A Dog and A Digital

"Fluffernutter"
12" x 13" acrylic and collage on canvas

Here he is...Mr. Fluffernutter. Don'tcha just love that name?...and what a cutie pie dog to match! Fluffer was a challenge but a real joy to paint. I think I changed the background five times on this one before I was happy.

And since I posted that painting by Inez Storer recently...I thought I would post this older digital piece of mine. Seems to have some eerie similarities. Any thoughts? Oooh...and we both painted these in 2002. (thanks for pointing that out Sandy!)

"Guise"
5.25" x 6" Digital Painting - 2002

And last but not least...two of my favorite Artists are having special discounts on some of their work until the end of this month. You should check them out here...

Sarah Regan Snavely's Etsy store for her beautiful Greyhound Tiles.

Jamie Johnson's "Really Big Sale" for originals, tiles and reproductions of her fabulous house paintings. (check the side bar for additional works)

Digital Art and The Red Pony

"The Red Pony"
8" x 9" Digital Painting
2006

I've enjoyed reading Art Paw's blog posts this week about Digital Art and how often times it is not considered "real art". Those who think that have probably never attempted to paint digitally and just don't understand enough about it. For myself...it allows me to achieve things artistically that I can't achieve otherwise.

I have always loved digital art and consider it to be an extremely important and overlooked medium. I gained a real appreciation for it when I worked as a Digital Painter for LucasFilm many years ago; painting color and texture onto 3D creatures and objects. Before Abby Creek Studios came into being...my first business here in Colorado was named "Digital Images". I digitally restored and manipulated photographs and created digital fine art pieces.

Some recent exciting news is that the above digital painting, "The Red Pony" was recently selected for possible inclusion in the next issue of the Steinbeck Review...a bi-annual journal that explores the life and works of John Steinbeck; possible inclusion meaning that the Editorial Board is still in the review process for the May publication. Mike Meyer, a Steinbeck Scholar had seen "The Red Pony" on EBSQart.com and asked to interview me. I'm hoping it's a go...I'll keep ya posted!

So thanks, Rebecca...for bringing this issue to light again and for doing the incredible digital work that you do. And check out Rebecca's post today for a list of some of her favorite Digital Artists.

Digital Art rocks!

"Enunciation"
6.5" x 9" Digital Painting
2003

Be Mine?

"Jazz"

This little girl was a neighbor of mine a few years ago. I took this picture of her when she was a puppy... **no pugs were harmed with rose thorns during the making of this photo! Yes, the rose was actually a digital addition...even though I could see Jazz doing this. She was such a little ham!

Anyway...this is my Valentine of love and thanks to all of you out there. Hope you have a great day surrounded by those you cherish.

Thanks also for your very sweet and compassionate comments about Steve and Kathleen. They were appreciated more than you know. Steve comes home from the hospital today and is doing much better. What a great Valentine gift for Kathleen and the rest of us!