"Sacked" a new watercolor and casein by Molly A Poole

"Sacked" 18"x12" watercolor and casein on 140lb HP Fabriano paper.
To see more of my work and see current and upcoming exhibits visit granitedog.com. You can also follow me on Facebook at Molly A Poole Artist

Going for it! From pass time to business

I've been painting every day for almost a year now. My skills have improved with each painting.
Now that I have had so many sales I can't even count the numbers, it is time for me to really go for it.
I'll be setting up a business name and a license to sell so I can do art shows in the future. There is a big even in Fort Walton Beach FL at the end of September called Dog Daze. Last year there was over 2,000 dogs that attended. I am hoping to be able to come up with the $200.00 entry fee and table so I can participate. This would be a good way to get my name known in my local community.  I give back 10 percent to rescues and this event will be helping one of my favorite ones to help. Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport FL.

In January I will be charging more for my work. I started out low, in fact my first paintings I sold for $40.00 each and they took me over 8 hrs to complete. But I wanted to build a business and establish a following. I have done that, getting commissions on a regular basis and watching my FB page grow .Pam's Watercolor Pet Portraits Fan page I have almost 4,000 fans now.

I offer quality work in both watercolor and acrylic paint. I also paint on glass ornaments and treat jars with glass enamel paint.  The next medium I want to offer is color pencils. The look of the color pencil work is amazing. I completed a horse and I am quite pleased with it.


Today I completed this 8x10 watercolor Schnauzer - complete with mat and quality  wooden frame made in the USA for $90.00. This is a great value for one of my FB followers. But, sometimes I think I did lose commissions because my prices were so low, people may of wondered if I used professional grade paint. I purchase the best quality paint I can afford and I now have a huge stock of Holbein watercolor paint, Prismacolor pencils and Liquitex acrylic.

So I welcome you to look at my work and consider me for your next art project. My goal is for you to see the soul of your pet in their eyes.

Great Dane by Dawn Secord

The Great Dane painting is finished. I switched things up a bit. Usually, with pastel paintings, I work from left to right so my hand doesn't interfere with anything I've already laid down.

The background is started first and finished last. However, with this piece, I painted the subject first and then decided upon the background.

Originally, the background was going to be an a prestigious entrance to an estate. Hours were spent photographing entries of beautiful homes for this purpose. I have the most amazing carriage house type entrance from Rhode Island that was considered along with the latest photos taken.

In the end, simplicity won out. The background is a quiet antique"ish" feeling of an old landscape painting. I hope you enjoy viewing "A Great Moment" as much as I enjoyed painting it! This image will be available on gift items at my cafepress store.

Dawn Secord

Website: http://www.dawnsecord.com

Blog: http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com

Commission information: http://www.dawnsecord.com/commissioninformation.html

CafePress Store: http://www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Elin Pendleton Finished the Second Painting for the DVD on Twilight and Misty Light (Color System)

Finished! Amidst all the editing of the footage and clips from the first and second paintings for the new DVD, I thought I'd never get to the point where I could say the second one (twilight in acrylic) is finished. But here it is! A 16 x 20 acrylic, and every brush stroke, and I do mean EVERY brush mark, is on the tapes.

In filming and then editing this past couple of weeks, I realize that there is just TOO MUCH information for one DVD disk, so I'm putting everything and the kitchen sink on two disks for this fourth in the series. This will be great for me--as well as you--because I don't have to pare down the information I've captured on the digital media to fit on only one disk. I can use almost all of it (well, perhaps not the footage where the dog is drinking slurpslurpslurp behind me!). That will include a longer, more detailed slide presentation, and the special tips and tricks for advanced Color System users.

