New Web Finds: More Pet Portrait Artists

© Linda Lawrence

Recently I have discovered a few new pet portrait artists that I really admire, and two of them also work in glass.
Linda Lawrence is a lampwork artist, jewelry designer and art educator. She has recently returned to her earlier work in Pet Portraiture. I love the background in the portrait she did above.
Also new to my web radar is Manon Doyle from Canada. Her site HoochiePoochiestudios.com showcases her whimsical pet portraits while her other site Mosaicsbymanon.com highlights her amazing and detailed mosaic artwork.
And one more terrific find is Anne Leuck Feldhaus. Her artwork is bright, bold and very fun.
Thanks to Jamie of Cowbelly for making me aware of the last two gals on this list.

Stock Photography & Politics

Here I go again ... straying way off-topic.
I have been purchasing stock photography to dress up my blog and website for awhile now. A few posts ago you saw a Chihuahua sitting atop a laptop, that was from istockphoto.com. As a small business woman on a budget I love stock photography.

I just read a funny news story about the kid in a recent Clinton ad that is now 18 and an Obama supporter. Yep, she was just 8 when the film footage was shot, and now at 18 she finds her younger self being used to fear monger a few votes ... or at least that is how she sees it. I guess the lesson to be learned is you might think twice before letting your kids model or act for stock film agencies. Oh and if you are a business woman with the money to hire your own actors, you might want to do that.

Read more here

New Pet Portrait " Bailey"

This is Bailey and we are proofing this guy by e-mail today. His project is on a very tight deadline. I could have played with this pup for weeks, he was such a joy and his original photo was just flawless. I really like this handsome pup. We are a little swamped with orders at the moment so we will be proofing most clients by e-mail this week and not on-line. Proofing by e-mail saves time.

Hendrik Kerstens: The distant view of the other

Hendrik Kerstens is one of those artists who have managed to develop a career seemingly concentrating on one subject throughout the years. In his case, the model has been his daughter Paula. How different is she as a subject because of being his daughter? Not very. Which is as powerful a revelation as any. After all, one would expect some closeness, some special insight. Nothing of the sort. What we get is a serious young lady, as serious now as she was on the pictures being only a few years old. A gaze that refuses to talk. Our only partner in dialogue seems to be the light that paints the face gently, yet at least on surface, without the love one would expect. We see all the Vermeers and other 17th-century Flemish painters participate in this creation, yet this, here, is darker, less inviting. It doesn't pretend that something can come out of this encounter. Nothing more than a picture, a gaze, a world that is forever there, for us to admire, but not to discover.

New Pet Portrait " King Davey"

"King Davey"

"King Davey" is from last month's Artist Choice Promotion. If you recall we were focused on wings & crowns in February. I love this happy fellow. I had way too much fun with this guy and he has 6 proofs to review on our main site. I was told that Davey's original photo was shot on his 1st Birthday .... Long Live King Davey!

About the artwork:
This is a variation on a soft painterly sample we created for Davey. The main difference in this sample is that we added the poster edge filter and some violet to his coat. The poster edge filter adds more crunch to an image and bumps up the contrast. It also flattens things a wee bit and moves the artwork away from the softness of the painterly look making things more graphic. "Poster edge" can be a little reminiscent of woodblock printing in it's crisp texture.

Last night we watched the movie "The Darjeeling Limited" and the aqua and lime in the background were inspired by this movie. The quirky flick was a visual feast for color lovers. Every time I see a movie like this I want to paint my walls .... I guess it is easier to put the hues into my work instead.

"Detail"

Valentine's

I found this at Happy Famous Artists. It was dated February 14. How come this seems fine on Valentine's Day, but has something offensive about it today?
Maybe it's because VD is for the individual, while today is for the group. And so, today it implies that this is the value I find important in a woman. While on February 14, it is about this one individual being gorgeous. Yet, isn't there something disturbing even about this appearing on Valentine's? The fact that what we celebrate is beauty?
Beauty. Can't live with it, but would have a hard time ignoring it either.

Artist Choice Special / March

"Toys, Props and Clothes"

"Eddy" ( prop is the cone)

This month's Artist Choice Promo is called "Toys, Props and Clothes".
As the name implies in order to qualify for this promotion you need to send us a photograph of your pet with a toy, or in their favorite bed, or dressed up in their Sunday best. Any object or accessory that you want included in your portrait will work, even an old chewed up shoe. You do need to send a photo of the prop even if the pet is not engaged with it. You can even take a fluffy toy and lay it right on your scanner! We will work it in.
The special this month is for an 18 x 24 portrait in this theme and you get free ground shipping and free stretching. See our samples in this post for ideas.
Order On-line by clicking here.

"Jean Clawed" ( prop is the string)
"Bosco" ( prop ...the Elvis Shades)

"Pixel" ( prop is scarf)

The artist choice promos are meant to inspire not only our creativity but also our client's creativity as well. By having a theme to work around it is our hope that you guys will get creative with your photography and have a fun time shooting for your project. Remember ... the very best portraits start life from very good photographs.