Dog on the run
Click for larger
My friend Katherine Tyrell is teaching a wet canvas class in drawing and sketching in public, so it thought it would be fun to participate in some of her assignments and challenges. It sort of takes all the surprise out of it when I come up with my own challenges and it’s nice to let someone else throw a curve for a change. And I know her lessons wil be quite good. One of the first assignments was to do a series of 5, 10 and 15 minute sketches, and to try to do them as quickly as possible to loosen up. I don’t know any model who is looser than Ripley, and she obliged me with a few sittings, er, lyings. I’ll have to pay off in Milk Bones later.
Lydia Velarde
June 6, 2006
Great sketches Karen!
Michelle Himes
June 6, 2006
I found your dog drawings on the Wet Canvas Drawing 201 lesson on sketching, and thought they were terrific. So I came here and have read through several of your posts – enjoying both your drawings and your commentary. Will come back and read more when I have more time.
Nice work!!!
Michelle
Tami
June 6, 2006
Karen, it is official, I am in love with Ripley! I know, I am just another face in the crowd to her, but I can’t help my self, she is beautiful!!! Especially when you draw her!
I can’t believe these are 5, 10 and 15 minute sketches! Maybe my problem is that I am trying to put in too much detail…Hummm.
Cin
June 6, 2006
love those lines! another great Rilpey portrait, some of your best work I think, I’ve loved every one
Diahn
June 7, 2006
Superb! I love these – I think that’s why dogs were created…so they would provide us plenty of quick sketching opportunities! Ripley is a great model!
May I ask what type of bulldog she is? My Oscar is a dog of questionable parentage, and he really resembles Ripley a great deal in form! He’s also a great model!
Thanks for sharing these, Karen!
TeriC
June 7, 2006
Yeah, I’m with Tami on this one…I am in love with Ripley also! You made that challenge a lot of fun.
Roberto Bobrow
June 7, 2006
The full body Ripley can be used as an example for students. You made a cleaver choice of what NOT to draw plus a wonderfully balanced alternance of light and shades areas. Just great.
Ann Fortenberry
June 7, 2006
Always glad to see her Ripleyness. Dog on the Run is a great title. Now that I think about it, she’s probably running after rabbits in her dreams. It amazes me that you got those great sketchesdone in such a short time.
Annie
Karen
June 7, 2006
Thank you, all …
Diahn, she is an American bulldog, AKA “southern white dog” “southern bulldog” “white farm dog” etc. It’s what bulldogs were like in England before they were bred into today’s “English” style. They were long-legged, very brave, athletic, and good with families. Colonists brought them to the US to work on farms, and when the British bulldogs were bred into the new short-legged smushed-face style, these ancestors remained pretty much unchanged. There are two lines of American bulldogs, the Johnson and Scott lines (names of their breeders.) Ripley is from the Johnson strain. ABs are considered to be a rare working breed.
Ann, I think I can get some speed with Ripley because I am so familiar with drawing her. I’m not so fast with giraffes!
clare
June 8, 2006
Ahh that loose pose of Ripley’s is fantastic. He is wonderful model.
clare
June 8, 2006
Sorry Karen, SHE is a wonderful model
Stephanie
June 10, 2006
I’m glad you clarified Ripley’s pedigree. I’ve owned English Bulls and was confused seeing a bulldog so long legged and without the “smushed face”. I’ve never heard about American Bullies. Could never draw my pup “Humphrey Boneguard”. Whenever I got the pencil and paper out that was his signal to come and drool all over it. Your sketches are beyond incredible. Everyday I log in hoping to see a new one. Thanks