Thursday, December 22, 2011

Lena


Lena

My final completed commission for 2011... an immortal portrait of Lena.  Lena was a much loved member of the family and I hope that her portrait brings fond memories for a long time to come for them

Lena

10" x 14"
watercolour

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original works of art for sale

Gift certificates available
Payment plan offered


Pay Pal Accepted
Solution Graphics

Monday, December 12, 2011

Clear for Take Off

Clear for Take Off

I started work on this piece quite some time ago.. and just could work out what it was that I wasnt happy with... finally decided that it needed a change of back ground colour.. so out came the black and now I feel its working much better makes the horse and rider stand out.

Clear for Take Off
23" x 25"
Mixed Media

$1200 unframed + shipping

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original Artwork for sale

Payment plan & Gift vouchers
available

Pay Pal welcome

Wednesday, November 23, 2011


Sentinel

I know that this piece is way different from my usual imagery of animals and people..

Call me odd but when we where in Arizona the fire hydrants fascinated me.. theyre so different from ours here in Australia which are plates in the side walks not like these quirky fellows at all...

These guys look like little men standing on the side of the road
.. so I had to draw one just well as a memory I guess of my trip.. now I'm not sure if I will frame , sell or just put it in the draw to look at at a later date.

If however one of my blog followers would like to purchase this piece please feel free to drop me an email catherin@animalarthouse.com.. you would have to say he would make a very different and slightly quirky Christmas gift .



Sentinel

9" x 12"

Pastel

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome worldwide
Original artwork for sale

Payment plan & gift certificate available

Pay Pal welcome

 




Thursday, November 17, 2011

Lost in Tought


Lost in Thought

You've heard of hot off the easel well Lost in Thought is hot on the easel... completed yesterday .

All finish by sealing the canvas .. I like to leave them a week or so to do that to make sure the paint is completly dry..

Lost in Thought is my latest pop art pup painting.

Lost in Thought
16" x 20"
acrylic on 1" gallery wrapped canvas

available drop me an email catherin@animalarthouse.com if you would like more information

Catherin McMillan

Commission welcome
Original artwork for sale

Gift certificates available
Payment plan offered

Pay pal welcome





Monday, November 7, 2011

Moo R U


Moo R U

Moo R U is finally finished and what a lot of fun she was to paint ... has just SOLD through the Light Horse Gallery Robertson NSW Australia
Thank you Paul Henderson  for the use of your fantastic photo which enabled me to paint Moo R U.

Moo R U
16" x 20" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

If you would like to be the first to know of the new upcoming Moo paintings please feel free to send me an email catherin@animalarthouse.com  and I will add you to the special first preview with option to purchase list..
Catherin McMillan


commissions welcome worldwide
gift vouchers and easy payment plan available

Pay pal available




Monday, October 31, 2011

Ziggy


Ziggy

Ziggy is my latest equine commission.. my client commissioned Ziggy for her friends wedding present... 

Portraits make not only wonderful memory pieces for yourself of that special animal that has shared your life... They also make great gifts for special occasions..

Ziggy
10" x 14"
pastel

Catherin McMillan


Commissions welcome worldwide
Original Art Work for sale

Payment plan and gift vouchers available

Pay Pal Accepted

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Woolley Bull


Woolley Bull

My entry in the upcoming American Society of Bovine Artists annual exhibition at Cactus Jacks Gruene Texas opening on the 22nd October and running until the 31st December 2011.

I had a lot of fun working out the colours Id use in this fellows coat.. a young highlander bull... if your going to be in Gruene Texas around those dates above you can check him out in person.

Woolley Bull
8" x 8" 
pastel

Catherin McMillan

Original artwork for sale
Commissions welcome worldwide

Gift vouchers and payment plan available

Pay pal welcome 


Monday, October 3, 2011

Pop Art Pups off to the Light Horse Gallery


                   Pugels                                 Perfect in Pink                                   Pugsley


Pugels, Pefect in Pink and Pugsley at all pop art pups 8" x 10" and will be heading off to the Light Horse Gallery - Robertson NSW Australia tomorrow

Pop art pups are a little different from my detailed watercolours, pastels and acrylics .. making a modern alternative to an animal portrait.. Choice of background colours are available when you commission a pop art pup portrait.

