Return of the eagles.

The eagles are back!

I live in an area where bald eagles flock to breed. They come back every year in the hundreds.

I haven’t been taking too many photos as my camera’s shutter seems to be wearing out but I did take these while I was walking Sampson. This one seemed very interested in Sampson.

This one did too. His claws are in such sharp focus.

I was playing with some white ink on black paper. The paper seemed a bit soft, it wanted to absorb and absorb which ended up working in my favor, I was able to put many layers. Now in my first eagle here which is about 5×7, I went a little too crazy with my top layer and lost some of the shading.

This one is better. I would have continued down the shoulders but it ended up in a card frame for a friend who likes eagles. The one thing I love about ink, is that it tends to look complicated but it’s all just little dots and lines. Pretty relaxing to do.

I used a dip pen with a G nib on it. I buy the ones that are marketed towards anime online. They flow well and you can make thick or thin lines depending on how much pressure you use.

Since I mentioned Sampson, here’s a quick one of him in white ink on card stock.

I also did a squirrel in the white and grey ink who looks a bit of a know it all.

I did a polar bear too but had to weigh down the paper afterwards as it buckled. He looks like he’s fretting, given that the icecaps are melting fast, I can’t say I blame him.

If you have questions, please ask in the comments.

©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2020

Sampson the Dirty Dog

Sammy recently had surgery on a tumor on his tush.  Unfortunately it was malignant but fortunately they were able to remove it with a clean margin.  We will be keeping a close eye on him and hoping for the best.

In the mean time, Sammy is supposed to be staying dry, clean and being a respectable puppy dog while he’s healing.

So of course he did this.

Yup, in the middle of a drought, within minutes of being let out, he found the only bit of mud for miles.

And he’s not sorry at all!

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pumpkin Dragon

Through triangle eyes

He glared at the night

He stared at the night

He dared the night

 

To try and break through

His stalwart candlelight

He had read

Of a serpent

On a medieval page

Who loathed all pumpkins

And in a serpentine rage

Would crush the life

From innocent gourds

Leaving pieces scattered about

For the rampaging hordes

latin dragon medieval

He heard the leaves rustle

Crackle

And break

Oh no! It was that

Evil and Ancient old snake!

 

It wrapped round his midriff

And he started to shake

He found it surprisingly fuzzy

For a centuries old snake

And in that moment

As it started to lean

He realized it was only Dummy

Dressed up for Hallowe’en!

Happy Hallowe’en

From Sammy

And Zeus

Medieval Pumpkin Dragon ~ Ink and metallic watercolor, 11×9 inches

My rather shabby Latin reads “Beware the Pumpkin Dragon ~ It will eat your Eyes ~ Your Heart ~ And steal your breath ~ Beware!

©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2017

 

Happy Birthday, Dog!

Sampson is ten years old today!

Here are some of my favorite photos of him.

Just woken up Sammy

sampson-westie-dog-artSassy Sammy.

sammy-westie-dog-artSuspicious Sammy

IMG_5315You hurt my feelings Sammy.

Sambath©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2012Look at my paw Sammy.

Sampsonpawup©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2012Defiantly muddy Sammy

mudzilla3©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013Leaping Sammy

sammy5©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014Groucho Marx Sammy

westie_dog_eyebrowsAw Shucks Sammy

sammygrin©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2012In the wind Sammy

westie-wind-photographyAnd of course…

Purple Sammy!

Purpledog©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2012.

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2017

 

Elephants and Pumpkins

And no,  this is not a political post.

Fall with it’s dramatic skies and dancing leaves is here with a vengeance. I really need to do some catching up on the blog.

This painting is a two inch square in acrylic and will most likely be bigger on your screen then in real life.

house-painting-acrylic-miniature.

This ink is more than double the size at 5×5 inches. This was part of a monthly miniature challenge on WetCanvas. WetCanvas has a huge reference image library,  it’s a fantastic resource. Thanks to the member that added the photo I used as a reference for this.

In the original photo the wall was brick and there were solar panels everywhere. I altered those which is always a good idea when you have discordant elements. You don’t have to paint or draw exactly what is in a photo or right in front of you. The pens are Microns.

pumpkin-garden-art-ink.

This pumpkin in acrylic is from the same challenge. This quick study is 5×5 inches.

pumpkin-acrylic-painting-art.

This is also from a photo reference from WetCanvas. This was a fun one, it was  a challenge to use restricted palettes.

This is the Zorn palette which is Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red Medium, Ivory Black and Titanium White.

Anders Zorn(February 18, 1860 – August 22, 1920)  was a Swedish painter who generally painted people and figures. I’m not sure why he used such a restricted palette but after playing with it for awhile I can see the lure of the colors he used.

Fish on a plate, acrylic, 10×14 inches (not a mini!)

zorn-painting-fish-palette.

I found some interesting shadows on my walls.

blog-tower-shadow-eiffel.