And on other news, a local fellow was moving and had no one to rehome his koi to, so I said I'd take 'em--now I have fifteen koi in the front patio pond, and wow... some are really big ones! Here's a shot taken the morning after they arrived...some already have names--the one on the lower left is "Titan(ic)". He's about 16 inches. The water is much clearer now than this photo, I'll have to take some new pictures tomorrow. Yes, there will be paintings... Who needs television when you can watch the fish channel?
I have spaces in the three-day Color Boot Camp here in November going on the block. You can check out my web page for workshops to find out more. When the snow flies where you are, California in November is paradise!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Happily Ever Afters ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

From the "Happily Ever Afters" exhibition, the painting "Sun Salutations," depicting rescued cattle dog Arrow, 10" x 20", acrylics on panel, exquisitely framed, $729, with proceeds going to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, which if you mention BFAS will also result in 20% of your purchase being donated to the sanctuary) may always come to me.

Tomorrow I set off on a great western adventure. After years of longing, I am finally headed to Best Friends Animal Sanctuaryin Kanab Utah. Not just to volunteer and play with the animals, but to also bring the whole Painting a Dog a Day project full circle. I'm hanging my first ever solo show comprised entirely of Dog a Day paintings (and all rescues!) within the confines of the sanctuary. BFAS was one of the first organizations to stand behind my initial year long challenge of painting daily pet portraits - and here we are, 4 years later and nearing daily painting #1000!!

"Happily Ever Afters" has nearly 40 portraits of rescued animals coupled with heartfelt stories demonstrating their strength of spirit. The exhibition will be on view until October 21st, 2010.

And the opening party is this Friday evening. I'll be there with bells on, and hanging around until Saturday afternoon. But for those of you who can't make it, I'm also only an email away. Please don't hesitate to let me know what sort of portrait project you have in mind.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family. Without your support, I'd most likely be working an entirely unsatisfying desk job.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year(2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years(2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Saintly Landscape by Linda Snider Ward

Saintly Landscape II is a small watercolor study (6" x 6") of my Saint Bernard sleeping. I'm working on a much larger watercolor painting of her with a similar background, but a little more surrealistic, for an upcoming show. Bella Minnie makes a great model. More of my artwork can be seen on my blog

Wait, Love, Pray for a Home - Carol Chretien

WAIT, LOVE, PRAY...FOR A HOME

12x12

oil on canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

This recent painting is available for purchase inspired by "Dusty" waiting for adoption in fostercare with a volunteer of Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay. He is available for adoption.

My artwork is my passion. No doubt that I absolutely love Dalmatians but every piece of work I offer or am commissioned to paint helps a rescue to keep doing the work for homeless animals in need.

UPDATE!!!! Sept 10th

this painting will provide ALL PROCEEDS or 100% donation to the rescue

see

A Latte ~ A Life

blog post for details

http://carolchretien.blogspot.com/2010/09/latte-life-announcement.html

or

carolchretien@aol.com

also... please visit my What's On the Easel blog at

http://www.carolchretien.blogspot.com

for the latest studio news and painting updates.

thanks for viewing!

Mixed Breed Dogs by Dawn Secord

This is a commission of two mixed breed dogs - Bob and Billie. I met their owners at a show over a year ago. To my surprise, I went to the post office one day and found an album of photos and a request to paint their dogs.

Many months later my husband and I were at a dog show in their area. We decided they should bring Bob and Billie over to the show grounds so we could meet the dogs in person and I could take additional reference photos.

It was a thrill to meet the dogs and spend time with their owners. They had a previous commission done of a dog since passed. In that painting were daffodils. So, to tie the paintings together it was requested that daffodils be in Bob and Billie's painting too.

Thanks so much for the honor of painting your dogs!

Dawn Secord

website: http://www.dawnsecord.com

blog: http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com

commission information: http://www.dawnsecord.com/commissioninformation.html

A Multi-Colored Merle ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Multi-Colored Merle," 6" x 8", Golden Open acrylics on panel, depicting a blue heeler mix, based loosely on my shadow Finnigan. You can add this painting to your collection for $324 - shoot me an email if you are interested.

