Final Project

 It took approximately 1 viewing of "Best In Show" to paint Darby. Here he is! 

Apparently there has been some trouble when I try to upload images from my computer, but I'm hoping this one worked. 

Anyways, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The canvas is 8x10 inches, which is bigger than I normally use, so I feel like I could get a pretty high level of detail. The lines in the background are kinda wonky, but I feel like that focuses more attention on the dog. I was sort of taking a page from my absolute favorite contemporary artist, Kehinde Wiley, who does large scale portraits with backgrounds that look like fancy wallpapers. I don't really have the skill or time to get so elaborate, but he's definitely one of my biggest artistic inspirations. 

Wiley's portrait of Obama

 I also wrote a couple words about Darby's personality I would like to hang up next to his portrait: 

"Some dogs fall all over their humans. Barking, jumping, running around, and general joyous chaos ensues. Darby doesn’t like to raise a scene, but you can tell, in his own gentle way, that he is beaming with happiness when you see him. 

Darby has the makings of a scholar, or perhaps an artist. He takes a special pleasure in absorbing every smell, every little detail of the world. To watch him sniff a patch of grass is to watch Michaelangelo sculpt, Austen write, Schubert play. His eyes light up when he finds a particularly delicious scent, leaving you to wonder what goes on in his mind. 

This portrait shows Darby when he hears an intriguing noise. He perks up his velvety ears and points his snout in the direction of the commotion. Very daintily, he raises one paw, eyes alert to any sign of movement. I think he looks very regal like this. 

Darby may be shy, but he would love to share his fascination with nature with another old soul. He makes a lovely walking companion and he would be overjoyed if someone would take him to see the mountains." 

 

 So, that's my submission for the gallery!