Helping out the Animal Shelters

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/gunner/440114
 "Gunner"   6" x 6" Oil on Gessobord

I've wanted to volunteer for the longest time at the animal shelter.  Making the time has been a huge challenge.  Over the past couple of years I've made it down there maybe a dozen times to walk the dogs.  But really, I just can't seem to find the time consistently to be there.

On top of that, it is so hard to walk away.  I mean really, these pups just steal your heart every single time.  I just know I'd end up with several dogs and feeling even more saddened that I couldn't take more.

Anyway, I'm hoping that I can first bring awareness to all the wonderful dogs and cats that are available in the shelters.  I know there are special circumstances, ie, allergies, etc. to purchase a
bred dog, but please if the option to adopt is there please open your heart to these wonderful souls.

I will donate 25% of any purchase of my small paintings of dogs and cats.  This is a huge incentive to push myself to paint and I'm learning so much by working on these paintings.

Here are several of the paintings I've finished and posted on www.dailypaintworks.com to date:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/maddie/441499
"Maddie"
6" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/shirley/438904
"Shirley"
6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/tinker/438440
"Tinker"
6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

A Little Girl's Treasure

"A Little Girl's Treasure"   6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/483285

I’m fortunate to have been able to get into a weekly class taught by Mark Daily.  We’re working on still life right now.  I love the outdoors and the landscape so this is not something that I’m driven towards. But I understand that like figure drawing much can be learned and applied towards my landscapes.

I placed a piece of glass over purple card stock.  The lighting situation was a little difficult as it wasn’t a strong directional light but a light that was overhead and threw shadows in different directions. Pretty challenging for me.

The ornament is one that was given to my grandmother by her grandmother over 100 years ago.  I have several ornaments that were hers that I treasure very much.  I looked forward to spending  the night with her, cuddled up and listening to all her childhood memories that were tied to those ornaments.

Snow on the Course

"Snow on the Course"   8" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

There's a golf course just down the road from me. It has a lot of colorful willow brush and tons of trees. I trekked over after the snow and caught this scene. 

The reds and oranges in this photo of the painting are a bit saturated.

Coming over Berthoud

"Coming Over Berthoud"   6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/480335

This is a view coming over Berthoud pass towards Winter Park, CO in the early spring. I look forward to each year I head up to my timeshare. This year I got the added benefit of beautiful light hitting the clouds.

Brilliant Skies

"Brilliant Skies"  6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

The colors in this distant storm were mesmerizing. A storm hanging over the line of cliffs, the blues reflecting brightly in the river.  Again, another painting done primarily with the palette knife. Lots of fun!

Orange Days

"Orange Days"  6" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

I really liked the bright oranges against the super dark background. Tried to keep it loose. I used a palette knife for the majority of the painting.

Mellow

"Mellow"   6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

Found this guy on PMP. I switched up the background and changed the design to push the flowers behind him. Fun playing with the background and making the flowers look detailed without detailing. Does that make sense?