6 New Doggy Pet Portraits

"Simba" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Sandy" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Bailey" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Charlie" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Peanut" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Boss" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

 

 

 

I am posting a few painterly style projects from this last week. I was looking at my smugmug uploads since 2008 when I started using their site as my main proofing tool.  I have uploaded 8,282 proofing images to smugmug.com in the past 2 years.  Dang .... that is a LOT of artwork. Keep in mind I only create around 250 to 300 pet portraits per year so that means every single client is getting an abundance of different proofing options. When I first started my business way back in 1998 I only showed around 4 or 5 proofs and that has pretty much become an industry standard for digital art work. When I started using smugmug I noticed that I could carve around 30 minutes off of the proofing process by not having to create html pages myself.  So instead of adding that time into my margin as a gain I chose to spend it messing around with even more proofs. I now show a minimum of 10 proofing options and often more. I would love to report that the additional proofing options make it easier for people to sign off, but that is not always the case, and that is ok. All I know is that I love my work, and I love my clients. I do have the best job on the planet.  Look at these babies ... I get to play with soft fluffy Spaniels and big ol' bruisers like Boss & Simba. Yes, life is very very good.

Commissioning a Holiday Pet Portrait

I am starting to get crazy busy around here for the holidays so I thought I would post our holidays hours and tips for ordering your pet portrait.

Holiday Work Hours:
I will be answering the phones Mon. - Fri. 10:00 am - 6:00 pm ( you might catch me on a Sat.)
We will ship Amazon and Etsy Giftshop orders out twice a week on Tues. and Thurs.
 Printing and shipping pet portraits every Tues. and Thurs.


Tips For Ordering Your Holiday Pet Portrait:
• Order by 11/30 if you want to receive your portrait in time for Christmas
• Send an image that is a minimum of 500K in size ( very important)
If you need help with figuring out proper image and resolution follow these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAbmDWFncNk
http://artpaw.com/phototips.html
• When ordering on-line be sure and give us a shipping address that will work for you. Changing your shipping address later is very difficult.
• If you do not want your project on the public blog or calendar just let me know, as I do not want to spoil any surprises.
• I try very hard to proof clients within 7 business days of payment. Please give me that time before sending e-mails asking about your proof.
• Check your spam and bulk folder if you do not see an e-mail from me within about 7 days.
• Do feel free to call me to follow up on your project after 7 days.
• Keep in  mind I work on projects in the order they were received and payment or a deposit is required to get the ball rolling.

• Don't forget about our Gift Certificates! Our Pet Portrait E-certs are colorful and immediate.

Free Big Tommy Scottie Christmas Cards

Big Tommy Holiday Cards ( set of 6)

© rebecca collins /artpaw.com

I am missing my Big Headed boy this week. I decided what better way to celebrate him than by giving away some of the cards I created last year with his artwork. I am giving away a set of 6 Big Tommy Christmas cards. The inside greeting says "Joy!" and that is what he gave us every day of his life.

I am going to draw a winner this Saturday and to enter the drawing just leave me a comment here and tell me in what ways your own pets bring you joy ... I want to hear from you, make me laugh or smile. I will announce the winner on the blog this Saturday. You can leave a comment here or on Friday's blog post. If you just want to buy some cards you can also do that over at Etsy.

Mosaic Monday/ Isaiah Zagar dogs part 1

Last month we went to Philadelphia and saw the amazing mosaic work of Isaiah Zagar. There were common elements that kept popping up in all of his work and they were, faces, hands, boobs, feet, penises, and dogs. Figuring that I needed something to put on the Art Dog Blog I focused more on photographing the dogs than the penises. I just started editing my pics and I think I have enough images for several more posts. So enjoy part one of Isaiah Zagar's dogs.

What are you listening to?

Saturday morning and I am creating artwork of a pup named "Peanut".  Sometimes I like working weekends. The phone does not ring as much and I can go back and forth between Pandora and Rhapsody for my tunes. Today I discovered an old Leonard Cohen album I had not heard  before " New Skin For The Old Ceremony".  Don't you just love discovering new old tunes by singers that you thought you knew?

13 new Pet Portraits this week!

Wow, I have proofed 13 clients this week. That is a lot of artwork. During the holiday rush each year I try hard to work on a couple of portraits every day including weekends.  I usually work late nights  and do what I can do to take care of everyone in a very timely fashion. I really love this time of year. I am posting a few projects from this last week below.

