Dee Dee Murry Art Studio

Thor

2009-07-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my favorite Friesian, Thor. I have done 2 paintings of him now (more to come), Splash Dance and Shadow Play.

Magic, Haflinger Stallion photo

2009-07-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

Hallie and I went to my cousins tonight for the 4th of July, took a ton of photos of her horses (Friesian, Haflinger, Tennessee Walker, Arab, Warmblood, and thoroughbred). Here is one of Magic, her Haflinger stallion.

Andalusian Stallion 6

2009-06-16T00:14:00.001-07:00

It's been a long and winding road with this guy but I think he's about done. There are things I would have liked to have gone a little differently with him but I am happy with the overall "experiment" aspect of it. It was fun to try something a little out of the ordinary.

Andalusian Stallion 5

2009-06-05T00:12:00.000-07:00

I've been getting some good advice on the mane, for some tweaking that would improve it. So will be reworking it some. Here is a bit of an update though, I had planned to put mane on the near side covering his neck also but realized that would be "mane overkill". So I am going to give him a bare neck this side and just some mane falling over up near his ears. The added whispy hairs on the lit up mane here are just quick photoshopped suggestions I haven't repainted it yet. I have started working in the shoulder area more also. Still a lot to go on the forelock.

Andalusian Stallion 4

2009-06-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

I am really having fun with this. I don't know that it will be exactly "correct" in the end but it's really fun being able to play and experiment and try some new things to see how they work out. Painting "outside the box" a bit. The bright mane is a little scary right now but I have more to do to it and by the time the other rim highlights are put in on top of him I'm hoping it will all balance out.

Little Chickadee

2009-06-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

Just finished this little guy tonight he'll be part of a bigger design by a very talented artist. He has a bit of Disney to him to help him look cheery. Now back to the Andalusian...so I can get back to the dachshunds...:)

Andalusian Stallion 3

2009-05-28T23:57:00.001-07:00

Not much time to work on him today but here is the update. Mainly have been going over (and over and over...)his head. Still more to go on the head though. I'm anxious to get to the mane!

Andalusian Stallion 2

2009-05-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

Not a big change but a couple hours more of refining his face and starting on an ear...

Andalusian Stallion

2009-05-25T23:56:00.001-07:00

I don't like working on more than one painting at a time but I had to start this horse so I would have an entry at the Emerald Downs show this year. I have gotten more done on Duggie the Doxie but haven't scanned it yet.

This is Hostal, a friend of mine's Andalusian Stallion who passed away a couple of years ago. He was amazing...and very much missed. This was from my last photo shoot with him. I wanted to have him back lit to give him a glow that he seemed to radiate on his own. He had a big presence about him. This is acrylic on gessoboard, 11 x 14 and all underpainting so far so a bit in the messy stage.

Dave and Dee no peeking!

2009-05-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the three dachshund portrait. I am posting it here at a risk because I'm not sure if their human parents peek in or not! And I always like to wait until a painting is done to show it to the owners. But I wanted to show this at an ugly stage, with just underpainting going on, when it is at this point there are many hours ahead of blocking and layering, it will get more fun once it gets to the top layers and the details start to happen. I always like to finish the eyes first (the funnest part) so I have something to keep me going thru the tedious parts!

This handsome doxie is Duggie, a wonderful silver dapple with great ears that stick out a bit like the flying nun! I am really enjoying painting these 3 boys! As you can see from the first post of this, we have changed the background color from dark green to these tan tones.

Acrylic on gessobord, 16 x 20.

Along the Rim - Red Fox

2009-04-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

Just finished this little guy, he's only 4" x 6", acrylic on fabriano hot press paper.

Terry Isaac Workshop - Tiger wip

2009-04-19T20:48:00.001-07:00

Here is my tiger as of the end of the 4 day workshop. Still have quite a bit to finish with him. But it was an awesome workshop and as always I learned a lot from Terry.

Hallie at Terry Isaac's workshop.

2009-04-18T20:24:00.001-07:00

Here is Hallie working hard at Terry's workshop.

