i heart dogs studio

New year, new card designs

2012-01-01T07:35:00.003-05:00

Click the image above to see these beauties a little better. To read the awesome quotes, though, you'll have to visit ye olde Etsy shop. All ten new cards will be available in the Dog Wisdom cards section by the end of the day.
Happy New Year!

Reflecting

2011-12-30T07:30:00.009-05:00

Me and The Bean: Chicago, April 2011
and
22 portraits in 12 months (not too shabby for a pregnant chick)

I'm less than three weeks away from my due date. Needless to say, I'm a wee bit overwhelmed. But I'm taking a moment to reflect on this last year. It was a doozy.

In 2011, I...
...visited New Orleans, LA for the first time
then, a week later, I...
...visited Chicago, IL for the third time (first with Kevin)
I also...
...got pregnant (also for the first time)
...had a painting published in a charity art book
...exhibited my dog portraiture in an art gallery (for the second time)
...created my first all-digital pet portrait
...branched out of just teaching Graphic Design, picking up two Fine Arts classes at the high school where I work
...visited Lake George, NY for the first time
...had my best-ever Etsy sales month (in December)
...discovered a new meaning to my 2011 word for the year (temple), through my pregnancy
...completed 22 dog portraits in 12 months

I hoped the final tally of portraits for 2011 would be 29 instead of 22, as I have seven outstanding portraits hanging over my head: three contest winners and the last four "30 Dogs" pieces. But, alas, another thing I did in 2011 was learn to let go. I had to put myself and the health of my baby first, which meant shelving some projects. I'm a little too Type-A to do this gracefully, but I did it. At least I have work lined up for 2012!

I've chosen a word for the new year, but I'm keeping it to myself. Perhaps this time next year I'll reveal it, along with all of the ways the word manifested itself in my life. I'm curious what I'll have posted, art-wise, a year from now. With the arrival of a baby, art production for me could go either way: I might be super-prolific or totally stagnant. Or anywhere in between. Time will tell.

No matter what, 2012 promises to be a great year for this girl! Hopefully for you, too!
Happy New Year!

Last Christmas portrait reveal: MAGGIE

2011-12-28T04:20:00.000-05:00

Lab mixes abound! Yesterday I posted a purebred Lab and a Lab mixed with Bassett. This little cutie is Lab mixed with Chow (thus the partially black tongue). The photos I received of Maggie made me wish I could reach into the pictures and touch her thick, soft fur! I can tell she's a sweet, lovable dog.

Maggie's dad, Bob, commissioned me to paint Maggie as a Christmas gift for his wife. Bob was my first client to request my patterned-paper-background style. Up until now, I used that technique on my own whim, so I was excited to receive a request for it. And his request was specific enough (yellow/daisies/ecological/nature/autumn were my key words) to give me a fun challenge in terms of hunting down the perfect paper, but flexible enough for me to be confident in my choice. I found this paper and I knew it was the way to go. Between the fun paper and the adorable dog (it's no secret I love to paint black dogs), this one was a pleasure to paint.

Thank you, Bob! I hope your wife was surprised and happy on Christmas morning!

Some Christmas commissions revealed!

2011-12-27T06:00:00.004-05:00

Here are three portraits I've been keeping under wraps so I wouldn't spoil any surprises. It was difficult, because I'm really pleased with how all three portraits turned out.
At long last, I present Mindy, Chase, and Schnitzel.

Mindy is a German Shepherd mix. This commission came from my friend Mike, who has now commissioned FOUR portraits from me: Maddie for his friends, Bonaparte and Trigger for his parents, and now Mindy for his sister. As always, thank you, Mike! You rock!

Chase is a Yellow Lab puppy. His full name is Chase Mutley, which is a riff on Chase Utley, #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies. Angela found out about me through Camp Bow Wow (SO glad I have a sample portrait hanging there!). All of Chase's photos were adorable, but this photo was Angela's hubby's favorite. I hope he was surprised and happy on Christmas morning, Angela. Thank you!

Schnitzel, the Basset-Lab mix, was also commissioned by a patron of Camp Bow Wow. Just when I thought I had closed my queue for holiday portraits, I heard from Laura—a photographer and fellow art teacher! I had to paint this regal-looking boy. Thank you, Laura; I hope your husband loves the portrait!

I did two other Christmas commissions this year: Maggy and Maggie. One was gifted prior to Christmas, so I posted it already, and one I'll post soon.

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday! I sure did!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T05:55:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas from me and Rosie!

What's Christmas without a little GLITTER?

2011-12-18T07:24:00.005-05:00

Silly me! I never posted the last six glitter dog silhouettes. Well, here they are. They look kinda festive, considering the season. Like ornaments, almost. At least they do to me, a person who is not decorating for Christmas at all, due to my 9-months-pregnant status.

Meet Disco Dalmatian, Beaming Beagle, Shimmering Schnauzer, Heck of a Husky, Not-so-Bashful Basset, and Cha-Cha Chihuahua. All but one are available in their very own section of my Etsy shop.

When I came up with the idea of these, I had 17 round wood plaques leftover from an old project. I made 17 glitter dog silhouettes—15 to sell, and 2 to gift to someone I admire from afar. I'm putting the glue and glitter away for a while (after I make one of my own dog for the baby's room, that is). But I might create a generic shop listing for a custom glitter silhouette. Two of these little gems have been purchased, and I hope the rest follow suit. They are so much cuter (and sparklier) in person. I think they'd make a great gift!

I am officially finished with holiday commissions! I can't wait to actually post them once Christmas is over! I'm quite proud of those paintings. I still have 7(!) portraits hanging over my head; but it's almost impossible for me to paint comfortably these days, and my maternity leave is looming. I've come to accept that some paintings will just have to wait until after the new year...and maybe even after the baby is born. There are two paintings for which the dog owners have paid money, both at silent auctions. In the spirit of fairness, those pieces are my priority. The rest have not been paid for in any way yet; so while they will definitely be completed, they will have to wait a bit.

This year's holiday card

2011-12-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

It's designed. I just have to get it printed...fast.

Happy Holidays,

My 2012 calendars=great stocking stuffers!

2011-12-03T02:50:00.003-05:00

The calendars are printed! Can you tell I'm excited? I decided on a black and white theme this year, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Twelve of my favorite dog portraits are featured in this year's calendar. And, as is now tradition, my dog Rosie is Miss November (her birthday month).

When the year is over,
I re-purpose the calendars by cutting out the doggie part, attaching a ribbon, and voila! Instant bookmark!

You can purchase a calendar for yourself and/or to stuff in a dog lover's stocking in the holiday section of my Etsy shop.

Enjoy the season,

No spoilers here!

2011-11-29T18:12:00.002-05:00

I'd love to post my recently-finished paintings, but I don't want to spoil any surprises! Of the five holiday commissions I took on this year, four are complete. I was able to post Maggy, because my client decided she couldn't wait until Christmas to give her husband the portrait. The others must stay under wraps until after the holiday. I've got one more to do, and hope to complete it by this Saturday. Operation Get All Artwork Done Before Baby Arrives is going slowly, but surely (I suppose).

So what's a girl to post, when she can't post any recent work? How about the photos I took of George Rodrigue's studio in New Orleans? I walked by after it was closed, so I could only point my camera in through the glass windows. On my next trip to NOLA, I will certainly go in and show some love for the blue dog and a very prolific artist.

Maggy

2011-11-14T14:03:00.002-05:00

This is the second of my completed holiday commissions this year. The first one has yet to be posted. I'm keeping it a secret until after Christmas, to ensure I don't ruin the surprise for the recipient.

This is Maggy, a beautiful Lhasa Apso that resides in Doggie Heaven. Her mom, Rose, is a co-worker of mine. Rose commissioned this portrait as a Christmas gift for her husband. But as I handed her the portrait today, she informed me that she won't be able to wait until Christmas to give it to her hubby! Thank you, Rose, for the commission. I'm honored to create this portrait of Maggy for you and Jim. Enjoy!

Art should be ENJOYED, not packed away in STORAGE...

2011-11-12T07:42:00.003-05:00

...and right now, I have 24 23(!) original dog portraits wrapped up and stored in boxes under the bed in my spare bedroom. BOO! As Baby Throckmorton gets ready to make her grand entrance in the world, Daddy and I are getting the house ready. I could really use that space under the bed!

I have put all 24 23 original dog portraits in my possession on DRASTIC sale. To be honest, it actually pains me to price them so low, but I refer back to the title of this post, and digress. All original dog portraits are either $89 (unframed) or $99 (framed).

All 24 23 discounted dog paintings can be purchased in my Etsy shop.

In current dog art news, I am finishing up holiday commissions this weekend. Some I'll show, while some have to remain secret until after the holidays.

Holiday cards for sale

2011-11-04T05:22:00.004-04:00

This year, for the Throckmorton family holiday card, I'm going to include a reference to the baby-on-the-way. My idea involves the nursery furniture. However, considering the nursery is still an office and we have a LOT of work to do in that room, I'm anticipating a last-minute holiday card design (and a rush charge at the printer!).

Speaking of holiday cards, for any Yorkie lovers, or fellow fans of The Velveteen Rabbit (my favorite children's book of all time), I have some packs of those holiday cards available in the holiday section of my shop.

A gift for a fellow blogger(who doesn't know I exist)

2011-10-31T17:51:00.005-04:00

I just completed eight glitter dog silhouettes. Six will be for sale, and the two pictured here will soon be shipped to a person whom I admire. A sort of thank-you for her blog musings, which I find very inspiring. This person has two dogs, and celebrates them with lots and LOTS of photographs. Do you recognize these dogs by their profile? Can you guess the blogger to whom they belong?

{UPDATE (1/3/12): This blogger's stock just rose with me. Big time. Today I got a thank-you note in the mail for the portraits I sent. Little gestures like that mean so much. She's famous AND gracious.}

The other six glitter silhouettes will be posted soon. For now, I'll reveal the breeds: Basset Hound, Beagle, Chihuahua, Dalmatian, Schnauzer, and Siberian Husky. In pretty, sparkly colors. Stay tuned!

Haley

2011-10-23T12:09:00.002-04:00

This is Haley, the Goldendoodle. She belongs to Michelle, one of the owners of Camp Bow Wow in Cherry Hill, NJ. My parents' dog, Abby, is a regular at Camp Bow Wow. Michelle graciously lets me put up a bit of advertising in the lobby. As a thank-you, I painted this portrait of Haley, which Michelle agreed to hang up at Bow Wow.

I'm a big fan of Goldendoodles. They are big and fluffy, yet lanky. And very sweet. I see a lot of them at the dog beach we frequent in the summertime.

Thank you, Michelle. I hope this portrait of Haley makes you smile....and makes your clients ask,"Who painted that?"

30 Dogs Week 26: Alfie

2011-10-08T20:15:00.006-04:00

Lounging on a plush red couch, Alfie certainly has the life, doesn't she? This gorgeous dog belongs to Mike, whom I've known since first grade! Mike is an animal lover and advocate, so I was honored to have him contribute a fantastic photo of Alfie to my 30 Dogs project. Thank you, Mike!

This was the portrait I was going to do in mosaic tile. But I opted against it when I found out I was pregnant. Grout dust + pregnancy = not a smart move. I'm glad I went the oils route on this one, because it was fun to paint that couch. I want to sit on that couch!

