The Dogs - and Raccoon - of Old Town Alexandria

You usually don’t see raccoons during the daylight hours. When we lived in the Midwest we had a close encounter with one. It decided to take the bait for another critter and ended up in a trap - and was promptly released as soon as we learned about it. That’s another story! When we drove to Old Town Alexandria for a morning walk, we took the side streets over the waterfront because it was very cold but even more windy. Along the way we started to see pooches. The first one was at the window of the first floor that was at sidewalk level and a small dog walking passed it stopped by for a greeting. I thought about taking a photo but didn’t. I should have because it was becoming more and more common and fun to observe. Because the houses are right on the sidewalk you tend to notice the pooches because they are literally at eye level and one foot away. Continuing down the street we came upon a grey pooch who was inquisitive but only for so long until he started barking. Then there was the very hostile black and white small husky looking critter that was quite nasty. I’m glad he was behind the glass. Our favorites were the very lazy what I think were huskies lolling about on the sidewalk next to their house. They couldn’t be bothered. But what was most interesting was when my husband said he just saw a raccoon heading towards the drain on a very busy street mid morning. I didn’t see him. But within minutes the raccoon decided to leave that area and cross the street to the other side. For whatever reason I couldn’t get my camera ready in time. But at the last second I snapped an image of his back leg and tail heading in to the drain next to a parked car. The last thing I would want is to get bitten by a rabid raccoon. Why else would he be out in the middle of the day? 

Updating the Wagtime Gallery Wall on Capitol Hill

Across the street from the historic Navy Yard on Capitol Hill is Wagtime! It's a great place for all things dogs and cats. And luckily for me, I have a storefront "gallery wall" to showcase my digital art custom pet portraits. Every few months for the last few years, I've been updating and refreshing the wall with the custom portraits that I've painted for customers from all over the country. Once I have at least fifteen or more available since the last update, I print them from my iPad to the very slow HP printer in my closet studio, along with a few sheets of business cards and a few in process photos. Then they are cut to size and everything is packed up in to my carry case, including spray on and stick glue and Velcro. Since most of the new pieces replace older ones, I don't need to mount the new images on new foam board pieces, but simply stick them on over the older images. It's so nice to be able to show the portraits this way. I'd like to thank Lisa Schrieber for allowing me to use her space, and really appreciate the positive press Wagtime has provided. If you are ever in town and happen to be by the Navy Yard on M street, please stop by and take a look! 

Thanks Lisa Schrieber and Wagtime!

For about four years I have been displaying my custom pet portraits at the Wagtime shop on Capitol Hill across from the Navy Yard. Thanks to Lisa Schrieber, she has allowed me to use this space as my "gallery wall." Since my paintings are hand done using my iPad, they are digital all images. When customers order portraits, the end result is a jpeg image. So this gives me an opportunity to print and showcase my art at a great place. Wagtime also produces a monthly newsletter and I was thrilled to be mentioned front and center. I just want to thank Lisa again for letting me use this space and also for promoting my work. Last Christmas was a really busy time and I was finally able to change up the display a few weeks ago. It gives me an incentive to keep doing what I really enjoy. Thanks Lisa and Wagtime!

Wagtime Gallery Wall Update

I've been painting pet portraits over the last few years - dogs, cats, birds. I create them using my iPad - the images are digital and can be used in a variety of ways. Rather than mats and frames, they can be turned in to stretched canvas, t shirts, coffee mugs, and a lot of non conventional items. Thanks to Lisa Schrieber at the Wagtime Shop across from the Navy Yard on Capitol Hill, I also have a gallery wall. And it needed to be updated. I was inundated with custom orders for Christmas, and just now found some time to print the portraits so I could display them. I use my old HP printer to do just that, and it takes awhile to get them all done. So today I finally had an opportunity to freshen things up. Luckily I was able to use my glue spray, and simply apply the new image over the older one. This time I added a few "in process" examples to so how the images are painted. It is surprising how well the portraits withstand the heat and direct sunlight. I'm really happy with the way they turned out, and appreciate the space to showcase them. Thanks Lisa! 