And I fixed a staid apron by embroidering an elephant with a happy spoon on it.

elephant-embroidery-sewing.

Meanwhile back at the ranch..

Sampson had surgery and thoroughly enjoyed his meds.

sampson-westie-dog-collar.

Zeus also had surgery and was awfully affronted when I suggested that he was supposed to be sitting on the pillow on the floor not in my new chair.

They both recovered nicely.

zeus-dog-lab-yellow.

My sunflowers grew over 12 feet tall.

blog-sunflowers-gardening-large.

We rescued these two birds.

This juvenile cedar waxwing was caught in a sudden heavy deluge of rain. he was fine after he dried off. Sorry about the fuzzy photo!

cedar-waxwing-bird.

This red breasted nuthatch, I found upside down on the porch, I think he hit the window. He flew away fine after a drink and some warmth.

nuthatch-rose-breasted-bird.

This came across our TV,  then we had three very small tornadoes..

tornado-tv-warning.

And there’s a frog living in my birdhouse. He’s been there since early July.

treefrog-birdhouse.

And I’ve taken at least one hundred photos of him,

smiling-tree-frog.

And he is smiling in every single one.

treefrog-sleeping-birdhouse.

🙂

©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2016

 

Squirrel!

There once was a cheeky squirrel

who was driving my poor dog mad

dog squirrel westie

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He mocked and he laughed and he chortled

Oh! He was such a cad.

dog squirrel westie.

He used diabolic acrobatics

To show me his tummy bare

Hanging about on the feeder

He masticated without a care.

squirrel feeder.

And yet he is saved from my revenge

By a fact of no dispute

Thief and bandit he may be

But aw look, he’s just so cute!

squirrel grey adorable pose

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2015

Please follow this link for available prints.

Thank you!

First hummingbird!

There he is!

I’m serious there is a hummingbird in that apple tree.
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appletree©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014

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Can’t see it? That’s okay.

Sometimes things are hiding in plain sight.

sammybubble©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014.

Can you see it?

hummertree©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

Come a little closer…

Too close!! Too close!!

sammylaugh©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014.

Phew. There he is.

hummer1©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

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Mmmm, that apple tree smelled delicious.

This painting was for a friend. It’s 11 x 14 inches, acrylic on canvas.

karem2©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014.

And this acrylic, 4×4 inches is of a friend’s dog.

He made this face right after he nipped at my husband.

He’s working on not nipping and this face made me laugh!

bulldog2©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014.

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Have a good one!

I’ll be back soon…I’m writing poetry again.

Mwah ha ha ha!! (that’s my evil laugh!)

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby, it’s cold outside..

Things to do when it’s cold.

You can watch the sunrise.

sunrise©Virginia Spencer, 2014.

Then run amok and do handstands.

ZeusSammy©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

You could play Charades!!

(Here Sampson is acting out a scene from the movie “Tremors”.
He’s a huge Kevin Bacon fan.
Mostly because his name is Bacon.)
Sammy4©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

Or dance the Tarantella.

turkey4©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

Do a little miming.

(See he’s walking in the wind…)

nuthatch©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013.

Or challenge a friend to a staring contest.

(But trust me, you’re going to lose this one.)

eagleclose©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

Sing!

Singing©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2014.

Or meditate

meditate©Virginia Spencer, 2014.

Or catch that red dot!

Zeus1©Virginia Spencer, 2014

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Invite some friends over for dinner.

Share a drink.

wchumm©Virginia Spencer, 2014.

And watch the moon rise.

MoonJan©Virginia Spencer, 2014

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

All Rights Reserved

 

 

Mudzilla!

(with my apologies to the Blue Oyster Cult)

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Deep from the depths of the backyard, a savage creature awaits, stalking, sniffing

…chasing tennis balls…

 The day comes when he pounces…

mudzilla1©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013.

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With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound

He’s a mole sniffing muck digging grimy hound

Eastern moles who think he’s a pain

Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them

He picks up a clod and he throws it back down

As he digs through mole tunnels underground

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Oh no! They says he’s got to go

Go! Go! Mudzilla!

Oh no! There goes the mole’s burrow!

Go! Go! Mudzilla!

History shows again and again how Sammy harasses the moles’ clan.

Mudzilla!!

History shows oh man, how I have to wash the dog again and again!

Mudzilla!

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mudzilla3©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013.

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Meanwhile in between washing the dog and refilling large holes in the yard I painted these little landscapes for a trade. These are all acrylic and 2.5 by 3.5 inches (the size of a playing card).

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atc1©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013

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atc2©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013

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atc3©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013

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atc4©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013.

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Disclaimer: No moles were harmed in the making of this and in fact they are currently digging up the back yard while giggling themselves silly over the foolishness of any one trying to outdig them..

Oops..

I’m just kidding, my husband saved this one from the lawn mower and put him back safely.

(He is sooooo soft!)

Mole©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013.

 

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013