I'm balancing my studio time between the last 30 Dogs pieces (only 4 left now!), holiday commissions, and portraits for ever-so-patient contest winners. In fact, it's time to fix a cup of tea and get to work at the easel.

INSPIRATION:Modern Dog Magazine's "Little Dreamers" article

2011-10-01T08:05:00.000-04:00

A new client requested that I use a patterned paper background on the portrait he has commissioned. This is the first time I've been requested to do one of these backgrounds in a commissioned piece; up until now, I've just done them on my own whim for some 30 Dogs portraits. This style has been very well received, which makes me so happy because I'm really into it. In celebration of my growing acrylic + patterned paper repertoire, I thought I'd talk about what inspired me to do it in the first place.

One day in Spring 2010, I was flipping through Modern Dog magazine. When I came across the "Little Dreamers" article, I stopped in my tracks. It was a 6-page photo spread featuring puppies. Adorable puppies. The puppies alone would be enough to take someone's breath away, but I was drawn to the gorgeous patterns behind the puppies. Incredible fabrics served as the backdrops for the photo shoot. I loved the juxtaposition of the brown/gray/black/white dogs against the colorful, bright, busy, mostly floral patterns. Instantly, I was inspired to play with pattern!

The result? My new collection of pet portraits, done in acrylic with a patterned background. I don't use fabric; rather I use lovely papers that come from Japan, India, Nepal, or the good ol' USA. This style forced me to work with acrylic after years of exclusively using oil. That has been a challenge, as acrylics and I were never buds. But I pushed through and I now have a newfound respect for, and a comfort level with, the medium. Thank goodness because I have subsequently become pregnant and am using acrylics for the remainder of my pregnancy, for safety reasons.

The photographer for this article was Tanya King. I just took a gander at her work and she is pretty awesome. And she hails from my neck of the woods—let's hear it for NJ!

Neither Ms. King nor Modern Dog magazine know I exist, but I feel compelled to thank them. They inspired me to experiment with style and media, which resulted in a fresh collection of work that excites me. Every artist needs to branch out once in a while, so as to not become stagnant or feel bored.

What has inspired YOU lately?

STELLA!

2011-09-26T21:22:00.005-04:00

I just can't say that name without yelling it, Brando style!

A few years ago, my friend Mark commissioned me to paint his Boxer, Stella, for his wife as a present. I haven't seen Mark in way too long; but I recently got in touch with him, regarding my 2012 calendar. Stella will be Miss March 2012! I like to inform the moms and dads about the inclusion of their pups in the calendar, and send them complimentary copies. Mark had lovely words to say about Stella's portrait. I mentioned my free notecard offer, and within a few days, he sent me the photo above. LOVE IT! Thanks, Mark!

What offer, you say? Here it is:
If I painted your dog and you are able to send me a photo of the dog with his/her portrait, I'll send you a complimentary pack of notecards featuring the portrait!

2012 calendars are at the printer. They will soon be available in the holiday section of my Etsy shop.

Sick as a, well, you know

2011-09-17T06:11:00.000-04:00

I was truckin' along: five and a half months of pregnancy without even a sniffle. Then school started and I went back to the full-time teaching job. In a classroom with no windows that has around 220 kids in and out of it all day. And I get sick. Ugh....I don't get regular colds. Well, I do, but they don't leave gracefully. Oh, no sir! They start either in my throat or my nose, then within two days migrate to my chest, and then take residence there forEVER. Always, ALWAYS ending in bronchitis. So I'm waiting for the official diagnosis of what I already know is true.

Needless to say, I've been slow on the art production front. I hope to find just the right balance of rest and painting this weekend, so that I may finish two pieces. Stay tuned....and be well!

30 Dogs Week 25: Nola

2011-09-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

What do you get when you mix a Weimaraner with a Chocolate Lab? A gorgeous dog, that's what! Look at that smile! This pretty lady was named after New Orleans, LouisianA. I visited New Orleans for the first time in April, and loved it! Can't wait to go back.

I wanted to use one of the three classic Mardi Gras colors for the background. Since I've always loved brown and purple together, it was an easy decision.

Thank you, Jennifer, for contributing to my project. I hope you like the portrait!

September already! Some new goals emerge...

2011-09-02T06:14:00.001-04:00

When I created this desk calendar last year, I chose this image of Hoss the sleeping St. Bernard for September as a little inside joke with myself. I'm an art teacher by day, so I know, as any of you educators also know, how exhausting it is at the start of the school year. I started yesterday—teachers only, mind you—and all I wanted to do was take a nap when I got home. I'll allow myself that luxury for a while because I'm pregnant, but then I have to push myself. I have a lot to accomplish in September.

Five more portraits to go in my 30 Dogs project, and they are all in progress. I have three pet portrait contest winners who have been incredibly patient, waiting for their paintings. That's gotta get done this month. If I'm going to do any holiday commissions, I need to at least get the preliminary sketches done in September, so that I may create the paintings in October. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, I have a dog-related art project going on, in which I'm collaborating with a good friend of mine, that is really close to our hearts. I'm going to keep the details secret for now. This adventure of ours scares me a ~~bit~~ lot. But in a good way.

I just keep reminding myself of two quotes these days:
"Do something creative every day." ~Paper Source's slogan
"Do one thing every day that scares you." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Here's to a challenging, yet rewarding, September!

Custom dog-themed holiday cards?

2011-08-31T08:03:00.000-04:00

School hasn't even started yet, and I'm already thinking Christmas. That might seem strange, but trust me: every artist/crafter with an online business is doing the same. I've often been asked about custom holiday cards, but never offered it as a service. Since we adopted our dog Rosie, I've designed my own holiday cards, featuring a photo of her. They have received great feedback from my friends and family. I also design a Valentine's card to Kevin from Rosie every year.

I'm considering putting together a price package for custom holiday cards featuring dogs. If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know by clicking the CONTACT button to the right of this page.

While I plan for Christmas, I don't want to forget to enjoy the fall. It's my favorite season!

All that glitters is DOG:Doberman, Corgi, and Jack Russell silhouettes

2011-08-30T14:40:00.002-04:00

In my Etsy shop stats, I've seen several searches for Doberman silhouette. Those words would bring a person to my shop, as I have silhouettes, and I have prints and cards featuring Dobermans, but not a silhouette of a Doberman...until now. Hopefully that searcher will try again, and be pleasantly surprised when he/she sees this new addition.

Speaking of new additions, we find out our baby's gender tomorrow! Can't wait!

Dashing Doberman, Coruscating Corgi, and Jazzy Jack Russell can be found in the Glitter silhouettes section of my Etsy store.

Fill your day with color!

In progress...and Calgon

2011-08-29T21:11:00.001-04:00

I've got lots of projects in the works, but nothing to show just yet. I'm thiiiis close to finishing portrait #25 of 30 Dogs. Then I'll have five left. One was going to be a glass tile mosaic, but that's not a very safe medium for a pregnant person, so that portrait will now be a painting. One oil, four acrylics...and I'm done. I really ~~want~~ need to be done. REALLY. Fingers crossed that some of the remaining portraits will actually sell. I can't believe how many unsold portraits from this project reside under my bed.
Honesty time: This recession is killing me. There, I said it. I had to say it. Killing me.

On an optimistic note, three more glitter dog silhouettes are almost done. Mr. Whippet's makeover is almost done. And the aforementioned 30 Dogs portraits are ALL in progress. Getting there...

It's time to don my teacher hat once again. School starts in a matter of days.

I feel like the lady in those 80's commercials who said, "Calgon, take me away!"

INSPIRATION: Whippet meets Waverly

2011-08-26T07:36:00.002-04:00

Remember Mr. Whippet? While his makeover is going well, he's not quite ready for his big reveal. However, I can share the inspiration behind his transformation: Pattern. I've been playing a lot with pattern lately, mostly by using patterned papers as the backgrounds for my dog portraits. There was a very specific inspiration behind that, which I'll discuss later. The inspiration behind Mr. Whippet's makeover was the Waverly ad campaign. I lovelovelove these ads! Everytime I see one in my BH&G magazine, I tear it out and save it. Let these images be a little hint as to what Mr. Whippet will soon look like!

30 Dogs Week 24: Julep

2011-08-25T09:29:00.004-04:00

I love this dog's name! I've never tried the drink she is named after, but I want to. At the Kentucky Derby. With a huge, obnoxious hat on my head. But I digress...Julep is my first German Shorthaired Pointer! Long ago, I asked my students if they had any good photos of their dogs for me to borrow. Sweet Emily came through with pics of Julep. Back then, I didn't have many clients, as I was just starting out. So, to build a portfolio, I created portraits of dogs based on photos I took, or that friends/family gave me. Before long, business picked up and I neglected those suddenly not-so-needed photos. But I never forgot about Julep. So, when I was planning this round of 30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks, I put Julep into the rotation....then told Emily about it.

Thank you, Emily, for giving me those photos so long ago, and for being one of my best students EVER. I hope you like Julep's portrait!

All that glitters is DOG:Three more sparkling silhouettes!

2011-08-21T09:49:00.001-04:00

Glitter time! I'm really enjoying these. While I'm trying like mad to complete the remainder of the 30 Dogs portraits, I'm not always in the mood/mindset to sit down for hours at a time and really think as I work. That's when these little guys come in. There is definitely some thinking going on (the color choices utilize everything I can remember from Color Theory class!), and a great deal of concentration (precision with glue and the paintbrush is key!), I don't have to worry about making my artwork exactly match the look of a client's dog! Plus, what girl doesn't love glitter?!

Great Scottie!, Marvelous Mastiff, and Gleaming Greyhound are now available in my shop.

JAX: My first digital pet portrait

2011-08-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

I was recently asked, "Do you offer any portraits under $200?" Hmm. The short answer was "no," but I was unwilling to just dismiss the request. So I offered a few ideas, one of which was a digital pet portrait. And a deal was made.

It's a little bit surprising that only now, four years into pet portraiture, I do a digital portrait. I'm a graphic designer. I've been using Photoshop and Illustrator for almost 20 years; I even teach those programs! I guess everything happens when it's supposed to happen, and Jax was meant to be my first (and hopefully not last) digital pet portrait.

A big thanks to Diana for commissioning this portrait, especially with no portfolio of digital work to consult! I'm thankful that you gave me the opportunity to offer my work in a new medium. Going forward, I'll be able to offer a pet portrait option with a lower price point. I hope your friend, Jax's mommy, is pleased with this gift you are about to give her, and will cherish the portrait!

Craftiness having nothing to do with dogs:My WEDDING INVITATION suite

2011-08-18T08:20:00.001-04:00

On my three year anniversary, I was reminded that I never posted my wedding invitation suite, or any of my other wedding craftiness. Silly me!

As a graphic designer, there was no way I'd leave the design/creation of my printed wedding materials to anyone else. I had fun doing it...but I also drove myself crazy!

My theme was cherry blossoms (because we got engaged in Washington, D.C.). The color scheme was primarily aqua (or Tiffany blue), with touches of red, pink, and gold. I spent a fortune on fine papers, stamps, ribbons, embellishments, etc. from (my retail addiction) Paper Source. A fortune, I tell you. But it was all worth it! Someday I'd love to design a wedding invitation suite for someone else!

Click on each image to see it larger.
Professional photographs by Rob Medina, Medina Photography LLC.