If you would like to commission a pop art  pup similar to Pugels, Perfect in Pink or Pugsley.. drop me an email 

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome worldwide
Original artwork for sale

Gift Vouchers and Payment Plan available

Pay Pal welcome

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Well Moo 2 U


Well Moo 2 U

Finally finished and ready to frame Well Moo 2 U up.. I had heaps of fun working on these ladies with the unusual colours of blue and purple.. though if you really  look at an animal that has a black coat they are never truly black.

Thank you to Shane Young for the use of your fantastic photo ... cant wait to start on the sister painting to this one also from a photo of Shane's.

Well Moo 2 U
14" x 21"
pastel

$750.00 unframed
$1000.00 framed (Australia only)


Catherin McMillan

Commissions Welcome
Original artwork for sale
Limited Edition Prints of select work available

Gift certificates available
Payment plan offered on all work

Pay Pal available



Sunday, September 18, 2011

Well Moo Too U - work in progress


Well Moo To U - work in progress

Ive been out of the studio for over a month now with a trip to the USA... when I get back into the studio after a break I like to start with something fun before getting down to the business of commissions or work for exhibition.

"Well Moo R U" has been drawn up for quite sometime ready to make a start on.. now was the perfect time to get her or should I say them underway..

"Well Moo R U" is another in my quirky cow works only this time they're all in blues, yellows and pinks on black paper.

Upon completion the finished drawing will be 14" x 21" in pastel

If you would like to register your interest to purchase prior to completion you can drop me an email .. and I will ship for free.

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original art work for sale

Limited Edition prints of selected works

Pay Pal & Payment plan accepted.




Sunday, July 31, 2011

Learning to Trust



Learning to Trust... take 2


I started this painting sometime ago and wasn't at all happy with the way it was playing out.. so I decided as you do to start again...

Much happier second time around with the way the painting it is coming along..

Upon completion Learning to Trust will be travelling to the US as part of the Lamingtons & Apple Pie exhibition at the Sedona Art Centre Arizona... opening on the 15th August running through until the 29th August

Learning to Trust

10" x 14"  upon completion
watercolour


Catherin McMillan

Original Art Work for Sale
Commissions welcome

Gift Vouchers & Payment Plan Available

Pay Pal Accepted

Monday, July 25, 2011

Feather in my Cap


Feather in my Cap

Sometimes when you complete a work your not entirely happy with it when you come back and take a look later on.

That's been the case with Feather in my Cap it wasn't until I photographed the finished drawing that I realised there was a mark on the paper. Rather than rework the entire drawing I decided to add a back ground colour...

I think he blue back ground brings the horse and little girl more forward toward to the foreground in the drawing.. so thank goodness for that mark.

Feather in my Cap

19" x 25"

pastel

Catherin McMillan

Commission welcome
Original Artwork for sale

Gift vouchers and payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome


Friday, July 22, 2011

Paul & Dougie


Paul & Dougie

I must say that one of the joyful parts of my job as a portrait artist is to show the love people have for their animals...

Dougie the border collie is Paul's best mate his wife Jan wanted to capture there special bond as a birthday portrait for Paul.

Paul & Dougie
pastel portrait
10" x 14"

Catherin McMillan

Commission welcome
Original artwork for sale

Gift vouchers
&
Payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Over the Moon


Trainers in Training

I don't often enter juried exhibitions ... but when I received the invitation to submit to the Ingles Equine Art Prize, which is a competition organised by Australian Art Sale from New South Wales Australia...   I was so excited by this opportunity... Equine art competitions are few and far between here in Australia.. So it was an opportunity too good to miss.

The theme for the competition was "Around the Horse Stud" which conjured up all types of images of stallions with their grooms and mares and foals. The criteria was that it must depict registered thoroughbred horses.

So the search for a stud to liaise with began.. I found the perfect stud in Carrington Park at Roberston NSW.. after speaking to the owner Peter Beauman a time was arrange to go up to the stud too meet the horses.

I had an image in my mind as to what I wanted to paint but capturing it was the hard part.. several hundred photos later and one frustrated husband who is my photographer... we arrived home to go through the photos and select the image I would paint....

