They loved it! They opened it when the reception was almost done (Drew’s mother told me she’d make sure they opened it in front of me, such a sweet woman!), and then I got ‘dragged’ around the place as they showed it to everyone.

It’s so nice to see that kind of reaction. :)

Don't even have it completely opened yet!

They wanted a picture of me with them and the painting.

It’s done! I was up rather late last night getting it finished, but it’s finished. I’m pleased at how it turned out. I do need more work with shading and highlighting black and white animals, but I think it turned out rather well.

Kendra’s front legs were off, and I managed to get them fixed. I pretty much had the elbow in the wrong spot (too far up), but got it where it should be, and ’straightened’ her leg, and it all fell into place.

Auri’s color is more accurate in this picture than it has been in past pictures, and I think it’s pretty much dead on. So happy about that.

Now, just to present it to them!

The final painting.

Down to the last stages. A little more work on the kitties, finishing up Auri’s ear, and some more highlights on him. This isn’t the best picture, but it’s 10:30 at night, and it’s hard to take pictures with the light inside the house. I’ll be done with this tonight, and take a final picture tomorrow.

Some refining to the 'kids'.

Finally seriously tackling the kitties. Not too bad, they’re coming along alright. Not liking something about Kendra’s front legs, but I’m gonna set Murphy back up (just need to find more frosting) and see if I can tell what’s wrong.

Auri is pretty much done, just a little bit of refining to him and his ear.

Auri almost done, still working on the kitties.

It’s been a little while. I’ve been working on it, just haven’t stopped to take pictures like I planned. Still working on it and time is getting short, but nonetheless, I’m pleased with where I’m at.

Auri is looking very good, just have to work on his ear some more, and a little more highlighting (Jon says he’s still too dark). The kitties are proving difficult, but I’m getting there with them. Decided to start the folds in the blanket before I was done with Auri and had to be too careful with my painting.

I had to use Murphy for a model, though. Didn’t have a good face on shot of Kendra, so I wasn’t sure about placement of her tail in relation to her body the way I wanted it to lay. Murphy, while smaller, seems about the same dimensions, so I just used her, and some frosting, to hold her in the position I needed. This could be very useful in the future for cats. heh

Starting the shadows and highlights.

Auri is headed in the right direction and I’m feeling much better about it, so I felt it was time to start working on Kaylee and Kendra. This will be fun… haven’t done black and white animals yet. The shading and highlighting on them will be a joy, I’m sure. But just have some basic color in on them for now.

Auri gets more work, and the kitties start getting color.

There, he’s starting to come along now. Still needs more lightening, but I don’t wanna go too far in the other direction and make him too light. Bah… such a fine line when painting someone’s animal. I’m pleased at how he’s coming, though. Realized the eyes were too far apart in my sketch, though, so I painted over them and sketched them back in… I think that’s about right.

A little more work on Auri.

Decided to focus on Auri for a little bit and try and get his color smoothed out some. It’s coming along. Still think the color is a little dark, but it looks good for the shadows and I’m still painting him. Not sure about the nose, though, I think it needs a little more work… something isn’t right about it.

More work on Auri.

Starting to get some color laid down on this. Not sure about the color of the blanket, but I can adjust that later. Auri’s color… It’s bothering me… too red. I’ll just tone it down as I go, I need the dark to get the good shadows. Plan to work on him some before I really get started on Kaylee and Kendra.

Starting colors on the background and Auri.

This is a painting for friends of ours that are getting married in June. I’m working this painting and sketch from multiple photos of each animal (although the cat on the left, who I think is Kendra, is also going to be done from photos or live looking at Murphy since I can’t find a good face on photo of her). The cats are his, the dog is her’s, and it’ll be interesting to see how they all do living together… at least, I hope, this painting gives them hope that it can be this friendly and calm. :)

Lewis Bunch initial sketch on canvas