CHRISTMAS 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my Christian friends / .. HAPPY HOLIDAYS to the rest no matter what your beliefs it is a wondrous time of the year--the spirit of the season is Peace, the gladness of the season is Hope, and the heart of the season is Love as we realize that the things which matter most aren't really " things " at all.
BLESSINGS to you and all who have a special place in your heart.

Last shipment of 2009

Two days ago I mailed my last order for the year, 2009. This one went via the USPS in one of their flat rate boxes to Florida.
It was alast minute order for a photo album for a teenager who had just lost her young Beagle dog to a traffic accident. A couple of years ago her Boxer died of natural doggy causes. The cats and horse fortunately are in good health---I painted the Boxer on a wooden box for her. The picture hidden in one of my pre-digital files. I had alittle problem with the album--I assumed it was leather which accepts acrylic paint with no problems--it wasn't leather to my dismay and started to peel as I was finishing it. I tried various ways to stop the peeling process --no go. I then hit upon the idea to reproduce the pets on paper and do a collage of them similar to the peeled painting---I also did a small shelf sitter of her Beagle.

Last rack of 2009

I dropped shipped this Yorkie Pet Portrait leashrack yesterday. I have one more order to ship tomorrow and then I will be finished with orders for 2009.---Now it is time with EMMA and DINO's help to clean up my house and make it feel less like the North Pole at Christmas---put away all the paints and packing supplies and chill for a week--They will miss the packing supplies--toooo much fun especially the peanuts that stick to one's fur.

a wooden rival for EMMA

Yes, she is being featured again---it is her artistic soul ?? This is a portrait of a pussy cat that will grace its owners shelf or door or computer or any place that has an over hang that it can comfortably sit. It is made of wood and painted with acrylic paints. The shelf sitter is very versatile for people with limited wall space or like to move their pet's portrait to different spots.

New Jersey Chocolate

Yes, we make some delicious chocolate right here in NJ.---Dove dark Chocolate is made at M&M Mars right here in Warren County--Hackettstown. .... Yum Yum !!!! The best Chocolate, however , is a Chocolate Lab named CHESTER who I had the good fortune to meet via e-mail and paint on a large slate ( 12" x 14" )

SEPARATE HOMES

These two orders were shipped to two separate homes in PA. They are dog portraits on slate. I also included two other slates that went out last week. I believe I posted them already but my mind is a little fuzzy as I have been doggedly painting night and day.
HO HO time---!!!

THREE CATS

This canvas was shipped to its permanent home last week---I am sure the Calico cat was the boss...I know that from experience. My EMMA is ALWAYS in all ways in control and if she feels her authority is being usurped she is quick with the paw .
I, also have never had a cat with so many facial expressions. I have included two photos of the painting. One is in color while the other is a black and white version. The black and white enables me to determine what is missing or needs to be highlighted especially when painting pets with black or white fur.

DOGS AND CARS

I just finished and shipped a challenging wood project from Provincetown, Ma. I get many such creative requests from this part of the country---EMMA of course helped from the drawing to the painting to the packing. They wanted a portrait of their car with their 2 dogs hanging out the window---it is 24" long and has a backing like a stand alone picture frame on the back as requested.

A different leashrack

Yesterday I posted 5 dog leashracks. Along with that order I received a request to include a child with the pup.
Normally I prefer to paint animals only but on occasion I relent--I did a canvas painting with a horse with his mistress at another time even though that is not my forte----I will include that picture in another posting. I am including a wood plate that I painted with a Neapolitan Mastiff and his owner---

Leashracks

I shipped these out yesterday to Maryland--they probably got them today via UPS ---Two of them are pet portrait , two are generic to the breed and one is generic to the breed Welsh Terrier but with a red collar. Another one also shipped but I will address this in another blog--so for now enjoy these pictures---This is another way to honor your furry family member. It is personal but also has a useful function.

BIG AND LITTLE--guess who is the better watchdog

I delivered this canvas portrait of LADY and Knuckles 2 days ago--This was a local order here in Lake Hiawatha, NJ.
Lady is a Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuaha mix---BARK much--a tad hyper ???--I imagine that is why her companion is the gentle giant KNUCKLES--origin???

Pink Gloves Dance Video boosts hearts, minds and funds

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PORTRAIT SLATES shipped today

Two more portrait slates were shipped out today via UPS. They are off to a shop in PA. EMMA was too tired
to help me pack tis item as she was exhausted after packing some leash racks for Maryland tomorrow.

Big Tall Dogs

I just received an order for a generic portrait on slate of a Bouvier des Flandres pet. These are very large dogs.
He will be shipped on Monday. At this time of year I must dedicate my total time to orders. He is to be shipped to North Carolina. The order came through bigtalldogs.com --if you have a big dog that is a site you may want to look at. Naturally I had some packing help from the devoted EMMA.

A NEW CHALLENGE

It seem I have very creative clients. They are always coming up with something new for me to ply my art. This is the second one of these I have done for her---It entails painting a pets image on an infants undershirt---since babies have such delicate skin I first painted the images onto a piece of wood --took photos with my trusty Nikon DSLR70 and then transferred them to my MACBOOK PRO. I then printed them on to transfer paper and ironed them on to the shirts. The Springer Spaniel is very sweet dog. The jury is out on the other one !!

Scottie Mailbox

The Scottie Mailbox is finally ready to ship. It had to cure for two weeks using a tile , metal and glass medium. This insures that the paint can not be dissolved short of an explosion. EMMA of course had to be involved . She was able to get three fourths of the way into the box before realizing that she could not curl up inside---what good is it ????

Leash Racks

I have had very few orders for leash racks this year. Now all of a sudden I have 6 orders--a couple of portraits and the rest generic to a breed. TIS THE SEASON has reared its head---I have been working on a canvas painting of 2 dogs today--hope tp finish by tomorrow . This will free up some time to design and draw the dogs for the racks--that is the more time consuming aspect of the projects--then transfer to wood , cut out and then enjoy paining--I have enclosed some photos of past racks so you can get the gist of what I am writing about. EMMA is sound asleep--a situation I had best get to if I want to work tomorrow.