Currently on my Easel, a Golden Retriever & Australian Cattle Dog

 

Just thought I'd give you a peek of what is currently on my easel...a HUGE Golden Retriever painting (18"x 24") and a beautiful Australian Cattle Dog. I also am working on a Sheltie and a pair of Miniature Schnauzers, and will be starting a Black Lab soon as well!I can feel the holiday rush already starting!Less than 8 weeks left!**Also, a VERY Special thank you to Rose over at a Santa Maker's Journey for the wonderful post she did about my pet portraits on her blog :) I painted her adorable Yorkie, Duchess, a few weeks back.

Sophie Dahy Designs: $300 Floral Giveaway!!

Be sure to check out the awesome Sophie Dahy Design give-away at Verdigris Vie! The prize is your choice of a beautiful arrangement at a value of up to $300!!Enter now through November 15th!

An Afternoon with Degas...the remix & a Home Goods GIVEAWAY!!

 

"Degas' Dancer with Bouquets (Master Study)," 6"x 6", 

oil on stretched canvas,(available on etsy)

I took a step back from this piece this past week and decided to change it a bit by adding the antique chair and I am thrilled with the end result! The soft lilac compliments the beautiful tutu the ballerina is wearing and the flowers behind her onstage just perfectly!This piece is currently available on etsy.

*Also, I thought I should mention a great Home Goods GIVEAWAY going on over at Bella Casa!

Scottie with Vintage Scottie Radio & Baseball, Painting in Oil

"Scottie with Vintage Scottie Radio & Baseball," 9"x 12", 

oil on stretched canvas,

(available on ebay Sunday at 9pm EST)

10% will be donated to the Coalition to Unchain Dogs 

Can you believe I thought of this painting over a year ago and only now have had the time to bring it to fruition? I will need to get a better photo once we get some sun here in Michigan, but overall I am really excited with how this piece turned out! I will be putting this up for auction Sunday night around 9pm EST. Hopefully the right collector or Scottie dog lover will appreciate all the time and detail that went into this piece! 

*Also, I started yet another blog which will actually be more of a portfolio of sorts of my vintage dog paintings...it is called Vintage Dog Designs :) 

**Some Gift-giving Ideas from All Modern!**

With less than 10 weeks until the holidays, I created a post today of some gift-giving ideas you can find at All Modern. All Modern and the CSN network have over 250+ online stores, giving shoppers access to one million products from awesome lines such as Blu Dot, Alessi, Vitra, and many more. All Modern has a wonderful selection of Modern & Contemporary Bedding  where I found these simply adorable Duck & Frog pillows above. They are part of the Wetlands Collection from Amenity Home, along with the delightful Squirrels below.

 

The Dynasty Duvet Set below by Ann Gish is devine!

I love the combination of textures and patterns, just perfect for a master suite!

 

Another gift idea is this beautifully designed Espresso Maker by Aldo Rossi for Alessi.

Alessi has some really fun and innovative products,

perfect for finding that unique gift for someone special!

 

Finally, there is the Night Clock by George Nelson for Vitra-Vitra Design Museum. George Nelson is considered by many to be one of the founders of American Modernism, and I think this clock is a wonderful example of his impeccable style. Many other fabulous products fromVitra can also be found at All Modern.

 

So there you have it! Let me know what you think of my 'picks'

and visit All Modern to make your own personal 'picks'!

**ADORABLE Children's Chairs from Dozydotes!**

 

How cute are these chairs??! I just discovered the founders of this Michigan based company called Dozydotes, are the parents of one of my former students!(For those of you who may not already know, I used to teach 3rd grade for six years before pursuing my art full-time)They have all sorts of styles and fabrics to choose from, and with the holidays fast approaching I think they would make an adorable gift, don't you? Feel free to grab the blog button on my right sidebar and help spread the word!:)

Blog Party! Flea Market Style! ;)

 

 

 Over at Flea Market Style they are having their 1st ever Blog Party! You can share your favorite flea market/thrift store/yard sale find by creating a post and linking up to their post, pretty easy and a bit of fun for everyone!My favorite find is one of my vintage suitcases...I love anything vintage or antique, and have incoporated several things into my paintings. I often wonder who once owned this suitcase and where did they travel with it? Perhaps a shopping excursion in New York, or visting relatives abroad...one can only imagine!

Westie Atop a Vintage Suitcase, Painting in Oil

 

"Westie Atop a Vintage Suitcase," 9"x 12", 
oil on stretched canvas,
(SOLD, THANK YOU!!)

(10% will be donated to Coalition to Unchain Dogs)

 

It's been awhile since I've done a vintage inspired dog portrait, so I decided to paint one this past week. I decided on a Westie as I find them so fun to paint, and with a name like 'Baron von Gizmo II' how could I resist?! This piece may already be spoken for, but if not, it will become available in the next couple of days. Keep in mind only 11 weeks remain until the holidays!;)

(*photo used with permission: flickr id terra2055)

(*note: I replaced the photo, but there is still a glare coming from the right, I'll have to see if I can get a better photo in the next day or two...paintings always look better in real life!:)

Vintage Spode with Tea Tin Floral & Nippon Teapot with English Roses, Miniature Paintings in Oil

Vintage Spode with Tea Tin Floral,

3"x 5", oil on canvas panel,
(available on etsy)
(*note:the purple flowers are a bit warmer in tone than what may appear and it is not quite as dark as what might appear.)

