Stephanie Lam Fine Art

Painting Luggage

2011-10-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a lot of travel lately, and I'll be honest, sometimes travel stresses me out. I miss sleeping, eating vegetables, and having access to water when I want it. I worry if I'm carrying enough $1s for tips. The smell of airplanes triggers anxiety about claustrophobic feelings and sinus pressure (I get really bad ear pain on the descent). SO. In addition to bringing along some essential oils and probiotics, this trip I'm touting some luggage that makes me smile and reminds me of home, where everything is painted.

Just some Montana spray paint and stencils I picked up at Beverly's! Obviously, the cloth-type luggage doesn't create the clean lines like the hard shell type. Note: if I were to do this over, I'd leave the cloth suitcase mostly black, with occasional embellishments rather than trying to paint the whole thing. If I'm ever in the market for luggage again, I'm definitely going for the hard shell kind so I can paint it. :)

Fun with Acrylic Inks

2011-05-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

I was given a clear Speck plastic cover for my MacBook Air since I'm absolutely brutal to everything I own (my car can testify), and electronics are no exception. After a couple weeks of enjoying the clean, clear silver, I decided it needed some color. This became especially apparent to me after I had MBA class last night, where virtually everyone brings their laptops to class. I looked around the room and saw nothing but black and silver. ZZZZZzzzzzzzz. I think this will jazz up the room a bit next class.

The top

I used Ranger Industries' Tim Holtz Adirondack alcohol inks in Purple Twilight, Wild Plum, Pool, Stream, Red Pepper, and Sunshine Yellow, and Jacquard Pinata alcohol inks in Sapphire Blue, Chile Pepper, and Sunbright Yellow. The Jacquard inks are a bit thicker and more opaque and give nice bold punches of color, the Holtz inks spread out easily and create nicer marbling and watercolor effects.

The bottom

I painted on the inside of the covers since the inks scratch off the exterior of the plastic pretty easily. I started out stamping on the inks with an applicator, but eventually just ended up dripping the colors around directly from the containers. After all was dry, I sealed everything with a couple coats of Minwax glossy spray varnish.

A couple experimental notes: StazOn solvent-based inkpad ink will not withstand alcohol ink application directly on top (I was hoping to do some black stamping before applying the inks - maybe a coat of varnish would've done the trick?). The Krylon black paint pen was fine with layering ink on top, but the gold and silver pens were not opaque enough and the colors bled through. Maybe next time I'll get to try the stamping and doodling.

My Jewelry Workbench

2011-05-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

As a birthday present to myself, I took a lost wax casting class with the gifted metalsmith Joe Silvera in Berkeley. I knew I was going to get hooked before I even started and budgeted accordingly. Joe is a terrific teacher and I got to spend my time with his two cute dogs, Bela and Django, at my feet - almost like working in my own studio. :) Below are the two pieces I made during our time together - a puzzle piece necklace and a checkerboard ring in sterling silver.

I have since created a space just for jewelry making in my kitchen. Rather than spend the $300+ for a jewelry workbench online, I decided to paint a few 2x4s and some plywood and make my own for under $100. I've never had so much fun using power tools in my whole life - perhaps yet another creative opportunity? Hehe.

My favorite colors are green and red, and I'm really into stripes right now. I had lots of leftover paint from when I painted my walls a few years ago that I used. I also had some bubble wrap lying around that I used as a stamp to create a fun surface texture for the tabletop. To paint the bottom, I used 1" painters tape and black spray paint. You can't tell very well from the pics, but the black isn't opaque everywhere - there's a neat frosty look to the black stripes. (Note: I honestly haven't found any difference between regular blue painters tape and the new green Frogtape, except that the Frog brand is harder to tear. Go fig.)

Chubby has a new hangout spot

Venture Art Show/Katina Concert

2010-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

I have the privilege of doing a group show with the talented Daniel Baxter and Judy Welsh at Venture Christian Church. The reception was last night, right after a wonderful Christmas concert by The Katinas.

The title of our show is "In Process," and each of us chose something related to the idea that we as people are all works in process. I chose to paint three portraits of African children that exemplify three common attitudes I have about being a work "in process": the boy in a plaid shirt, entitled "Playfully Unimpressed," demonstrates a more cavalier side; the young toddler, entitled "Determined to Trust," shows a more concentrated effort; and the young girl, entitled "Holding Still," submits herself willingly (albeit tentatively) to change.

The three pieces I painted live over Thanksgiving weekend are also hanging in this show.

Me, Jerry McCauley (who gave us this lovely opportunity) and Daniel Baxter

Daniel and me and hanging the live pieces

It was a busy night!

