Miss Chloe, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

This sweet girl is near and dear to the heart of someone who lives near me in the summertime.  I am a sucker for the expressive face on a dachshund!  This painting is going to it's home this week, and I am thrilled to have had the privilege to paint her.

Pets make such a difference in our lives.  They lower our blood pressure (although sometimes, I'm certain mine RAISE mine), are constant and nonjudgmental. They're warm and snuggly and they look at us as if we are the best things in the world. They forgive our shortcomings, our mistakes, our foibles. This weekend I'm babysitting Charlie the Klee-Kai, my son's dog (sort of a mini- husky).  And he's just about perfect.  Well, 'christening' the drapes aside, that is.  I'm forgiving him just like he'd forgive me.  (although, truly I've never been inclined to do anything like that to drapery…)

SHOULD We Cross The Road?, 8x10 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I don't know why I painted chickens today - I should have been doing a thousand other things.  But while I was tidying up my studio I came across a shot of these lovely chickens...  and I couldn't resist!  Now, I sure would love to paint them from life, and I did try that once, but it was funny how I couldn't get them to stand still!  

Instead of painting darks to light or going from most vulnerable color to more sturdy ones, I painted transparent colors first - and then started with the paint that needed a little white mixed in or was opaque.  There is no 'right' way to paint (sorry, but it's true).   And it's all fun, and good.  I think just learning and observing all your painting life is the way to go.

And below, my studio assistant, who is right now very freaked out about the big wind and rain storm...