Saturday, December 27, 2008

Meet Shiloh

This is another commission I did for the holidays. Shiloh is a gorgeous dog with really great markings and color. I was worried I would not do her justice but I have to say I am very happy how this piece turned out. Again, my digital photo skills are greatly lacking but you get the idea. This piece found its way to New Jersey. I hope the giftee liked it!



There was a cool tree in the background of the picture that was sent ot me and I thought I would add a couple to the painting but in the end they didnt make the cut. They totally took away from Shikoh and I couldnt have any of that!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Long time no post

Like everyone, I have been busy. Life in general got very busy and then the holidays came. All is good and I think I now have some time to relax and catch up. I thought I would start by updating my poor neglected blog.

I have actually been wanting to update this blog for a while but it appears my photography skills are not only NOT improving but getting WORSE!! I have been working on a number of commissioned pieces and gifts and I have been anxious to post them here but the nasty weather has made taking pictures in natural day light an impossible task. I still want to post the pictures but please excuse the terrible quality. Please try to see past the bad lighting and terrible focus and try to imagine the color that really exists! I hope you all have incredible imagination skills.

Here is the second half of Patsy's commission. Patsy commissioned the pug piece below for her son as well as this one for her husband. I really love how this one turned out. I was worried with so many of her much loved four-legged friends being black that the background would outshine the kitties and pug but I think they worked great together. I love the white whiskers! I hope the pieces were a hit with their recipients. Patsy was so sweet and patient as our schedules had us missing each other constantly.




That is all for now. Maybe I will add more pictures later today. If not today, then tomorrow. I promise. I need to spread out all the new painting goodness!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

something new for me

So a very nice guy bought his wonderful animal loving wife a very thoughtful birthday present (a painting from me). The wonderful animal loving wife loved her gift (*phew*) and told a super nice co worker how much she loved her painting. This super nice co worker is also a super nice pug loving neighbor of mine (who knew!?!). And for her I am working on two paintings. Each painting includes a black pug. Pugs are adorable but I found them very hard to paint. They are so damn cute but one wrong line and you can make them look like a weird cartoon character. So I was nervous I would not be able to do her adorable little buddies justice and after many sketches I decided I had to just jump into painting. I got as far as having the entire piece painted with the exception of the eyes and I was still very worried. But I painted in the eyes as exactly as they were in the picture provided and tada!
I love it! And more importantly, so did my super nice pug loving neighbor. So on to painting two...

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Art Fits Vermont

The wonderful Jackie of the Addison County Humane Society invited me to participate in Art Fits Vermont ( http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/tabid/744/default.aspx ). I was extremely excited to be part of this event as the last similar event got such an amazing reception--people really got into it and a great deal of money ws raised. Funny thing...I had the hardest damn time figuring out what to paint on my puzzle piece. And ofcourse it was Jackie that very simply told me ' just do one of your Twilight paintings!' She was so right. Im very happy with how it turned out. My twilight pieces seem so simple but they seem to reach the most people and in actuality they take me a lot of time. I just finished varnishing it last night and I had to take a quick pic before I left for the office this morning so I hope you can see it ok:


Sunday, October 05, 2008

ALSO AVAILABLE

I forgot to inlcude pics of my 'candy' colored series in the post below of available pieces. Sorry! Here is a couple pics of the series. Both kitties and pups are available. Each piece is 6" x 8" and is $25. These pieces are simple looking but they take a great deal of time to create. They are priced inexpensively so people can buy a grouping for $100 or less. They look good individually but look sooo good as a group!


This pic is from yesertdays event. Sorry, I forgot to take a close up.



This pic is from the June event. Not all pieces shown here are still available but you can
see them better!

AVAILABLE

I had a couple inquiries last evening after the Middlebury event yesterday so I thought it would be quick and easy if I posted images of the pieces I currently have available. If you are interested in any of the pieces you see here or if you have any questions about a custom piece, just email me at yellowdogart@aol.com . If you see a piece you like but would like a similar piece done in different colors or a different size, I might bale to do that too! The mini easels you see in the pics of the smaller pieces are available as well.

Thanks for looking!






Walking the Neighborhood
36" x 48"
$300
I admit it. This is probably my favorite piece.


Dreaming
36" x 48"
$300
This is my second favorite piece. And no, i dont have 50 favortie pieces. I just listed my favs first!



