Kongs for Christmas!

I recently sold 2 paintings to a wonderful new customer who happens to work for the Kong Company. As many of you know I've included Kongs in my dog paintings for many years now so I was thrilled to connect with Laura. Ironically, the day the UPS man came to pick up the painting I was shipping to her, he handed me a big box first. It was Canine Christmas here...a box filled with all kinds of Kong products and treats, some we had not seen before like the Wubba, which unfortunately is now over the fence in the neighbor's yard (probably until spring)! The best part was seeing Izzy so excited and engaged with her new Senior Kong and Treats for inside...Thank you Laura!!!  xo Izzy & Alice

these girls love UPS delivery surprises...this is the best they ever received

notice Izzy licking the box of treats in the bottom right photo

*Special Agent* *Dale Cooper*

This pet portrait of Cooper only took a mere 365 days to finish! Last year I traded with Susan Hinckley at the One of a Kind Show. I received a beautiful hand stitched wall piece titled "Let It Go"....in return I agreed to do a pet portrait of her dog Cooper. And true to form, being the ultimate procrastinator I finished, varnished and framed it on Saturday night just in time for them to take back home to Minnesota (and I did it exhausted after 3 days of the show and wanting to do nothing more than recline on the sofa all evening). She and Russ were very pleased with the outcome..and so was I, this is such a fun composition. For inquiring minds, "Special Agent Dale Cooper" hearkens back to the television series Twin Peaks. Happy Susan...

Tomorrow...more photos from the show...
 

Crazy Smiling Dog + Free Shipping on Etsy!

We've all met a Crazy Smiling Black Dog at one time or another! This is one of my best selling Prints. It's inspired by Sidnee, a very silly Black Lab and member of my host farm family for 2 different years at theFields Project. This Ready to Hang Print would make a fabulous gift, and you can't go wrong with my new Free Shipping offer!   ***Free Shipping on everything in my Etsy Shop through December 31st***

Open Studio Preview...a day late!

Picture 1

The Open Studio Sale was a great success and lots of fun. I think I'm going to take advantage of all my hard work setting it up and have a few Open Studio days in November as well. My next show out of the studio is the One of a Kind Show & Sale December 4-7. I will dismantle a few things so I can continue to work but for the most part things can remain set-up, and it's so nice to work in a tidy environment!

Picture 2

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Lost in Translation...German Pet Portrait Press!

I am represented by The Dogs-Gallery (Ihr Hund Als Kunstwerk) in Germany, they just sent me this press clipping from "location-magazin" of the WAZ in Essen. They also mentioned a new connection with a gallery in Berlin...so perhaps soon I'll be painting more European Pups...!  

Crunch Time...

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Phew...after we loaded the truck, I came in and finished 2 more paintings...this is a close up of a tiny portion of one of them. We hit the road tomorrow morning for the

Prairie Village Art Fair

this weekend in Kansas City. I've been in SUPER ANNE mode which is neccessary to produce my

Newsletter

before heading out of town and pull everything together for the first show of the season: (getting my booth display and equipment all back together, packing

paintings, figuring out what stays and what goes and how to hang it.

Making price tags, getting portfolios, credit card machine, receipt

books, mailing list, bags, weights, and my brand new front

Awning

  for

my Tent....woo hoo: additional shade!). 

It's almost a relief to just focus on one part of my business for a week....I've always felt that if I just chose one direction I could be really successful (and probably more sane) but for some reason I feel the need to be involved in all these different facets of art: the Art Fairs, Pet Portraits, Illustration, Licensing, Wholesale, my Design work for Animal Welfare Groups...did I forget anything? Some day I would love to have a business manager that facilitates all that 'stuff' so I could just do the creative part...know anyone like that?

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Also edited and uploaded another video clip - this one is of me painting a recent pet portrait of Dudley & Murphy (above) for Stacy of ZuZuPetals. You can watch it on my Pet Portrait Blog. 

It's actually easier to upload video to Blogger than to Typepad...go figure.