Painting an old cabinet, painting a dog, painting frames

The week I fixed a bunch of frames and painted a cabinet 

and a dog! 

Everything is coming up RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT THIS CABINET USED TO LOOK LIKE! 

I call this post, "The everything post."  I have had a busy 10 days.  With a wholesale show coming up (High Point Furniture market), I have been crammed.  Plus dealing with everything that life has thrown my way, I am one busy chick.  I am going to start with the cabinet, because I did that first.

There are drawers with this, too, but for some reason I photographed it without the drawers!  What!!!
Also, don't look at my messy studio.  

I lightly sanded this and then went to town painting it  I wanted it to  look as close as possible to an antique old painted cabinet that I loved but couldn't afford.  LOL.

This was the cabinet that I loved (the one on the left).  This is like 1825 and original and way expensive, like $100,000 PLUS.  

The top picture is an old cabinet.  LOVE THE TINY PULLS, but my cabinet's pulls are a little clunky....OH well!

I love the old cracked patina of this and the blotchy white spots on the painted cabinets.  

After more work 

So in this shot (above), I have added more chipping and lighter blue spots.  This was imperative to pull that old look off.  Actually, this looks better than in the photo.  Each day, I have worked a little on it.  The white cabinet's interior is also very cracked and chippy looking.  LOVE IT.   

LOVE #grunge

So what else did I do this last 10 days?  Well, I worked on some paintings that I have had around that I have meant to list on KOLENESPICHER Etsy, but have not had time.  Here is what I did!

I should call this painting "How many times can you paint this frame."  I think this is three...

Truthfully, I think I will keep these two.  I am in love with sailors.  I love this HOPE IS AN ANCHOR painting, too.  I truly believe the hope that God places inside us is like an anchor that helps us weather the storm.  

In this picture, you can see that the ANCHOR painting was painted black. 

I painted this black because I felt the other frame was a distraction.  It was so ugly, it needed something.  It's like having a perfect smile with a missing tooth. (NOT that my painting was perfect...) but you get the point.

This painting was unframed.  I had this frame sitting around but it needed painted.  I have two different colors in the graining.  The inside graining has a definite red tint 

I happen to think the black makes the whole painting pop.  I had it all grained at the beginning, but it needed something...  

Everything looks better on #spichervintagevinyl 

Lastly, this last 10 days, I painted this guy.  This makes No. 14!  I think he is a sweet boxer.  His name is King Louie! They called him Lou.  He just went to Doggy heaven.  I had to paint him next because I love his owner :(  SO sad.  Louie lives on through this painting...

Enjoy your day. 

Kolene Spicher 

  

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Kolene Spicher Original Dog Portraits, Post 4

The Dogs of Facebook 

Dachshunds, Maltese, Boxer, 

and the French Bulldog

The Boxer from Marysville 

I am having too much fun with this.  I hate to tell you this if you are waiting for folk art, but this post is all about dogs.  They keep pouring into my Facebook page, and so I continue to paint them.  

As I said, they will be available thru Spicher and Company mid April, 2017.  

If you are really sharp, you will notice that I did some changes to some of these posts above.  

Some changes ~ My Bernise Mountain dog, lower right corner, did not have a collar on.  I added this bright red collar and I happen to thing he's precious.  His name is Gipper and he is from Lancaster.  

My girlfriend really wanted a heart added to her Greyhound.  You will see Wobbie or Wubbie or whatever front and left of center.  

These are brother and sister Dachshunds, again straight from someone who contacted me
thru Facebook. 

Here are the Facebook Dachshunds that were the models

I am not certain what type of dog this little white pup might be.   My girlfriend who know a lot said that she thinks it is a Maltese.  

One dog that is really precious and I love is the French Bulldog.  Again, Facebook

French Bulldog

I happen to think that this dog turned out really well.  I just like him, and I am in love with black and white!  So there you have it, in love.  

You can see the likeness on this one.  Of course I added the bell.  

According to my same friend, the boxer and the French Bulldog (as well as the Boston Terrier) are all descendants from a bull dog type dog called Bullenbeisser from Germany.  She says it was a fiercely strong dog with a jaw that would hold wild boars and bulls by the nose while the huntsman shot them.  This required extreme tenacity, fearlessness, and super strong jaw muscles.  Of course, now they are all tamed down to be less aggressive (hopefully), except for some Pit Bulls.  Did I tell you that she loves dogs?

I love how these dogs look with my trophy!  HAHA, I am all about the decorating, too.  

Here's a closeup of the collar on the Bernise Mountain Dog.  It adds so much. 

There will be more dogs coming.  I will probably wait till there are four additional ones before I post another time about dogs.  

Enjoy and thanks for looking. 

