ANNE LEUCK STUDIO

dog

Warm Wishes and Safe Travels to You...

My Candy Colored WorldAnne LeuckComment

Picture 55Warm Wishes and Safe Travels to You...wherever you may be or are going this year for the Holidays. It's been a wonderfully busy season for me, but things are definitely winding down here. I have my last Pet Portrait pick up tomorrow (I'll share photos after all the gifts are given!) and I'll stick around the shop until about 3pm, hoping to help out any last minute shoppers! (Is it annoying that I sometimes say studio and some times say shop? Let me clarify, when the black cloth is on my work table it's a "Shop" and when it's not, it's my "Studio"...although I'm thinking of painting the table black then that all goes out the window!) Then we'll load up Izzy and Alice and hop in the car to head up to rural Warrens, WI to my my Mom's beautiful log house in the woods. It's the perfect place to visit at this time of year and I always have so much fun baking with my Mom, we will be creating our bi-ennial Gingerbread House.This is all providing that the weather cooperates...Picture 1 Before I go, I wanted to share this photo of Izzy from the other day...she is havingquite a rally lately, aside from the 'night time crazies' (a period of45 minutes or so every evening when nothing seems to appease her...Rich and I are working on a song). And here's silly Alice careening around in the snow...she loves the white stuff!Picture 60
Merry Happy Holidays to You & Yours, Safe Travels, Peace and lots of Joy!!

8th Annual Holiday Open Studio Sale this Weekend!

Events, Shows & Ar...Anne LeuckComment

Picture 34It's hard to believe it's going to be my 8th year doing the Holiday Open Studio Sale! The good news is that this year I do not have to clean my house : ) since I'm hosting it here at my beautiful new studio in Roscoe Village. There is so much more room and my gift selection is bigger then ever before. I'm also offering some really great discounts on select paintings and prints. For those of you who cannot attend, I've posted many items in my Etsy Shop under the Holiday Sale category and I will continue to add to that over the weekend.

WHAT: Annual Holiday Open Studio Sale   

WHERE: 2040 W. Roscoe in Chicago There is Pay Parking on my block but free parking on all blocks west and on surrounding residential streets.

WHEN: This Weekend! Saturday, December 19th from Noon-7pm &  Sunday, December 20th from Noon-4pm

WHY: To Shop and Visit and Toast the Holiday Season! Take advantage of the SALE and pick up some great gifts and art for yourself or your loved ones.

And while you're in the neighborhood, enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the many wonderful cafes and restaurants and check out the other great boutiques!

Young At Heart...

Collectors Corner, Events, Shows & Ar..., Helping out our 4 Legg...Anne LeuckComment

Picture 1This is Ginger, she was our guest of honor on Saturday for the Young At Heart Pet Rescue Adoption Event...

Photo As you can see, she is a very sweet, laid back 10 year old Jack Russell Terrier Mix, just right for a family with older kids or senior citizens'. Her owner got sick and was no longer able to care for her, this is the plight of many dogs and cats that the Young At Heart Pet Rescue volunteers take into their homes to foster until new permanent homes can be found. Please visit www.yahpetrescue.com if you would like more information about Ginger or to see more dogs and cats available for adoption from YAH.

Picture 6 Noelle, a great customer and supporter of animal adoption...doing a little Holiday Shopping for her family!

Picture 10With the wonderful crew of volunteers from YAH. Left to right, Matt Jans, Arlene Burkhardt, Dawn Kemper and Irene Tague and of course Ginger!

Picture 8YAH Executive Director, Dawn Kemper, prepares for the Raffle Drawing...and below, Jay Hirt, one of our Raffle Winners! Picture 6And Flipper! Jay's wonderful German Shepherd who is among the very first Pet Portraits in my Portfolio. I did his painting way back in 2000, it's called "Flipper's Full Moon".
Picture 15Flipper If you would like to learn about YAH or to make a donation to YAH, please visit www.yahpetrescue.com

My Candy Colored WorldAnne LeuckComment

Picture 18"Tucker" one of the many dogs visiting my studio lately, with so many holiday shoppers out and about. We so appreciate all the neighbors who try to keep it local with their shopping!Picture 12

I've been in overdrive since the day after Thanksgiving, juggling the storefront hours, many Holiday Pet Portrait Commission Orders and deadlines, special events like Winterfest Weekend in Roscoe Village and this past weekend's event with Young At Heart Pet Rescue. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to be so busy...but know when it's time to take it down a notch. I've been taking double doses of Airborne (I swear, it works) and vowed on Friday that Monday morning had to be a sleep in day. Picture 30 It made a big difference, I feel good and ready to tackle these next 10 days leading up to Christmas and have decided to let go of all the 'should of/could of demands on myself. For example should of done a better job of decorating my storefront windows, there was simply not enough time!