Happy Anniversary to us

2011-08-16T06:11:00.000-04:00

Come on! You know I couldn't resist this image* of two Springers getting married. Love it!

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. I'm stepping away from the easel and the computer, to enjoy a fun anniversary with my sweet hubby.

The making of dog art will resume tomorrow.

*Photo by GK Hart/Vikki Hart, via Getty Images.

All that glitters is DOG:A modern take on the classic silhouette

2011-08-13T19:24:00.004-04:00

I've been having fun with glitter lately, and this is the result. Dog silhouettes, done in glitter. So fun! SO SPARKLY! Meet Whatta Weim!, Brilliant Borzoi, and Dazzling Dane.

I will be updating the shop with these little fancies, ~~but not just yet. I want to make a few more first.~~ They are now in the shop! And I'm making more (almost) every day. What breeds will be next?...

It's date night...

2011-08-12T15:39:00.001-04:00

...I hope. The Mister and I better go out to dinner now, because once the baby comes, it will be a while. UPDATE: We postponed our dinner date. Instead, I made a meal that included Ina Garten's cauliflower gratin. DE.LISH. Make it.

My new glitter project is going very well. Messy, but well. I hope to do a big reveal tomorrow!

Glitter!

2011-08-07T16:46:00.000-04:00

I have an idea for a new series. I'm loving this idea. Next week I'm going to do something with this splendid idea.
For now, I'll just give a little hint as to what is involved.

Photo from Getty Images.

Black, white and blue, part 2

2011-08-06T18:51:00.003-04:00

30/30 Week 23: Gordon

I'm no stranger to the Boston Terrier. I've created three Boston portraits, each in a different medium (oil, mosaic, and watercolor/colored pencil). The thing is, all three have been of the same Boston: my budddy Bosco. This time, my subject is Gordon. Gordon's mom, Kathy, is an artist herself and a very nice person. Thanks, Kathy, for participating in my 30 Dogs project!

This portrait, done in pastel, is the second-to-last black dog in this 30 Dogs series. So many black dogs! Black dogs are my favorite to paint. I've always wanted a black dog, especially since I read they are the least likely to be adopted.

Coming soon: a dog in the grass, and a dog next to flowers!

Mr. Whippet anxiously awaits his makeover

2011-08-05T08:52:00.001-04:00

I bought this Whippet ...um... what's the right word?—"statue" connotes something much larger, while "figurine" connotes something much smaller—STATUETTE (that's it!) from a discount store years ago. I'm not sure what drove me to purchase it, as I have no particular affinity for Whippets. They're cute and I'd love to paint one; but otherwise, I'm indifferent. If I remember correctly, I thought he would make a nice mascot in my studio. But, alas, I've never really had a true studio. I've always had studio spaces. And with a baby coming and rooms in my house being re-desingated, my studio space is getting even smaller. Sigh.

I have no room for Mr. Whippet. So he has simply been sitting in storage. I want to repurpose him. Give him a makeover. He deserves some love. And then, hopefully, I'll sell him to someone who actually hearts the Whippet!

So, this is Mr. Whippet's BEFORE photo. What will become of Mr. Whippet? Stay tuned to find out!

Wordless Wednesday(the first installment)

2011-08-03T12:48:00.000-04:00

Black, white and blue, part 1

2011-08-02T19:00:00.002-04:00

30/30, Week 22: Frankie

My first Münsterländer! It was SO nice getting back to painting with oils again. Smooth as butta! I know, I know, I'm pregnant. Don't worry: I used odorless paint thinner, had a fan on full blast (I had to wear a winter hat!), and had the window open, despite the fact that the A/C is on. There are a few portraits for this project that I started in oil well before getting preggers, so I have no choice but to finish them in oil. Otherwise, I've been opting for acrylic or a dry media.

Thank you to Ilene for contributing your pups' photos to my project. I hope you like the result!

Eight portraits in my 30 Dogs project...I see the light! Gordon the Boston Terrier is about 90% done. Woo!

Next up: my very first ALL-DIGITAL pet portrait. It's about time I do one of them, considering I have a Graphic Design degree, used to be a full-time Graphic Designer, and now teach Graphic Design. Adobe Illustrator is my bag. So we'll see how all that translates into pet portraiture. I'm excited!

UPDATE: This Münsterländer painting is now available for sale right here.

Doghorse or horsedog?

2011-08-01T22:09:00.000-04:00

Maybe Labcolt? Hmm, too close to labcoat.

I was looking through iPhoto for a fun dog photo and came across this project from a former student of mine. At the end of the school year, we always do a lighthearted Photoshop project. Most years I offer the option of creating an animal hybrid.

The one you see here was done by a young lady named Brooke. She was awesome in my class. I wonder if my students think they'll get extra credit for including a dog image in their work. Hmm...

I've got two pet portraits that are thiiiis close to being finished. I hope to post both tomorrow.

My August goal

2011-08-01T07:33:00.001-04:00

This summer is FLYING. Scary. It's a hot summer, for sure. Pregnancy + heat + humidity = no bueno. I've been staying inside, doing stuff around the house, getting artwork done whenever possible, revamping this site (did ya notice?) and my Etsy shop, and taking lots of naps (any of you who have been pregnant will understand that one). In exactly one month, school starts again, and I have to don the hat of Art Teacher once more. So many things to accomplish this month, it's almost freaking me out. Almost.

I have a lot of goals for these 31 days of August. I will announce one right here: I want to post an entry into this here blog...wait for it...EVERY DAY. What?!? I'm not a daily poster! I'm not even a weekly poster! Has this baby zapped my sanity?

There are several reasons for this ambitious goal: some marketing related, some I-need-a-few-minutes-for-me related. This announcement doesn't count as THE post of the day; I hope to the high heavens that I can finally finish a painting today, and post that for your dog-loving pleasure. From there, who knows what I'll post every day. It should be ~~fun~~ interesting. Hehe. Wish me luck...And please check back daily!

30/30 Week 21: Arthur

2011-07-24T11:57:00.007-04:00

Argyle for Arthur!
This Beagle is the canine son of my friend Pete. Pete, an incredible graphic designer/illustrator, was my classmate in college. One of the most entertaining folks in my major. Within minutes of me sending this proof to Pete, he got back to me, saying how much he liked the portrait. Thanks, Pete! You just made my day.

With Arthur done, I have 9 more portraits to complete in this seemingly never-ending project. Getting there, getting there. Now that I'm in my second trimester, I hope to crank out artwork at a much faster pace.

Next on the easel: Gordon, the Boston Terrier and Frankie, the Münsterländer.

Hope you are staying cool during these hot summer days,

NEWS....and NEW/IMPROVED listings in the shop!

2011-07-21T18:37:00.006-04:00

First the news....I'M PREGNANT! That's the reason why my 30 Dogs project came to a screeching halt, remained dormant for 3+ months, and is only sloooowly getting finished these days. Baby T is due to arrive in January. We are very excited, except I don't think Rosie quite understands that she will have a human brother or sister soon.

When I've been feeling too nauseous to paint, I've been working on my Etsy shop overhaul. This week I added/revised a lot:

All 75 of my Dog Wisdom cards are now back in the shop. The photoshoots took forEVER, as did the follow-up Photoshop work, but I'm happy with the results. I still want to photograph EVERY card in a frame, since so many of my customers tell me that they frame the cards vs. sending them, but that project will happen eventually. You can peruse my line of cards (and my collection of pretty paper backgrounds) here.
Some of my originals for sale are now FRAMED. Woo hoo! They are dogs looking for a good home. Check them out here.
I found a few CARD SETS lying (laying? I never get that right!) around and couldn't believe that I never listed them. There are four card sets, ready to ship: Boxer, Husky, Dachshund, and Pug. They can be purchased here.
I've also updated (almost all of) my custom pet portrait listings. While I have a comprehensive size/price list on here, I offer a small range of the most popular sizes on Etsy. I created those listings back in 2007 and never touched them. Suddenly yesterday it occurred to me that those listings are the perfect opportunity to show off some of the great photos I've received from clients, of dogs next to their portraits. Love it! What do you think?

I'm hoping that these shop additions/revisions will bring in some business. Mama needs some cash! Diapers alone are gonna kill me next year!

*Bun in the oven image courtesy of Flickr, found here.*

Patriotic pups

2011-07-05T08:32:00.001-04:00

Putting red, white, and blue scarves on Rosie and Georgia was about as crazy as we got this Fourth of July. Hope your holiday was a bit more fun!

30/30 Week 20: Boon

2011-07-01T16:56:00.004-04:00

It's been nearly three months since I finished a painting. It feels good to get back in the saddle! Here is Boon, the gorgeous black Lab. Thank you to Mary, Boon's mom, for participating in my project! I hope you like the portrait, Mary!

How cool is the paper in the background? I got it, of course, from Paper Source (that rhymed!). But here's where I got tricky: what you are looking at is actually the underside of the paper! The front is really copper-y, and while I lovelovelove it, I thought it was a bit too bright/metallic. So I flipped it. I'm a crafty girl, I tell ya.

There are ten portraits left to be painted in this round (a.k.a. the LAST round) of 30 Dogs. Five of them are partially finished. I hope to be an art-making machine during July and finish strong (albeit very late). I also have three portraits to create for contest winners. Here's to a busy summer!

Dogs on display

2011-06-25T07:03:00.005-04:00

Over a month since I last posted, huh? Wow. There is a reason. A very GOOD reason...but I'm not quite ready to spill the beans. I haven't picked up a paintbrush in almost three months. My poor 30 dogs project has been neglected....but not forgotten. This hiatus was necessary, and soon enough I'll be able to explain why. For now, I'm thrilled to say that my summer has officially started! School is out, my three-day school-related summer gig is over, and I can now put my teacher hat on the shelf and don my pet portrait artist hat...and leave it on. Yipee! If you are one of the eleven 30 dogs participants who is patiently waiting to see the portrait of your pup, I won't let you down. I intend to finish the project in the next several weeks.

A little bit of excitement that I can share is that ten of my dog paintings were selected for a show at a local art gallery. Most of these pieces are un-purchased 30 dogs portraits. I'm calling them (only verbally) "dogs looking for a good home." They will soon be available for sale WITH frames. For now, however, they will hang for another week.

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far!

PLEASE VOTE for #81 !

2011-05-20T05:29:00.001-04:00

Dog lovers of the world,
I need your help!

Please take a second and check out the entries for the 3rd Annual Dog Art Today/Mutt Lynch Winery label competition. Then vote for mine, which is #81. Two years ago, my submission made the Top Ten, but I didn't win. Last year, it didn't make the Top Ten, but good things came my way as a result of entering the contest.

The voting structure has improved: you no longer can sit at the same computer and vote countless times. Quite frankly, I think that was a big part of how I made it into the Top Ten two years ago. Now it is one computer, one vote, which I prefer...but it means I have to wrangle up a lot of people. Consider yourself wrangled! It will only take you a minute....and then another minute to tell your friends to vote. Hee hee.

One more time (with feeling!), click here to view the art and vote.
Thanks, as always, for your support!

Change of plans

2011-05-13T17:19:00.012-04:00

"Naughty or Nice?": My submission for a "naughty"
dog-themed wine label contest

Thank you, again, to everyone who took a moment to vote for the sketch I should use for my submission to the Dog Art Today/Mutt Lynch Winery label contest. I started the painting...but couldn't finish it in time. Well, I could, but that would involve me stressing myself out. A lot. On a Friday night after a long work week. In a desperate attempt to make the deadline at midnight. No good; I had to come up with a Plan B.

