Monday, February 23, 2009

EMMETT, LITTLE SWEETHEART


Meet Emmett, 8x10 oil on canvas. His parents know him best, so here's their story...sold

"Emmett is an alien. No really I swear he is. He'd try for world domination if he just didn't get so cold, and if he was just a little taller, but being a 4 lb Chihuahua...he'll settle for dominating the living room sofa. 

My husband and I are actors living in NYC, and we never thought we'd own a Chihuahua. I've always thought that they were ugly and buggy eyed, and not nearly as pretty as Pomeranians (one of which we are the proud owners), but here we are...alien parents. When Brian made his Broadway debut in Spelling Bee and I had returned from the Annie national tour, we began casually looking for another dog to keep our sweet Winston (the aforementioned Pom) company. One of Brian's cast mates had a friend who places dogs, and after looking at an e-mail with pictures, the little black and white Chihuahua with a  heart-shaped mark on his head was so amazingly cute that we had to bring him home. We have never regretted it. Emmett weighed just about a pound and had to wear a bell so that we could find him when he decided to crawl into tiny spaces. He has turned out to be such a funny and amazing little guy. Though he does have that Chihuahua edge, and often tries to let the pit bulls in our Washington Heights neighborhood know that he owns the street (we're working on that) he is actually very loving and snuggly, loves people and loves to play.

Emmett also can talk and loves to sing. Though I am still working on understanding his alien language, he will often jump info my lap and growl and whimper the days events to me. And if I begin to sing, watch out cause Emmett will be joining in momentarily, tail wagging, head thrown back and eyes bright. He is a boy soprano by the way, and the higher you sing the better he likes it. Emmett sleeps under the covers in the bed and shivers if it is less than 70 degrees outside, two things that our very furry Pom cannot understand. He gets scared when my husband watches horror films, yearns for his people when we watch X-files, and LOVES the doggie heating pad that Brian bought for him. So...next time you are in the neighborhood, maybe you'll catch us out for a walk and Emmett can tell you about his plans and give a command performance of his favorite songs...and if, by chance, you speak alien maybe you can tell me what he's saying."

Monday, February 16, 2009

HE'S MINE


8x10 oil on canvas
Just recently we were in Canton, Tx for First Monday Trade Days and we saw this little boy proudly holding his new beagle puppy. Hiding behind his new best friend, he happily posed for us. 

Sunday, February 8, 2009

WEST DALLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROJECT




My students in classes 5-8 are recreating Starry Night on 64 canvases. We are using the new Golden Open Acrylics, which I highly recommend if you are looking for a slow-drying acrylic. As we work on the painting, I will continue to post in-progress photos; we hope to be completed with all painting within a month. When completed the painting will be approximately 6' x 8'. Pictured here are Chantel, Sydney and Victoria working on their individual sections. 

Sunday, February 1, 2009

SANTA JESSIE


8x10 oil on canvas sold

At the end of last year, I was sent a couple of photos of Jessie, along with a you tube video of Jessie in action at one of her most recent flyball competitions. My client explained that she was not interested in having a painting of Jessie wearing the Santa hat, she just wanted me to have a selection of photos to see if any of those might work for a painting. I asked permission to paint Jessie with the Santa hat for my portfolio and just because it was one of those exercises I just had to paint. I sent an e-mail attachment of Santa Jessie to the client for her "just to see" the finished painting, letting her know I would begin working on her portrait of Jessie as soon as we had decided on photos...well, long story short, she asked if she could buy this one, too...a very nice surprise. You can see Jessie in action here.