Live Painting @ Venture

2010-11-29T16:58:00.000-08:00

Contemplating the finishing touches
at the Saturday night service

I had a blast painting live this past weekend. I prepared all Thanksgiving week, brainstorming ideas, scrutinizing potential reference photos, and doing dry-run practice paintings to make sure I had my timing right. I was given a total of 26 minutes (broken into increments - beginning worship set, offering time, communion time, etc.) to cover a 36" x 48" canvas each service.

To fit the theme of giving thanks to God, I created three closely-cropped portraits of people looking upward. I used black-toned canvases, mostly because it saved me the time of having to add shadow and background color. I also drew in some reference pencil lines for each face, so I could focus on the painting part instead of the drawing/compositional parts. I used acrylic paint and allowed things to get messy, letting wet paint drips run down the canvas. I used a variety of colors for the flesh tones, and expressionistic brushwork.

9am service

After Chip's sermon on thanksgiving as the barometer of our hearts, I painted in the eyes. I usually do the eyes last in portraits, and in this instance, it created a cinematic effect of the person being "animated" at the last moment. A few congregation members found this meaningful, representative of how we fumble around blindly until God opens our eyes. I really like that interpretation.

It was SUCH a pleasure speaking with folks after the service. I really appreciated hearing how the painting process and final results touched people.

11am service

Was I nervous? Mostly during the week prior. I had lots of, "God, please don't let me mess up!" prayers, especially when he hadn't fully revealed the conceptual direction I should go. Like the paintings prior to having their eyes painted in, I felt like I did a lot of fumbling around trying different approaches before my artistic eyes were opened. When it came time to paint live, though, I was excited and energized. One of the beautiful (or terrifying, depending on how you see it) things about performance art is that you can't control the final outcome. You can influence it with preparation, but the end result is a bit of a surprise - even to the artist!

LIVE Painting this weekend!

2010-11-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

I've been asked to paint live onstage at my church, Venture Christian Church, in Los Gatos this Thanksgiving weekend. The theme? Giving thanks (duh), but more specifically acknowledging God in the midst of our daily lives.

I'll be painting all three services: Saturday @ 5pm, Sundays at 9am and 11am. The address is 16845 Hicks Rd., Los Gatos, CA in case you want to check it out. I get roughly 20-30 minutes to complete a 36" x 48" canvas. I'm looking forward to getting messy and having some fun in front of 3,500 people!

I'll post pictures of the event and final results next week.

Some new work...

2010-11-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

In the midst of various commissions over the past few weeks I've had the chance to do a few paintings for a new series I'm working on. Here are two of them. I worked both from photographs of children from poor areas in Africa. I find in our society we're bombarded with images of needy children in dire situations, and the unfortunate byproduct is that we often fail to see past their circumstances to acknowledge our shared emotions, our shared humanity. It's important to me that the pieces portray them as people, first and foremost.

Tucker and Alfie

2010-11-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

A pair of handsome Cavalier King Charles Spaniels! These guys are super sweet and quite athletic. Mom has them doing agility, circus tricks, you name it. It's always need to paint duos, as it really highlights the differences and similarities in their personalities. Having a "pack" (or multiple kids, I would think) does that in general. In this case, Alfie is the dignified sweetie who willingly holds still for his photos, and Tucker is the energetic younger bro looking to play ball. :)

Mom Lisa recently took a trip to the Galapagos Islands (I'm so jealous!) and took some fab photos. The natives there are quite friendly and approachable. Have a look for yourself: http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/lomli/Galapagos%202010/

The Doodle Door

2010-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

It's no surprise that artists like creative spaces. Nearly every wall in my house is painted a different, vibrant color and parts of the floor are too (although that wasn't intentional). My latest "installation" has been a dutch door that separates my living room and kitchen - primarily meant to keep the dogs separated or contained. So far it's been effective although one time Miso managed to leap and grab hold of the upper ledge with her front paws when the doorbell rang. She has since given up such attempts at my kind, gentle urging ("OFF THE DOOR!!!!").

Tooltime Handyman services created and installed the door for me, leaving it primed so I could paint. (Thanks, Eric!) I LOVE painting on hard surfaces like wood. I used acrylic paint and a gloss varnish to protect it from doggie nails.

I'm thinking this could be a trend. I've been eyeing my dining table and chairs....