Wanted to share a recent Custom Baby Announcement Plaque...Picture 23 Here is one of the new designs now available in the 8x8 Float Back Print or 12x12 Box Frame Print format. Picture 22 Holiday Cards that I designed for the residents of Roscoe Village:Picture 19 Holiday Cards also available for residents of Evanston, I recommend ordering the matte finish after seeing some a customer had purchased on-line, they looked great!Picture 31

Lastly, these are some porcelain ornaments I made at Lill Street from a mold I created back in the 90's! Picture 33 the color seemed way off but that seems to be the story with me and glaze. Just ordered some DAS Clay that I can experiment with in my studio and paint with after seeing the gorgeous ornaments that Michelle Allen made with it, she is so inspiring!

Gifts for the Dog Lover...

Functional ArtAnne Leuck2 Comments

Picture 33We how have wonderful gifts here in the shop from $5-$48 for every Dog Lover on your list! Notepads and Magnets, Ornaments and Coasters, Holiday Cards and Prints...great gifts for everyone from your dog walker or groomer to your great Aunt Ethel! Not in Chicago? Many things are available in my CafePress Shop.
Picture 7 For the Pug Person in your life! Picture 8  And Coming Soon: Pillows and Pet Feeders! It's beginning to look a lot like...

Big Dreams and Ideas!

New WorkAnne LeuckComment

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving...we had 2 really enjoyabledays in Green Bay with Rich's family. It was so nice to escape for abit, we relaxed with lots of laughter, good food, family and fun..always a joy to see our niece and nephews! They are such great kids, clever and silly and very compassionate with old Izzy...Alice had a ball with them and chocolate lab Stella. So now I'm back with a clear head ready to tackle all the holidayorders that I am so grateful to have in this magical little studio.

Read on, I'll be sharing lots of gift ideas with you over the next few weeks...

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Picture 18

These just arrived from my printer, a customer is giving them as a wedding gift..they are from my "Folks You Know" series...I am happy to customize previously created designs with different colors and text for you. They are wonderful 'his' and 'hers' gifts and perfect for holiday gifts too! They are available as 8x8 Float Frame Prints for $48 each, 10x10 Float Frame Prints for $75 or 12x12 Box Frame prints for $98...all ready to hang and protected with a UV filtering laminate. You can see more in my Etsy Shop.

 If you live in Chicago please stop by...I have some really fun new holiday gifts and stocking stuffers...and coming next week pillows! These are also available in my CafePress Shop.

Puppies, Art, Community, and a Sunny Day...

Events, Shows & Ar..., Helping out our 4 Legg...Anne LeuckComment

Picture 15We had the perfect day yesterday for our adoption event with the Anti-Cruelty Society at my studio...plenty of sunshine and temps in the 50's...Picture 184 very sweet dogs arrived around noon- that's Camry above, she was the spunkiest of the group.Picture 27
This is mother/daughter duo, Sunfire and Sunbird, they were rescued in Tennessee by artist, Bernie Berlin of A Place to Bark. I've mentioned Bernie before, as I've been involved in a few different projects to help raise money for her rescue efforts, the most recent the Party Animals Book and auction. These girls were so sweet and awfully timid. They were nearly adopted together, really hope that couple will contact Anti-Cruelty and take them after mulling over their decision this weekend. Picture 17 That's Sunbird on my lap and very sweet girl Theresa, they would all make such dear companions. There were wonderful volunteers and folks from Anti-Cruelty on hand to chat with all the people who came by to meet the dogs. Such a great sense of community and caring combined with the joy of being around such endearing pups...! The day was so reflective of all my hopes for combining my art and this space and community with my desire to give more exposure to and hopefully get more homeless pets adopted. Picture 19
If you would like more information or to go meet any of these dogs, please contact the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society.Picture 28