Going to be a bit silent for a while

I've recently received a rather large commission, seven Jersey cow paintings of varying sizes, due within a month, so I'm not going to be doing much of anything else besides these Jersey cow paintings.  I've had the order for about a week so far and have roughed in (put down my base coats) all but the largest one, which is around 3 x 4 feet.  Believe me, I'm going to know Jersey cows when I'm done with this project.

Also, I might add:  I am doing extra Jersey cow paintings, too, as I'm finishing up this project, so I'll have some other Jersey cow paintings available for sale to the general public.  They'll be mostly in the 16x20" to 24x30" sizes, on gallery-wrapped canvases.  I'll publish them as they are finished.  Further, I have recently gone on a photo-shoot in a field of Guernsey cows, so I'll be doing some Guernsey paintings as well.  Plus, I was able to get some great photos to work from for at least a couple of sheep paintings.  I'll be going back to the field of sheep for more photos sometime this summer, so I'll be doing more of them.

Yes, I know it seems that my dog-painting business has gone to the ---- cows.  I am still going to continue to paint dogs, but I really, really do want to branch out and do more animals and more varied work overall.  I'm still just dying to do some landscape paintings, and I really hope this is the year I get to do so.  Some of my farm animal paintings, in fact, are going to be part farm animal painting and part landscape.   Painting is soooooo exciting!!!  How lucky am I to have such a stimulating, demanding, exciting career!

A Couple of Precious Italian Greyhound Custom Paintings I just finished

 These two beauties are Pearl and Belle, and I just finished painting them yesterday.  They were commissioned paintings for a special birthday spouse, who I hope loves them.  They were a great pleasure to paint, both being very photogenic girls.

My Neighbor's Yellow Labrador Retriever

This is Harper!  She is a beautiful yellow lab belonging to my neighbor.  She patiently sits every day outside her home to greet every walker. Her "dad" gave me permission to do a painting of her, and I really do appreciate it.  She was a pleasure to paint.

Portland Saturday Market Opening March 2, 2013 for our 40th Year!

I'm back at the Portland Saturday Market starting tomorrow for its 40th season.  While I am a relatively recent market member (I started in 1994), there are many artists/craftspeople who have been there from the very first day back in 1973.   I'm excited about going back again and hope some of you come down to the market and drop by my booth and say hi.  My space number this year is #338, just up the steps on the first row nearest the red information trailer.  The weather is going to be pretty cooperative this weekend, so I'm looking forward to a fun, busy weekend.  I have lots of new paintings, including this beautiful rooster:

I just finished him a few days ago and just got photos taken of him today.  I'm always trying to do too much when there's a deadline looming, such as getting everything ready for the market again after a two-month hiatus!  Anyway, I really like the way he turned out.  He's painted in acrylic paints on an 11x14x1.5" stretched canvas.  He's also being listed on Etsy; so wherever he sells first, I'll remove him from the other venue.

Keep an eye out:  There are lots more farm animals on my "to-do" list.  They're a fun new direction for me.  Now if I could only get some landscapes in.  They're what I'm really, really excited about starting!