fun!

As the weather got warmer and the snow melted, the bluebirds moved on, although I still see one on occasion. I've put up a bluebird house, but I think I've missed them nesting this year. If the bluebirds don't use the house, I hope another kind of bird moves in. I'd love to have a family of chickadees in the yard. I think a series of watercolor chickadees would be a fun project. In fact, I've already started!

Chickadee Dee Dee, watercolor 7x7

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Watercolor Nature Journal, Part 2

2/22/2021

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FINDING INSPIRATION

In October, I did a post about the materials I use for my nature journal. Today I'm going to explain how I use those materials by doing a step by step journal entry. I've been seeing so many bluebirds at my feeders that I'm going to do a entry about bluebirds.

In the summer I can sit on my porch watching the birds and noticing the flowers and trees or hearing frogs to get inspired for journaling. In the winter it is a little trickier so I rely on the photographs I take for inspiration. Here are a few that I have taken this winter. I've already done a pastel painting and a watercolor of these beautiful birds.

DESIGN AND SKETCH - drawing and text

Once I’ve chosen a theme, I start to sketch in my subjects using a graphite pencil or a blue erasable colored pencil. I keep in mind the design of the page. Do I want a single large drawing with text or do I want to do several small drawings with text wrapped or curved around? I do both in my journals. I keep the sketch and text light because I will be erasing them after inking. For a freestyle swath of text, I just draw a line and add a second line above it to suggest the top of my letters. See the example “Bluebirds” in the photo. The strange looking tape on the bottom is drywall tape, and it is a great helper to add text to pages. It keeps the text in line without being too mechanical and is much faster that using a ruler. The tape is slightly sticky. Position where the text will be and press it down. Use a pencil to lightly draw lines along the parallel “strings” of the tape. The size of the text will determine which “strings” to use. I generally use every other one. Remove the tape and add your text. Below is an example of a double page all roughed in and ready for ink.

PEN AND INK

After I have sketched in my subjects and added text, I’m ready to ink in the design. I usually use Micron 05 pens by Sakura. I keep my ink colors to a minimum: black, brown, dark green, dark blue. I occasionally add lighter brighter colors depending on the subject. Extra fine point Sharpies work well, also. Since I add watercolor I always make sure the pens I am using are waterproof. The brand doesn’t matter as much as knowing your pen work won’t bleed and ruin your page.

When I have finished with the pens, I use a soft eraser to remove all the pencil lines. My favorite is a Vanish eraser, bur any soft eraser will do. I am careful to not damage the paper as I erase.

WATERCOLOR WASHES

Now for the fun part – COLOR! I collect my painting supplies: watercolor paint (I always use cruelty free vegan paint – yes, that’s a thing!), brushes (synthetic) my fav is a Golden Fleece #6, but use what works best for you. I like this one because is big enough to fill larger areas on my small page, but still comes to a good point for small details. I use a Dollar Store white plate as a mixing palette. It works perfectly and only costs a buck! I have a bunch both dinner plates and smaller dessert plates. I add a small glass bowl for water (I love using pretty or unusual bowls or glasses for water) and paper towels, and I'm ready to go.

FINAL DETAILS AND EMBELLISHMENTS

Once my watercolor washes are dry, I check my work and add any touch ups that are needed whether with paint or pens. Then I add my final touches. I always include a little bit of gold paint on every page. I like to add a touch to every bird or animals and maybe some swirls or decorations if I need to fill in an empty area.

I try to keep my sketched and ink drawing as accurate as possible, but I don’t stress if something isn’t quite right. I’m capturing a feeling, a day, an experience, not doing a finished detailed drawing. Go with the flow and have fun!

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Fun with Pastel Pencils and Clairefontaine Pastelmat

1/25/2021

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I've been collecting pastel pencils for about a year now - an artist can never have enough art supplies, right? If ever there was a magical art tool, it must be the combination of Pastelmat paper and pastel pencils. I love detail and the level of detail I can get from these two tools is a delight. This is the perfect medium and surface for highly detailed animal art. I've been doing pet portraits and wildlife portraits. I am in love!

Here are a few of my recent works, as well as a couple of oldies. I have a Carolina Wren ready to start on the drawing board and a dog portrait commission.

