Seeing Red

March 14, 2015March 14, 2015 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

Last week while we were still in the deep freeze I heard a knock at my window.

As I was on the second floor, I was a bit startled.

I looked around and there on the ground was a very woozy cardinal.

Now I know, it’s not a good idea to mess with nature even if you mean well and normally a bird after hitting a window will be okay after a rest but it was so cold the cardinal was starting to stick to the ground so I had to intervene. (Now there’s a good example of a run on sentence. I haven’t written one in awhile, I’m so glad I haven’t lost my touch!)

He really didn’t seem to mind the open box with a hot water bottle in it.

He stayed there for quite a while, I was starting to get worried.

Fortunately, he was just really comfy.

After a couple hours, all was well!

He’s still hanging around. I think he’s waiting for me to put the hot water bottle back out again. Maybe I should add a little bird spa to the front porch. I could call it “Chic Chicks” or “Pique Your Beak” or “Fly and Dry”. On the other had we already have many “Seed and Feed” franchises around the yard. No body ever pays but we like the company.

Here’s an ink drawing of a church in the woods. (thank you to the person who put the reference photo into WetCanvas, Reference Image Library). This is 3×5.

These are all ATC”s (artist trading cards). They are 2.5 by 3.5 inches, the size of a playing card.

A blue heron in acrylic.

A ibis in ink.

A helmeted guinea fowl in ink and colored marker.

A Somalian wild ass in acrylic.

(This is a terrible scan, it looks way better in real life)

And a laughing zebra in acrylic.

I hope you enjoyed your Friday the 13th and today’s Pi Day.

Have a happy Ides of March tomorrow!

©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2015

Please follow this link for available prints.

Thank you!

May the Dog be with you.

February 22, 2015 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

If you haven’t heard, it’s been a mite chilly out.

I know, I know, it’s shocking news.

I’m sorry I had to break it to you like that.

Personally I don’t mind the cold or snow.

Especially when a walk around my neighborhood looks like this.

I must admit, it is a bit rough to have this much snow and a white dog.

Of course when temperatures drop into the frostpaw levels, the dogs need to mostly stay inside.

Sometimes when I try to make them go outside even when it’s not that cold out, they simply vanish into thin air.

I don’t know how that happens.

Hmmmm.

It’s a mystery.

I recently made a bunch of ATC’s of animals for a trade.

ATC’s are artist trading cards. They are 3.5 by 2.5 inches, the size of a regular playing card.

These are in acrylic.

They will most likely appear larger on your screen then they are in real life.

And here’s a couple of ATC’s in ink.

Have a good one!

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2015

Please follow this link for available prints.

More prints to become available soon.

Thank you!

Ode to a Turkey

February 7, 2015 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 12 Comments

There is a turkey in my yard
I don’t know what he wants

.
He struts to and fro
And yells oh such nasty taunts

.
He waggles his wattles
And snoozles his snood

And he blocked the driveway
Cause he’s in a fowl mood

.
But I will not let him
Get to me

For instead I have painted
A watercolor tree.

The End

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2015

Christmas Trees, Peeping Toms and Dog Portraits

December 9, 2014December 9, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

It’s that time of year again.

Dummy was so excited to decorate the tree, he forgot to put his pants on.

He thinks he’s sexy.

No wonder we have so many peeping Toms.

Yeah, I see you Tom Turkey.

That’s right, strut away all casual like.

But I know what you did..

Sampson, I can’t believe you let them get that close to the house.

What do you have to say for yourself?

Really!

And to think, I made a portrait, just for you.

Acrylic, 8×10

Don’t worry Zeus, I made you one too.

Acrylic, 8×10

What do you think of that, Zeus?

Sigh…

Here’s a couple little landscapes too. Acrylic, 3×5

Acrylic 3×5

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

And the sign said..

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 3 Comments

Hats!!!

Oh I do like a nice looking sign.

I don’t like roast beef sandwiches but I had to admire this old school Arby’s sign.

I think it’s much nicer than a pig hawking his family’s wares while standing in a pit of fire.

Although he is kind of cute..

For a masochistic cannibal pig chef that is.

Now this is a delicious sign.

Yeah, I made that.

