I'm not posting what I'm currently working on because these are meant to be gifts for Christmas, so you'll have to wait! And I'm telling you, my studio space is FULL right now! So many paintings! And I really love it~ I'm so lucky!
This ones from 2023!
I thought I'd just keep posting a few of these- I've got a stack of commissions I'm working my way through, really enjoying them actually! I realize how lucky I am that I enjoy the whole process of creating commissioned work for people... it is a bit of pressure, having to have something done on time and to someone's whims, but for me, most people are asking me to paint their pets because they are familiar with my work already and want something like what they've seen. I think the more difficult commissions are when someone is gifted one, or when someone isn't familiar with what I do.
This little peanut is from a few years back- I was realizing I have a lot of work that has never made it into my blog!
I am learning how to give a discount code on my Dailypaintworks site, and I haven't had a chance to tell anyone about it yet!
Mostly because I wanted to make sure I had marked all the ones as SOLD that are no longer available- so if you'd like to try this out for me, and to snag a good deal, AND because you are reading this writing, I'l going to give you the code!
So what you do is you go to my Dailypaintworks gallery, find what you want to buy, and where it says "discount code" you type in my code for you!
Do you want to know what it is?
I also wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out and bought the lovely work I had with me at the Highland MS Sale this Saturday! I had a great time!
Alright, here it is-
the code is....
LOVE24
Have fun! Tell me if it works!
yes, i'm painting a lot right now! I love it! Send me more!
This was a darn fun one- I love the forthright gaze- straight at you! Isn't he something? I do often wish that I could hear what they're thinking, but it probably isn't anything like what I'm imagining... anthropomorphizing our pets is something we all do, isn't it? I have a lot of conversations with my dogs...
Happy Thanksgiving to you! I hope you are able to find something and someone to be grateful for today~ it really does change the flavor of your mood when you are able to think about something that has made you feel good, or something someone did for you, or something unexpected that made your day...
Life is always an opportunity to improvise...
Just like painting!
This is from my painting class last weekend- we were working with landscapes and contrast, and this is a scene from Grand Marais...
I love it up there!
Have I mentioned that i love to paint black dogs?
This is Nala~
There's still time for me to paint your pet before the holidays, but you gotta let me know soon!
So, I'm making things. I'm painting. I am fortunate to have 4 potters wheels in my art room and not a lot of skill, so I sit in the morning and work on learning how to throw a nice pot. Working with my hands grounds me, centers me, connects my brain a little farther out into the world. I'm working to stay connected to my actual human friends and neighbors. We had an incredibly lovely family game night last night with dear sweet generous friends and I laughed so hard playing Utter Nonsense, my head hurt (in a good way)! I'm still waking up, having feels of anxiety and fear, and I don't expect those to end soon, but I'm promising to stay connected and keep my eyes up, my friends.
Make something today!
Here's an apple! If you like this painting, let me know and I'll draw a name next Sunday~
Thanks all!
I don't think I've posted this one yet, and I really wanted to post something positive today, and hopeful, and silly, and here is a pomeranian pug wearing a tiny crown. I think that works~
The crown was a Christmas Tree Ornament from last year, and Duane put it on her head and got this photo of her in it. The painting is currently hanging at the Ames Center in Burnsville, with an Honorable Mention award.
I just loved the expression on her face- kinda sassy, kinda twinkly. She's the best!
Yes, I've been a bit busy, and I don't want to post commissions before they've been given to their intended and spoil the surprise, so I have some of the pet portraits I did at our Blessing of the Animals as a fundraiser for the Golden Valley Humane Society~
They were done very quickly and outside so are not the best quality!
Dang! It's been too long since I've posted! There's been a bit going on over here, my mom needing some extra care after a fall, the Barebones Halloween Extravaganza takes Duane away all of this week, and Max my son is having a hard time shaking a cough...
So I've been distracted and not able to paint, though thank you all for commissions, because those DO make me paint! As a matter of fact, now is a great time to get on my list for a holiday gift of a painting of your pet or house or favorite vacation photo, and get me painting too~ I've got a sweet little pile of pets on my easel right now and may be able to post some of those soon~
This is the amazing ancient maple tree that stands near the beach of Pokegama Lake at our beloved Camp Mishawaka- the sun was setting behind it and the light was absolutely glorious... I hope it comes through a little in this piece.
I'll probably bring this one along next weekend for the Red Wing Arts Fall Festival! It's a cutie, and pretty irresistible, I hope-
We've never done this art fair, and I was excited to be accepted into it! It should be a lovely weekend, looks like the high 70s, and we're there Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday 10-4~
It's just a little over an hour drive and the leaves should be looking pretty beautiful! Come on down!
Yes, Kel took a few photos, and I like how this one turned out- the bird is coming towards us, with one foot just visible below his body, and that elegant curve of the head... sometimes they just work!
I don't have a lot of painting time lately, and am so grateful for my Paint Love classes that allow me to talk about painting and to paint with people! Come join us in my last 6 week session of this year! You might want something fun to look forward to this early winter...
Lots of transitions happening right now- keeping my heart open and my optimism as high as I can hold it- this peacock was visiting my sister, somewhere in Switzerland. I had to paint it~
Ah, people! I had such a great time this weekend at my studio! Thank you so much everyone who made the treck all the way up the stairs and around to the back to see me! It is just always such a joy to invite people into my space-
I also did much better than I'd anticipated because several sweet people came and decided my work needed to go home with them- thank you!
And my friend Trish decided she could home my huge bear painting for me, so she came and brought him home during half time on Sunday! Go Vikings!
