So…Dad’s Birthday and Mom suggests a Personalized Tee shirt and Mug…what better then a quick colorful painting of his two adorable children.                                                                                                                                                                                                Dad is going to love his gifts!

 I love working with families, especially those that simply adore one another. With the Holiday season just four months away I no doubt will be working with several families in and around the Atlanta area.  Why in the world am I  bringing the Holidays up….well you know the saying…the early bird catches the best worms. Well….those that plan their gift giving can get the very best prices for the season. Tomorrow I will be posting the Lazy Days of Summer Special….only happens once a year…last couple of weeks of August….Stay Tuned
“Family Time” This is just a quick painting proof. With the Booth officially closed I am actually home at the PC painting away. When I started on this I sat for a few minutes thinking about family as this is part of my family…my niece. I am not very close to most in my family and that all in itself is pretty sad.  Having married and moved away, well the distance  took a toll. In the early days I worked very hard at doing my best to stay in touch…now, not so much. Relationships they are a funny thing…more then one individual has to keep in touch…work at it. In looking at this lovely family portrait I could not help but smile and think maybe, just maybe they will do a better job at being a family….I hope so
                                         

It is HOT. No, not complaining….the weather across the states has been pretty crazy. Besides the heat here in Atlanta, we have also had to deal with very bad air. I mean if you can see it…it is bad. Add to the above…we lost electricity yesterday….thank goodness just for a few hours, still…some folks still out. now, not sure about all of you but…I am spoiled. The dogs are spoiled…we like air conditioning, especially when it is in the 100’s. No worries…we have a kiddie pool and I was already to get my bathing suit on and little “swimies”….hmmmm the warm water was not very inviting to me, or the dogs….then I thought of the van. Would have made a more comfortable escape from the heat…even has a DVD player.. of course, it has never been used so I am not really sure where it is. Just as we were getting ready to head out, there once again was power, and I mean it felt GOOD
Since I have battetry backup for the pc I did start a quick little doodle. Had seen this image somewhere….anyway thought of the beach to keep cool. Still a WIP….just for fun.

Another of those days where sitting at the PC….well I just do not want to…so did a few scribbles instead, hung out with the dogs…you know the important stuff in ones daily life when not working. Oh and yes….another of those days when the scanner remains turned off and the camera set to auto.

 I hope I have the spelling of the name right….this happens to be my “Great” Nephew that I met this morning for the very first time. Too cute. This is just a quick painting proof…his eyes are really that blue, however both need a bit of work as of yet….still a WIP.

UPDATED: Added Josh this evening. Still needing a few touch ups….almost there

Today I spent a good part of the day pulling items out of the booth….will do the same tomorrow. I hope by this weekend all products and paintings are removed from the booth. I decided to move to a little better location for the Holidays. Yep….it is time for folks like me to start reminding everyone who will be wanting to give portrait paintings as a gift to start thinking about this now
The new location will not be an every weekend thing, but rather once or twice a month. I really want to open with all new paintings….both Gallery wrapped and framed. I have about five Gallery Prints left that I will be posting in a day or so….sale prices will range from $150.00-$650.00…as will there be 20% off all paintings found on the blog (there are a few paintings not for sale).

The new location is in mid town and will showcase my portraits while at the same time selling a few of my paintings (floral paintings, landscapes and portraits), along with a few photographs. Breed specific items will also be sold…tee shirts, sweat shirts, greeting cards and of course coffee mugs….as will all products be on sale through my web site and blog….stay tuned

                                                               What a wonderful, fun loving, spirited breed. So much fun…however training is a must. They are smart and clever…and way too cute. Jake is still  a WIP, while I would have liked to have posted the process….he was too cute and I enjoyed painting him so lost track of time….will get to this again during the week. Almost there, just some cleaning up here and there…a little bit of blending and  shadows and highlights.

Did my best to finish a few things on the pc….the mind kept wandering mid afternoon. I was just not able to concentrate. So….looked around at the puppies….all napping…Niki kept looking up at me wanting to go swimming….which, by the way we eventually did. Picked up the sketch pad and found myself just scribbling away….I find this helps to un cloud the mind…and relax me. Never did get back to the PC so as to show that I just did not goof off all day going to share my scribbles….the good, bad and the ugly….if you look at the middle page, that is the view I have from my chair…picture my chair in the middle looking down. I am always surrounded by fur and love. I guess I was just tooooo relaxed for it seemed to me to be to much of an effort to go into the other room, turn the scanner on….grabbed the camera and just photographed instead….too lazy even for that….set the camera to auto (folks there are rules to follow when photographing in bad light, a white BG with a digital camera….I did not follow any). These images will be used in a class as an example of what Not to do (yeah, like that was really my intention…yep the lazy days of summer are upon us)…..maybe tomorrow I’ll show how to do it correctly…better yet, just maybe I’ll turn the scanner on

This morning found the pack and I strolling around….taking in the sights sounds and smells Camera in hand, dogs following we walked around, taking our time…and there….a couple buds found just waiting for us to notice them. Could not resist a few photo’s….then as I so often do could not help but look to the dogs. They are so sweet, happy…just lovely, so they too were photographed.

                                                              Late this afternoon found myself and the pups sitting out back. While a very warm day…it was not that muggy and for whatever reason there did not seem to be very many annoying mosquitoes to bother us. I brought along my little scribble pad and an old pencil that is in need of sharpening….too lazy ;-) 

The raccoon came to visit, as did I think about Phoenix as a pup…and then watched the birds for a bit. All the while scribbling away all on the same page….the door bell rings. A friend stopped by and I showed her to the yard where we were hanging out and I excused myself for a few minutes to get her something to drink. Come out and she is looking through my scribble pad. She looks at me and asks how in the world I turn them into paintings. I smile and explain they are not turned into paintings but rather just little scribbles and doodles that may one day be used for reference. Now…I am not going to win any awards for my scribble pad…I am always surprised if and when people see it for they looked surprised…maybe they are thinking I am a bit mad?  I usually do not show my scribbles off for they are like my personal notes….things I reflect upon….or just simply little doodles….a wonderful way to relax.

So, fess up….who has a doodle pad?