You see, after three bouts of stress- and sleep deprivation-related illness this fall/winter, I'm no longer willing to stress myself out for the sake of artwork (which is why my 30 Dogs project is taking forEVER). I'm learning to put myself first when I need to. So, therefore, I decided to shelf the sketch of the Poodle (perhaps I'll use it in a future contest) and, instead, choose an existing painting from my repertoire to submit. I think this painting of Halo is a funny twist on the "naughty" theme. At least it gives me a chuckle.

Be good to yourself this weekend.
I'll be back to let you know when the contest voting is open!

Wallace poses with his portrait

2011-05-07T06:22:00.005-04:00

Over the years, I've had many lovely clients. Wallace's parents, Pat and Jack, are definitely favorites! They won a custom portrait at a charity auction. Ever since I sent them the finished portrait of Wallace, they have been back to purchase cards and prints...and most recently, I was surprised to receive this photo in my inbox. How stinkin' cute is this? Thanks, Pat and Jack! I absolutely adore this photo. And, per my policy, you will receive a complimentary pack of cards featuring Wallace's portrait!

I needed something like this to cross my path, as my motivation lately is really, really low. I'm nowhere near finished my 30 Dogs project and the ones that are finished are, for the most part, not getting purchased. Not good for an artist's confidence. I've given up trying to meet the 30 week deadline, and now I'm just sitting down to paint when I truly want to. There's no point, otherwise. All artists get into a rut from time to time. How do you get OUT of yours?

I've got some framin' to do!

2011-04-19T18:59:00.001-04:00

I, and the other two art teachers where I teach, were offered the opportunity to have our own show at a local gallery. We were each asked to submit twenty images for consideration. These ten were chosen. I think they will look good hanging together, and I'm quite excited about the show. The only thing is...I have to frame NINE of these ten portraits. Yikes! Thankfully, I have until June to get it done!

On the canvas right now: Arthur and Boon. When they enter the "DONE" column, I'll have nine more to go. There's that number again.

30/30 Week 19: Howie

2011-04-12T21:47:00.002-04:00

This little guy's mom said about Howie, "He's my best friend." She had me. This Lhasa Apso mix is a cutie patootie, and I enjoyed creating his portrait as part of my 30 Dogs project. I have a slight obsession with the paper I used for Howie's background. I want to make all sorts of things out of that paper now. Love it.

It's safe to say that my project will NOT be finished within the 30 weeks, but I'll come close. I learned a lot about myself, and had some big revelations, during the course of this go-round. I'll elaborate when it's all over. For now, I can honestly say that I'm OK with not finishing within the 30 weeks....I do look forward to being done, though. Like, REALLY look forward to being done.

Between now and then, however, I've got some traveling to do. I'm off on a little business trip. Hope to photograph some dogs while I'm there. I'm sure I'll have lots to show and tell upon my return, as it is a very colorful place I'm visiting....I'll see you on the flip-flop!

P.S. Thank you, Christine, for participating in my project. I hope you like the portrait of Howie!

New card designs

2011-04-07T14:01:00.008-04:00

I'd like to say that I've done a big Etsy shop update, but I can't. I'm doing a very slow, very gradual shop overhaul. So despite the fact that I've designed these seven new Dog Wisdom cards, not all of them are in the shop just yet. I'm workin' on it! They will be there soon. I'm just so excited about them, I couldn't wait to post. Hope you like 'em! You can find my line of Dog Wisdom cards here. I'm adding more almost every day—there are 75 designs in all!

The Love From Me Project

2011-04-06T16:59:00.011-04:00

I'm thrilled to announce the inclusion of my artwork in Love From Me, a book project created to raise funds for cancer patients and their families. I submitted seven dog portraits, and Wallace the Yorkie is the lucky one chosen. Here's a peek at my page (#32).

This book is extra-special to me, because several people whom I know and love are also included: My dear friend, perhaps the friend I've mentioned most on this here blog, Eileen Cassidy Parsonage, is a budding photographer. I love the image she submitted. A high school classmate of mine, and an accomplished artist, Dae Rebeck Sanchez is included. The best-friend-I've-never-met, Linda O'Neill, a fellow artist and amazing person, is in this year's book, as well as last year's version (wish I was able to submit to that one; it was all about pets!). And Sherry Massey, a new cyber pal who's dog will soon be posted as part of my 30 Dogs project, is in there, too. I'm in very good company within the covers of this book.

I can't wait to order my copy. I hope you will consider doing the same. We artists make no money from the sale of the books; it all goes to a certified charity, The Rose Fund.

A huge thank you to the editor of the book, Sara Harley. She herself was recently diagnosed with cancer. I had a short-lived (thankfully) bout with it myself, as I had malignant melanoma over 10 years ago. I know first-hand how much the "C" word, when it becomes your own personal reality, can make you want to crawl in a hole and never come out. But Sara, instead, decided to create this book to inspire and help others. Amazing. Sara, you go girl! YOU are an inspiration, and you created something lovely for which you should be proud. I'm honored that you included my art; thank you!

You can preview the book in full, and purchase it, by clicking here.

30 Dogs Week 18: Sprite

2011-03-27T08:25:00.012-04:00

Here is Rosie's agility class buddy, Sprite the white Border Collie with one blue eye and one brown eye. When I first saw Sprite, I couldn't stop looking at her; she is so gorgeous. And sweet, too. She is amazing at the agility obstacles in class...and when she is done or waiting her next turn, she likes to sit in a chair just like her mommy and daddy. So cute!

We've taken a break from agility class for the fall/winter. The class is an hour away from where we live...and only offered on weeknights. Considering Kevin and I are teachers who wake up at 5:30am and 4:30am(!!!) respectively, the traveling to agility class was rough. Also, we signed Rosie up for agility just for fun. She is a spaniel, and therefore requires a lot of physical activity. She is great little athlete, and excels in class. But we have no plans to enter the agility trial circuit. We were surrounded by agility competitors, who seem to have their own little language. Remember that song from Sesame Street (Mr. Rogers? Electric Company? One of them!) that goes "Which of these things doesn't belong?" Well, that's how we Throckmortons felt amongst the hard-core agility people.

So, the break from agility class was a welcome one...but we miss it a bit. We certainly miss Sprite, who also took a break or two. Hopefully Rosie and Sprite will be reunited soon...maybe now that it's spring? Thanks, Lea, for inviting us to your home last summer so Rosie could run and play with your dogs, and meet your cool mini horses. Thank you, also, for participating in my project. I hope you like Sprite's portrait!

UPDATE: This painting has been framed, and is now for sale right here.

My love-hate relationship with Airedales

2011-03-20T08:46:00.013-04:00

30 Dogs Week 17: Dennis

Airedales. For a long time, I didn't like the breed at all. You see, when I was a little girl, my aunt and uncle had an Airedale named Kinks (as in the 60's rock band). Kinks seemed HUGE and a little scary to me, probably because I was so small. One day my family went over to my uncle's house for a party of some sort. I brought my very favorite possessions in the entire world—my stuffed bunnies, Funny Bunny and Honey Bunny. I loved these silly yellow bunnies, but not equally. Funny Bunny was definitely my favorite. And I loooooooved him! Well, on this particular day, Kinks developed an affinity for Funny Bunny as well. He treated my toy like his toy, and practically ripped it to shreds. My aunt came to the rescue and mended him to the best of her ability. She did a pretty good job, but it was obvious that Funny Bunny underwent major surgery. I was DE.VA.STA.TED. And from that point on, I despised Airedales. I didn't know what the name of the breed was back then, so I just referred to them as "Kinks dogs."

Fast forward 30 years. I become a pet portrait artist with a business named "i heart dogs." I feel a bit hypocritical, knowing that I don't exactly heart two breeds: Weimaraners and Airedales. Meeting and painting Fisher changed my mind about Weims. I just need to get over my Airedale thing. Enter Dennis, who belonged to my friend Nicole. I never met Dennis, but I heard so many cute stories about him, I discovered a little place in my heart for the Airedale. So, of course, I had to paint him during this round of "30 Dogs." Thanks, Nicole, for sharing your photos of Dennis!

UPDATE: This painting is for sale right here.

Black and white and round all over

2011-03-06T15:52:00.016-05:00

30 Dogs Week 16: Mugsy

My first finished painting in a month! Here is Mugsy the Puggle. My dog has a strong affinity for Puggles, so it was fun to paint this guy. Mugsy is the 16th portrait in my 30 Dogs project. Thank you, Cassie, for contributing the adorable photo of Mugsy to my project. I hope you like the portrait!

I'm happy to say that as of right this second, I have eight canvases that are partially done. EIGHT! I'm slowly but surely getting caught up! It feels good. I've got 14 more portraits left in my project.

Coming soon: another acrylic + patterned paper piece, and a dog portrait that includes flowers!

UPDATE: This painting is for sale right here.

The first dog

2011-02-26T06:48:00.013-05:00

Rosie is the first dog for Kevin and me, as adults. We absolutely adore her, and can't imagine life before or without her. She happens to bear a striking resemblance to the former First Dog, Millie (Bush). I'm pretty sure Millie was a purebred Springer, so she must have been on the small side. Rosie is half Springer and half Cocker; and, at just 24 lbs., she is tiny for either of those breeds. My guess is that Rosie was the runt of the litter, but I might never know for sure.

We found Rosie through Petfinder.com and adopted her from a local pet rescue. She was very close to not being born, as her mother (Lily, a chocolate American Cocker) was given to a kill shelter while very, VERY pregnant. She was a week away from being euthanized when the angels at New Beginnings Pet Rescue took her. Lily gave birth to seven puppies in the kitchen of one of the Rescue's volunteers. Some of the puppies were all black, some all brown, some black+white, and some (like our girl) brown+white. This leads me to believe that the mystery daddy was a black+white Springer. All of the puppies, and eventually Lily, were adopted. I often wonder about Rosie's siblings—what they look like, how big they are, if they have the same personality and quirks that Rosie has.

People stop us all the time and admire our dog. We get a variety of guesses as to her breed(s). Cocker people say Cocker. Springer people say Springer. They are both right. Brittany people say Brittany—wrong, but there is a resemblance; and my sister has a Brittany so I love to meet Brittany people. A lot of people say Cavalier King Charles, which I don't get because there is definitely a difference, facially. But at least the CKC is a spaniel. The funniest guess was Dalmatian. "Because she has spots." Yep, that's what a guy said to us at Petsmart once. Kevin and I just chuckled. How silly! Most people assume we got Rosie from a breeder, and are surprised to hear we adopted her. I love moments like that because it is an opportunity to advocate dog adoption. There are amazing dogs waiting to be adopted! Even dogs that would fit right in on the White House lawn, like ours.

Updating the Etsy shop (this is going to take a while)

2011-02-19T07:36:00.012-05:00

There are numerous articles on and off Etsy about how to improve one's Etsy shop and increase sales. And in every article, the first—and loudest—suggestion is photography. Until now, I've taken advantage of the fact that my Etsy wares are either easily scan-able, or already digital. My photos were straightforward, but they weren't exactly eye-catching. Nor did they reflect a lot of effort. My sales have been OK, and fairly steady...but they could be much better. So yesterday I embarked on what promises to be a long journey to a new and improved Etsy shop. I'm starting with my Dog Wisdom cards. I have about 70 in my collection now, but many more are in progress. Yesterday I focused on five. Five. And it took me hours. Did I mention this will be a long journey?

