Painting again...

This is one of several commissions that I'm working on. The original 7"x14" painting titled 'Field Days', has since sold so I am recreating it much larger at 24"x48". I created the first one at the 2007 Fields Project Artist Residency, the same year I created my Flower Frolicking Dog Field Sculpture. That experience definitely inspired the painting, that and staying on a farm with beef cattle. It's an amazing program...and I've been fortunate to have particpated 3 different years. You can check out photos here....and here.

 

...And as long as I'm sharing,this is the painting that I created at the residency in 2008 chronicling my entire experience with the field sculpture the year before:

 

Raffle Winner...!

Charlotte Goldman was one of our Raffle Prize Winners from the Grand Opening, she came by to pick it up the other day and was thrilled when she saw her prize...I love a happy ending!

When the party's over...

I'm so grateful for the wonderful turn out we had for my Studio Grand Opening last Friday night! I battled with myself all summer as to when I should have said party...but with juggling all the art fairs and the stress of figuring out this new space I decided to take the good advice of my wise friend Anna Millea and wait until fall when all my outdoor shows were over for the season.

I am glad I did...it was perfect and great fun seeing many of my collectors from over the years and friends and making many new ones. I had amazing help from Amanda Shell of Whirly Girl Designs and jewelry artist, Michelle Rubin. I received lovely surprises: gorgeous flowers from my Mother and my Brother, a wonderful gift of appetizers from Mike Green of the Village Tap (across the street), and treats from Rudy of Rudy's Bakery next door to my shop. The Chamber and other businesses on the street have made me feel so welcome here in Roscoe Village. Here are some photos from the evening...

 

 

Since signing the lease I have learned so much and it has not been
without a lot of growing pains...last spring I referred to the back room
as the Crying Room! I am happy to report that I have not used it for
that since July...things really seem to be turning around. I am so
grateful to have quite a long list of commission orders to fill, so time to get to work! Hope you enjoyed the photos, you can see several more on my Flickr page....and many thanks to Natalie Samp who took them!

CCR Dog Adoption Event at Anne's Studio 8/8/09

At long last...here are photos and hopefully some video from our Adoption Event with Chicago Canine Rescue on August 8th. It was fun afternoon, very hot and windy...but lots of puppy love. We had four very wonderful young dogs here: Kyle, Mickey, Shirley and Jill. None of them were adopted that afternoon but many people stopped and took cards for the shelter which is located just a few blocks away at 2227 W. Belmont in Chicago. To learn more about each dog click here. We also let people know that fostering was also an option, this takes a little bit of the edge off when people are unsure how it would go with their other pets, etc. That's how we started with Alice, and we had such a happy ending. I just heard today 8/18 that Kyle and Mickey are in foster homes and will mot likely be adopted!

Kyle, Shirley and Mickey with wonderful volunteers from CCR.

 
Jill, A coonhound mix.

Kyle a shepherd mix...

 
Suzy taking donations for CCR's upcoming Mutt Strut on September 12th.

 

 

Carbon Black

Just discovered Golden Fluid Acrylics, I've always used Golden Heavy Body Paints but the black does not thin well so I use a different brand...picked this up the other day, I love it - fluid but opaque, perfect for my process...
 

Pug Studies...

Yesterday I spent some time googling photos of PUGS and trying to draw them ...I've only met a few, so my Pug Sense is lacking. I used purplish/blue to mark the ones I thought most successful, yellow for the 2nd tier and turquoise for nice try, but not so great. I would love your feedback especially from you Pug owners! The thought behind this is to capture a new breed each week to add to my new Personalized Pet Portrait Print option Portfolio, these are beautiful ready to hang mounted and laminated box prints - complete with your pet's name on the banner and custom colors.

California Dogs

  I ran across these photos the other day, I hand painted this fiberglass chair for the opening of the Dogs Gallery in Westlake Village, CA back in 2003. Thought you might enjoy seeing some of my FUNctional Art! : )

This chair was also featured in the Italian Edition of Marie Claire Magazine in April 2006:

57 Ends

Brand new painting: "57 Ends". Inspired by a drawing in my sketchbook from last year done on a short little road trip to Indiana to pick up an amplifier that Rich found on Craigs List.