Terry Isaac Workshop

2009-04-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today is day 3 out of 4 of the Terry Isaac workshop. I love Terry's workshops, he is an excellent teacher (and of course amazing artist). I always learn a ton. We are working on an acrylic painting of a tiger head. The days have flown by so far I'll hate to see it end, but looking forward to tomorrow.

Hallie of course is accompanying me and scoring treats off of some of the other students. She's been a very good girl as always. Here is a picture of Terry holding her.

If any artists reading this get the chance to go to a Terry Isaac workshop, please do, you will not be disappointed.

Rusty, chocolate lab commission

2009-04-14T23:39:00.001-07:00

I have finished "Rusty", a beautiful chocolate lab that was commissioned as a surprise birthday gift. I really enjoyed painting him, he has amazing eyes and as you can see he is crazy about his ball. This is acrylic on masonite, 18 x 24.

2008-12-30T21:13:00.000-08:00

A nice article in the Seattle Times, Monday Dec. 29, 2008.

Seattle Times Article.

Three Dachshund Commission

2008-12-26T21:43:00.000-08:00

Here is the rough composition of three wonderful dachshunds, Duggie, Sarge and Looie. I've really been looking forward to this one! It will be 16 x 20, acrylic on gessobord.

Newspaper Article

2008-12-08T17:36:00.001-08:00

This was in todays paper. Another excuse to get Hallie in the news! :)

News Article

Gracie

2008-12-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Here is the finished portrait of Gracie, a beautiful young Dane. I especially enjoyed painting her, having had a Dane myself a few years ago. I love the breed. I think Gracie has exceptional eyes that melt your heart. This portrait is 16 x 20 acrylic on gessobord.

the Artist's Magazine competition

2008-11-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

I couldn't post this for 4 months now as I was sworn to secrecy until the magazine came out but someone just congratulated me so the December issue must be out.

I won the wildlife division of the Artist's magazine annual competition with Great Gray Hunter, out of over 1600 entries. There were 11,000 entries total in all categories together. That is my biggest win so far.

Here is a bit on the juror, Brennie Brackett, I love her sheep painting on this page.

IALHA Magazine Cover

2008-10-17T21:04:00.001-07:00

My painting "All Would Envy" of a bay Andalusian Stallion was chosen to be on the cover of the Andalusian National Show issue. They also included a very nice article inside. You can see the magazine here.

All Would Envy is available as a fine art print.

Federal Duck Stamp Judging

2008-10-17T20:58:00.001-07:00

Today is the first day of the Federal Duck Stamp judging. They have moved 30 out of the 270 entries on to the second round tomorrow when the winner will be chosen. My entry has made it in the top 30 so far. There are several beautiful entries in there though I have my guesses which will win! (and they aren't mine! :) )

You can see all the entries here.

People's Choice

2008-09-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just learned that my painting that won Best of Show in Puyallup, also won the People's Choice award every day of the 3 week show there. And it also sold.

Animals in Montana

2008-09-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

I just got back from 8 days at a wildlife photo shoot in Montana that was amazing. We shot for 4 days, barbary lion, tiger, grizzlies, black bear, wolves, black leopard, cougar, red fox, porcupine, skunk, raccoon, pine marten, bobcat...all were very well trained and loose in the wilderness with us just feet away. They ran and leaped out of trees, wolves howling on a rock with mountains behind them, tiger running right at us, grizzly bear swimming in a river, all with gorgeous backgrounds and beautiful lighting early morning and late evening. I can't wait to start painting! I highly recommend Troy and Tracy Hyde's "Animals in Montana" photo shoot in Bozeman.

My little Hallie dog got to see a lot of new critters from her perch in the van where my friend and her little dog were watching it all from! Hallie says they grow cats really big in Montana...

Sueellen Ross

2008-09-05T19:17:00.001-07:00

We went to the awards ceremony last night for the Best of Show my painting won (very nice event!!!) and got to meet one of my all time favorite artists, Sueellen Ross. She is so gracious and so nice and I was in awe to see that many of her originals together at one time. Absolutely gorgeous and inspiring work. She was nice enough to hold my Hallie for a photo. So Hallie gets to add Sueellen Ross to her life list of photos I've taken of artists holding her, along with Terry Isaac and Dan Smith. (not to mention Rickie Lee Jones the singer!)