In addition to the straight-up digital image that appears on the front of the card, I decided to actually photograph the printed card—front and back. The cards are black and white so I thought: why not utilize my collection of gorgeous fine papers as colorful backdrops? Love it. In each card's description, I mention how some people like to frame the cards, rather than send them. So I decided to photograph the framed version of each card, hanging on the wall. Nice. Finally, I want to show what the cards look like all bagged up in their cello sleeves, thereby dropping a hint about buying SETS of cards; so a little cute pile of packaged cards serves as my fifth of my five photos. I took 76 photos, and ended up with 22 that I used among the five card listings. A lot of Photoshop work went into making the photos look their best. Whew!

I'm very happy with the result. Now I just have to do this for 65+ more cards. The good thing about printing each card first is that I will actually build an inventory; so that when I get a card order, I'll have it on hand, vs. having to print it on-demand. Then, if I'm über-disciplined, I won't re-list a sold card until I print it first. This practice will be a huge time saver in the future, but for now I have to buy a lot of supplies before I can proceed.

I also have to re-vamp the listings for my prints. And originals. Hmm...should I have waited until summer when I'm off from teaching for 2.5 months? Nah! I'm too excited about this makeover to wait. The shop will be sparse as I continue this journey. {If you'd like to purchase an item you've seen in my shop, but that item is currently inactive, please convo me on Etsy and I'll get it to you.} I'm looking forward to (hopefully) seeing a significant return on my time. All of those articles promise it will be worth the effort!

Kaleigh, Diego, and Skylar

2011-02-05T10:47:00.017-05:00

30 Dogs:
Weeks 13, 14, & 15
I'm halfway there!

I'm so excited to be (almost) finished these three dogs, that I'm posting about it before the third one's complete! For the first time, I have a 30 Dogs participant submit three dogs to my project. That person is Sheri. She is a super sweet woman who told me lovely stories about how her dogs came into her life and what they mean to her. How could I not accept all three submissions? Not to mention the fact that her dogs are absolutely gorgeous. And it also doesn't hurt that many of the photos were taken by pet photographer and artist Jill Beninato. Sheri found out about my project through my friend and fellow pet artist, Rebecca, who herself created portraits of Kaleigh, Diego and Skylar. I took cues from some of the colors in Rebecca's portraits. All three dogs were smiling in those portraits, so I went with serious expressions in mine. I hope you like them, Sheri! Thanks for taking part in my project!

The completion of these portraits marks the halfway mark for 30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks. WHEW! I'm a bit behind, but I'm confident that I'll get caught up and meet my goal of finishing by week 30. The next 15 portraits will include more oils, more of my new obsession—acrylic + fine patterned paper, and various other media, including....wait for it....a glass tile mosaic! Woo hoo!

I'd like to welcome anybody who is new to my website, especially those who found out about me through Camp Bow Wow in Cherry Hill, NJ. It is a great doggie camp; my mom brings Abby there a lot. Thanks for stopping by!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love getting photos like these?

2011-02-01T19:10:00.004-05:00

I have? Well, it bears repeating. Here is Spencer's portrait and the real Spencer. These photos make my day!

Most women like to buy shoes. I like to buy paper.

2011-01-13T21:39:00.014-05:00

30/30 Week 12: Bijou

When I saw this dogwood paper, I couldn't resist it. Have I ever mentioned my addiction to Paper Source? It's pretty strong. I spent a fortune on their papers, ribbons, labels, etc. for all of my wedding stuff. Come to think of it, I never posted photos of my wedding invitation suite. I intend to, despite the fact that I got married two YEARS ago! Anyway, when I decided to incorporate paper into several of the portraits for this round of "30 Dogs," I knew exactly where to go for the best papers. This portrait of Bijou is my fourth using PS paper.

As for this dog, Bijou the blue Doberman Pinscher is the canine daughter of my friend and coworker, Lisa. Thank you for participating in my project, Lisa! I hope you like the results!

I'm almost current with my 30 Dogs project. If you read my last post, you'll understand why I'm sort of lagging behind. Three more portraits until I'm at the halfway mark. Five more until I'm all caught up. Chug-chug-chugging along...

Reflections

2011-01-09T18:54:00.035-05:00

2010 was my most prolific year to date.
How many doggie portraits did I paint? Read on to find out.

At the end of December '09, Kevin and I went to Florida to visit family. It was nice, but I was so thankful to be home during this Christmas break. I needed to be home in December '10.

Now it's January '11. I've been reflecting on the year that just ended, as well as what I want for the year to come. Honesty time!...

For the second winter in a row, I feel spent. I've been burning the candle at both ends; and as a result, I've gotten sick with a bad cold/bronchitis TWICE in one season. I don't think that has ever happened to me before. It is my body's way of telling me to slow down. I take on too much, mostly in the name of making extra money so I can get out of debt. But I learned long ago that one's health should come first. I think I can say with certainty that once this round of "30 Dogs" is over, I won't be doing it again. Or, at least, not for a while. This go-round has really thrown me for a loop. Being a full-time teacher and a whenever-I-can-find-the-time pet portrait artist, plus a wife and a doggie mom, leaves me very little time to just tend to ME. Imposing another time-sensitive project on myself is no longer working for me. I'm constantly complaining about having not enough time. Frankly, I'm sick of hearing myself complain.

I love the work—once it is finished and in my ever-growing portfolio. I'm just not loving the process these days, and that's not good for any artist. I will see the project through; but after it is over, I'm going to take the advice of my friend Rebecca and create a business model that works for my lifestyle and schedule. I think I'm going to go back to just taking commissions, and in between that work, doing fun stuff with my existing images. Then there's that little (HUGE) thing I've been avoiding for too long, called MARKETING. I cringe at the very word.

On a positive note, look at that heart up there! I created 42 dog portraits last year. Not bad for a part-time arteest! I’m proud of myself, and the work I created. I’m incredibly thankful to the clients/customers who purchased portraits, prints and cards in 2010. You all get a big WOOF WOOF!

One way I plan to focus on ME more in 2011 is through my participation in One Little Word. This is my fourth year choosing a word, rather than a list of resolutions; but it is the first year that I plan to really, consistently, work on manifesting the word in my life. I’ll post about my chosen word, and what I’m doing with it, soon…

More, please!

2011-01-04T17:34:00.008-05:00

Lennox's portrait
and the real Lennox

This photo is a pet portrait artist's dream. I love it! And I wish I received more photos like this. Many of the portraits I'm asked to do are memorial portraits of dogs that have passed. Obviously in such cases, these kinds of photos aren't possible. But for the many dogs I've painted that are alive and well, I'd love to see snapshots of them with their portrait. So far I've only received six such photos. I want more, please!

With that said, I'm going to repeat an offer I made a while back:
Did I paint your dog, or a dog you know? Snap a photo of the dog + the portrait of him/her, send me the photo, and I'll send you a complimentary pack of greeting cards that feature the portrait!

Happy New Year!

For Christmas

2010-12-26T06:58:00.009-05:00

30/30 Week 8's portrait revealed: Gracie

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday. I am!

Gracie's portrait has been finished for weeks, but I kept it secret until now because it was purchased as a Christmas present. I knew Gracie personally; she was a sweetheart. Her dad's family and my family have been friends for over 30 years. Sadly, Gracie crossed the rainbow bridge just a few weeks ago. So I'm certain that it was a bittersweet moment for Matt to open up this present on Christmas morning. His sweet fiancé Toby, who was so excited to have me paint her two dogs (Maggie and Otis), bought Gracie's portrait first, so that Matt would have a reminder of his little girl. Thank you, Toby and Matt, for contributing to my project. I hope the portrait makes you smile. Know that it was painted with love and good thoughts of my favorite bulldog!

A trio of mixed breeds

2010-12-17T20:07:00.018-05:00

30/30
Weeks 9, 10 & 11: Spike, Spencer,
and Texas

It may seem as though I skipped week 8, but I didn't. Week 8's portrait was purchased as a Christmas present, I'm keeping it under wraps until the 25th. So here I am with my three latest "30 dogs" portraits. Spike is a Chug (Chihuahua + Pug = Chug). He is a member of a family I've known all my life. More on that family and their dogs in a later post. Spike's background was originally watercolor, but I messed it up BIG TIME. A happy accident, I suppose, because I quite like the patterned paper I used for the revised background. Don't ya love the one tooth popping out of Spike's mouth?!

Spencer belongs to Diane, our trainer at Petsmart. Diane was so great with Rosie when we took our last training class; Rosie adores her. Spencer is a mystery mixed breed, but I'm thinkin' there is some Dalmatian in there. Those spots were a challenge, to say the least! Spencer has lovely brown eyes, which really stand out against all of that black and white.

Texas, a Cairn-Yorkie mix (a.k.a. a "Carkie"!) is the canine niece of my friend Eileen. I've mentioned Eileen a lot on this here blog of mine. She's been a friend to me since I was 14, and is currently, without a doubt, one of the most supportive people I have in my corner when it comes to my pet portrait (ad)venture. I love ya, Isles!

Thank you to Megan, Diane, and Eileen for contributing your photos to my project. I hope you are happy with the results!

UPDATE: The painting of the Chug (top photo) is for sale right here.

For the love of gray

2010-12-03T22:38:00.014-05:00

30/30 Weeks 6 & 7: Otis and Monk

Or is it grey? I never know. Well, anyway, here are two portraits featuring that color: the two most recent portraits in my 30 Dogs series. I'm still behind with the project, but I'm getting caught up. The top portrait is of Otis, a smooth coated Brussels Griffon. He is brother to Maggie the Affenpinscher. I love painting little teeny tiny dogs in a way that makes them look like a huge presence. I painted both Maggie and Otis on wood. The last time I applied oil paint to wood was about five years ago. I love how the paint glides over the wood; I'll have to choose wood over canvas more often.

The bottom portrait is Monk, a Schnauzer mix. Is he cute or what? It has been a while since I did a pastel portrait. I really love the medium! What I always find magical, when working in pastel or colored pencil, is the moment when I carefully remove the masking tape and reveal a crisp line of color against a stark white border. It makes me very happy. I'm an art dork, what can I say?

The next several dogs in my lineup are black, white, and gray, with wrinkles, spots, and shaggy fur. Stay tuned!

Happy December!

UPDATE: The Brussels Griffon painting (top photo) has been framed, and is now for sale right here.

Maggie...and Honesty Time

2010-11-28T07:04:00.014-05:00

30/30 Week 5: Maggie

I'd never heard of an Affenpinscher until I was sent pictures of Maggie for my 30 Dogs project. What a cute little bundle of fur! Maggie has a brother, Otis, who is a Smooth Coated Brussels Griffon. He's just as cute...and to see them together makes me melt. Otis is being painted currently so you'll see what I mean very soon.