Fine Art America Retrievers Digital Art

I've been painting custom pet portraits for over three years. When I complete them, I post them on my Etsy shop, and on my Fine Art Anerica page. My Etsy shop is generally used for custom work. Fine Art America is more of a gallery of ready made artwork and photographs.  So it is always a treat when someone purchases a painting from Fine Art America because they must like what they see. The image can also be transformed in to a lot of different items outside of a mat and frame. This particular customer ordered a large stretched canvas. What's equally nice is that I can send a tweet out about it through the website. But even better than that is when folks on the FAA site comment about my work. It's such great feedback on a piece of art that I created. I really appreciate the kind words, and continue to be amazed at the far reaches of the digital age!

On the Way to a Haircut

I always have my iPhone in my hand. Not to talk, but to take photos. I use the photos for this blog, for Instagram, and for tumblr. Some of them are also used on my Fine Art America website. It's amazing how nice some of them turn out. But I've always loved taking pictures, but having to wait for them to get developed was bard to take! So yesterday after work it was time to venture out for my haircut. My husband drives me over to Eastern Market and usually waits in the car for me, reading on his iPad and looking around - because there is always something to see. Our car was parked a couple blocks away from our house, and on our way over to the car and once I was in it, I took several photos. The mums are really blooming  this time of year, there was a birdhouse carved out to look just like the real townhouse it was hung up against, and it was an extraordinarily lovely blue sky against the pastel colors of the row of townhouses in front of it. The old fashioned fire escape just stood out more for whatever reason, and the dogs were out with their owners getting in one of probably several daily walks. A pair of huskies really got my attention as we were trying to find a parking space. Because I take so many pictures I am now thinking it might be time to plunge forward and update my iPhone 5S to the new 6S plus. But that will be whole different story - and not one my husband will want to hear about!

The Borzoi Farm

It put us a couple hours behind schedule but was well worth the trip. We got our Borzoi Tatiana from a breeder in Indiana twenty or so years ago. Tatiana is no longer with us but we miss her a lot. She was a wonderful companion. On our trip back to DC we made a detour to the horse farm where the dogs are bred. It took a bit of doing to find the place, but we were armed with several bags of cookies and treats and made instant friends. There were 8 month old puppies and eleven year old seniors. I could have easily taken one home with us. Unfortunately we didn't have a chance to see the breeder - she had better things to do - like teaching at the local school. But we met with her husband and he is so kind. My husband could never live in a remote place away from the bustle of the urban lifestyle. I can't seem to make up my mind. But the idea if having one or two of these magnificent pooches at my feet? Lovely! Check out those smiles!

PetSmart Blue Health Bars

We got our Borzoi from a farm in Indiana many years ago. We met the breeder at a dog show when we were trying to figure out what kind of dog would be best for us. We went to see this particular breed and learn more about it. We haven't driven to Wisconsin since we moved to DC nine years ago. So we decided we would on this trip to visit our neighbors and see some old friends. And on the way back home we plan to stop by the horse farm in Lowell Indiana to visit the place our pooch came from all those years ago. But we couldn't go without some treats. So we stopped at a PetSmart and picked up a variety of Blue cookies. I can't wait to see all the furry wolfhounds that age in ranges from puppy to senior citizen. Do you think my husband will notice if I sneak one in to the car? It's been awhile since we've even been in a pet store. I never heard of the Blue brand. I don't think the dogs will care. After all, it's the thought that counts. 

Tatiana Borzoi - Made in the USZ

We all love our animals. And when they leave us, it's pretty tough. We had a beautiful Borzoi named Tatiana. Ever since we had her, nothing else comes close - to us. She lived a very long and what we think was a happy life. I have a picture of her in a tiny frame in our home and look at it routinely. I also have a picture of her and my husband on my desk at work. She was my model for the New Yorker Eustace Tilley contest win, and a model for a lot of my digital art portraits. But one of the most interesting reminders of Tatiana is a furry toy I received just recently from a friend of ours. She was clearing out a toy chest from many years back and came across a unique rendition of a wolfhound. It was made in Germany, but the USZ. So I looked up what that meant exactly. It's something about after WWII, what would become West Germany was divided into three zones, the US Zone being one of them. The goods made at this time were labelled USZ until the early fifties when the Allies no longer occupied the area. So the furry addition to our reminders of Tatiana now sits next to her picture. It was a very thoughtful gesture on our friend's part to remember how much we loved our dog. She was just that special.