Play Frisbee?
36" x 36"
WAS $250
ON SALE for $200


Play Ball?
36" x 36"
WAS $250
ON SALE for $200


Go for a Walk?
20" x 30"
WAS $120
ON SALE for $80


Rabbit Ears

WAS $120
ON SALE for $100
*colors are MUCh brighter and cooler in person


Peeking on Orange
18" x 24"
WAS $60
ON SALE for $50



Peeking on Pink
18" x 24"
WAS $60
ON SALE for $50


Peeking on Blue
18" x 24"
WAS $60
ON SALE for $50

Peeking on Purple
18" x 24"
WAS $60
ON SALE for $50


Mini Pups Collection
3" x 3" each
available as individual pieces or set of 9 available
$20 each
$125 for 9 piece collection (GREAT DEAL because I love them grouped together!)
Close up below

Over the Moon
3" x 5"
$25

Over the Moon (on blue)
3" x 3"
$25


Brown Dog Over the Moon
3" x 3"
$25

Twilight
3" x 5"
$25

Twilight
3" x 5"
$25


Twilight
3" x 5"
$25

Twilight
3" x 5"
$25

Twilight
3" x 5"
$25

Greetings
3" x 5"
$25


Is that You?
3" x 5"
$25


Dreaming
3" x 5"
$25


Dreaming
3" x 5"
$25


Rabbit Ears
3" x 5"
$25


My Bone
3" x 5"
$25

Kitty Trio
3" x 5"
$25


Lab Trio
3" x 5"
$25


Jack Russell Terrier
18" x 18"
$80

Greyhound II
18" x 18"
$80

Scottie
18" x 18"
$80


Bulldog
18" x 18"
$80



Schnauzer
18" x 18"
$80








































Wednesday, September 17, 2008

In Progress

Here is what is in progress on my table right now. The puzzle piece for Art FITS and new mini canvases for the upcoming ACHS show.



You can also see my newly plexi topped drafting table. I moved my gigantic painting table downstairs and moved my drafting table under my window to be my main work station. It wasnt until after hours of furniture moving that I discovered that paint does not easily wash off my drafting table. So I ran out with my coupon and purchased the largest self healing cutting mat I could find to protect the table top only to discover after one use that paint does not wash off the mat AT ALL. Finally I went to Lowes and purchased a very thin piece of plexi glass as close to the size of my table top as possible (their plexi and glass cutting machine was broken). When I got home I took out my new cutting mat, large cutting ruler and box cutter and trimmed the plexi. I got glue, gesso and paint on it today and all cleaned off with a swipe. I pronounce myself happy.


Sunday, September 07, 2008

LOOK!

The wonderful Tascha from Toronto added a 'Beautiful People' follower gadget to her blog and look who was one of the first three! Yup, ME! Actually, as you will see from our picture, it was YellowDog and myself. The little things make me sooo happy. I adore Tascha. She is actually the reason I set up my official blog following list. What a nice note to end the weekend on....

On another note, anyone have the Flip? I have been thinking about getting one and was wondering how easy it really was to use and then upload. Anyone? Anyone? Email me please! Include your mailing address and if I do get the Flip, I will send each of you a little piece of original art in the mail as a thank you.

*good night*

Thursday, September 04, 2008

What could I be working on?!

I have been doing a lot of cleaning and reorganizing (procrastinating) but little actual artwork. I am lucky enough to have a lot of things going on right now so Im trying to motivate. I started reading Donna Downey's blog recently and that woman gets stuff done. She is a natural. She is a scrapper--as in scrapbooking, not like a little fighter---and although im not really into scrapping, I LOVE scrapping supplies and Donna has truly raised it to an art. She also gets a ton of stuff done. I have no idea how she does it but I need to do more. I just need to waste less time. Sooo....

Last night I finished a piece for a Lucie, a co-worker. She has very patiently waited months for this piece. Thank you Lucie for not hunting me down and breaking my painting fingers. And ofcourse I forgot to take a pic of the piece before delivering it this morning. Maybe I can talk her into taking a pic for me? *hint*hint*

And tonight I started working on a recycling project I started months ago. Can you tell from the image below what Im doing?





Yeah, Im not 100% sure either but check back and we will see.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

A WHOLE LOTTA SOMETHIN GOIN ON!

I have been a terrible blogger lately but thats because so much has been going on. I have been invited to participate in Art Fits Vermont. I have been asked to paint one of the wooden puzzle pieces that will be on display and then auctioned off to benefit the Addison County Humane Society. Thank you to Jackie for inviting me to be part of this! Jackie and her husband, Craig, were the winners of the painting I worked on at the HSCC Walk for Animals in June! Craig and Jackie have a YellowDog (Jackson) of their own--cool, huh?!

I have been working on a few commissions. My latest piece was commissioned by Mike, a very nice guy who I soon discovered lives not very far from me. He gathered a bunch of photos and shared a lot of great details about his 'Crowded House' of kitties. The painting was for his wife, Mary's, birthday. How nice is that?! Now that the gift has been given I can share this photo:


Mike called to say Mary loved it so Im very happy! Happy Birthday, Mary!


Tonight Im finishing up a birthday present for a little girl with a new baby sister. I think that calls for an extra special birthday present. Photos to come soon!