OK. Honesty Time: I'm so behind with artwork, I could cry. Maggie's portrait represents Week 5 of my project. As I type this on November 28, I am currently in Week 10 or 11. Yeah, I'm that behind. It's driving me crazy. On days when I have time to paint, painting is the last thing I'm in the mood to do. And on days when all I want to do is paint, I have no time to do it. This has been the reality for weeks and weeks. I'm turning into a real grump over it. I am determined to finish Otis today, and eek out time every day over the next week to paint a little bit, and hopefully get back on track with my project. Thank goodness I knew better than to solicit holiday orders this year. I'd be insane! Deep breaths, Christine....Wish me luck.

If you are a 30 Dogs participant, and you specifically told me that you'd like to give the finished portrait as a holiday present, never fear. I'll get it done in time! As my students say all the time: "I got you!"

On a happier note, I hosted my family and Kevin's family for Thanksgiving. I channeled my inner Julia Child, Martha Stewart, and my Lithuanian grandmother and put out a huge feast, with some crafty touches (I'll post them later). Everything was delicious. Everybody was happy and relaxed. THAT is what is important, not some silly self-imposed art deadline that I'm flubbing up. I need to keep focusing on my blessings in order to turn my frown upside-down.

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving, too!

UPDATE: This painting has been framed, and is now for sale right here.

Special discount for blog readers

2010-11-23T18:04:00.005-05:00

I'm really behind in the art making department. I can't even think about it too much or I'll get upset. That will be rectified just as soon as Thanksgiving is over (I'm cooking for 12). In the meantime, I wanted to show my appreciation to anyone who might read my ramblings and offer you a discount on anything in my Etsy shop. Anything at all. 15% off. Just use this code at checkout: IHDlovesBLOGGERS2010. Enjoy!

As I count my blessings this Thursday (my favorite holiday), I will count you among them. Happy Thanksgiving!

XOXO

Gift certificates, just in time for the holidays!

2010-11-14T09:56:00.006-05:00

If you've been thinking about commissioning a custom pet portrait as a gift for an animal lover in your life, I've just made that process a LOT easier! Instead of sneaking around, trying to find (or take) the perfect photos of the pet for me to reference, you can leave that up to the pet owner! By giving a gift certificate, you look like a hero, and you save yourself a headache! I've created gift certificates in four price points, representing eight possible canvas sizes. If you'd like to buy a gift certificate for a custom i heart dogs studio original pet portrait for someone special in your life, just click here. Happy Holidays!

Nala

2010-11-12T16:22:00.008-05:00

For years I wanted the opportunity to paint a German Shepherd. And I got it twice in 6 months! My first GSD was Esau, and now here is Nala. At 18"x24", this portrait is one of my largest dog paintings to date. I've only done this size once before. Nala's portrait was commissioned by Mike, one of my former students. And by former, I mean he just graduated last June. He ordered the portrait as a birthday gift for his aunt. Thank you, Mike! Although it was a bit strange at first to segue from teacher-student to artist-client, it was a joy to work with you and to paint Nala. I hope your aunt loves it!

Craftiness having nothing to do with dogs:TRAIN CAKE

2010-11-06T07:28:00.011-04:00

Two of my very favorite people in this world are my twin nephews, Benjamin and Daniel. Last weekend, they turned 3. Their party had a train theme, and I was in charge of the cake. This is what I whipped up (in two days). Cream cheese pound cake in the form of a train, made with this amazing cake pan I scored from Williams-Sonoma years ago. Decorated with lots and LOTS of candy and cookies. My hubby helped me decorate (we had so much fun!). The platform is a wood plank covered in kraft paper. The train tracks are chocolate Twizzlers (a revelation!); the dirt under the tracks is a combo of Oreos + Nilla wafers, pulverized in the food processor; the grass is sweetened coconut with green food coloring; the pine tree is a sugar cone, dipped in corn syrup, covered in the aforementioned coconut, and studded with brown M&Ms. The cake was a huge hit with the birthday boys, as well as the rest of my family. I would love to make one with an all red + green theme and serve it after watching Polar Express with them at Christmas time. Not this Christmas mind you, but some Christmas. Choo choo!

Daisy Lu Lu

2010-11-05T08:00:00.008-04:00

30/30 Week 4

This is my third dog named Daisy, but I love the Lu Lu part! I'm on a roll with the acrylic-and-paper-collage thing. Here is the latest: a Boxer named Daisy among, well, daisies! To be honest, the flowers on the gorgeous Japanese paper are supposed to be chrysanthemums, but I think they look like daisies, so I went with it. This portrait is my 4th completed painting in my 30 dogs project. By now I should be posting the 7th(!!!) finished portrait. But a nasty cold-turned-bronchitis halted any art production and put me way behind. I'm getting caught up, as I have about 5 portraits in progress right now.

Back to Daisy. She is the canine daughter of my friend Megan, whom I've known for 30+ years. Megan is a former neighbor and babysitter. Her parents and my parents are close friends. I don't get to see Megan much, but thanks to Facebook, I get the pleasure of her always positive, inspiring observations on just how beautiful life is. You always make me smile, Megan...and I hope this portrait of Daisy makes you smile for a long time! Thanks for participating in my project!

UPDATE: This painting has been framed, and is now for sale right here.

My favorite dog whom I've never met

2010-11-01T19:09:00.004-04:00

There is a certain lady on TV whom I really admire. I feel like I know her, although we've never met. She makes me laugh and smile every time I watch her on TV, or read her updates on Twitter and Facebook. She is a brilliant business woman, who inspires me as I contemplate ways to build this lil' enterprise of mine. I adore this chick....and I adore her dog. I couldn't resist painting a picture of the little pooch. Does anyone recognize this cutie patootie? I'll reveal the identities of Lady and Dog soon. For now, I'm hoping to send the portrait their way, as a thank you for, well, just being so fabulous. Fingers crossed...

More pretty paper!

2010-10-19T19:02:00.006-04:00

30/30 Week 3: Bella

The last portrait I posted featured funky paper from Nepal. This portrait, of a Maltese named Bella, includes classic Florentine paper from Italy. Guess what? While painting this dog, not once did I complain to myself about acrylics. Maybe they are growing on me? Hmm...

UPDATE: This painting is now for sale, right here.

30/30 Week 2: LENNOX

2010-10-12T18:14:00.005-04:00

Continuing along my acrylic streak, here is Lennox the French Bulldog. He is one of five (or maybe six) of my 30/30 portraits in which I'm using paper. I tried that approach for the 30th portrait of the first round of 30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks. I liked the results so much, I decided to use more paper in this go-round. This particular circle-y paper is from Nepal. I bought it here (Paper Source's website is like a drug to me).

The next portrait in the lineup is also a white dog, also being done in acrylic, and also involving paper. Stay tuned!

Sam, River, and Quincy

2010-10-11T12:57:00.021-04:00

I just completed a commission of three gorgeous dogs. Meet Sam, River, and Quincy. Their mom, Beth, ordered the paintings as a birthday present for her husband. I completely over-estimated my painting speed, and thought I could whip the portraits up quickly. For that reason, I opted to work in acrylic vs. oil (acrylic dries super fast). Well, by the time the birthday rolled around, all Beth could give her hubby were images of my sketches.
The paintings took a lot longer than I expected. I struggle with acrylics (they take me forEVER), but I'm learning to appreciate them. I've received lots of lovely feedback on these three portaits on my Facebook page, so I've decided that acrylics and I are still in cahoots. In fact, the next two portraits I'll be posting are acrylic (along with gorgeous papers from far away lands!). Don't worry oils, I still love you and I'll be back very soon.
Thank you, Beth, for the opportunity to paint your gorgeous dogs...and for your patience. I hope your husband loves these paintings, and considers them worth the wait!

30/30 Week 1: Atticus

2010-10-06T17:54:00.008-04:00

This is Atticus, my first Scottie portrait. It is also the first finished portrait in Round 2 of my 30-in-30 project. There is an interesting story about Atticus. And it goes like this...About four years ago, when I was considering the notion of becoming a pet portrait artist, I did a little research. Actually, a LOT of research. And during that process, two pet portrait artist's names were popping up everywhere: Linda O'Neill of Abby Creek Studios, and Rebecca Collins of Art Paw. I fell in love with one of Linda's prints, and actually bought it for myself. It was a print of a Scottie. To this day, I've only met one Scottie in person, but I've always had an affinity for the breed. The name of the Scottie in the print? Atticus. I had no idea at the time that Atticus was Rebecca's dog. I reached out to Linda at the beginning of my pet portaiture journey. She has proven to me an amazing support system, mentor, and friend. A little further along that journey, I befriended Rebecca as well. She has also become a treasured source of advice, inspiration, and support, especially recently as I embarked on this newest incarnation of "30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks." Thanks to Rebecca's help, a few of her fans have become my clients. And Rebecca herself decided to participate in my project. She's been a mom to several Scotties, and the one she chose for me to celebrate in a portrait is....Atticus. WHAT A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT!

So of course Atticus had to be the first completed portrait in my project. It is quite timely, actually, as one of Rebecca's Scotties, Big Tommy, crossed over the rainbow bridge just last week. I imagine Atticus welcoming Big Tommy in dog heaven. May they frollick together happily ever after!

Reflecting on the last few years as a pet portrait artist gives me such a feeling of gratitude. Lovely, gracious, kind, generous people--who share my love for animals and my passion for art--have blessed my life. A big shout-out to Linda and Rebecca! While I've never met you ladies in person, I love ya lots (and your dogs). Thank you for everything!

P.S. I'll be painting Linda's dog, too! Stay tuned!

The back nine!

2010-09-14T08:47:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the golf reference; my husband LOVES golf, so I couldn't resist. With these nine doggie drawings, phase 1 of 30-in-30 is compete! I successfully drew 30 dogs in 30 days. And they are such cuties! I'm taking the rest of the week off from this project, during which time I will complete a three-painting commission and get ready for school to start. Phase 2 will commence next week. For the next 30 weeks, I will take one of the 30 drawings per week, and flush it out into a full-color fine art portrait. Which dog will I choose first? You'll have to check back to find out!

In the meantime, enjoy this BEAUTIFUL weather!

Week 3's drawings are complete!

2010-09-06T16:42:00.007-04:00

I'm 2/3 of the way through the 30 drawings! It's a busy time of year for me, so there are days when I don't get a drawing done, and then have to double-up the next day. I've also received a three-portrait commission that is a rush job, so I've had a few three-drawing days. But the faces of the pooches are so cute, I can't really complain! I'm looking forward to Phase 2 of the project, in which I turn the drawings into full-color portraits. They will be done on the new furniture I just ordered for the studio. After two years of commandeering the kitchen or dining room table to paint (and my patient husband growing not-so-patient), I'm finally moving the operation to my little studio space. Can't wait!

Esau

2010-09-06T16:33:00.007-04:00

I finally got to paint a German Shepherd! I recently made a list of 30 breeds I really want to paint, but haven't yet. Shortly after I posted the list, I heard from Julie. She soon became the first client to take advantage of my "Most Wanted Breeds" discount. And I was honored to paint her gorgeous German Shepherd, Esau. Julie contacted me right before my month-long hiatus from painting, and was incredibly patient as I took a much-needed break. When I finally finished the portrait, she said it was worth the wait. I am fortunate to have such sweet clients. Thank you, Julie! I hope you and your husband enjoy the portrait!

If you are thinking about commissioning a pet portrait, be sure to check out my Most Wanted Breed list. You just might save some money!

Week 2's drawings are complete!