Well the best laid plans of mice and men went out the window when I saw the photo of the children with "Cirles of Desire"...  I had found the image that I just had to paint I couldn't stop thinking about the photo and the story it told to me... of these children discussing the virtues of this horse.. hence Trainers in Training 14" x 21" watercolour was born.

After sending off my entry for the jury process I crossed my fingers and waited to hear back from Mike Coward from Australian Art Sales the organiser... You can imagine my surprise when just 2 days after the closing date for the jury selection I received an email confirming my painting was accepted.... to say I'm over the  moon is an understatement and I'm still wearing the biggest grin 24hrs later.

Only 30 paintings worldwide have been chosen for the exhibit, which makes it even more special..

The exhibition begins August 11 at the Sydney Inglis Newmarket Complex. The exhibit will remain there until August 14, then be in Melbourne from August 18-24, and on to Scone from August 25-28.

Fingers crossed this leads to bigger and better things for my equine artwork.


Catherin McMillan

Original Artwork for sale
Commissions welcome



Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Gotcha


Gotcha

Gotcha.. the second last piece for the exhibition in Sedona.. I so love these black and white watercolours.. my head is briming with ideas for more works created in this way.

Gotcha
10" x 14"
watercolour

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original artwork for sale

Gift Vouchers and Payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A Feather in my Cap


A Feather in my Cap

 
A Feather in my Cap is finally finished I decided to rework the horses rump as I want entirely happy with the directional lines on it...

 
A Feather in My Cap is the second pastel piece I will be taking to the invitational exhibition at the Sedona Art Centre in August this year...

 
A Feather in My Cap

19" x 25"
pastel
Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original art work for sale


Gift Vouchers and Payment plan available


Pay Pal accepted









Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Golden Girl

Golden Girl

I love drawing and painting cows.. they are such quirky characters and have personalities all their own.

Golden Girl is my latest bovine artwork and will be part of the up coming invitational exhibition at the Sedona Arts Centre in August.. where I will be exhibiting along side 3 other Australian artists and 5 American artists..


Golden Girl

8"  x 10"
pastel

Catherin McMillan

Original Art work for sale
Commissions welcome

Gift vouchers and  payment plan available

Pay Pal available




Sunday, June 19, 2011

New Limited Edition Print Available

Rainy Days

Limited Edition print now available of the original watercolour painting Rainy Days.

Each print will be signed and numbered and arrive with an authenticity certificate

Rainy Days is limited to 50 prints only

A4 (8"  x 12") only

$50.00 Australian + shipping

To reserve your copy email: catherin@animalarthouse.com

Catherin McMillan

Original artwork for sale
Commissions welcome

Gift vouchers and payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Feather in my Cap .. work in progress


A Feather in my Cap - work in progress


Its funny how when you look at a work on the computer you can see all the things that  need to be altered...  

Really happy with the progress on A Feather in my Cap so far.. I made a good start on the horse.. though still quite a lot to do on its head and perhaps the direction of that rump curve as well

I blocked in the saddle cloth to give me an idea of where the darks fall on the horses body underneath that saddle colth


A Feather in my Cap
19" x 25"
pastel

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome

Original art work for sale

Gift Vouchers and Payment plan available


Pay Pal accepted

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A Feather in my cap ... work in progress


A Feather in my Cap - work in progress

After two weeks out of the studio its so nice to be back and back in full swing.

A Feather in my Cap .. is another of the pastel pieces I will be taking to Arizona with me...
This morning has been spent working on the girls hat, hair and shirt...

The hat and hair will need a few more lights and Im debating if the sleeve will need to be thinned down a little.. 

A Feather in my Cap
17" x 22" pastel

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original art work for sale

Gift Vouchers and Payment plan available

Pay Pal accepted

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Two as One - work in progress stage 3

Two as One - stage 3

The saddle and jeans are now completed.. and Ive now started work on the horses chest and neck... the colour in the riders shirt is still up to debate..

I may make it all pink or shades of pink.. or a mixture of colours to give the illusion of texture without detracting from the rest of the drawing..