It's been a long time since I last painted my boy, and I figured I would try my hand at him today and share the little stinker's face.

I never tire of painting black and white animals and Finni is no exception. His glossy coat reflects all the color around him, and that merled fur resonates with blues and lavendars.

And it's nice every so often to have Finnigan, even if it is merely a painted version of him, sit still and be quiet. Although the other version is currently prone on the floor, sighing at my feet. He's had a busy day herding kids, running in the sprinkler, and playing frisbee.

Shhh..... don't say "squirrel."

Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year(2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years(2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

"Mud Pies" a new Molly A Poole watercolor

"Mud Pies" an 8"x10" watercolor and casein on paper. Labrador Retriever puppies and water makes a mess! What fun I had with this one!
Archival mat and mounted. Available, inquire for pricing.
You can see more of my work on my website.

Thanks Trish Richardson for reference.

Pup-illion ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Pup-illion," 8" x 10", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, portrait of a young Papillion. This painting will go to the first one asking nicely - just $469 plus shipping and handling. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size to larger than life) may always come to me.

I cannot send huge enough thanks to Brenda and Chris Lynch for the most fab weekend ever (the unveiling of the "Rusty" Muttitage wine bearing my label design at their Dog Days event). But what I can do is recommend you buy their wine, in copious quantities. They are amazing people, their wine is fabulous, and with your purchase you'll be supporting a company that does everything it can to foster and support animal welfare. Doesn't get much better than that. So check their goods out here and tell them I sent you. Please and thank you.

And if you want to see pics from the weekend, they are on the studio Facebook page.There are a couple of albums (not all mine), so be sure to scroll through the entries and find the corresponding links.

This little guy was a participant in Saturday's wine tasting. Approximately 300 people came to the winery, dogs in tow, to sample the wine and socialize. A big warm Dog a Day welcome goes out to the new readers - so glad that we connected, and am looking forward to sharing all sorts of paintings with you in the coming months.

Tomorrow, it's dental appointments for us all (not my most favorite thing, as I have a dental phobia), then back home to package and ship out the 40 paintings for my solo show. In two weeks (gulp) at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Hoping to get some easel time. Provided there are no cavities.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family. And for loving those Mutt Lynch wines.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Boxer by Linda Snider Ward

This is Bella, my nephew's Boxer. She's about as sweet as they come! The image is approximately 9" x 9", watercolor on Yupo paper. Lately I've been drawing & painting horses but thought I'd take a rest and paint a dog. Yupo paper is a crazy, slick paper that will either drive a person crazy or, in my case, make them fall in love with the unpredictable surface. More of Linda's artwork can be seen at
her blog

Vanda Lavar's Golden Retriever Pups

Meet "The Duke and Duchess of Dawn" their names are Sir Rockford and Lady Violet. They are two characters from artist Vanda's newest book, "Pillow Land Puppies." Soon to be released. A bedtime "tail" about Guardian Angel dogs who guard the sleep of children everywhere.

Abe, a Scottie by Carol Chretien

" Abe "

12x12

oil on canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

Abe was the winner of a portrait for charity this year to support scholarship through

the Lincoln D. Lynch Scholarship Fund of

Middleboro MA

This painting is the most recent completed example of a custom portrait of my work.

Several other pieces for rescue are on the easel.

you can view my work here and on my frequently updated artblog

http://www.carolchretien.blogspot.com/

thanks so much for looking!

Irish Setter by Dawn Secord

This is a commission where everything had been furnished to me. The collector had a wonderful photo of a beautiful dog laying on light colored furniture. On top of all that, I was able to meet the dog in person and take additional reference photos. A very good start!

The pillows on the wicker chair were a bit faded. So, in the painting I added some color and actually an additional pillow. That is one of the nice things about fine art, we are only limited by our imagination.

The photo was also taken on a porch and the foliage in the painting was not there. This is another change made to the painting that was not in the reference photo.

