hallowe'en

the greatest 'holiday' ever!...what other day can you walk up to a complete stranger's house, ring the doorbell, scare them with some freaky mask you are wearing and they freely hand you candy?...

the portrait of 'kelsey' is coming along so far without any 'complications'...i use the word 'complications' to help define what would happen if my muse suddenly went to the mall and left me alone in the studio...the muse is an intricate part of being a creative person and without 'her' we are lost...as well, this dog has such a fantastic expression on it's face that it make me laugh and i do enjoy laughing...

speaking of hallowe'en, i think there is a bowl of chocolate upstairs that is just waiting for a taste test...

off to the easel...

monday and 'kelsey'

after the most rewarding hour of massage this morning (thanks to the magic hands of my rmt, murray) i am sitting like a bowl of jello in the studio 'wanting' to work but 'wanting' to fall asleep from being so mellow...the challenge today for me is to try and work on two paintings at once....what's that noise i hear?...my muscles tightening from stress?...no it's a 'challenge'...it's all good...

the two portraits on the easel are 'zoe' and 'kelsey'...

the race is on, which one will be finished first?....

it's sunday, what time is it?...

after yesterday's late start and today's surprisingly early one (thanks to the clock change and not knowing what the real time was when i woke up) i can now report that the portrait of 'becky' is done...what's that i hear?...is that shannan smiling?...yup, it's done and it looks amazing...i think becky will certainly be bragging about this at the dog park...

not much else to report...this afternoon i'll start work again on 'zoe'...

in desparate need of some coffee...

friday update...

shannan will be happy when she reads this posting...the portrait of 'becky' should be done by tomorrow...

wow, that was fast you might be asking yourself...it certainly was...coffee, chocolate, lack of sleep and tons of creative energy flowing through me is to credit for the quick completion of the painting...i used to rely on elves sneaking into the studio while i slept to finish work...however, i seriously think they are now working the late shift at 7-11 because they haven't been around in a very long time...

if all goes well shannan, you should have the painting in your hands sometime during the week of november 13th...

today's work-day is going to be cut short, as i am going out for dinner and a concert...

up before the birds...

today's studio adventure began at 530am with a coffee in one hand, chocolate (courtesy of my chocolate pimp) in the other and vitamins in my shirt pocket...i am working hard to finish 'becky's' portrait by the weekend and at this rate i might just be able to accomplish it...did you read that shannan?...shannan is becky's mum and has commissioned this portrait as a wedding gift for her husband to be...how sweet is that?..the wedding is at the end of november so that's why the rush is on...i wonder though how his present will top this one?...

the background of the painting is beautiful but then again how can a view of vancouver looking west from the mountains not be?...and of course the subject is one of the sweetest cocker spaniels ever!...

hang in there shannan, soon it will be hanging in the perfect spot you found for it...

'abby'

here is 'abby'...her portrait is ready to ship...as for 'becky' and 'zoe', they are coming along nicely...i'll post the portrait of 'fox' once the client comes to pick it up...

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'neegee' and massages

'ahhhhhh'...would be an odd way to begin a blog entry, but is the best way to describe how i feel right now....just returned from my massage guy who managed to put my spine in an upright, mobile position once again...today also was the day that he received his portrait of his dog neegee....happy to report that both owner and subject were very pleased with the piece...but i think i am more pleased by the outcome of the massage!...

back to work...

'becky'

'becky' is on the easel today...not much to report at the moment...

drinking coffee, listening to jazz and thinking about..............

'zoe' still on working on it..

i can't help but wonder as i work on 'zoe's' portrait, the sights, smells and sounds she must have experienced in her life as she has lead a rather eventful and exciting one...her mum once worked with dolphins on a caribbean island as well in louisiana...so the life of zoe has been that of exotic beaches, salt water, good food and great sunsets...the background for her portrait however, is a winter scene with a chewed soccer ball!...a dog of many collars!...

the look in her eyes is that of one who has been around and seen plenty....

back to the easel...

the urban pet-is the end in sight??

ok...after a few more phone calls and finding a new cell phone listing for laurie i managed to call her several times today in ten minute intervals...leaving messages and pages along the way...once the calls were made, i decided to head out of the studio to get a fresh perspective on things...so, tonight i sat in the audience during a taping of one of my favourite tv shows...went out to dinner with my best friend, where i had to send back my dinner as it wasn't fit for a dog!...but happy to report that after a few grande margaritas, the world looks like a brighter place....

