This time of year is always full, with commissions to finish, tires to change, and outdoor preparations for winter.
With a quieter weekend at last, I’m taking a little break from painting to catch up with you. My best buddy, Deacon, is enjoying some downtime today, too!
Deacon Taking a Relaxing Nap
A New Addition to My Home Studio
I recently found an amazing handmade cabinet at a local vintage shop (Vintage Inspired). It was originally designed to hold photo slides and has a lighted box built within it. I love all the small drawers and porcelain knobs. I’ve repurposed it for art storage and it has turned out to be a wonderful place for my pastels that I use when I paint in my home.
Keeping pastels organized and within easy reach can be tricky. They can be messy, which adds another element to working with them. The cabinet has been such a wonderful solution! My pastels are easy to reach, neatly organized, and stored in a piece of furniture that looks very nice in my home.
Why I Also Work From Home
As the primary caregiver for my husband, who has ALS, I need to be available for the many appointments with healthcare workers who come to our home. Having artwork ready to work on at my house means I can keep painting around those scheduled visits without losing precious studio time. Our dogs love it when I work from home, too! The biggest challenge is lighting. It’s hard to match the huge window and hanging overhead lights in my Burlington studio. I try to keep a project underway at home and one or two at the studio so I can stay productive wherever I’m working.
I really enjoy working at home, but time at the studio renews me and gives me a few hours outside my caregiving role. It’s also nice to see other people working in their studios around me. Being part of that creative environment keeps me motivated!
Pet Portrait of the Month
Gemma and Kyle’s Special Bond
This month’s featured portrait shows Gemma with her guardian, Kyle - a 16×20 pastel painting. In 2015, Kyle and his wife, Starr, commissioned portraits of all four of their Bernese Mountain dogs, including Gemma.
After Gemma recently passed away, they asked me to paint a piece celebrating her special bond with Kyle. It was a joy to revisit her happy face and an honor to capture their relationship.
What I Loved Most
The joy and love between Kyle and Gemma are what I love most about this painting.
The Biggest Challenge
Kyle’s plaid shirt! It took time to paint, but I never shy away from a painting challenge.
My Painting of Gemma Back in 2015 - Pastel 8×10
Looking Ahead:
Two New Oil Paintings
I’ll be working on two new oil paintings, and I can’t wait to share them with you! It’s always fun to take a break from pastels and crack open my tubes of oil paint.
Where It All Began
As strange as it may sound, I love the smell of oil paints. It takes me back to childhood, when I worked on paint-by-number sets and mixed the paint up in those little tubs with a toothpick.
A big thank-you to my parents, who kept me supplied with pencils, paper, paint-by-number kits, coloring books, crayons and all tools to create. Their encouragement helped shape the artist I’ve worked hard to become.
With Thanksgiving Gratitude
Happy Thanksgiving to all you art, pet, and animal lovers! Thank you for following along on my creative journey. I’m grateful for the chance to connect with you and paint your amazing companions. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
