A...my name is Alice and I like snow...

Alice enjoying our winter wonderland...it's hard to believe that our yard looked like this just a few days ago:
That's her new friend L.B. "Little Boy" a stray taken in by my friends Mark & Johanna. His name is still to be determined but I kind of like L.B. or Elbee!

Honoring a Retired Greyhound...

Herman, a retired Greyhound, was among my most recent Pet Portrait Orders. I was told he is very shy...I hope he will make an exception for me and come with when Pat picks up the print - he looks so sweet...

...with wings

As I drove to clay class Monday night I decided this dog was asking for wings but being the neurotic artist, I worried it would hasten the departure of sixteen year old Izzy...then thought even if it does, maybe this means I'll be giving her permission to go, in case she's just been sticking around for me. (I know...welcome to the emotional crazy world of my mind and heart!)Then Wednesday my Mom sent me an email regarding the previous post commenting that the dog looked like Snicker...her beloved big yellow lab that passed away over the summer...and I realized right away it was Snicker and not Izzy and how appropriate those wings were...and that's the reason everyone who saw the sculpture called it a 'he' including me. So this is Snick. My Christmas gift to her and Bill is a portrait of him that I have yet to create but I gave them some drawings as a preview of my ideas: Snick was not the only family dog to go last year, Willie my brother's dog (who I'm also working on a portrait of) and 2 dogs that belong to my Mom's stepchildren's families Pretty Boy and Nimush the 3 legged dog. That's a lot of new doggie angels frolicking in heaven...and many broken hearts they left behind. Mom, a hospice social worker, has been on me for awhile to design pet loss sympathy cards, and/or a book. Perhaps we will pen one together, but not while my Izzerloo is still wagging her tail on this earth...and I'm happy to say she has been doing pretty darn well these past few months and doesn't look to be taking on wings any time soon.

My wonderful Mom with Snicker, the 'Patron Saint of Stick Chewing' last spring.

Tall dog...

 

My most recent work at Lill Street...Hope this pup is still intact when I unwrap it tomorrow. I have been known to be a little too careless when it comes to clay appendages, but as my wise classmate, Haleh, commented "it really is about the process not the end product".

Gifts for the Dog Lover...

We 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.
For the Pug Person in your life!   And Coming Soon: Pillows and Pet Feeders! It's beginning to look a lot like...

Showing my age...

When I'm super busy one of the first things I neglect along withexercise is my daily sketchbook...This page is a reflection of how Iaccount for every missed day. I should have done this drawing on November 19th but in fact I did it last night, November 28th. If only I could squeeze all those days of not working out into one session.

So Alice, Izzy, Woody Allen and Diane Keatonall made it onto the paper in one way or another as I sketched while watching Annie Hall last night...manyyears since I've seen this movie and funny to hear Woody Allen refer tohimself as being 40 - I was 10 when this was made. Now I'm older thanhe was back then! Can I count the tennis racquet as exercise?

Big Dreams and Ideas!

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...

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.

Rusty...

 Doing Rusty's portrait was bittersweet, between the time Rhonda ordered the portrait and I started on it, he passed away...so very sad. So now this Portrait has become a colorful reminder of her very best friend. Rhonda was in town last week, we both got teary when she came to see it, I sent her on her way with a magnet that I had made as a little gift for her to keep until the print arrives to her in California. When I did the sketches I created a younger Rusty, solidly colored and the senior Rusty with the lighter face, I am humbly adding younger Rusty to my portfolio of breeds as the Golden Retriever. Bittersweet.

This is the first order I received for the larger Pet Portrait Print size...it really came out beautifully. I just ordered another to put in my window display with Jack's portrait...this is a good comparison of the two sizes, Jack's Box Frame Print Portrait is 12x12 ($250) and Rusty's Float Back Print Portrait is 18x18 ($350). My deadline for Pet Portrait Orders for guaranteed delivery by the holidays is November 13th...so if you are considering this as a gift please place your order soon! Gift Certificates are also available.