Bella the Boston Terrier

2010-10-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Introducing....Bella! Bella's mom commissioned me to paint her as a surprise birthday present for her husband. This darling diva has oodles of personality; her mom sent me lots of photos and videos of Bella in action to help me create her portrait. We settled on a bright tangerine background and bold highlights as a testament to Bella's energetic spirit, yet still maintained a classic portrait pose.

The portrait was a hit, I got an email yesterday:
"Hi Stephanie,
My husband LOVED the portrait!! And he was completely surprised. He agrees it looks just like Bella. Thank you again!!
Celeste"

Thank you, Celeste!

Announcing: All Star Asian Fusion!

2010-04-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

Peking Kicks

Hoisin High Top

What's the deal with the Converse with the funny names? Find out on my website.

Getting ready for Spring Open Studios

2010-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

I don't have an easel in my studio...I paint with the canvases hanging straight on the wall. The result? I had lots of paint marks everywhere - not ideal for showcasing work this weekend. So the past couple days I've been getting the place ready for the public. Yesterday I coated the place with primer and managed to get everything white again.

Meanwhile, Miso took care of the napping end of things. She's well-rested enough for the both of us. :)

Sunnyvale Art Gallery Reception

2010-04-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from my most recent show at the Sunnyvale Art Gallery. The reception was well-attended and I enjoyed meeting those of you who could make it. I appreciate your support in my work!

The show also featured the work of fellow Bay Area artists Karen Wong and Constance Guidotti. I had my most recent series, All Star Asian Fusion, on display.

New website for SOMA Artist Studios

2010-04-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

The building where I have my studio in the SOMA district is home to over 30 artists. We recently launched a new website with bio pages. You can click to see mine here:
http://somaartiststudios.wordpress.com/artist/stephanie-lam/

I especially like the "Around Us" tab which lists local shopping venues, restaurants, etc. We really are located in a terrific spot. I'm a short walk from the AMAZING Blue Bottle Coffee, Peet's, Whole Foods, Borders, Wells Fargo...and Union Square is not far either. Even better? I have the SFMOMA practically at my doorstep!

New studio

2010-02-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

Drum roll please....

I now have a new studio in San Francisco! It's a wonderful space with natural lighting and lots of walls to work on. As you can tell, I'm working on some new pieces which I hope to have finished for spring Open Studios.

The building I'm in houses a number of different artist studios, over 30 of us! You can check out the collective website here: www.somaartiststudios.com

So far it's been wonderful having a space outside of home. I can throw paint around and not worry about the floors! I've also found I can "get into the zone" a lot faster without the distractions of home (email checking, laundry, etc.).

Hopper

2010-02-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE dogs in Doggles! Little Hopper sure knows the meaning of "cool" eh?

Ode to Craigslist

2009-12-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

I recently put some things up for sale on Craigslist for the first time. It's been a few hours and I've almost got everything sold already! The positive experience inspired me...

ODE TO CRAIGSLIST

Craigslist, oh Craigslist,
you keep me in cash
by selling the crap
and the goods I have stashed.

By lunchtime my inbox
is full of requests
from folks pretending
to do work at their desks.

Quicker than consignment,
less drama than eBay --
just haggle via laptop
and do business my way.

I don't even mind
the Nigerian scammers,
the Moneygram as$#%les
and low-balling spammers.

Craigslist, oh Craigslist,
can't thank you enough
for making it easy
to sell off my stuff.

Stephanie Lam

Moo

2009-10-06T08:43:00.002-07:00

Meet Moo! This darling lady is pure Pit Bull - wiggly butt, happy to meetya, pet me! pet me! kind of gal. And what a name, eh? I had a great time working from the photo of her...this angle is one of my faves. Below is a photo of Moo at Bark in the Park the day her humans came to pick up the portrait. Thanks Maria!

Bark in the Park 2009!

2009-09-21T17:47:00.001-07:00

A big thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth this year! We had beautiful (although a tad hot) weather for this year's event. It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new fans of my work. I appreciate all your wonderful comments!

A few highlights on my end:
~ I had a bunch of brand new work on display including four darlin' little canvases of Pretty Please? Pugs.
~ Rob Vreeland of Murphy Dog Studios was also generous enough to lend me his portrait of Murphy that he commissioned last Christmas. I got so much wonderful feedback on that piece. Thanks Rob!
~ I got to meet my very first Kerry Blue Terrier! Talk about silky soft fur...
~ Miss Moo, a beloved subject whose portrait I just finished, came by to grace me with her wiggly-butt presence. Her mom snapped a photo of us sharing a lovey dovey moment!

Just a quick reminder: if you're thinking about commissioning a portrait for Christmas please let me know ASAP. I can only accept a limited number of Christmas commissions this year.
Thanks for a wonderful event!