There are gift products on my cafepress store that feature this painting. http://www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Dawn Secord, Artist

website: http://www.dawnsecord.com/

blog: http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

commission information: http://www.dawnsecord.com/commissioninformation.html

prints for sale: http://www.dawnsecord.com/printsforsale.html

cafepress store: http://www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Miller ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

FROM TOP: "Miller I" and "Miller II", 6" x 8", Golden Open acrylics artboard, commissioned pet portrait sketches of a yellow lab. My client will choose one, and the other can be yours for $60 plus s&h. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait - come on, you know that you want one!!) may always come to me.

It's always great when I get to paint for a friend. Miller's family are old neighbors (I forget how many times as a puppy Finnigan made a mad dash for Miller's house - there was a big goofy dog and a herd of kids, so it was heaven to him!). They are returning next week for a visit. It'll be wonderful to send them home with a portrait, but not before I get to pinch all the kids and ply them with popsicles.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

PS Are you in the San Francisco area? Well then get your butt and your dog over toMutt Lynch Winery for their Dog Days of Summer event this Saturday. I will be in town, specifically to sip a glass of "Rusty" wine with you.

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Poppy - Belgian Sheepdog Groenendael

The Belgian Sheepdogs are so intelligent and beautiful. They served faithfully in war times as guard dogs and as Red Cross dogs, and now they excel at Agility. I love painting them, but a black dog, like this Groenendael type can be a challenge. I try to keep in mind the highlights, shadows, and texture of hair as well as the conformation and expression of the dog while I'm working, and this helps to sort out the subtle shifts of light and shadow in a black coat.
"Poppy" is an 8 x 10 watercolor on Arches 140 hot press watercolor paper

Heather Anderson Animals In Art Sheltie Hollow

Offering more items and acrylic paintings now!

This has been a pretty good start to the month. The first of July was slow, so I thought I'd add more options for Christmas and for paintings.

I now have old fashion one gallon penny candy jars with metal lid that I can paint your pet portrait on.  I have just sent out my first two, and have a bulldog offered on my artfire lisings. These are painted  with acrylic enamel paint and baked in the oven for an hour to give them a scratch resistant washable finish.  They would be nice with a logo on them for businesses that make teats, or your furry friend in a pop art style. Sure to brighten up any home.

Also, just purchased 48 colored ornaments. My first hope was to make a swirl design in the clear glass ones, with sparkle paint. But, after many failed attempts, decided to purchase the colored ones. I have a few that I was able to get the paint to stick on the inside, but it took several coats and weeks to set.  I have painted one w/a Christmas poinsettia and it is also listed on the Artfire page. I will be adding - doves, elephants, perhaps some lighthouses and of course custom orders for Pets! - for the first few customers I have gift boxes as a free gift for your purchase. They will be selling for $35.00 and 10.00 shipping.  Please visit my artfire to find  what I'm up to. Artfire Store I'm always adding new products and Rescues that I'm helping with a % of sales.

My most recent portrait called for a dog in snow. With watercolor the goal is to reserve the white and let the paper be the white. I didn't think this would be a good effect with the watercolor, so I suggested to my client to get a acrylic on canvas instead. Why  not, I had just purchased some canvas and had all that acrylic paint for the ornaments. I under painted the snow with blue and pink and topped some with silver for a glow. For my first acrylic pet portrait It came out pretty good. So, now I can offer acrylic to the offerings. I will be purchasing more canvas and paint to keep the stock up. Lucky for me - that I can invest all my earnings back into supplies, since for now this is still my hobby, not my income. One day perhaps, but for now, still learning- sharing and growing this micro business.

Visit me on FB- I post daily photos and my painting in progressPam's Watercolor Pet Portraits

Saluki Heritage

I was asked to create awards for a Saluki show recently, so I had the fun of coming up with a lot of different images, each featuring a Saluki. One of my favourites was this one, titled "Saluki Heritage". It pays tribute to the desert hunting origins of this ancient breed. Local Saluki owners provided dog models, I used a friend's horse for the "clouds" image, and another friend breeds and hunts with Peregrine falcons, so a trip to his place got me my falconry images.

