Sulphur Crested Cockatoo - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/29/2008

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo – This bird was much more difficult to paint than I thought. Showing the delicate crested feathers in shaded tones against a dark background was a real challenge. The birds face was also painted in the shade so I could show some definition and feather highlights. I’ve displayed a second picture of the Cockatoo here as our female cat, “Baby”, was interested enough to get in front of the camera, inspect and give her approval. She is always very curious of my painting and it’s subjects, also holds a good conversation. Your comments are welcomed.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

The Black Lab - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/26/2008

The Black Lab – A couple of months ago I was asked by a client if I ever painted Labradors. I never did answer the question, as I was leery of painting an all black dog and being able to show its features or the warm personality of the animal. Later I did a commission of an all black dog and loved doing it. Today I tried another. I would appreciate your honest comments.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

The Keeshond - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/25/2008

The Keeshond – this was a wonderful project to do as this dog has so much life in its face. Their colors are perfect for emphasizing contrasts, throw in a small amount of color and you are there. This one was actually suggested to me by a member of our local coffee klatch. I’m happy I got the suggestion. Your comments are always welcome.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Chocolate Labradoodle - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/22/2008

Chocolate Labradoodle – Earlier, on Feb. 14, I painted a Labradoodle and at that time promised to paint its sibling, a chocolate. This one was harder to do and more time consuming, but I’m really pleased with the results. These are beautiful dogs and striking see due to their size. They are a mix of a full size Poodle and a Labrador.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

In The Powder - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

$75.00+$10.00 S & H (USPS Priority Mail to USA)
email me for international Priority Mail rates
California residents add 7.75% sales tax

In The Powder – For those of you who live near popular sky areas this is probably a familiar sight. If not, you should go see it. We were riding in the alpine gondola at Mammoth Mountain a few years ago at the time an Olympic sky team was practicing there. Sights like this were common all that day. This painting is a composite of the pictures taken on that day.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Eve - Oil on 11 x 14 Canvas Panel

COMMISSIONED PAINTING

Eve – A rescued dog whose story has a happy ending, is an 11-month-old ridgeback cross that was rescued from under a house this past Christmas Eve so her rescuers named her Eve. After being starved for five weeks (no water, no food) and surviving on flies, she weighed 22 pounds and was just a day from death. Every bone in her body was visible. Her target weight is 80 to 100 lbs. and today she appears well on her way back to a full recovery and also very happy. The guy pictured with her is a composit picture of my old friend Rick and my neighbor. Your comments are welcome.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Labradoodle - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

$75.00+$10.00 S & H (USPS Priority Mail to USA)
email me for international Priority Mail rates
California residents add 7.75% sales tax

Labradoodle – Two days ago I was sitting at the coffee shop when this couple came up two big dogs, I’d guess fifty to sixty pounds each. One was dark chocolate and the other was much lighter in color. I carry a camera at all times just for occasions like that. Today I painted this one and soon I will try the chocolate one. Their coats were both wooly like the Poodle, but the build and size were both definitely Labrador.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

The Cat Nap - Oil on 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

$75.00+$10.00 S & H (USPS Priority Mail to USA)
email me for international Priority Mail rates
California residents add 7.75% sales tax

The Cat Nap – You can almost her purrrrrrr. If this doesn’t relax you, probably nothing will. I wake most mornings about 3:00 AM or so to the sound of our cat purring while laying next to my pillow. I don’t know why she pics that time of the morning, but she does. It seems like the rest of the day she sleeps on the sofa and doesn’t make a sound. We put up with it because she is such a wonderful and well mannered pet. Since I am awake that early anyway, that’s when I usually paint. The Cat Nap

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Hyacinth Macaw - Oil on 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

Commission Painting

Hyacinth Macaw – This is a commission painting for a repeat client who is currently experiencing winter weather in the upper Midwest, burrrrr. She had one of these as a pet about 30 years ago.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Black Crowned Crane - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

$75.00+$10.00 S & H (USPS Priority Mail to USA)
email me for international Priority Mail rates
California residents add 7.75% sales tax

Black Crowned Crane - The national bird of Nigeria of which the population has plummeted from more than 15,000 birds in the early 1970s to no more than a few individuals today. The Black Crowned Crane is of global conservation concern, is classified as endangered and legally protected. I personally think they are beautiful and when I saw a picture of one I had to paint one. The Black Crowned Crane. Your comments are welcome.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

DOWNHILL - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

$100.00+$10.00 S & H (USPS Priority Mail to USA)
email me for international Priority Mail rates
California residents add 7.75% sales tax

Downhill – I’ve always said that to learn you have to challenge. You start with a blank white canvas and use lights, darks, different tones and values to achieve something new and exciting. It’s not as easy as it looks, but if you study the subject, derive a plan and follow it, you usually end up with an acceptable result. Well, this was a new challenge for me. I had to pay particular attention to the light, after all, snow is usually white and on a clear day the sky is usually blue. I discovered that contrasts were the key to this painting. I would value your opinions so please take the time to let me know what you think…

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

The Red Parrot - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

Sold to a group member in 5 minutes

If you would like to become a group member and receive my posts as I post them,
email me and I'll add you. Russ Baker

The Red Parrot – I don’t know if red parrots are rare or not, but it sure was hard to find examples to work from. To achieve a bright sunlit look using reds is difficult without it getting pink on you, so after experimenting with different combinations I finally got there, at least I think so. I really won’t know until I hear from some you viewers. Please, your comments are always welcome.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

The Blue Parrot - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/05/2008

The Blue Parrot – I love these parrots as they offer such color intensity and there are so many different varieties of them. I’d bet you could paint one a day for at least 3 months and not paint the same one twice. Let me know what you think…

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

The Green Parrot - Oil on 9 x 12 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/04/2008

The Green Parrot – Thought I would try one of these. I’ve seen so many in past years and the colors are always so intense. Let me know what you think…

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Deep Thinker - Oil on 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

SOLD 2/03/2008

Deep Thinker – More than twenty years ago we went to our local pound and adopted a little orange female kitten that was ill and they were going to euthanize. She and her siblings had somehow lost their mother and they were all sick cat respiratory disease. I forget the medical name. I agreed to take her to my vet and resolve her medical issues and they allowed us to take her home. Once cured, she was just like any other little kitten except for the fact that she was overly headstrong, much like a male, so we gave her a male name, called her Fred. Through out her life she lived up to that name.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net

Sun Conure Parrot - Oil on 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

$69.00 + $10.00 S & H (USPS Priority mail to USA)

Paypal preferred
email me for international shipping details
California residents add 7.75% sales tax

Sun Conure Parrot – Painting the whole bird is much different than painting just the head. It’s harder to show any kind of emotion this way. The Sun Conure can be found naturally in eastern South America, mostly north of the Amazon River, also they were exported to and are now found in Mexico and the Caribbean. Their beautiful coloring makes them highly sought after and their ability to love their human companions adds to their charm. The Sun Conure Parrot.

email
russells.studio@pacbell.net