That time of the year

It is near the midwinter time and we are looking ahead to a new spring and all the promise that it brings. However it is also the time when your beagle pack gets to perform the job that they were borne to do, Chase rabbits. These days go fast and each one is a memory.Young dogs now older cry with authority and lead.Older dogs now older don't lead as much.Youngest dogs learn from there older pack mates and sing the songs of tomorrow and next year.This song once so loud in America seems to be rarer than in older days.It is always a time to be thankful we live where it can still be heard.

The painting is titled" Ahead of the Hounds" and is available as a LE Print

Portrait of Riley Oil on Canvas

Riley is a very happy, playful dog and I was very glad to be asked to paint a portrait. A few minutes of playing fetch and a photo shoot and we were ready to go. In the past few years I have scaled down my pet portrait commissions and have focused mostly on Sporting dogs which are dear to my heart. But it was nice to add this portrait to my portfolio... So Here's Riley! Oil on Canvas, completed December 2008.

Welcome Joshua Chamberlain

Welcome to my blog. I have decided that as a artist it would be fun and good for me to discuss my works and to let people know what I am up to. This 10x12 painting was completed late last December and is a likeness of well known Col. Joshua Chamberlain of 20th Maine fame. Working quickly this study is an interpretation of several photographs. After studying a number of these I have become very aware of the condition of these soldiers after they had spent a period of time in the field and tried to look their best for the camera. It is very interesting to see the less famous views of the other side of their faces as this really makes you consider what these fellows looked like.

The new year is shaping up well with a good quantity of work in progress, also several invitations for shows for 2009. The Christmas Season was good for me as it seems people were looking for meaningful gifts to give in a trying economic time. For information on the availability of this work,please contact me at kjsketchman@gmail.com