"Tanker" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Klondike & Buck" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Louie & Phillipe" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Bear" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

Sophie ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Archie" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Tess" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Sputnik" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

Jenny The Boxer

"Jenny" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

 

 

"Jenny" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

This week I am working on new pet portraits each day. This is Jenny the Boxer. I rotated her head slightly for a more playful expression. If you are waiting on a proof, sit tight ... I plan to be caught up with all proofing before Thanksgiving.

Last Week To Order A Pet Portrait For The Holidays

Order by 11 /15 to receive proofs and prints by Christmas

Yesterday I finally found some time to add holiday snowflakes and holiday deadlines to the website.  You have until Monday to order a pet portrait for the holidays. After November 15th I will still accept holiday commissions with a 100% guarantee of "proofing" by Christmas.  This means that I will get you proofed as quickly as possible if you order late, but due to the nature of custom artwork and revision requests and so on, I can not promise a holiday print delivery on orders placed after the 15th.  If I get ahead of my work and feel I can extend the deadlines I will.

Click here to order your pet portrait today!

See my deadline Info by clicking here

Mosaic Monday/ Tiles For America

Busy work day. Just now getting around to the blog. Posting some pics we took in New York. This is a 9/11 memorial on a chain link fence at the corner of 7th Avenue and 11th street. We did not make it down to ground zero this trip ... this casual street memorial that we stumbled across was very moving. It is very much a "mosaic" even though the tiles were held in place with metal jump rings and plastic ties. Some of the tiles were broken, and the mosaic artist in me wanted to see these tiles cemented in place and grouted, while my less conventional side really appreciated the very raw nature of this display.

These tiles dangled on the fence like jewelry and when the wind blew you could even hear the ceramic tinkling against the metal, whispering their messages of hope.

Yes ... More Pet Portraits

"pool side poodles"

( SEE ALL PROOFS ... CLICK HERE)
© rebecca collins/ artpaw.com

"Max and Sparky"
© rebecca collins / artpaw.com

"Oscar & Beemer"
© rebecca collins /artpaw.com

 

New Pet Portraits

We are officially swamped with holiday orders. If you have been thinking about ordering for the holidays and you want a 100% guarantee for print delivery you need to place your order by November 15th ... just a little over a week away. After that time all new portrait clients will be placed on a waiting list and while all late orders will be proofed, I can not promise print delivery if you order past the 15th of November.

"Debby" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins /artpaw.com

"Roscoe" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins /artpaw.com

 

"Penny Lane" ( see all proofs)
© rebecca collins /artpaw.com

Mosaic Monday / Day Of The Dead Swap!

Ok, a lot to talk about today. I have been away from the blog because I have been in Philadelphia and New York this last week. I will have many posts about that trip later his week.  Before I left I received a wonderful day of the dead card from Christine Brallier and upon my return one was waiting for me from Rita Schelin. My off-line swap party  is coming up this weekend. I love all my swaps so far !!! Thanks so very much ladies, your cards will be in the mail soon. I promise.

Bottom Left Above DOD trading card
© Christine Brallier

Top center greeting card by Barbara Keith
This is so cool in person ... the milli is tiny and the teeth are perfect cuts.

Above DOD trading card
© Rita Schelin

I love this guy!The neck is cool and almost repeated in the brow ( nice work).
There is a casual symmetry here.

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Next Monday I will post photos that I took of mosaics at Philly's Magic Gardens. Isaiah Zagar's work is so fun, it really transports you to a magical place. I know that sounds corny, but it is true.

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I had like 6 pet portrait orders come in while I was out and I still have a handful to finish up from late October. If I can manage to get ahead of my work again I want to start on an art project that is swimming around in my head from my time in New York. I shot a lot of dogs on the streets of New York and I want to turn them into very artistic Wacom illustrations eventually. The first step will just be editing and sifting through the images. I shot all of them while on the move, some were sneaky blind shots where I did not even look through the view finder. Some shots have interesting blur due to either my movement or the dog's.  Some of my blind shooting resulted in shots of blank sidewalk when my aim was bad. I will post a few below that have not been played with yet in PS.

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Oh ...  I also met a very cool cyber pal in Philly, and her portrait of my Atticus was waiting for me when I returned home as well. I will post more on that meeting later!