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

Seattle Times Article.

Three Dachshund Commission

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

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

News Article

Gracie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!)

Best in Show

I just learned that I won Best in Show at the Puyallup State Fair art show. I don't have this years numbers but there are usually close to 1000 entries and about 700 usually get juried in. My little raccoon also won 3rd in the miniatures division (usually around 200 entries).

"Shadow Play" Wins

My painting "Shadow Play" won People's Choice at the SWW Arts with 143 votes and also first place. Another nice surprise as there were many very nice paintings at the show.

"Shadow Play" wins People's Choice Award

I was very happy to hear that "Shadow Play" won the People's Choice award in the Washington Thoroughbred Foundations "Equine Art 2008" show at Emerald Downs Race Track in Auburn, WA on July 10 - July 13, 2008. It was a very classy show with a wide variety of art styles, if you ever get the chance to see (or enter!) this show it's worth the trip.

I just finished "Shadow Play", an 18 x 24 acrylic painting of an Andalusian stallion. I have been wanting to experiment with some dramatic lighting like this.
www.deedeemurry.com

Horses in Art Magazine

I was very honored (and surprised!) to win a competition with "Horses in Art Magazine" for the cover of their summer 2008 issue with my painting of a Friesian stallion on the beach titled "Splash Dance". They also gave me a full one page ad as well as an article. They did a beautiful job.

Dan Smith Workshop

I just returned from an incredible workshop at a ski lodge in the mountains near Penticton BC with Dan Smith and his son Adam. I had hoped for many many years to take a workshop from Dan but never had the opportunity. I was not disappointed, I learned so much and soaked in tons of inspiration from his original paintings there not to mention Adams that is one TALENTED kid! The group was limited to 35 students and everyone was wonderful, it was a very inspiring and informative week. I started a painting of a bighorn sheep while I was there and will be posting it when I get it done. I am really enjoying painting it in the new methods I learned. Dan rarely does workshops but if you ever get a chance to go to one, I'd highly recommend it. We got an extra bonus one evening with a visit from Terry Isaac, he lives there in Penticton and is old friends with Dan so he came over and helped on student critique night. Awesome.

The workshop was run by Denise Soule and her husband Jamie with "Wild Streak" who puts on great workshops and reference gathering trips for artists.

Miniature Raccoon

Just finished this little raccoon. He is 4" x 6" acrylic on hot press watercolor paper. I plan to enter him in the Parklane Gallery miniatures show that I just heard about 3 days ago. Which means I have been working like crazy on this to get it done in time. I am delivering it tomorrow but just read about the framing and I have the wrong kind of frame. So here's hopin' some framer in the area tomorrow will take pity on me and help me get it framed right! :)

Terry Isaac Workshop

I just returned from a 3 day workshop with one of my all time favorite artists, Terry Isaac. It was awesome! I learned a ton and we worked on an eagle in class. Here is as far as I got with mine, I have more to do with the feathers and to put a background in yet. If you ever get the chance to take a workshop from Terry, I highly recommend it, he is an great teacher, an incredible artist and a really nice guy!

Great Gray Owl Finished

I have just finished the Great Gray Owl, which I titled "Great Gray Hunter". (spoof off of "Great White Hunter".) It was a lot of long tedious hours to get all those feathers and grass blades but also a lot of fun to do my first owl. As usual I am both relieved to have it done and also going to miss working on it!

Great Gray Owl WIP 3

Another update. Lots of feathers! I still have a lot to do on everything below his neck.

Great Gray Owl WIP 2

Here is an update on the owl. Mapping in all those feathers took ages but now back to the fun part of painting in details. This photo is showing it more red than it actually is.

Great Gray Owl 1

I have been working on this Great Gray Owl. It is acrylic, 18 x 24 on Gessobord. Still a lot of work to do on the face, and once the owl is done there will be a lot more grass all around him. I have been wanting to paint an owl for a long time, and finally have the chance. Great Grays have such interesting dinner plate faces!