"Blue Sky Eyes"

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I've just listed this ACEO to benefit Cast-A-Way Cats (CAWC).

20% of the final sale price will go to CAWC. This organization is, like many rescue groups, run on a shoestring and always struggling to place the pets in their care into forever homes. This all-volunteer group is in dire need of funds right now and with kitten season approaching, the need will be even greater.

Blue Sky Eyes - pencil & color pencil ACEO by Ann Ranlett

Graphite pencil & Prismacolor pencil (eyes & background)
2.5" x 3.5"
Click on the cat to see the auction listing.

I used a reference photo provided by an Art for Critters member (golders) - it's her cat "Tootles". I was taken by the look on Tootles' face and by her lovely blue eyes.

Here's golders' original photo:
Tootles - photo by golders

and my cropped and greyscale versions sized to ACEO format:
Tootles - photo by golders, cropped

Tootles - photo by golders, cropped, greyscale

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to use graphite pencil for the drawing and then tint the eyes when the graphite work was completed. At some point while I was working on it, I decided to add a hint of blue to the background as well. There is graphite under the blue of her eyes and the background. I sprayed the graphite with a workable fixative to keep that layer from smudging while overlaying the color pencil.

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Million Dog Mosaic

Sunday, February 10, 2008

What if you take 1 million photos of dogs and mosaic them? You get an image of a dog, of course!

I recently found out about this project, sponsored by Pedigree (no, I'm not getting a kick-back for mentioning this). For every photo uploaded, $1 will benefit a shelter dog (up to $20,000). So far they have nearly 23,000 photos uploaded.

image from the Pedigree Million Dog Mosaic web site
This little cutie is the mosaic image. All the images that dog lovers upload to the site will be composited to make up this one large image.

I've uploaded mine! I used this drawing I did of my 6-week old Magpie (she's now 6 years old).
Future Herder - Magpie, pencil drawing by Ann Ranlett
Click on Magpie to find her image in the mosaic.

Once you're on that page, you can zoom out to see how all the photos make up the large image. And can add your own dog - go ahead, you know you want to!

And speaking of mosaics, I'm participating in a mosaic of equine paintings called the "Glory of Horses". It's very similar to the Million Dog Mosaic - but with a lot less pieces. The final mosaic will be 16 feet tall and 20 feet wide and will be made up of 240 individual 12 x 16 inch paintings, created by equine artists from around the world. I just received my panel today, I'll post more info and progress photos soon! To find out about this ambitious project, visit the Glory of Horses web site.

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Contrasting Dogs

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Big Dog, Small Dog, Monochrome Dog, Colorful Dog. . .

Two new ACEOs now on eBay.
Click on the image to see the auction.

A big, hairy, jowly, slobbery Newfoundland, titled "Got Cookies?"
Got Cookies? Newfie drawing by Ann Ranlett
2.5" x 3.5", graphite pencil
This is Desmond, a sweet lug of a guy, who sadly, is no longer with us. I was thrilled to meet him a number of years ago when I was commissioned to create a portrait of him. I took lots of photos at that time and of course I saved them for future reference. Sure comes in handy when I'm looking for new ACEO subjects!

Here's Desmond's official portrait in ink on scratchboard:
Desmond - ink on scratchboard


And a stylish, colorful, sweet Australian Cattle Dog
I have a friend who calls them Australian "Comfort" Dogs! 'Cause although they do enjoy having a job - whether it's herding sheep or catching a ball - and they work hard, they love to kick back & relax in their off hours.
I created this mini painting in memory of Rocky who lived a wonderful, happy life with fellow A4C member hissnhowl. Rocky recently passed away and is dearly missed. What's A4C? It's Art for Critters - a group of animal loving artists who sell their work on eBay and donate a portion of the proceeds to select animal charities.
Rock On - ACD painting by Ann Ranlett
"Rock On"
2.5" x 3.5", watercolor & color pencil

I was moved to create this little painting in memory of Rocky when hissnhowl listed her own painting of him. Her painting reminded me of an image of my buddy Patch napping on the bed. So I snagged her photo of Rocky from the listing and used it for reference.
hissnhowl's photo

hissnhowl's photo cropped for my ACEO reference

A portion of the proceeds from "Got Cookies?" and "Rock On" benefit animal charities. See the auction listings for details.

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- - - All art and images ©Ann Ranlett, unless otherwise credited. All rights reserved. - - -
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