Dec 28, Dash!

 Here's a commission from this holiday season!  I think it's safe to post, since it has hopefully already been presented to the new owner!

I have said it before and I'll say it again- I do love painting black dogs!  And cats, and bears, and squirrels...

Hope you are enjoying your In-Between-Week!

And it you are looking for something fun and challenging in the new year, sign up to paint with me! Saturday mornings, I may push the start date back a week to Jan 13, just an FYI!

10x10 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 24, Merry Christmas Eve!

 This is a pretty Christmassy kitty, dontcha think? Lotsa green in there, and a bit o red in her ears... I remember this one being a bit tricky with the tortoiseshell coloring and those glowing green eyes. I think the original photo was outside and the lighting was difficult to read. That's sometimes what happens with painting from available photos when the subject is no longer with us, trying to patch together parts and coloring so it works well.

I do hope you are enjoying your weekend!  We're listening to The Current this morning and they are playing some really fun and not widely know Holiday tunes!  It's pretty fun!

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 23, Another Commission from Last Year!

So now I'm getting busy with all that holiday stuff, running errands that I never do any other time of year, and it's all good and everything, though there is this weird frantic sense too of trying to get a lot of little things done. And I think there's the wanting to make sure everything is great for other people part too, the wanting to fulfill expectations, to make it as great as possible, and that just can't happen. Or at least you can't control what's going to happen. Don't get me wrong!  I love the holiday season!  I really do-  I love Christmas songs and holiday movies and cards and parties and all that fun stuff, and it's just that I need to remember to enjoy it myself and not feel like I have to take care of everyone else.

Is that familiar to you? So I'm sitting at the huge window at the lodge at Hiyland Hills Ski Place right now, watching my beautiful brave son snowplow down the ski hill... I love him so much!

I hope you are enjoying whatever you are doing today!

Sergio~

6x6 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 21, Mr Chicken

 This is a current commission and I know Monica won't mind me posting it, at least I think she won't mind because she knows she's got it coming!  Mr Chicken lived in Tavenier Key in Florida with our generous and kind friends and lived a long and luxurious life, and I love this image of him, sprawled in all his fluffy glory on the cool tiles in the Florida air.

It's just such a wonderful position, and makes such a great painting, with that lovely curl of tail and the way the cracks in the tile perfectly enclose him...

Travel on, Mr Chicken~

12x6 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 20, Charlie and Finn

 Sometimes someone sends me a commission request photo that makes me just go to jelly with gushy sweet emotions... and I HAVE to paint it!  This is one of those!  I mean, really!  Look at those FACES! And when the photo is taken and the two are miraculously BOTH looking at the camera at the same time, and with the same expression, this is a ONE in a MILLION shot!  I mean, just LOOK at them!

I painted it and I can't stop looking at those faces either!

I think it's the expectation of goodness, the hope in those eyes, their knowledge that whatever it is that they really desire will be given them.

I hope you have some of that this holiday season!

Thanks Chris for asking me to paint these two!!!

8x10

sold

Dec 19, Another Commission!

 It's been busy around here again! This is another pair of kitties for a commission last holiday season. It's funny how much I don't remember from just a year ago. I suppose dramatic events do that to a person...

The darker cat in the foreground is blind. I loved the lights and shadows in this one~

6x12 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 18, Pumpkin and Max, Another Commission!

I do love painting cats too, of course. And when people ask me to paint cats (or dogs) together, it is aways best if the photo has them both in it, with the same lighting and distance from the camera and all, so that everything reads as true as possible. Otherwise, I suggest two separate head-shot portraits. There are always those amazing photos of animals in a photo together though, that are just an absolute delight to paint and this was one of those! 

It is much colder today in Minneapolis! And it is windy as heck as well, which makes the cold all the more biting. Max has his Adventures in Cardboard "Yule Hunt" Camp today, and we need to make sure he gets as bundled up as possible because it is going to be chilly!

8x16 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 16, Bugsy, another Commission from last year!

 Good morning!

Here's another sweet face from last December! It sure isn't looking like December here, though... its raining and nearly 40 degrees, and smells more like April. I think the birds are getting confused...

I do appreciate being able to go for a little run without worrying about slipping on ice yet, though!

And I'll be at the studio from 11 to 4 today, working on Commissions for this year, so NO PHOTOS please, but come on by!  We'll have tea and cookies, and you can sit down and have a chat with me while I work!  I love it!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 15, Peanut, a commission from last year!

It's getting busy and I've really appreciated posting every day here, and at this point it may be a bit more sporadic because my winter break starts this afternoon and my schedule kinda goes out the window... 

However, I DID order some more panels from Blick because I have not painted all the wolves and otters and white squirrels I want to yet!  So there will be postings happening, just maybe not as frequently for a week or two.

I do need some time to paint and finish up the lovely stack of paintings on my easle at the moment!

