Goin' Mobile - my newest dog woodblock relief print

I really wanted to capture that ecstatic expression on dogs' faces when they are out for a car ride. Our mundane errands are big sight and smell events for our dog friends! I took a ton of photos trying to capture just the right expression with my Otto as my model. I enjoyed carving the pine block grabbing the detail of the expression and the fur.

What's extra special about this print is that it is part of the Baren Forum's exchange. The theme for this exchange was "My Window", so I borrowed a title from Pete Townshend, which, incidentally is the perfect theme song to the expression on Otto's face.

It's open edition, and one of the prints will be archived at the University of Kentucky.

And like all my woodcut prints, it's for sale, HERE.

Next up for me is finishing a portrait of two little girls. Almost done, so stay tuned!
I'm American artist, Robin Zebley. My pet portrait website, including custom woodblock print portraits, is HERE at http://robinzebley.com If you'd like to keep updated, click on "followers" to your right. If you'd like to see my whole blog, just click on the banner at the top of this post. I love dialogue on my art, so please do comment! Robin

First Autumn Leaves - Win this Piece!

Yesterday I announced that to celebrate my blog's milestone of hitting 500 unique views, I was going to give away an original, one of a kind piece of artwork. Well, here it is! This is the "first" that Otto, my brindle pitbull mix, sniffed and I collected yesterday on our walk. The first autumn leaves of the season.

This is about 3.5 x 4.5 inches, prismacolor and colorsoft professional-grade artist colored pencil on colorfix.

I picked up a brown leaf, an orangish leaf, a dark red leaf and one with a mix of brilliant colors with dark purples. Easy huh? Let me tell you, rendering leaves really tests your ability to see what's REALLY there...not what you think it is. What surprised me wasn't the mix of colors even on the "brown" leaf, but the veining on all the leaves...it's not like you think it is. Not only do they run in different directions, but curve different, meet the middle vein at different spots and change colors!

Now, I didn't get this posted last night as promised, so I'm going to extend the deadline for the raffle to win this piece to midnight Sunday night, October 5. Just send me an email to enter to win. It's robinzebley@gmail.com.

And those of you kind folks who sent me emails to tell me I'm crazy to give away my art...it's a celebration! Maybe I'll do it every "New 500". I'm titling this piece "First Autumn Leaves", and signing it in the back.

If you're visiting here for the first time...I'd invite you to take the time to scroll down and check out my other art...and my portrait site at http://robinzebley.com