Pet Portrait, 12" x 9", gouache and black paper. What a cute little dog... everyone who saw this fine fellow. Always prancing about, Ziggy was a flamenco dancer in his last life!! But at the end of a busy day, it was all about PILLOWS.
Up close, the loose brush strokes of gouache
Ziggy is my 'rebel' Silky Terrier, best dog friend, and a dedicated companion for 8 years. He loved to dance, devour his homemade food, and approve my handmade pillows. Sadly, at 12 years old, in 2021, he died quickly with complications of diabetes.
It's never easy to lose a furry friend.
It took me years to find joyful memories that did not bring me to tears.
Photograph used for a portrait of Ziggy & pillows on an antique chair.
Recently, I came across a photo of Ziggy on his favorite antique chair. I didn't start crying as per usual, but this time my heart filled with joy. I make designer pillows, and Ziggy always had his paw and nose in everything. In all projects I complete, there are sessions of setting up photography, and Ziggy would see my camera getting set up, so be guaranteed, he would take the opportunity to present and pose. He was such a great model! He is the cutest little dog in the world after all! This photo and memory said so much about our time together, and I decided to paint a representation of this memory.
Handmade, knitted, felted series of pillows with embroidery.
'The Critter Gang Pillows' Ziggy APPROVED!
For more information on designer pillows, click here.
Close up: Pussy Galore Pillow felted texture
with sparkle pens, pencil crayon & gouache
The Critter Gang Pillow series is where Pussy Galore meets the pillow 'plopper' Ziggy. The Zebra pillows feature light blue velvet cording that I embellished with sparkle pens, leaving some of the black paper to show through, and shading the edges with pencil crayons.
The Zebra pillows' fabric featured textured strokes, applied with gouache, leaving the black paper showing in the pattern.
Close-up: The antique chair features carved oak armrests rendered in gouache.
The fabric of the chair is sparkly pens & pencil crayons.
Brass tacks are created with sparkle pens & gouache.
Close-up: Left carved armrest in gouache.
Pillow with blue velvet trim done in sparkle pens & pencil crayons.
The woven fabric has BLACK exposed paper & white mixes in gouache.
Winsor & Newton Designer Gouache and Strathmore Black Multimedia Paper are relatively new to me. I love the creamy gouache with its unique ability to work back into it, allowing for layering of colors, leaving brushstrokes for texture (the dog's hair), and yet smooth it out & blend colors (the carved armrests). I can easily mix any kind of consistency with water.
I use a Stay Wet palette and can leave the paint to store on the palette, then activate the colors with a spritz of water to get back to painting. Very little waste. I like that!
The 400 Series Strathmore BLACK & white multimedia paper serves many media and withstands surface abuse while remaining rigid. The black paper has been fun to use, as it adds a dynamic pop to mediums like gouache. I love to add a little sparkle to paintings & drawings using Staples' Sparkle pens. Pencil Crayons on black paper bring subtle shifts of color.
Ziggy would approve of his portrait, FUR-EVER! BARK BARK...
Take a chance and try something new. Minaz Jantz
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