Ziggy the star

This little man hangs out at Happy Hound Hotel all day and night. He is one lucky dog.

I am trying to decide whether he should be a little less gray. I am hoping his best friend lets me know.

The final home for this painting will be in the lobby of Happy Hound.

Issaquah Pet Expo

Accompanied by my little Penny, I am going to be a vendor at a pet expo at Le Chic Pet in Issaquah this Saturday from 11-5. In addition to my booth which has custom pet portraits, other vendors are offering food, leashes, training, treats, etc.

Featured artist at Met Vet

The last show I have scheduled right now is now hung. I am the featured artist at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Tacoma. My friend Barb found their listing for animal artists through the Artist Trust. My paintings will hang through end of October.

I could have used about four more paintings to hang in their lovely reception area and three exam rooms. As it was, I borrowed from my friends and held off giving two commissions to their rightful owners.

Many great artists have shown there, including one of my favorites, Leigh Jackson of Noisy Dog Studio. The coordinator warned that there's not many sales, but that there's good exposure. At this point, exposure is as good as sales.

Barb 's still looking out for me. She sent me info this week about showing at the University Unitarian Church. She had a lovely show there.

I want to check with some other places about November/December shows.

Show at 4 Legs Good

I have ten paintings at 4 Legs Good in Wallingford until the end of this month. I am happy with the hanging (my first), the labels, and the response.

Wednesday night was the Wallingford Art Walk and besides some of my friends, there was a bit of foot traffic too. No sales, but I didn't expect that. A few people took the postcards and one person bought a card.

Bonita, the store owner, is wonderful, very gracious and friendly.

Ghost Cat

Not an angel, June 2008

This cat is a precursor to a commission where I have been asked to paint a nearly white cat on a white background. I thought I needed to practice a bit before doing the commission.

If I get this back, I'll make a few changes. If not, well it's done!

Michi II

I've never said I was a realistic painter, so it's not surprising that two different portraits of the same cat came out so differently. I really wasn't happy with the first portrait, Life too short. Perhaps knowing that there wasn't a happy ending for Michi clouded my inspiration. There's a darkness to it I didn't like.

So I called on my muse again and asked for joy and the serenity that Michi didn't have at this life and this is what happened.

Life too short

Also known as Michi Departed
May, 2008

I don't know how Michi came into King County Animal Control, but I do know her life ended there, despite tries to get her adopted.

She was sent to PetSmart to be shown. She started getting really upset about being in a cage...grumbling, hissing, irritable... so that didn't work out.

So, she went to a private home to be fostered for a bit. She didn't get along with the foster's cats. Then she bit the foster mom. So, she came back to the Kent shelter. She was even more unhappy there, back in a cage.

Last straw came when she bit an officer, so she was put down. Some cats do not do well in shelters.

I've painted two portraits of her. This is a little dark so I did a little lighter one. 100% of the proceeds from this painting will go to the Feral Cat Project if it's sold at the Laura Frost Gallery show.