I will have a tent at Woofstock on October 4th in Middlebury. My next month or so will be prepping for that with almost all new pieces as well as working on my stuff for upcoming holiday shows. Busy busy busy. Thats a good thing.

I have a couple very different pieces to show you soon. Im very excited and although Im super busy, I have to try to get some of these ideas in my head onto canvas. Check back soon to see how things turn out!

And finally, YellowDog had surgery yesterday. He had a lumpectomy and he had some teeth pulled. Poor little guy! He had a benign cyst removed from his right front leg so he now has a very large bandage that goes from shoulder to toes. He also has a small shaved and bruised spot on his left front leg where he was supposed to have a catheter but the vet told me he just wasnt having it. While he was under, they checked his teeth because they have been bothering him. He had a large molar pulled and two lower incisors. He has been amazing. He is hobbling around with his leg bandaged and sore mouth full of his same piss and vinegar (as my grandmother would say). I just need him to sleep. Because I need to sleep. Here is a pic of YellowDog post surgery. Please excuse the tufts of hair I had just removed from him and the blanket covered couch (just in case he decided to rip off his bandage). If you look close you can even see the shaved patch on his left leg and the space where his incisors were:


A little sleep and we will both be good. Im sure of it. Speaking of which, I think I need to go him him some love and get ready for an very early night.










Tuesday, July 01, 2008

A whole lotta nothin goin on

I guess thats not true. There is a ton going on. Friends from San Diego in town, friends from Montreal in town, friend from VA (soon to be of Munci, Indiana in town, new BEAUTIFUL privacy fence being installed (to keep out the oh-so-cute but oh-so-not friendly neighbor dogs), pipes being fixed (as I type this I believe), yard sale and major house cleaning. *phew* There is some not so great stuff going on too but who doesnt have that?!

But very little artwork. Im having a heck of a time finding the canvases I need. If anyone can suggest a good place to find quality (but not super pricey) gallery wrapped 3"x3" and 6"x8" canvases, I would be much obliged. Like free painting obliged. Even the art store in the area with nice helpful salespeople arent able to assist. Seriously, if you have a connection please drop me a line yellowdogart@aol.com .

I hate blog entries with no pictures so with that said...
YellowDog turned 13 years young on June 2nd. I am terrible for not posting about this sooner but time really got away from me. This is actually a picture of his cake from last year. Crazy cool, huh? The cake was made by PupKat Bakery and is made specifically for dogs. She also setn along a bunch of special treats and a beeswax candle and a card. His favorite part was the doggie chocolate candies on the cake. He shared with all his four legged family and friends and we still had cake left over. This year YellowDog had steak, steak, doggie ice cream and more steak.


Tuesday, June 24, 2008

YUMMM

Nothing new to post in terms of art work. Lots and lots of fun ideas I cant wait to start working on but I have been busy with other stuff lately. Soon, hopefully. Im am treating myself tonight. This is what is keeping me busy this evening...


Wednesday, June 11, 2008

ART SUPPLIES MAKE ME HAPPY

I walked past the art store on my way to the dentist today and I had a few minutes to spare (thanks to scoring an excellent parking spot downtown?!) so I popped in. Im always on the look out for my 6 x 8 canvases. I wont bore you with that story again but for the new comers lets just say that it isnt as easy as you would think it should be to purchase some simple canvases in this area. But Im not writing this to gripe--IM VERY HAPPY! I walked in and there on the shelf were ten lovely 6x 8 canvases. I tried to be frugal but each and every one had my name on it. MY NAME ON IT. And by name I mean the bright orange clearance tags you can see in the picture below.




So I bought them and ran to my dentist appointment. After the appointment I had to walk past the art store again. Well, I am trying very hard to find a very very dark gray acrylic paint so why not stop in and check while Im downtown!? What can it hurt? MY WALLET! Thats what it can hurt. But again, Im happy. I found some really fun canvas sizes more than half off. I would have been crazy not to, right? Dont answer that. I took finance courses, I know its stupid to buy something you dont need just cuz you have a coupon. Anyway, the reason for this post is really to show you that art supplies make all the creatures in my house happy...





Those are the bags from the art store. And no worries, I do not leave any bags out when I am not home as Missy will climb in every single crinkly bag she can find. Crazy.

Monday, June 09, 2008

HOT STUFF!

Sunday was a huge success. The HSCC raised a record amount of money for their Annual Walk for Animals this past Sunday. Everyone involved deserves a huge thank you. It takes a lot of work to plan and carry out such and event and it takes wonderful supporters to make it such a success.

It was HOT. I was simply sitting and painting and I was completely wiped by the time clean up time came around. The heat should break a little later this week so I will be able to finish the piece I was working on at the event. Im excited to see it come together.

Some pics of my set up and event participants: