A Cool Image for a Hot Day

It’s 102 degrees in Salt Lake City today and I’m in the studio hiding from the sun and working up a new gym animal series. It’s hard to imagine any person or animal working out in this heat, I know I’d rather be sitting in the shade doing as little as possible. My dog Harley is on my mind: she often joins me in my studio but today she’s home recovering from heart surgery. So for my opening post I’m sharing this painting of where I’m imagining her: home in a cool bath with a couple good friends.

Lighting is so important in representative art. I like how you can almost feel the sun coming in the window to Harley’s left, brightening one side of her face and putting the other side in shadow — and making her ears almost translucent.

Painting Tip

When I have to step away from a painting for a bit, I store my pallet in the freezer to keep the oils from drying out.