2010-08-31T06:52:00.006-04:00

Week 2: check! I'm really enjoying the process of drawing every day. Lately I've had to skip a few days and double-up on other days to compensate, but I'm getting it all done. These dogs have cute names and great faces. I'm getting really excited about my ideas for their finished portraits. But until then, I have 16 more dogs to draw...Here is the lineup for week 3's drawings. Which name belongs to which breed? You'll have to check back to find out!

30 in 30 version 2.0 is in full effect!

2010-08-23T21:28:00.007-04:00

After taking a full month off from making art, I jumped back into it by starting the next round of 30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks. This time around I have some great photos to work with, including some unusual breeds. I'm really excited! The first week of drawings are finished. I'm also announcing the lineup for week 2's drawings. Which name belongs to which breed? You'll have to check back to find out!

30 dogs have been chosen...now it's (almost) time to draw

2010-08-04T07:32:00.012-04:00

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for the 2010-2011 version of "30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks." I received some fantastic pics and this go-round includes some unusual breeds. I'm really excited!

A huge thank you to Rebecca Collins of Art Paw. She gave me the opportunity to be a guest writer on her fantastic blog. My article is a reflection on the recently-completed first try at 30-in-30. Check it out! That article drove a lot of traffic over here, so several of my newest 30-in-30 participants came to me via Rebecca. Thanks, Rebecca!

I was going to begin the 30 days of drawing on August 1. But some unfinished and unexpected personal stuff has me pushing it back a bit. I will begin drawing one dog per day starting August 15. This is also the date that ends my month-long hiatus from painting. Until 8/15, I'll be a busy, busy bee with all sorts of non-art-related things around the house. I miss making art, so I'm very much looking forward to getting my hands dirty again.

The picture above is a sneak peak at the first seven dogs to be drawn. Which name goes with which breed? You'll just have to check back to find out...

[The cool word cloud was made on a very addictive website. Make one for yourself; it's fun!]

We have a winner!

2010-07-17T07:13:00.008-04:00

No one guessed even close to the actual number of Milkbones in the jar, but one person came closest: my friend Colleen. She had the highest guess of 75. There were actually 108 treats in the jar! Colleen will receive a portrait of her Norwegian Elkhound, Schultz. Congratulations, Colleen!

Thank you to all who participated; I appreciate it!

NEXT UP: I'll be requesting photos for Round 2 of "30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks."

Pet portrait trade complete!

2010-07-14T06:55:00.009-04:00

About a year ago, I contacted artist Kathy Weller to commission a pet portrait for my husband. Yes, I am a pet portrait artist, but Kathy has a distinct style that I really wanted. A deal was made: instead of a true commission, we decided to do a pet portrait trade. Kathy created an amazing portrait of Rosie that incorporated all of the things Kevin likes to do with her. It happened to be Kathy's swan song in terms of pet portraiture. I was blessed to receive her last pet portrait before she switched gears to other artistic pursuits. I received the portrait in early January. Then it was my turn....and (gasp!) seven months later, I have reciprocated. Ruby and Daisy, two adorable Pugs, were a pleasure to paint. I hadn't painted a Pug in a while, and I've never gotten to do such a bright pink for the background (Kathy's idea; how cool is she?). Thank you, Kathy, for a fabulous art trade. It was a pleasure getting to know you, witness your process, and paint your pets. You continue to be an inspiration to me; I'm honored that my art will hang in your home. Enjoy!

With Round 1 of "30-in-30" completed, and this portrait finished, I need a break from painting. I gave my brushes a good cleaning and folded up my easel. I need to recharge my battery and focus on some other aspects of my life that I've been neglecting for quite a while. I'm still accepting commissions; in fact, I just received one. My new client is incredibly gracious and understanding about my little break; thanks, Julie!

DON'T FORGET to guess the doggie treats, for your chance to win a FREE pet portrait.....and STAY TUNED for a call for photos: Round 2 of 30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks will be starting in August.

9 minutes of doggie love: my video portfolio

2010-07-11T21:18:00.008-04:00

This was a labor of love; I'm thrilled to finally share it with you. This video contains 79 dog paintings, set to three catchy dog-themed songs. The permanent place for this video will be my PORTFOLIO page. Enjoy!

Guess how many doggie treats are in the jar....and win a FREE pet portrait!

2010-07-10T06:55:00.038-04:00

I just completed "30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks," a HUGE personal art project that enabled me to expand my portfolio, grow as an artist, and make a bit of money from my pet portraiture in this wretched economy. This wouldn't have been possible without the help of friends and supporters. I am humbled by the kindness and encouragement that I, and my artwork, have received from so many people—family, friends, clients, and strangers alike. As a thank-you, I'm offering the opportunity to win a FREE custom i heart dogs studio pet portrait.

Pictured above is a circular, tapered, lidded plastic jar filled with as many whole Milkbone dog biscuits as I could fit in it. I only placed whole biscuits, not pieces, in the jar. Specifically, they are the Milkbones* for medium dogs (the box with the Australian Shepherd on it). I counted the biscuits as I placed them in the jar, and wrote the final number on the bottom of the jar. Can you guess how many doggie treats fit in the jar? I put an extra one in front of the jar to give you an idea of scale. The rest is up to you. Either through supreme spatial intelligence and math wizardry, or just plain luck, someone will (hopefully) guess the correct number, or come darn close, and win a pet portrait created by yours truly.

CONTEST RULES:
1. The winner is the person who comes closest to the number without going over (that's right: Price Is Right style!)
2. If more than one person correctly guesses the exact number, I will determine the winner by date/time of post. Whoever guesses it first is the winner.
3. Only ONE guess per person/e-mail address.
4. You MUST give your guess in a comment on this particular blog post. I will not accept guesses given to me via any other blog post, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
5. In the comment, you MUST include BOTH your name and valid e-mail address.
6. I will accept guesses until 5pm Eastern time on Friday, July 16. I will announce the winner Saturday morning, July 17.
7. The winner will receive an 8"x10" oil painting on canvas panel, signed and dated by me. As always, I retain all copyrights to the artwork.
8. The prize will be a portrait of ONE PET ONLY, inspired by photographs of the pet, which will be supplied to me by the winner.
9. While I am holding the contest now, I will not begin to create the portrait until the end of August 2010, as I am taking a much-needed, month-long break from painting this summer.
10. I reserve the right to disregard any guesses/posts that are in any way inappropriate, or do not follow the above rules.

Thank you for participating and GOOD LUCK!
And thank you for your continued support of my lil' pet portrait business. If you are new to my site, please take a look around!

Oh! One more thing! I'm doing "30-in-30" all over again, starting in August. Stay tuned for a call for photos! Your pet could be included in my project; if so, you'd be able to score a custom pet portrait at a ridiculously low price!

*I have no connection to the company that makes Milkbones. I just buy them for my dog because she likes them.

And with this, I am done!

2010-07-09T21:05:00.006-04:00

30 in 30 Phase 2 Week 30: Casey
THE END

I saved the most challenging for last, it seems. This little painting of a Beagle took me a loooooong time. It was a challenge because, well, acrylics and I aren't friends. Also, for the first time, I incorporated collage into a painting. I'm happy with how the portrait turned out, and proud to conclude my 30-in-30 project with it. Casey the Beagle belongs to Donna, a fellow Graphic Design major in college. Thank you, Donna, for contributing to my project!

I have been reflecting a lot on this self-imposed artistic challenge called "30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks." I will share my thoughts soon. I've also been asked to be a guest blogger on one of my favorite dog art blogs. The topic is none other than my (now complete!) 30-in-30 project, so there will be a lot of wrap-up in the near future. For now, I think I'm going to crack open a celebratory Corona Light and pat myself on the back!

Hoss is on to something here...

2010-07-05T19:15:00.012-04:00

30 in 30 Phase 2 Week 29: Hoss

...I want to sleep, too! Why am I so tired? Because this is the second-to-last portrait in my grueling (yet wonderfully rewarding) 30-in-30 project. The sleeping beauty is Hoss, a lovable St. Bernard that belongs to my friend Eileen. This portrait will soon grace a wall in Eileen's home. Yay!.....One more painting to go. Then I will do a happy dance. Then I will sleep like Hoss (but maybe not on the hardwood floor).

My Most Wanted Breeds

2010-06-29T08:34:00.020-04:00

I compiled a list of dog breeds I have yet to paint...and really want to. Any time I get a commission* that allows me to cross one of these breeds off my list, I will give the client a 15% "Most Wanted" discount.

My 30 Most Wanted Breeds, in no particular order:
As each breed gets commissioned (or otherwise painted), I will cross it out. And maybe add another to the list!

~~GERMAN SHEPHERD~~
GREAT DANE (preferably Harlequin)
DALMATIAN
CORGI
PAPILLON
~~FRENCH BULLDOG~~
AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD (preferably Merle)
IRISH SETTER
ENGLISH SETTER
AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG (BLUE HEELER)
~~SCOTTISH TERRIER~~
GREYHOUND
JACK RUSSELL
BLOODHOUND
BRIARD
~~PORTUGESE WATER DOG~~
BULL TERRIER
CHINESE CRESTED
SHAR-PEI
CHOW CHOW
NEWFOUNDLAND
~~AIREDALE~~
HAVANESE
~~GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER~~
SHIBA INU
FOX TERRIER
BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG
BEDLINGTON TERRIER
BORZOI
CLUMBER SPANIEL
SCHIPPERKE

*Discount does not apply if the breed is used as part of my 30-in-30 project. Those paintings are drastically discounted already. Discount is for commissions only.

A girl named Meatball

2010-06-28T06:17:00.013-04:00

30-in-30 Phase 2 Week 28: Meatball

A few years ago, I was commissioned by my husband's best friend Mike to create a portrait of a Pit Bull named Chewie. This portrait was a gift for Mike's brother and sister-in-law. Eventually, Chewie acquired a sister in a Pit Bull named Meatball. Quite an unusual name for a female, but I love it (must be the Italian in me)! I had my camera with me on the day I met Meatball, and I managed to photograph her in a pose that completely resembled Chewie's pose in his portrait. I was so excited! I included that photo in my 30-in-30 project, and this painting is the result. I'll be gifting the portrait to Mike, who has been dogsitting Rosie for us one day/week since September as a favor. I'm hoping he, in turn, gifts it to his brother and sister-in-law so that the two portraits hang side by side, as I imagine them in my head (and have pictured here).

Meatball is complete. Yay! That leaves a Beagle named Casey, a St. Bernard named Hoss (which concludes my 30-in-30 project! Woo hoo!), and a long-overdue portrait of two Pugs named Ruby and Daisy (my end of a pet portrait trade) and I am done painting for a while. I decided to take a hiatus for the entire month of July. I still be doing marketing stuff and planning my second round (!!!) of 30-in-30; I just won't be drawing or painting. I need a break!

30 in 30: Phase 2 Week 27: Tanner

2010-06-25T15:25:00.009-04:00

Tanner wants a belly rub! This portrait of an adorable Vizsla is the largest (24"x18") in my 30-in-30 series. It is also one of my favorites. The photo that inspired the painting was taken by my friend Eileen, who contributed a whopping five photos to my project. Actually, she gave me a lot more photos, but 1/6 of the portraits in this series (Penny, Ceili, Hannah, Tanner, and the soon-to-be-revealed Hoss) are thanks to her photo submissions. The lengths Eileen will go to help out her artist friend are amazing: she literally hopped over her fence to go into her neighbor's backyard and snap some pics of Tanner. Once again, thank you, Eileen! I have one more painting from an Eileen photograph to go; I've made her wait for this one, as it is the photo of her own dog. There is a reason I saved it for last....you'll see.