Vintage Nippon Teapot with English Roses,
3"x 5", oil on canvas panel,(available on etsy)

I So enjoyed painting these two mini still life paintings :)...I think they would look perfect in a quaint, little kitchen corner, beside an elaborate garden tea setting, or perhaps atop an elegant vanity... A great gift idea for the approaching holidays (only 11 weeks away!) or a special gift for yourself! ;)
**SPECIAL NOTE: I added this post to the Blog Party over at Funky Junk Interiors as they were having a Vignette Party, so I thought why not show off these little vignettes that I created? :)

Golden Retriever Attacks Canadian Goose!...

To read the whole story click here :)

The Apple Project...

Click here to learn more about
The Apple Project! :)

*Artist's Portrait* Anne Harwell

What a small world we live in! I learned just a few weeks ago that Anne Harwell is not only an artist like myself, but a Michigan native as well! It is a true pleasure having her share her story here...

Where were you born?
I was born in Detroit, Michigan.

What are your earliest memories of being involved in making art or wanting to be an artist?
From an early age, I was obsessed with any and all kinds of art and office supplies. I would spend my compulsory "nap time" as a kid, creating things from paper cuttings, mucilage and crayons. I would then use a wet cloth to dampen the hair around my hairline and rub my cheeks to convince my mom that I had actually slept a little.

What type of subject matter inspires you most?
I am drawn to design and interiors, in particular.

Tell us a little about your family and where you live.
I am single and live in Bonita Springs, FL on the Gulf Coast. I love the mild climate and living near the beach. It's a perfect, laid-back setting that is great for day-to-day living, far from the urban angst I have experienced living in large cities elsewhere.

What are some of your favorite things or things that are essential to your success/well-being as a person and an artist?
My relationship with God is the most essential thing to keeping me centered, content and sane in this crazy world. My family is also a great source of support and I am very grateful for a close relationship with them. I love being outside, frequenting bookstores, cooking, keeping up with my friends, getting quiet time and plenty of sleep. I also always have a bottle of water with me....always!

Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
That is a hard question - I would probably live here in Florida most of the time, but would also love to live in Paris, London, or Barcelona for part of the year.

What are the most challenging things for you being an artist?
Probably the fact that I am entirely responsible for every aspect of my own business and I have to be a self-starter. Building up a client base and a consistent income can be a challenge as well, but hard work and perseverance pay off. I wouldn't trade the joy and satisfaction that I derive from being an artist for the mundane security of a predictable job, though.

Here are some examples of her work...the first, an intricately hand-cut silhouette of a classic Chinese Chippendale chair is one of my favorites by far!

(Currently available in her Etsy store.)

And I really love her framed quotes!

Be sure to visit Anne's Blog . She also does commissioned work as well. (click here to contact her)

Currently on my Easel...

(8"x 10", oil on canvas,

nfs, private commission )

("Duchess," 8"x 10", oil on canvas,
nfs, private commission)

Well, contrary to my belief I suppose I CAN paint horses! This is only the 2nd horse I've ever attempted to paint, but I have to say I am really thrilled with how it's coming together! Stay tuned for the grand finale!...The 'Duchess' is complete, and I am also really happy with the end result on this piece. I think the ornate chair really fits this little lady, don't you agree? :) (*Update, I finished the horse painting, and replaced the image above so you can see how it turned out...fingers crossed that the owner is happy too!:)

My Return to Houghton Lake...

On our way home from a week-long vacation up north in Michigan, my husband and I stopped by a familiar 'friend'...my childhood cottage at Houghton Lake. It has since been updated with new siding, windows, a new deck, but I recognized it just the same. It was where my family spent each summer before my parent's divorce when I was fifteen. I loved those summers at the lake. As a young girl all I cared about was swimming for hours on end, fishing with my Dad, and walking up to the local party store with summertime friends. I felt such a mix of emotions as I looked around the cottage grounds, so much has changed, and it is so hard to believe it was some twenty years or so since I had been there. I looked at the grouping of three trees where I used to play kick-the-can, out at the lake where we used to have our favorite fishing spot, along the shoreline where there used to be a beautiful, sandy beach, now replaced with a concrete retaining wall...it all seemed so familiar and yet I was looking at these things not thru the eyes of young girl, but of a woman now 37 years old. I will admit, quite a few tears were shed that day. I loved our cottage at Houghton Lake, summers spent with family & friends, peace and serenity...what I'd give to get some of that time back.
As we prepared to leave I looked around one last time and realized that this place has indeed changed, it is no longer the 'friend' I once knew, it belongs to a new family...the place I remember is in my heart, and that is where it will always remain. And someday, if I am so blessed, I hope to have another cottage in which new memories can be made...laughter among friends, crackling bonfires, waves lapping against the shore...the simple beauty of life.

Home at Last...

Finally arrived home this evening after a much needed, week-long, internet-free vacation to the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan ;o)
(try and repeat that three times quickly :) I will be back at the easel first thing tomorrow!
And a little bit of shameless self-promotion here, the delightful Anne Harwell posted an interview about me on her blog which you can find by clicking here. I look forward to interviewing Anne herself in the very near future! I am not only an artist, but collect art as well, and I always find it so fascinating to learn what inspires other artists, how they got started as an artist, etc.
Thank you again Anne for such a wonderful post! :)