getting ready...

painting in pajamas...

i'm in the midst of prep for the Paradise City Arts Festival which is this coming weekend here in Northampton, MA. it's one of the biggest shows of the year for me, and even though this is my 4th fall being a part of it, it's always a frantic rush to get everything ready right before. tomorrow i'll take the whole afternoon to set up my booth space with my dad (i'm so lucky!), we basically will build it from scratch so that by saturday morning it will look like a nice little gallery space to show my work. i'll spend most of the day on friday hanging freshly painted paintings and arranging things for the weekend, which is my favorite part of the set-up. the show is 3 full days and it's a lot of work! but, i'm really looking forward to seeing friends and favorite customers come through my booth for a look and a visit!

if you are in new england, come on by, it's so worth the trip! an amazing event, full of wonderful art and crafts, food and fun... you'll find me (sitting pretty and smiling...) in booth #145.

info at www.paradisecityarts.com.

i'll report in on the flip side!

xo*s

dog commissions

i finally have a little portfolio of my dog commissions pulled together to share with you! 

turtle, above right, was my first commission.  i was asked to make a piece (not necessarily of a dog) for an auction that was raising money for a local dog rescue league.  i love dogs, and was up for the challenge, so i decided to paint and donate (i didn't make any money) a portrait of one of the dogs at the rescue.  turtle was one of the dogs waiting for a home, and i just fell in love with her. her portrait became "parts of a typical pooch" in which i labeled her different "parts" informed by this piece that i had done previously.  on the night of the auction i was very nervous, i had never sat through an auction, let alone one that i had made something for! it was exciting and nerve wracking all at once.  my painting of turtle was up for bid at the very end of the night, so we waited a long time to see what would happen.  when it finally came up for bid, people began fighting for her!  it was pretty thrilling!  my painting of turtle ended up raising almost $700 dollars for the dog rescue league!  i was so happy and amazed!  

the portrait scout followed next, for the folks that lost turtle at the auction.  then came olive,who is shown posing with her portrait! olive was created for a friend with an especially fun and whimsical household.  most recently (last week) i finished porter, whose own kitchen has those fun black and white tiles in it just like the portrait. 

i have a few more lined up so far, and have to say that i am really loving these pooch paintings! commissions are tricky, especially of someone's beloved pet, but with each new piece i am enjoying the process more and more.  i still think i like "just painting" for me best, but this is a new way that i am learning to work and i am having a blast.  hope you like them too!  see all images and details bigger here, and of course be in touch if you'd like to see your pal in paint too!  *s