Three more to go and I hope by the end of the day, it will only be two!

A gift for a Pioneer Woman

2010-06-22T14:46:00.007-04:00

Do you know the Pioneer Woman? If not, you should. If you've caught her on TV, read her cookbook, or visited her website I'm sure you are a fan like me. She is a warm, funny, down-to-earth, lovely, sweet person whom I wish I knew for real. After trying a few of her recipes, I wanted to hug her. After delving into her story about how she met and married her husband, I wanted to high-five her. After reading some of her Photoshop tutorials, I wanted to invite her to NJ to be a guest speaker to my students. After learning how much of an animal (especially dog) lover she is, I wanted to paint a portrait for her. So I did. Of her Foxhound named Hamilton. I sent it out to her in Oklahoma as a gift. I hope she likes it! Thanks, Ree, for being such a source of inspiration and deliciousness!

UPDATE: I shipped the portrait to her....and never heard a thing. I sent a hint that it was coming via email; and since mailing the painting, I mentioned it to her a few times via Twitter. Don't want to bug her too much, for fear of coming off as spammy (at best), or physcho (at worst). I'm bummed. I know I took a big chance just anonymously sending artwork to someone who doesn't know me, and is rapidly becoming a huge celebrity. I kinda regret it, as each one of my paintings is precious to me. Oh well. Not all risks pay off.

30 in 30: Phase 2 Week 26: Tessa

2010-06-20T10:57:00.024-04:00

When Kevin and I took Rosie to puppy class at our local Petsmart, we would run into this big, lovable Mastiff named Tessa. Little Rosie loved to play with Tessa, so of course I photographed the action. I ended up with a photo so cute, I had to incorporate it into my 30-in-30 project. And I've gotten a lot of compliments on the finished portrait. Problem is, I don't have the contact information for Tessa's mommy. After the completion of each 30-in-30 portrait, I send a letter to the person who belongs to the dog and/or submitted the photo. I give him/her right of first refusal when it comes to buying the painting, for a period of 30 days. Regardless of size and medium, I offer every 30-in-30 portrait for the low(!) price of $100. If the person declines to buy it, or doesn't act within 30 days, I list it in my Etsy shop for a (only slightly) higher price.

I feel uneasy about just listing this painting for sale without making some effort to contact Tessa's mom. So today I called Petsmart and spoke to our most recent training instructor (the lovely Diane), who took down my info and will pass it along to Tessa's mom if she sees her in the store. So I'll be holding on to this portrait for a while, just in case.

{ UPDATE 7/6: Diane's covert ops worked! I just got a call from Tessa's mom, and she wants to buy the portrait! Yipeee! That just made my day! Thank you, ladies! }

{ UPDATE again: Never heard from Tessa's mommy. Guess she changed her mind.
The original painting is available here. }

I'm a bit behind on my posting, because I've been desperately trying to get this project finished. Just yesterday I completed a large painting of a Vizsla, which I will post soon. Three more to go and the first installment of "30 Dogs in 30 Days/Weeks" is over! Only...three...more...to...go.......I...can...do...it...

Two dogs named Molly

2010-06-12T05:26:00.020-04:00

30 in 30: Phase 2 Week 25: Molly
and
Molly and a Blanket on the Chaise

I've painted multiple Maxes, Boscos, and Busters. For the first time, I have a repeating girl name in my repretoire, and what a cute name it is! The Molly above is part of my 30-in-30 series. She is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier who lived across the street from my parents. This painting represents a few firsts for me: my first acrylic pet portrait, my first painting on a circular canvas, and my first portrait with no visible eyes. I discovered something through the process of painting this Molly: I don't like working in acrylics! In college, I learned to paint using acrylics, and I thought I was terrible at it, so for years I didn't paint. At all. I used to joke and say that I steered clear from "all wet media." But once I tried oils on my own, everything changed. I've used oils, and considered myself a painter, ever since.

I wanted to use acrylics on a few paintings in my 30-in-30 project because one of my intentions of the project was to challenge myself in different media. I have one more acrylic painting in progress; to be honest, I'm avoiding it like the plague. I might add some collage to it. We'll see. Anyhoo, in my next go-round of 30-in-30, I want to try a color-blocking approach to a portrait. I'll save the acrylics for that....and probably only that!

Now on to the other Molly. This painting was a gift for a friend and colleague. Marissa, the choral teacher at the high school where I work, sang beautifully at my wedding. For free. And then proceeded to give me a wedding gift. I was so touched by her generosity that I wanted to reciprocate with a gift of my kind of art. Thankfully, I know Marissa's mom, who gave me a great photo of their Cocker Spaniel. This Molly portrait turned out to be one of my favorites—the kind you are sad to give up. But Marissa loves it, and that's the whole point. Yay!

30 in 30: Phase 2 Week 24: Sammi

2010-06-01T20:13:00.005-04:00

Sammi the bashful Basset is the latest finished portrait in my (seemingly never-ending) 30-in-30 project. The portrait was purchased by my friend Jodi, as a gift to her mom, who is also Sammi's mom. Last year Jodi commissioned me to paint two other Bassets as a gift for her dad. I love a breed-loyal family! Thank you, Jodi, for your continued business! I'm honored that you've chosen me to create such special gifts for your parents.

With Sammi in the "DONE" column, I have six more portraits to finish before I can call the entire project done....and take a much-needed break from painting!

30 in 30: Phase 2 Week 23: Kirby

2010-05-28T12:40:00.008-04:00

Kirby the Shih Tzu belongs to my BFF Karen and her sister, Kristy. The sisters claim dual-custody of the Kirbster, but he lives with Kristy. Karen lives an hour away, so I'm giving her the painting as a present. Kirby used to not like me very much; whenever I'd come over he would growl and growl. But over the years, the K-man has become more tolerant when I'm around. Hopefully next time I see him he will thank me for creating a portrait of him. Ha ha! Enjoy the artwork, girls! I love ya!

Doggie Doppelgangers!

2010-05-24T16:52:00.014-04:00

Since "Magnificent Mutt," my submission for the 2010 Mutt Lynch Winery/Dog Art Today wine label contest, was posted, a lovely little thing happened. Thrice! Three women—one in California, one in Oregon, and one in Florida—contacted me to order a print of the painting, and also to show me pictures of their dogs that look JUST LIKE the dog in the painting. This would be a ho-hum little factoid if it was a painting of a purebred dog; it's the mutt factor that makes this so cool.

5/26 UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who voted for "Magnificent Mutt." I appreciate your support. I didn't make it into the Top Ten this year, but some fabulous artwork did. I'm bummed, but it is lovely to know that my submission is appreciated by friends and strangers alike! To thank you, I'll be offering my own contest, of the GIVEAWAY kind, very soon...

SHOP UPDATE: 8 new Dog Wisdom cards

2010-05-21T12:18:00.008-04:00

I'm proud to announce eight new additions to my Dog Wisdom card collection. I now have a total of 50 Dog Wisdom cards, each with a different quote. I'm looking forward to hitting 60, at which point I'm going to have a few sets of Moo postcards made from the designs. The cool thing about Moo is that you can order a set of 60 postcards, and each one can have a different design. Pretty cool. So that's a plan for the future...but for now, I still have eight paintings to finish for my 30-in-30 project. And, masochist that I am, I'm going to do it all over again, starting in July!

Oh yeah, and I recently added a Cat Wisdom card to my shop, too!

Please don't forget to vote for my painting in the Mutt Lynch Winery/Dog Art Today contest. I'm #54. Thanks!

Please vote for "Magnificent Mutt" to become a Mutt Lynch wine label!

2010-05-19T14:21:00.008-04:00

Last year I entered the first ever Mutt Lynch Winery/Dog Art Today wine label contest, with Barcchus. I made it to the Top Ten, and had a lot of fun through the experience. Interestingly, this year, there are two submissions that follow the same theme: a parody of Bacchus, the god of wine.
After last year, I couldn't wait to enter again. The wine involved this year is called a "Muttitage," so I found it only fitting to use an image of a mutt, or as I like to refer to them, a magnificent mixed breed, for my label submission. The most striking mutt in my repertoire is Penny. I think she would look sweet on a wine label. If you agree, please take a moment to visit Dog Art Today, admire the seventy-seven(!) entries, and vote for mine, which is #54. I would love to make it to the Top Ten again, with your help. Thanks!!

30 in 30: Phase 2 Week 22: Spirit

2010-05-16T17:44:00.010-04:00

My 30-in-30 project is in the home stretch (thankfully!)
I wanted to complete the project by May 9...but that didn't happen. My new goal is to wrap it up in the month of May. With Spirit now in the "done" column, I have eight paintings left, and they are all in progress. I'm gettin' there...

This handsome fellow is Spirit, a Border Collie that belongs to John, my friend and former co-worker. John and I go way back to our days of working at an art store near Princeton, NJ. I miss that store. I worked there in college, then a few years later they became my client, then for years I taught drawing classes, artsy birthday parties, and youth art camp there. The store closed, but not before I loaded up on super-reduced art supplies. I now wish I bought more! Thank you, John, for participating in my project. I hope you like my portrait of Spirit!

UPDATE: This painting is for sale right here.

I pay homage to Johnson who pays homage to Renoir

2010-05-03T12:57:00.012-04:00

In central New Jersey, there is a lovely place called Grounds for Sculpture. It's one of my favorite venues to appreciate art. Hundreds of sculptures outside, gorgeous grounds, and lots of peacocks.
One of my favorite sculptures there is J. Seward Johnson's Were You Invited?, which is based upon French Impressionist Pierre Auguste Renoir’s nineteenth-century masterpiece, The Luncheon of the Boating Party. In this specially designed and landscaped environment, viewers can actually step into the scene and mingle with the diners. My favorite part of this sculpture is, of course, the dog.
So cute!

Some green for Earth Day

2010-04-22T05:51:00.025-04:00

I've been MIA from the blogosphere, but hard at work behind the scenes. Here are my three most recent portraits, all with green backgrounds. Green is my go-to background color. I'm an art teacher by day, so please indulge me while I extol the virtues of green: it is the complimentary (opposite/most contrasting) color to red. Brown is close to red on the color wheel, so green is also complimentary to brown. Since most dogs are at least a little bit brown, they tend to pop against a green background. Class dismissed! Hee hee.

The black and white beauty is Holly, a Border Collie mix. The brown and white fellow is Quincy, a magnificent mixed breed whom I happen to adore. Both of these paintings are part of my 30-in-30 project. [I'm really, REALLY behind on this project, but I'm doing my best to get all 30 portraits done by early May.] The middle portrait is of Kai the Golden Retriever and Stoney the Chihuahua. This portrait was commissioned by Megan, as a gift to her parents. Kai is their dog and Stoney is Megan's dog. Both are handsome boys—a joy to paint!

Did you notice? I dropped the "blog" from my URL. This here site is officially iheartdogsstudio.com. Woo hoo! The website makeover is almost complete...

UPDATE: The painting of the Border Collie mix (top photo) is now for sale right here.