SO I thought maybe I'd post some of the commissions I did last year because I don't think I've posted them! This is Peanut!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

 

Dec 13, Baby Wood Duck Wobble

 This is the cutest little wood duck ever, and I've now painted it five times, and I'll probably keep painting it because it is just so cute!

It is a glorious morning in Minneapolis, a little chilly, but sunny, and the sidewalks are mostly clear and Pompom is happy to go running in her little blue coat and greet anyone, human or dog, she sees in the neighborhood. I am so glad she likes other beings!

At school, we are wrapping up the kids' clay ornaments they all made last week. I usually have the 3rd graders make little clay birds to take home for the holidays as gifts, and this year I had the 4th and 5th graders also make animal head ornaments to take home. I thought it would be easier for them than it was, honestly. I have to keep remembering that something that takes me ten minutes to make will take a ten year old an hour.... I have a bit more experience and skill under my belt. Also right now, this week before the break, our kids' listening skills are not at their best...

Hope you are having some fun!

10x8 acrylic on wood

$160

click here for purchase info!

Dec 12, Another Wolf

 This wolf is at Artistry in Bloomington for the Gifts in the Gallery Holiday Sale, open most days (except Mon and Tue) from now to Dec 23rd! Check the link for hours- and I don't remember what I titled it but it is a lovely 12x6 wolf painting. I'll get some more rolling after I get through my lovely list of commissions!  Thanks everyone for sending me your loves to paint!

12x6 acrylic on wood

$150

at Artistryy....

Dec 11, Depth Inspection

 Good morning!  It's gonna be a busy week, my friends! And I was able to force some painting time in this weekend and get a couple otters in (along with a number of commissions started!) and that always puts me in a good mood! I like that this one is peering into that darker space and that the body attitude is of curiosity and not fear~ 

sometimes the dark is pretty interesting....

We went on a long lovely walk around Lake Hiawatha yesterday and that always feels good. I love being able to walk into a wild-feeling place from my front door, you know what I mean? And especially with friends, and with Max talking about MTG the whole time, and Pompom wearing her little blue coat and skipping merrily along. I was worried her tiny little feet wouldn't stand up to the cold well but she is a tough little cookie!

I hope your week is starting well too!

6x12 acrylic on wood

$150

click here for purchase info!

Dec 10, Stay Gold

 This is a very small painting, 9 inches tall by 3 inches wide, so I guess not tiny, but skinny would describe it better- one of the wolves at the MN zoo again, and I enjoyed painting the yellows around for the background which is why I called it "Stay Gold"- did you ever read "The Outsiders"? Cuz that's where that comes from.  Probably time for you to re-read it if it's been a while. And maybe you need to re-read "To Kill A Mockingbird" too, and "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"- all good books. 

Did you know I also wanted to be a writer? I couldn't decide between being an artist or a writer in college, so I got a degree in art AND a degree in English in 4 years, and then because a guard at MIA for a while, which was an excellent place for an art education. Then I got a couple teaching licenses and then a MA, and then more credentials and stuff.  I like learning. Maybe that's why I'm a teacher...

And maybe this little blog is filling that writer's itch....

Anyway, this fellow will be with me next Saturday! Unless it sells before then!

9x3 acrylic on canvas

$60

click here for purchase info!

Dec 9, Another Commission!

 Yes, it is that time, a time of painting, a time of cosily gazing out windows at the steely sky as I push color around~ I love it! And I had a beautiful pack of people join me in my studio on Thursday evening for a Paint Your Pet class and we all had fun! I think we did anyway... at least, everyone left with their paintings and smiles on their faces, and there are two more chances to paint with me coming up! One is next Tuesday the 19th from 3-5:30 and the last one this year is Wednesday Dec 27th from 6-8:30! here's the link to sign up!

This is Lucy, my sweet, kind, generous friend Amy's parents' cat, who used to wait on the dock for them to come back from their kayak trips. She was their last cat, and I really enjoyed painting this one. Not that I don't love painting all my work, but this one, with the eyes, the tortoiseshell coloring, and the wonderful dimensions was a joy.

8x16 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 8, Begging For Yellow

 Every morning when I head outside for my little 20-30 minute run/walk, the moon has been waiting for me. It sits high up to my right as I head out the door, a couple stars accompanying it as it hangs there, in that brilliant white arc... I love the moon. 

Much as this sweet pug loves whatever she's trying to get at up on the cupboard all shiny and yellow...

Max still wants another pug. I just want more pets. We have to wait til we're in the house. Isn't it funny what we end up wanting the most?

12x6 acrylic on wood

$150

click here for purchase info

Dec 7, Deep Into Blue

 It's looking like we may have a brown Christmas this year~ I also am no longer holding my breath that we'll be back in our house by Christmas. At this point, I am hoping we'll be in before the end of January. You can read about our house fire (on Sunday January 8, 2023) in this blog post from February 7th~ warning- it's pretty sad.

BUT we are healing, with so much help from so many people and Pompom is helping a lot~

This otter painting was sent to Artistry for the Gifts in the Gallery Holiday Sale and may still be there! Good luck if you're loving it!