i just returned to the studio at this moment to find a message on my answering machine...who from?...the illusive laurie martin!!!....it seems that the help of the great folks on the message board, my persistence and my terse but firm email to her associate, rive nestor drew her from hiding....the message stated that she had sent me 'several emails regarding my work' but none were responded to ( i never received one of the said emails) and that my work has been sitting with her all packaged up waiting for me to show up...hmmm?...all she needs is a mailing address to sent the package to(which by the way, is written on the contract, my business cards and inside my portfolio all of which she has) and could i call her back with the details....the absolute best part of this entire message was her asking me if i would like to 'sign up to advertise' on her latest website project!!!....this made my slightly inebriated self laugh a good one!...

so there you have it, my work is coming home or at least that is what was said....fingers crossed...time will tell...

it has been a very interesting two days that's for sure...i have learned that despite the fact that there are people in the world who think they have power, such as laurie martin, owner of a gallery, possessor of no integrity...the power lies within the goodness of the masses who offer help to someone they don't even know...i can't thank the people who have come to my aid enough...again i will say, that the next time i'm in san francisco, i will buy everyone drinks!....

thank you....

i'll let you know when they are sitting in my studio safe and sound...

stolen artwork update

last night i found the number of the artist that was associated with the urban pet gallery so i gave her a call...unfortunately, she was driving to los angeles when i called so the phone reception wasn't that great, i was dropped three times...i told ms. nestor about my situation and was looking for a way to contact laurie martin...she was sort of shocked to hear that my work is missing and before i was dropped a third time, she asked for my number...through the garbled transmission, i heard 'i'll see if i can find her number' and then she was gone...i am hoping that this woman will be able to locate laurie and my missing work because three calls to a cell phone is a lot cheaper than a flight to san fransisco...

so the saga begins...

i am not really that mad, just amazed that this woman laurie has absolutely no consideration for others...

STOLEN ARTWORK!!

ok, so i made a check up call to a store that represents me in san fran...i dialed the number only to find that it is no longer in service as was the cell number of the owner, laurie martin...so i checked online for their website, not there, no cyber memory of it exists!...i did a search on the shop and found a website that once rated it so i joined up to post a note asking for info on this shop...very kind and helpful people responded immediately...the shop is no longer open...ok, great now where the hell are my paintings, portfolio and giclees?????....so the search was on...after one person suggested that i call the local police i did...but to no luck the officer could not help out...it is a civil case and that is if i can find the scoundrels!...

yes i am mad...

here are photos of the paintings that i desperately want returned...anyone with information about the urban pet or the owner, laurie martin aka 'queen scoundrel'...the painting is a triptych 'the philosopher dogs-aristotle, socrates and plato'

i think the cocktail hour is going to be early today....

'fox' is finished...

the portrait is done and it looks good!...i think the client will be pleased..short coffee break before i start work on 'zoe'....

i'll post the painting of 'fox' after the client views it...

another day, another cup of java

a little late in starting the day as i had to get my hair cut...so, after four cups of espresso straight up at the salon, i am now back in the studio ready to begin work...i have a good feeling that the portrait will be done today or at least that is what i am convincing myself of...not much left to work on really so i just might do it...such a positive kinda gal...

thanks to the makers of lavazza, i'm off and running to the easel!....

funny who becomes the muse....

while working on the portrait of 'fox' i can't help but think about the saddest portrait i have done to date, a border collie named 'zack' and his owner...the client contacted me regarding a portrait of her border collie...she told me that her and her husband had been interested in commissioning a portrait for some time...nothing unusual about that except that she told me that her husband had died suddenly a couple of weeks prior to her call...the portrait was to commemorate her husband and his dog...while she was telling the story about how he died, i had a flash of what the painting would look like...it's funny because all the while i was working on the painting, i felt the presence of her husband next to me...kind of eerie and reassuring at the same time...i feel the same presence while working on my current painting of 'fox' which could explain why the work is going along at a quick pace...

here's the painting of 'zack'...his dad is the in the photo under his paw...

'fox' day two

after spending thirteen hours straight in the studio yesterday, i managed to finish the background for 'fox's' portrait...today i start the figure...let's see if i can complete this by the end of the day...

with coffee in hand, i'm armed and ready to face the day...

'fox' day one...

ok, up at 5:30 am after working in the studio for almost twelve hours straight yesterday completing a portrait for client in erie pennsylvania...my mind is working overtime these days as this is my 'busy season'...lots of clients want paintings for christmas gifts, so there is little time for me to get outside to 'play'...

today i begin a portrait of a chihuahua named 'fox'...i have been mulling this composition over in my mind for a few days and not sure why?...it is a pretty straightforward piece but i am thinking about the subject, fox...this poor sweet fella had his life cut short this summer when he was struck by a car...his mum commissioned this piece to remember him by, as well this is a gift for her boyfriend...whenever i work on a piece that has a tragic history attached to it, the mood i'm in is mixed...

off to the easel....let's see what today produces...