Back to Blogging

I have decided to come back to blogging after a year's hiatus. Over the last year I decided to stay teaching at my current school an hour away from the home we have rented for the past three and a half years. 

Matt and I married on May 25th, our four year anniversary. Though it has only been a month I find myself saying I want to marry this man, only to have to remind myself that we were just married!

I am going to start writing about the past year and sharing photos that have started gathering "cyber spider webs." I will share some personal artwork and begin covering updates on Sower's Row through the season. First to come are the wedding photos!

Radar 2.0

Second commission is finished and ready to be delivered!!!

Radar

Currently working on a new painting of a pup named Radar and enjoying an Anchor Steam.

Tom and Theo

Are done!!!

Datin' and Paintin'

Since Matt took some vacation for his trip we were able to go on a date, something we haven't done in a really long time! The last movie we went to see was Moonrise Kingdom, a Wes Anderson film.

We decided to go to Zio's for a beer and italian. Delicious, but ridiculously expensive, reminding me as to why we are not able to go on dates very often. Then we went to see Cloud Atlas, based on a novel by David Mitchell. We didn't know much about it at all, but my oh my it was amazing. Matt even enjoyed it! It was very confusing and hard to follow but such a beautiful idea and tale. I'm interested in reading the book. Until I'm able to tell you what I think of the book, here is the trailer:

This morning I worked on Theo and Tom a little bit, using the methods I have been instructing my students to use in class, turning the image on the side and upside down in order to draw not what you think you see or what you think it should look like but the individual shapes that make up the overall subject. I had to adjust some shapes when I turned the painting sideways and realized some of Theo's features were completely off. The painting is coming along slowly but surely. Here are some more progress pictures:

Painting a Pretty Picture

I am currently working on a couple of different projects, one a commission and another a gift. The commissioners are my eventual in-laws Lizanne and John. They own Hog and Sauce, home of The Pita-Que in Springfield. It is by far the best barbecue I have ever had. The potato salad is like none you will ever have Matt is working on a commercial for the local business, wrote the jingle and everything. I cannot wait to see how it turns out! Anyway back to the commissioned portrait.

Lizanne and John asked me to do a portrait of their two cats Theo, short for Thelonious Monk, and Tom. Here are the photographs I am working from and a progress snapshot of the portrait. I think I need to make both Tom and Theo a little bit bigger to fill the space. Any thoughts?

Theolonious Monk

Tom

Theo and Tom, Rough Sketch

I had originally advertised custom pet portraits in oil at $60 for an 9"X12". I will stick with this price for the remainder of 2012, but as I have researched pricing a bit more I feel that my paintings are worth more than a measly $60. However, I would still like to be competitive with my pricing... I cannot justify  pricing an 8"X10" at $100. With that said, my paintings will still be a bargain! So, if anyone is interested in a 9"X12" pet portrait at $60 get your orders in before the end of the year. They make lovely Christmas gifts for pet lovers!

Here is an example of what you would be receiving:

Lady

Lady

I am also working on a Christmas gift for Matt. Sometimes he peaks at the blog so I can't talk much about it but he does know it is a drawing, so that I can whisper!