12x6 acrylic on wood

at Artistry!

Dec 6, Another Commission!

 Isn't this an amazing face? When you love critters like I do, you end up slightly falling in love with every one you paint!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 5, 2023 Lil' E

 This was a fun commission to paint, and it sounds like Lil' E was a much loved dog.  It was a largish group of friends who commissioned this one~ it's pretty cool when a group of people works together. I always love that. I think that's why I like teaching too~ because when it goes well, the art room is a cohesive bunch of like-minded people working together. That's why working on puppet shows with Duane and my other puppet friends is so fun too! I can think of many times I was on stage, puppeting some show with a crew around me, and I'd be just grinning my butt off, loving every second of it! Same thing for puppet parades anywhere in the world! A big group of people playing together and all unified in this crazy creative joy!

Anyway, this is Lil E!

You can get your own pet painted too! Here's my Pet Portrait Price List- it'll be updated in January!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 4, Sniffing The Air

 This painting actually sold yesterday, and this isn't the final version, and I didn't get a photo of it yet! Poop!  I have to see if I can contact the person who purchased it and have her send me a photo.... I am just SO professional!

Thank you everyone who came out this weekend to see us!  It was so delightful to be able to talk to and meet so many fantastic people. Even though it was grey and cloudy, it was lively and fresh inside!

and there's still space in this Thursday's  Paint Your Pet class if you're interested!

Today I am grateful for social media and how it keeps me updated on my loved ones' lives even though we don't live near one another~ thank you!

16x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 3, Luna, A Commission!

 And this is Luna! Another commission- and Bec ordered it so she knows its there so I'm not ruining anyone's holiday surprise~ that's the tricky part about painting people's pets and wanting to share them with you all- I don't want to wreck someone's Christmas!

I am SO grateful for the amazing Artist Circle that run the Art at Hidden River show because it was just a fantastic event yesterday!  I count myself incredible lucky to be able to stand with my art all day and meet people and see them SEE my paintings with new eyes~ honestly, it is a gift to any artist to hear what you see when you look at their work. I had such a great day talking to people about my paintings and hearing their thoughts!  I've ordered more postcards too, because SO many went away this weekend! And all the business cards I brought along were taken as well!  I thought I had more than enough! That's the other thing I'm so fortunate about- because a lot of my work ends up being commissions, I don't have the pressure at a show of needing to SELL SELL SELL- the work tends to sell itself. And I LOVE painting it! So it's a total Win Win!

And another little aside-  I'll be updating my Pet Portrait Price List in January because I haven't changed it since 2021- or actually 2020 because of COVID, but prices of everything have gone up and it's time~ my point being if you'd like to get a portrait done for these prices, get on my list now!  I still have space to get commissions completed before Dec 25 if you'd interested!

Wahooo!

8x8 acrylic on panel

Sold!

Dec 2, Emily and Emmitt

 Here's another commission!  I'm heading out momentarily for my day at Art At Hidden River from 9:30-4:30 and I hope you come by if you're in town!  Duane and Max helped me schlep my stuff over and set up last night, because THEY are gonna be at our studio all day today for our Open Studio and the Bizarre Bazaar! That's from noon to 6pm! So lots of art places to get to today, my friends!

I'll be at our studio tomorrow, Sunday from noon to 6 as well, in case you are busy today and can't make it~ I have all my NEWEST paintings with me at Hidden River and things have a tendency to fly off my walls there- last year I had to call Duane to bring me more paintings because I'd sold so many! Here's to hoping we have that much fun again this year!  I think there was a lot more snow last year too...

And if you are hoping for a commission for the holidays, get your photos and info to me ASAP and I'll do my best to get them completed!

Oh and I have some room in my Paint Your Pet classes too! More info HERE!

Can you tell the difference? The bottom one is the final one! A bit more nose definition for the pup to the right, and their eyes feel more THERE to me...

Wahoo!

Dec 1 Galaxy Cat

 Today I am thankful for those people who set up Art Centers and who organize the Art Fairs and Festivals and Events and Exhibitions so that the artists like me have somewhere to show our work and get it out of our studios so we can make MORE! It takes creating things to get better at making them, you know! And creating stuff is SO good for your brain, and your heart. It does lead to STUFF, though... and that goes back to the STORAGE issue.

So come help out some artists this weekend and see us at Art at Hidden River tomorrow, 9:30-4:30 and at the Bizarre Bazaar at the Ivy Sat AND Sun from noon to 6!!!

This is a COMMISSION!  Isn't it great?  I wasn't sure Chris was serious when he asked for this kitten to be painted in the box as if she were soaring through the Milky Way... but darn it! This was sure fun to paint! I happen to be reading "The Hitchhikers' Guide To The Galaxy" to Max at bedtime lately, so this is a perfect painting for that!

Still time to get your own commissions in!!  Just send me your photos and let me know! here's the price list! It will get updated Jan 1st so catch 2022 prices NOW!

8x8 acrylic on wood

SOLD