And this is a happy sign.

We’ve had some construction troubles with our bridges, so..

Yippee!

I fell in love this sign.

And yes it does rock.

And of course there are always useful warning signs.

Mascots creep me out.

Especially the ones with really big furry heads.

Magical things happen..my ass.

This is the perfect sign to start a horror movie with..

Deep in the shadows, the foul stench of a thousand locker rooms emanated from a lumbering monstrosity. As it lifted its gargantuan head, its puppet mouth stretched in a voiceless scream.

They would know! They all would soon know..

The Horror,!

The Pain!

The Abomination that is matted faux fur…

Whew. I need to quiet down.

Oh good there’s a sign for that too.

Though I must admit, I’ve never seen a corn head that wasn’t calm.

So this is conclusively catatonic corn. Yummy.

This sign is a standard directive.

Eat!!

Okay. That’s a good bossy sign.

Hmm.

Bossy and a little disturbing

To the funeral home..

No! Just no!! Stop it.

This sign seems to be confused..

Is it Ed’s

Or Art’s

Or is it Ed’s & Art’s

Or Art’s & Ed’s.

Or is it Arts as in The Arts.

Can I go in there and buy some liquor and some canvases and then paint like Pollock?

I think I need a drink.

Ahh, I see what you did there.

Thank you very much.

This sign is just pretty.

Most of these signs are in or around Galena, Illinois which is where this Inn is.

This is a pen and ink, a little smaller than 3×5.

I did finish it in watercolor but for some reason forgot to photograph it before mailing it off.

If you want to see it in color, simply print it off and go to town with some crayons. Enjoy.

These are some calm colorful corn heads in acrylic. 3×5 on canvas.

And an autumn scene, in acrylic for a WetCanvas Mini challenge. 3×4 inches.

This is a real quickie. Took about fifteen minutes because sometimes it’s simply fun to throw paint around willy nilly.

And it also gives me the chance to use the word “willynilly”.

I don’t use willy nilly enough.

Or amok.

So run amok and paint willy nilly.

Have a good one.

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

Happy Fourth!

July 4, 2014July 4, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 7 Comments

Happy Independence Day!

This is my town series.

All are ATC/ACEo size which is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, the size of a regular playing card.

(these appear bigger on your screen then they are in real life)

Ink and watercolor.

©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

First hummingbird!

May 24, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

There he is!

I’m serious there is a hummingbird in that apple tree.
.

Can’t see it? That’s okay.

Sometimes things are hiding in plain sight.

Can you see it?

Come a little closer…

Too close!! Too close!!

Phew. There he is.

Mmmm, that apple tree smelled delicious.

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

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!

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

It’s May?

May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

Hmm, somehow I missed April.

I think what happened is that the spring came and I lost my mind.

But I did take some photos.

This is the Lock and Dam No 15, on the Mississippi River.

It is the largest existing roller dam in the world. It’s nickname is the “Washing Machine of Death”.

dum dum da dummmm

Nothing like a nickname that sounds like some cheap knockoff wrestling name.

“And in this corner, ladies and gentleman…the Washing Machineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee of Death!!!!!!!!!!”

And the crowd goes wild!

It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Lock and Dam No. 15 Historic District, #04000175 covering 3,590 acres (1,450 ha), 2 buildings, 9 structures, and 1 object.” I know where the two buildings and nine structures are but what the heck is the one object?

This is a water pumping station. (I think)

This was taken inside the car wash.

Because that’s how I roll.

And I made my own planet.

I saw a dinosaur.

I painted a few tiny geese, with watercolor.

(I’ve painted these before but not with watercolor)

These are all ATC/ACEO size. (2.5 x 3.5 inches, the size of a playing card)

And this is a sunset.

I’d like to claim that I meant to do that, but actually I was in a moving car.

And the camera was on the wrong setting.

Much like the setting I used to take a photo of the “Blood Moon” which incidentally is a much better nickname then the “Washing Machinnnnnnnnnne of Death!!!!”

The blue is the star Spica.

That’s alright, you win some, you lose some.

I also wrote a poem about squirrels which I lost.

I think the squirrels may have stolen it.

Oh don’t me give me that cute face..