I can't tell you how great it is to get one of my larger paintings out into the world... I LOVE painting big, but wrestling those canvases around can be tricky, and they are surprisingly delicate... it sucks when you accidentally punch a hole in something you've been working really hard on...
Just so you know, if you ARE interested in a larger piece, let me know because I am happy to work out a "relocation" discount! Just saying...
Here's a few pics of the bear and Trish and me, and the bear in its new home!
This is a lovely wolf-dog rescue named Leeloo, whose owners met me at the Art-A-Whirl crawl in Northrup King earlier this year- I was so honored to be asked to paint this creature, whose humans were so clearly in love with her.
That is the part of painting commissions that I am constantly awed by... I'm not sure that's grammatically correct, but that's how you can tell I wrote it myself... no AI used here, just heart! What I mean is that there is a grace in being invited into that love between owner and pet, I get to be a part of that love, even just on the barest edge of it, and it touches me so deeply. I feel like I can't quite say it right without sounding corny.
Being human is hard enough. Having animals helps us be better humans. My best job is to somehow illuminate and honor that love through my art. And sometimes I don't quite get it right! I appreciate it when a pet owner lets me know something is a little "off" in a portrait, and I know that can be hard, especially in Minnesota with our kindness to one another, but I do want you to have a painting that you will hang in your house and will love to look at for years to come. If something is wrong or just a bit strange, always let me (or any artist!) know so we can adjust it for you. I think anyone else would agree- the best advertising is when someone loves your work and tells others about it.
Whew! That was a lot!
It isn't too early to get your holiday commissions in to me! I love it because it keeps me painting, my friends! I do have stuff I'm working on, but having something to do for someone else keeps me on my toes and working, and that's part of the happy bit of pressure I need to keep working~
Think about it! I can paint from just about any photo you have- this is a painting for Steph, who commissioned the piece for a friend who lives far away, and she gave me a choice of a few photos and I loved her story that went with this one, so I wanted to paint this!
And I'm so pleased with how it turned out~
The cat is so clearly in possession of the shoes...
I love that expression!
Oh and thank you everyone who came to Diamond's for the 30 Dogs Closing Party! I'll be getting your paintings to you this week, everyone who couldn't make it~
Thanks all!
Here's another one I'm working on, from Camp Mishawaka- there's just something about the light in the reeds, all those darks and lights, that I just get hooked on! Not sure if this one is done yet or not- Duane liked it while I was working on it in our little cabin...
Wow, I do hope you were able to get out and enjoy the weather this weekend! It has been absolutely glorious in Minneapolis! I went to the Minnesota Zoo by myself on Saturday and walked the Tree Top Trail for the first time- lots of familys ambling all over the place, and on Sunday Duane and Max and I went to the State Fair. Unfortunately, we didn't leave as early as we'd intended and got there around 11, which meant it was a madhouse and we ended up driving all over to find a parking spot, and walked around 7 blocks just to get IN to the fair. We went in by the horse barns to a gate I didn't even know was there, and were rubbing elbows (literally!) with our fellow humans within minutes. It was SO packed! We managed to make our way to the Global Bazaar where I ate bison meatballs from the Midtown Global Market and Max found a alpaca poncho (and I found a gorgeous turquoise bracelet!) and the boys ate egg rolls, and then we wandered a few more places, having to track after Duane as he snaked his way through the masses of humanity. We finally escaped to the Sky Glider and rode almost all the way back to where we came in- whew!
And then YESTERDAY, we went to the Renaissance Festival! This time we left around 8am and got there before the gates opened. A lot more space and less humanity, and we all had a great time! I love the way everyone talks and jokes around at the Renn fest...
So I hope you've had some fun too!
Yes, I see blue and purple everywhere. I was doing a watercolor birch tree demo for my sixth graders this week and was showing them (with a photo!) that the shadows were blue and purple, and they had a hard time seeing it. Isn't that funny? Am I just trained better to see it? Sometimes I don't think you see what's really there until someone points it out to you-
These are some gorgeous water reflections in the watery area behind a hotel in Two Harbors, Mn.
Love this!
Good morning!
It's been a bit stormy here in Minneapolis last night and this morning. The storms woke us up with the strobe flashes of lightning and torrential rain. Last night the front came through with tremendous winds, blowing all the trees around in wild dances... it looked like a Harry Potter movie... one branch across the street and broke in our neighbor's windsheild.
And this is a view of sunset on Lake Pokegama in early August...
I really enjoyed painting this one! When you paint a cat, there's so much going on- their eyes are rounder than a dogs, so there's more luminosity happening, and the facial structure, the anatomy is very different. And sometimes when I'm teaching a Pet Painting Class, people get caught up in the whiskers. You have to do them last. Very last. And you have to practice your quick, deft brushstroke first. It's a very light touch, just enough!
Oh and the dogs are up at Diamonds, in case you needed an excuse to pop by!
Yeah, I couldn't come up with a better title.... those are hard! Any good ideas come your way, be sure to share them with me! I'd love some help with more creative titles for my work...
It's been just gorgeous in Minnesota this summer. I feel a little bad for the rest of the world. It's a beautiful morning, just walked the dogs down to Lake Hiawatha, and Duane made me a spinach omlette for breakfast, and now I'm heading to school for our workshop week.
It's what a life is made of, isnt' it? Those little moments...
I hope I'm painting some of them- and if you're interested in painting some moments too, come join me next Saturday for my Paint Love Sessions! More info here!
