DA Agility Trial... combined photos for this portrait

So I'm hard at work again. Just finished a gorgeous portrait of a little dog. It's a wedding gift from somebody, so I have to wait until AFTER the recipients have seen it before posting pictures! It'll be worth it. I PROMISE!! It's so darned adorable!!!

I'm going to be working on another special gift as soon as things are finalized. I've been figuring and sketching, and I'm almost at the "let's start drawing" stage. I just need to chat with the "boss."

I'm nearly finished with a drawing of my own. As some of you know, I have been the photographer at the  NADA Agility Trials held in September and October of this year. Through the process, I discovered that my Nikon D50 camera can take up to a 2G SD card! This is fantastic news, as it frees me up from the need to dash back and forth from the field to the computer to download the pictures between each event. I'm not getting any younger, and I have to say that the activity is keenly felt the following day.

The picture I've been working on is from a pair of photos. In one, the cute little chihuahua is leaping over a jump bar. The second photograph shows the same little guy after he's jumped through the tire jump.

Hopping over the jump bar

Just finished the tire jump

Now take a look at what I've done with these photographs!

Jumping through the tire jump

I'm still working on it, but I thought I'd show you how it's going.

Input, anybody? :D

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!

I'm hanging out in the living room this morning, thankful for the events that I've participated in lately because of all the wonderful people I met as a result. I'm also thankful that I don't actually have to go anywhere or do anything non-Turkey related today! It's nice to just sit and relax. ... wait... I have to finish vacuuming the upstairs... well, AFTER that, I can sit and relax!

So, what have I been up to lately? Well, the Wedding Show at the Sheraton Hotel was my "big" event and I'm thinking of what to say to get in touch with the brides who registered with the show. Just a little "Hi, how are ya, do you remember meeting me and loving my work and wouldn't it be great to have a special piece of artwork to commemorate your wedding, etc etc..." If you're one of them, you'll soon be hearing from me.

The last two Sundays were spent here in beautiful Torbay at the Farmer's Market at the Kinsmen Centre on Bauline Line. It was a much smaller venue, but it was so wonderful to visit with some of the people I know from the area! I had the chance to meet with the other vendors during the lulls, sampling their food (Shalimar, la Doyene, Outport Fudge... ) and admiring their wares...

I'll be attending the Healthy Living show at the Sheraton the Sunday after this one, (October 23rd). Spread the word!

I've been working on a piece of artwork during the past week, and the little darling dog is so nearly done! Just a few more tonal value changes, then a day of intense "Looking" and presto! Done!! It's so exciting. :D

The drawing of Casey, the "Cat in the Window" was picked up yesterday at the Farmer's Market. Kerry and the girls were so happy with the work. I had started it as a graphite piece, but thanks to the un-asked for attentions of my little guy, Igor, I had to start over again. This time, I drew it in coloured pencil. Just as beautiful, but in a different way.

Because my portraits actually belong to the people who commission the work, I have to resort to borrowing the artwork. However, I did draw a few pieces just for me to keep. Some of those were remarked on during the past couple of weeks. Somebody suggested that I make prints of those and sell them. I wonder if that's just a pipe dream or if it would actually work... I must look into that.

Just out of curiosity, if you're reading this, perhaps you could take a look at my finished portraits and tell me which, of all of them, you'd be interested in owning if it were available. Not a "specifically yours" portrait, but a copy of one of the completed ones. More will be upcoming, so keep an eye out and mention them as you think of it. I'll be asking... but bear it in mind as a possibility.

Another suggestion made was to do some sort of landscape scene that I could have scanned and printed. So, what sorts of things can you suggest? Out of all the "touristy" photographs you've seen, and there are so many of them, which would you like to see as a hand-drawn piece of artwork?

The Five Sisters? ... c'mon... give me your thoughts.

I'm also wondering about some miniatures of wildflowers and such that we take for granted as we walk along the trails...

Well, the pie smells like it's nearly done and that means it's time to stuff the turkey and tuck it in the oven for *ahem* safekeeping.

Happy Thanksgiving!