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Dog Portraits, Post 3

More Dog Portraits That Melt my Heart 

Don't you just love your dog.  This little white dog is just as sweet looking 

as his photograph.  I love his eyes.  My favorite thing about my dog portrait 

is there innocent little eyes.  

This dog has warm undertones. I happen to know that it is a very nice companion and very loved.   I can't remember what her owner said her breed was, but I know the dog's name is Jenny!  

The Yellow Lab was painted a few days ago.  Loving the XO scarf around it's neck.  Again, a very loved puppy.  Labs are such gentle dogs.  And LOVING. 

I have plans to do some more greyhounds.  I really love the gracefulness of their stride.  (See greyhound top left). 

More Jenny! 

So far I think I have nine dogs finished.  I plan to do as many as I can before starting the next project. If you have a dog that you would like me to paint, message me! I am painting these handsome portraits for Spicher and Co! 

Today I finished the painting that goes with this dog.  

Again, I just love the eyes.  

Thanks for looking.  

ENJOY! 

PS...My next dog will be this one!  Loving the sweater! 

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More Dog Portraits

Hello Shorkie, Bernise Mountain Dog, and Whippet

A little Shorkie named Oscar! 

Well, it's official.  I am doing more dog portraits.  They keep pouring in and I don't even have to decide which dogs to do.  I am just painting them all!  

Yesterday, I finished up this little guy above.  

I also finished this one up yesterday and sort of tweaked it today.  I wanted the coloring to be perfect on this Whippet!  

Meet Gipper!  

This is my friend's dog from Lancaster.  I just had to do him.  If you have never met a Bernise Mountain Dog, well they are huge with a big heart to match.  This is one nice puppy! 

I combed his hair for this picture.  Just kidding.  

Here's the clan!  If you have a dog that you would like me to paint for Spicher and Co's print line, let me know.  These prints will be ready for High Point in April, 2017  

I am going to be doing the following dogs next whenever I get the chance.  I have some appointments coming up next week and a busy schedule, but I shall do my best! 

Jenny!  

A pair of dachshunds 

This dog belongs to my friend Rhonda.  I cannot think of her name or breed.  UPDATE next week.  

Can't remember the breed, sorry.  English Bull dog? Jen's dog! 

Well, that is my list for next week.  I will be fortunate if I get to them all.  I have a busy week.  Thanks for looking! 

Enjoy!

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Dog Portraits for Spicher and Company

Jill and Scout

My sweet little pups. 

Many of you know that I have two dogs.  Early in my life, I would have never thought of myself as a dog person but strange things happen when you have children.  

I have three boys.  One day, my middle boy came home from school and said, "I want a dog."  

"No!"  I said.  "I am not going to have to clean up after dogs going to the BR on my carpeting. " 

He went on to beg.  It was quite a sight.  He went on to tell me that he was praying that I would change my mind.  Oh boy.    That Christmas, he spent all of his money on dog toys, dishes, and beds.   This boy has always had so much faith.  Talk about twisting my heart in a pretzel.  Truthfully, a whole calendar year passed with Billy faithfully praying and me continuing to protest.  One day, he came home from school and said, "Mom, should I stop asking God for a dog."  I felt this little voice inside my heart saying, "You are my hands and feet."  From that point forward, things fell in line, and we were given Jill by a friend who needed someone to take her.  What a gift this dog has been.  I just love her.  

I took off the MY LOVE part.  Her hair is actually more champagne colored but I liked it looking white and clean.  I like clean things.  LOL. 

See you clearly tell that her hair is champagne in coloring.  Don't be upset, it's my painting.  She is such a sweet dog. 

I have another dog, too, that I clean up after.  Her name is Scout.  She is a beagle.  She is a remarkable dog.  She has a huge mouth, a jealous streak, and cries when she doesn't get her way.  She's not as mature as my Girl.  I love her, too, though.  She actually listens.  I mean really listens and obeys.  

This was the reference material that I used to paint her.  Like Jill, it's not exact, but it still captures her personality.  

I see these dog portraits in a double white frame.  (See Below). 

This is one of my Mermaids from www.spicherandco.com

You can't actually tell from the picture, but there is a piece of glass that is floating between the white liner and the actual frame of this print.  I believe the frame is WCWL.  

I have a very dear friend that this very sweet Bernise Mountain Dog belongs to.  His name was Gipper and he just passed away.  When I would go to see my friend, I would always take the time to pet this dog.  He was huge and had a heart to match.  Gipper is my next portrait.  

I have another friend that owns this beautiful Whippet.  This is the most graceful dog you will ever find.  When she runs thru the yard, it's like a ballerina.  She will be after Gipper.  

Check back! 

ENJOY. 

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