Next blog post, I'll do a quick tutorial on the steps I used in painting Hobbes' portrait. I loved this pose (a photo my daughter, Tara, took.) We have two cats so once I get a really good photo of Bunsen, I'll do his portrait.

Tiger in Waiting, Portrait of Hobbes, 8x10

Who doesn't love baby ducks! I photographed this one and her siblings while vacationing at Partridge Cabins in Pittsburg, NH. Mom and ducklings spent some time hanging around the dock so I had lots of great opportunities to get photos. I love the reflections in this photo so I just had to paint it. Those feathers were a challenge, but once I figured out the pattern (there's always a pattern in nature), I got it done.

Duckling, 8x10

This is Fiona, a gorgeous, young Red Fox. She was rescued and lives at Millstone Wildlife Center in Windham. They were kind enough to allow me to use Fiona's photo to create this portrait. I see the occasional fox pass quickly through my yard or show up on my trail cam, but so far I haven't been able to get good photos for this kind of up close and personal portrait. Now I'm thinking about trying for a raccoon portrait - I love their paws and want to include them in any painting I do!
Millstone Wildlife Center does an amazing jog rehabilitating wildlife and educating people about wildlife.
https://millstonewildlifecenter.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MillstoneWildlifeCenter

Portrait of Fiona, 8x10

I end up taking tons of seagull photos when we go on vacation to Maine. I was able to take a bunch of this guy, or girl, when we were in Rockport. Doing a detailed portrait like this really makes you look at the details of your subject. I love the pale eye, the red mark on the beak and the greys and blues of the feathers. I enjoyed this one. I think Seagulls get a bad rap!

The Opportunist, Herring Gull, 8x10

This portrait of Sketch, my ever present shadow, was my first portrait using Pastelmat and pastel pencils. I fell in love with being able to add whiskers and whispy light hairs right on top of my dark colors, something that isn't possible with colored pencil. Building up layers is fun, and not nearly as time consuming as working in colored pencil. I might have hundreds of colored pencils for sale. lol Maybe not, you never know when you're going to need a colored pencil. I still love working in colored pencils. Certain subjects call for certain mediums, I think.

Sketch, (detail) 8x10

This beautiful Great Blue Heron was my first bird in pastel. I was lucky enough to get some wonderful photos of this young heron we came across while walking at Pickering Ponds in New Hampshire. He was standing on a rock right next to the path so we had to walk right by him to continue our hike. He was wary, but didn't fly away. He just moved to the edge of the water. Later when we returned on the path, he was back on his rock, and I was able to get even more photos. I'm sure he'll show up in more paintings.

Those feathers were a major challenge, but were an amazing education on painting feathers.

Juvenile Blues, Great Blue Heron, (detail) Sold

In conclusion, I have to say that I will be doing a whole lot more with pastel pencils and Pastelmat. Watch out Dick Blick, I'll be needing more pencils!

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Author

I am a fine artist specializing in animal art. I draw and paint whatever captures my eye, but animals will always be my favorite subject. I strive to capture a realistic, but artistic and expressive likeness of my subjects. I have a special fondness for horses and dogs, especially yellow lab mixes! Living in New Hampshire has given access to many beautiful and special wild creatures. Birds nesting in my backyard (including hawks!) and wild animals such as moose, deer, loons, and owls seen on vacation trips to the great north woods and White Mountains are a constant source of wonder and inspiration to me.

Commissions and custom orders are always welcome!

Nature Blog

Portrait Unveiling

BLUEBIRDS

Watercolor Nature Journal, Part 2

FINDING INSPIRATION

DESIGN AND SKETCH - drawing and text

PEN AND INK

WATERCOLOR WASHES

FINAL DETAILS AND EMBELLISHMENTS

Fun with Pastel Pencils and Clairefontaine Pastelmat

Author

Archives

​​Nature Blog

Portrait Unveiling

BLUEBIRDS

Watercolor Nature Journal, Part 2

FINDING INSPIRATION

DESIGN AND SKETCH - drawing and text

PEN AND INK

WATERCOLOR WASHES

FINAL DETAILS AND EMBELLISHMENTS

Fun with Pastel Pencils and Clairefontaine Pastelmat

Author

Archives

Nature Blog