Ah well, have a good one!

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Hi!

August 17, 2013August 17, 2013 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 13 Comments

Hi….

It’s been awhile…

But this is what I’ve done so far with my summer.

I was sidetracked for a bit by a large monster.

It said ” Rawrrrrrrr, Rawrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, RAWRRR!!!”

Which is for monsterspeak for

“Help! I’m stuck!!”

And he struggled back and forth..

“Rawwwrrrrr, rawwwrrrrrr! RAWRRRR!!!”

Translation: “Hmmm. Maybe if I lean a bit and put one leg down and rock back and forth…”

“Rawrr”

Translation: “Okay, I’m out, it’s all good”

And then he sheepishly crawled away.

Even the hummingbird did a dance for him.

“I’m so HAPPY!!”

While the grumpy hummingbird rolled his eyes..

Then I saw a butterfly..

And “Marine One” flew the President over my house.

So I painted this in acrylic for a WetCanvas Paint Along.

And I bought a new Bic pen so I did some quick doodling.

Other then that, there’s not much going on. Though I did let Zeus and Sampson watch Sharknado and now they’re making their own film called “Dognado”. Zeus, as the art director of the film, thought the garden looked too fruitful so he promptly picked all the tomatoes.

Yes, I have no tomatoes.

Sigh.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

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Procrastination, Corruption and Weird Animals..

March 31, 2013March 31, 2013 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 15 Comments

And no, I’m not talking about Congress.

Alas and alack, my computer is corrupt. Not surprising really, I do live in Illinois after all. Yes, the State that was just charged with securities fraud which I guess makes all the Illini and our puppy dogs too, felons (allegedly).

“Oh I’m a felon, you’re a felon, he’s a felon, she’s felon, wouldn’t you like to live in Illinois too!”

*sigh*

So anyway, I have 2600 plus error messages on my computer. And yet it keeps on going, generating error after error after error. I’d like to say I’ve never worked with people like that but sadly, I have.

At least I’m over my Hitchcock/Poe/Ansel Adams stage..

Almost.

Okay I think I’m really done.

(I’m not making any promises mind you.)

I was considering going back to being a bird stalker (allegedly).

But my bird stalking desires were temporarily sated by finally being able to take a photo of the barred owl in my backyard. For almost four years he’s been back there yelling “Who cooks for you!’. I don’t know why he’s so obsessed with what goes on in my kitchen but at least I now have his photo in case he breaks in and rearranges my pots and pans.

So at a loss at what to do with myself I went over to the local zoo.

Little did I know that they recently acquired a panda. Yes a panda!

It’s on their Endangered Animals Carousel.

This is the rare prancing, fanged panda.

Then I meet the Tiger who was seems to be designed to make sure your child never ever wants to go back on a carousel.

And just in case that didn’t scare them..

Which explains why this one looks so nervous.

But doesn’t explain the supercilious grin on this one.

Which is followed by my favorite, the not so rare naughty cat with a fish.

And all this means is that I spent all day in a zoo and mostly took photos of fake animals.

Yeah, that’s how I roll.

I finally remembered how to paint again, thank goodness, I was getting worried.

This is an acrylic, of a pond near my house with ice on it as the sun was thinking of going down.

As you can see, I also remembered how to write run on sentences.

This is an acrylic that was done in a paint a long session on Wetcanvas (with thanks to Beth for putting her photo in Wetcanvas’s Reference Image Library).

And this one is also from a paint a long on Wetcanvas, which I hosted as a lesson in painting on a black background. My thanks to SBJ for the original reference photo.

Note: There’s no time limits on a paint a long, so if you want to join in, go for it!

My apologies for not being around too much, other then sheer procrastination, I have no excuse.

None at all!

Take care!

I’ll be back.

(Please read that last part in a Schwarzenegger type of voice.)

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the purple dog painting blog

Art, Poetry, Photography & Other Nonsense

painting

Seeing Red

May the Dog be with you.

Ode to a Turkey

Christmas Trees, Peeping Toms and Dog Portraits

And the sign said..

Happy Fourth!

First hummingbird!

It’s May?

Hi!

Procrastination, Corruption and Weird Animals..

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