This is a photo-based image, created with the help of Photoshop. As such, it can be printed out in various sizes and formats as desired, as indeed is the case with almost all my artwork, which can be seen on my website www.judywoodartphotography.com

Judy Wood

Yorkshire Terrier by Dawn Secord

This painting of Max is a birthday present for my mother. Growing up we had schnauzers and yorkies for the most part (and a Shepherd mix that was dumped by our house in the country that I kept in my bedroom in the barn). In Texas, what 14 year old girl doesn't want to live in the barn with her horse?? Thanks mom for that fun experience.

Max was part of our family for 14 years. He was rescued from an abusive situation by my brother's best friend. Max was living with his 12 week old sister outside in a dog house - in Texas. Now those of you that know North Texas know that is no place for baby yorkies. The temperatures at night can get to below freezing. The horrific part is one of the family members that owned the two pups was kicking them. The sister had perished and my brother's friend snuck over the fence in the dark of night and rescued baby Max from the abusive situation.
Max was brought to my mom in the nick of time. My mother took him immediately to the veterinarian. Max was in bad shape. Nothing was broken, however the veterinarian informed my mother that Max would have survived perhaps a few more hours without medical attention.

Max lived a full life and enjoyed living with two female yorkies, my collie and then my three Irish Setters. He peed on my sofa once and my mom blamed it on my Irish....hum....my Irish peed higher than two inches! You be the judge!

This image of Max is available on gift items at my CafePress store at www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Dawn Secord

Website: http://www.dawnsecord.com/

Blog: Enjoying the Journey - http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

Prints for Sale http://www.dawnsecord.com/printsforsale.html

Commission information www.dawnsecord.com/commissioninformation.html

Cafepress Store www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Traveller ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Traveller," 6" x 8", Golden Open acrylics on panel, commissioned pet portrait of a Sheltie, private collection (THANK YOU!). Trav's portrait will be joining that of his "sister" Sassy, who I painted on Friday.

I've got a busy month coming up - well, I guess, when are my days NOT busy? But this one is especially packed -

1. I have Lake Orion's Dog Days of Summer coming up this Saturday (I'll have a booth packed with lots of art for you to browse through!). Not sure if I'll be set up at the Orion Art Center or in Children's Park, but since they are within spitting distance of each other it isn't really that big of a deal.
2. There is a Creative Journalling workshop this coming Sunday at Little Monsters Toy Store (sorry, this one's got a wait list).
3. I am flying to Mutt Lynch Winery in California next weekend for the unveiling of their "Rusty" muttitage wine. While enjoying their Dog Days event, I'll also be booking commissions, with proceeds going to the winery's animal welfare partner, the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
4. I'll return to lead this summer's final Creative Journalling workshop the following Sunday (there are 2 openings in this class, so let me know if you are interested). If your child missed out, never fear - I'm putting together another session for the fall.
5. And then I'll pack up and hit the road for my visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, where I'll get to meet up with some Painting a Dog a Day collectors, meet my connections at BFAS in person, hang my solo show "Happily Ever Afters" and prep for the opening (on August 27th).

In between all this, I'll squeeze in as many daily paintings as possible.

Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me. If you are thinking of gifting a portrait for the holidays, please don't wait much longer. My calendar fills up very quickly this time of year.

Finally, a warm welcome to the new Dog a Day readers - I'm so glad you're following along and hope that you are enjoying the daily faces!!

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

The Great Pyrenees, Ms. Ellie Reads the News Paper

This is the beautiful Ms. Ellie, furbaby to Jen Schurman. There appears to be some interesting personal news regarding the artist in Ms. Ellie's paper by the way!
This is an example of a soft pastel painting by artist Vanda Lavar, who has studied very assiduously under Lesley Harrison.