Two wee chaps

Today I started on an order for a Jack Russell and a Fox Terrier. The only photo I had were in these sitting positions which makes it a bit tricky for grounding the dogs but some shadows balanced them when I added colour. 

I was really happy with the final piece.
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This is how the art looks once framed.

Balls of Fluff

I was lucky to acquire an art order a couple of weeks ago when I was purchasing new frames for my work. The salesgirl was interested in why I was ordering such a number of frames so I passed over my business card and invited her to look up my Facebook page. 

I heard from her within the hour and she sent a photo of her mum's two cats, Floyd and Zorro.

These are the sketches I did in my sketch book. Having one of these books is indispensable. I use it mainly to get the postures and faces sorted and sometimes, like this sketch, I get it right straight off. Then I wish that I'd just drawn it straight on my good paper.

And these are the final two fluff balls. I'm happy with my day's work.

Exciting news!

I can reveal some exciting news today. I have been invited to be the art expert for the Artfull Crafts team. Artfull Crafts is New Zealand's largest scrapbooking retail and online store. You can find the online store here. 

If you have been directed from the Artfull Crafts blog, welcome to my blog! 

It started as a blog to showcase my annual Gingerbread Christmas house (check out November and December posts from past years), then I began posting my favourite gluten free recipes and it has developed to promote my art. If I'd thought harder about this, it probably would have made more sense to write three different blogs as it has become quite an eclectic mix!

If you are a Pinterest addict (I adore this site - so much inspiration!) you can find me here : Diana Steven.

My latest art illustrates two dogs - an old golden lab and a whippet. This is the photo I was sent of the dogs, and below is what I drew. Follow my facebook page : Diana Steven - Illustrator for my regular updates. If you wish to place an order this is the easiest way to contact me.

A quirky house

This is a mixed media canvas I did as a one off order. It is a house warming present with the key and no.44 representing the couple's first house. I really love the mustard, teal and raspberry together.