Two as One will be 12" x 24" approx upon completion



Original artwork for sale
Commissions welcome worldwide

Gift Vouchers & payment plan available

Pay Pal Welcome

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Two as One - work in progress stage 2


Two as One .. work in progress Stage 2


Really happy with the progress of Two as One .. Ive finished the horses rear end the shadows are important to give the impression of muscles and movement in the horse.. 

A good start has been made on the saddle and saddle blanket.

After marking out the blue for the jeans and the highlights on the girls shirt...I called it quits for the day

Two as One will be 12" x 24" approx upon completion

Thank you so much to Vicki Ostendorf for the use of her great photo

Catherin McMillan



Original artwork for sale
Commissions welcome worldwide

Gift Vouchers & payment plan available

Pay Pal Welcome

Monday, May 23, 2011

Two as One .. work in progress


Two as One .. work in progress

After much thought  I decided that I would also add a number of pastel works to the body of work I'm creating to exhibit in Sedona Arizona later this year.

As pastels is the other medium I love to work with

Two as One  will be 12" x 24" approx upon completion

Thank you so much to Vicki Ostendorf for the use of her great photo

Catherin McMillan

Original artwork for sale
Commissions welcome worldwide

Gift Vouchers & payment plan available

Pay Pal Welcome

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Princess

Princess

Princess is my latest memory equine portrait... Its such a wonderful feeling to create that special memory piece for an owner of their much love equine or companion animal.

Princess
14" x 21"
pastel

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome worldwide
Original artwork for sale

Gift Vouchers and Payment plans available

pay pal accepted

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Angus


Angus

Angus is finished and framed ready to ship off to the RM Williams Learning Centre... 50 Breeds in 50 Years event in June this year.

I love choosing images that are a little different when creating original works for sale .. he looks amazing all framed up in his dark wooden frame with a wooden fillet framing is image...

Angus is 8" x 8"
pastel
for sale


Catherin McMillan

Original art work for sale
Commissions welcome worldwide

Gift Vouchers & payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome




Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Angus.. work in progress

Angus- work in progress

With the upcoming 50 breeds in 50 years exhibition coming up at the RM Williams Center next month .. I wanted to create a couple of new works to send up.

Angus is one of the pieces I'm working on.. still a long way to go to finish him off..lots of blues, greys and mauve's in his coat...


Angus
pastel
 8" x 8" when finished


Catherin McMillan

Original art work for sale
Commissions welcome worldwide

Gift Vouchers and payment plan available

Pay Pal accepted

Monday, May 16, 2011

Trainers in training .. update

Trainers in Training - update

Thought it was time I placed an update on Trainers in Training...

Finally finished the railings of the gate the children are standing on.. and made a start on their skin tones and shoes... more work to do on the shadows of their flesh .. and then it will be onto the horse and the homeward run.


Trainers in Training
14" x 21" upon completion
Watercolour

Catherin McMillan

Original Art Work for Sale
Commissions welcome

Gift Vouchers and Payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome

Saturday, May 14, 2011

What is a laybye

What is a lay bye

I had an email this morning from a lady in Europe  asking me to clarify exactly what a lay bye is..

Not realising that a lay bye is called different things around the world I thought I should explain what it is.


A lay bye is a way for you to own an original or commissioned piece of art without having to find the purchase price up front..

It allows you after paying the initial deposit on the piece ... to pay your selected piece off over a 3 - 6 months time period.. . The length of the lay bye/payment  depends upon the price of the artwork be it original or commissioned.

Payments are made fortnightly over the set period of time until the piece is paid for at which time it will be shipped to you..

I hope this clears up the confusion

Catherin McMillan

Original artwork for sale
Commission welcome worldwide

Lay byes/lay aways... Gift Vouchers available

Pay pal welcome

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Untitled - Bovine artwork

Untitled

Recently I was invited to send bovine and cowboy style artwork up to the RM William Learning Centre in Queensland .. Australia.

I will be sending a number of bovine pieces of which this Brahman is one and signed limited edition prints -frame ... All of these works will be for sale

I completed this fellow today but as yet have come up with no name for him... any suggestions would be most welcome..

Brahman
10" x 14"
Pastel

Available.. please email me

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original art work for sale

Gift vouchers & lay byes available

Pay Pal accepted


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Rainy Days... work in progress

Rainy Days - work in progress

Rainy Days will be my sixth work for the Arizona exhibition in August this year... upon completion
I love these black and white watercolours.. there so much fun to work on..

You have to look at the tones and shadows rather than rely on colour to tell the story.
I apologise for the grey colour of the background I had to photograph inside the studio due to the weather...

Rainy Days  will be 10" x 14" -upon completion

Thank you Karen L Davis for the use once again of one of your amazing photos for my artwork

Catherin McMillan

Original Artwork for Sale
Commissions welcome

Lay byes & Gift Vouchers available.

Pay Pal welcome

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Trainers in Training . update

Trainers in Training update

Ive made a start on the mouldy railings the children are standing on.. finding it necessary to darken their cloths a little more to stand out against the rails.

Green is such a challenging colour to work with..

Trainers in Training is on target to meet my entry deadline for the upcoming Inglis exhibition entries... phew

Trainers in Training
14" x 21" unframed size upon completion
Watercolour

Catherin McMillan

Phone: +61 2 4447 1513

Original art work for sale
Commissions welcome

Lay byes & gift vouchers available

Pay Pal accepted




Sunday, May 1, 2011

Trainers in Training - work in progress

Trainers in Training - work in progress

Trainers in Training is currently a work in progress and is one of my entries for the Inglis Equine Art Prize here in Australia..

The theme for the exhibition is life on the stud farm... it seemed an appropriate image to paint of these 3 kids almost inspecting this young thoroughbred horse... assessing its prospects as a future winner.. and there becoming the industries future trainers..

Trainers in Training is a watercolour and  will be 14" x 21" unframed size upon completion.. I'm enjoying the complexity of the fabric folds in the kids shorts...

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original artwork for sale

Lay byes & gift vouchers available

Pay Pal accepted



Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Boots and Spurs

Boots & Spurs

Boots & Spurs is the 4th completed watercolour painting for the invitational exhibition in August this year... I have to rephotograph it in order to have the white background show up clearer...

I will be offering limited edition of 50 prints of Boots & Spurs ...each print will be signed and no. and come with an authenticity certificate.

There will be 2 sizes on offer A4 @ $50.00 + postage and A3 @ $75.00 + postage

If you would like to reserve a copy of this print drop me an email: catherin@animalarthouse.com 

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome... Original Art Work for sale

Lay byes and gift vouchers available

pay pal accepted

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Boots & Spurs


Boots & Spurs work in progress

Ive been working on this watercolour over the last couple of weeks.. I'm sorry I haven't been posting a progress on this piece.. I had problems accessing blogger..

Boots & Spurs is the 4th work destined for Arizona later this year unless sold prior .. painted in my favourite Windsor and newton Charcoal Grey colour.

Still along way to go with this piece with a bit of luck though and no interruptions in the studio this week Boots & Spurs should be finished

Boots & Spurs

10" x 14" watercolour

$1200.00 unframed + Shipping

I will be creating  a limited edition print from this piece limited to 50 only.. if you would like to reserve a print please email me:  catherin@animalarthouse.com

 Catherin McMillan

Commissions Welcome.. Original Art Work for sale

Lay byes and gift vouchers available

Pay Pal Welcome

Friday, March 18, 2011

Back in the saddle


Back in the saddle

No 3 is finished for Arizona unless sold prior... Back in the Saddle.. I love these black and white watercolours the effects you can achieve is amazing... working with tones of the one colour is a wonderful challenge.

Back in the saddle

10" x 14" watercolour

$1200.00 unframed + Shipping

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original artwork for sale

Lay byes & gift vouchers available

Pay pal welcome

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

3 Amigos


3 Amigos

Blogger was down for a few days so I was unable to continue to share my process of painting 3 Amigos.. rather than continue the  process now they are all finished.. I couldnt wait to share the finished painting with everybody.

3 Amigos $1200.00 unframed + shipping

 10" x 14"

watercolour off to Arizona in August unless sold prior

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome... Original work for sale

Lay byes welcome .. Gift Vouchers available

pay pal accepted