Saintly Bernard

2009-09-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

I love huge fluffy dogs...St. Bernards are no exception! This piece is an 18"x 24"acrylic on wood panel and is available for sale.

Bristow

2009-08-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

Bristow's story is both a heartbreaking and uplifting one. This lovable (and at times nutty!) Pit mix helped her owners realize their awesome potential as parents, only to be killed by a car shortly after their beautiful daughter was born.

I had the pleasure of attending Bristow's memorial service where her portrait was presented (as a surprise to Dad!). There were lots of tears...on their end and mine.

And yes, in case you were wondering, that IS a carrot. Bristow had a special fondness for the orange vegetable. :)

Jazz

2009-07-31T10:17:00.001-07:00

Elmo & Dixie

2009-07-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

How often do you see Bedlington Terriers?

Hogan & Ozzy

2009-07-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

Jupiter, Blitzen & GoGo

2009-07-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Jupiter the cat with Blitzen & GoGo - both greyhound rescues. Sadly, GoGo passed away earlier this year. He will be greatly missed.

New Portrait! Paco

2009-02-26T18:32:00.001-08:00

Meet Paco! This amazing little guy is 16 years old!! That's right, 16. And he still accompanies dad to work! I've never met a dog that looked like Paco, and frankly, most people haven't. Whenever mom takes Paco out, they always get asked: "What kind of dog is that?" and she always replies they don't know. He is the most unusual little fellow you'll ever see; part Ewok and part Koala bear perhaps? Either way, this darling dude couldn't get any cuter.

Brand New Series: Party Animals

2009-02-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

Announcing the FIRST piece in a new body of work, "Party Animals!"

I'm presently taking an advanced painting class at West Valley College and last week our assignment was to do a "humor painting" - basically paint something funny. I had just gotten back from a business trip in Washington D.C. and had completely forgotten that my homework was to bring 5 prep sketches for this assignment. Oops! I quickly thumbed around the pages of my brain for inspiration. (Of course when you're trying like hell to think of something funny you never can). Then I went flipping through my iPhone and came across a photo of Chubby's birthday. Perfect! I went right to work and ended up with this guy, a pied Frenchie who looks a bit baffled. A party? Do I have to wear this goofy hat and howd dis ting in my mouf?

When I stepped back the end result gave me a chuckle. I hope it does the same for you. Stay tuned! I hope to do a party cat next...

All work for "Party Animals" will be posted on StephanieLam.com

A Glimmer of Hope...

2009-02-24T13:55:00.000-08:00

Some fantastic news: at the urging of Best Friends Animal Society, the HSUS will convene with folks at Best Friends to discuss the fate of Pit Bulls in fight bust cases. (Best Friends is in Utah and is known for their TV show "Dogtown." They also took in over 20 of the Vick dogs). The meeting is slated for April. Let's PRAY HARD FOLKS! My hope is that Mr. Pacelle addresses the ignorance about the breed within his organization and makes aggressive changes toward seeing the fates of these dogs improved wherever possible, especially when his organization is involved.

Fight bust dogs with sound temperaments should be given a chance at life!

Read the Best Friends article here: http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=A5FA8ABB-E5AB-575C-E288C54E52B91634

HSUS Out to Exterminate Pit Bulls??

2009-02-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

It seems despite the success of the Michael Vick case, there are animal welfare organizations who prefer to assist in twisted, Machiavellian-style executions in the name of "justice." At the urging of the Humane Society of the United States, Wilkes County, North Carolina sentenced 146 Pit Bulls (including puppies) to death today. (Article here)

I first fell out of love with the HSUS after Wayne Pacelle declared that the Vick dogs should be categorically euthanized based on the reports from officials from his organization citing their high levels of aggression and the preponderance of "less-violent Pit Bulls who are better candidates to be rehabilitated." See article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Pacelle never recanted this statement even after scores of reports verified that mere weeks after Vick's dogs were released to rescue organizations and placed in foster homes they were found to be exceptionally loving and dog friendly. Over ten different individuals ranging from rescuers to certified behaviorists assessed the Vick dogs for hours on end before deeming them safe to be released to the public. All these folks found no such problems with the dogs. Perhaps Mr. Pacelle needs to re-evaluate the officials on his staff who are giving him such erroneous information?

Of course, nobody needs Mr. Pacelle's apology and frankly, it doesn't surprise me that he hasn't. The outrage here is that the HSUS routinely involves itself in investigations to arrest and convict dog fighters. It joins forces with local law enforcement, pursuing these criminals for months or years at time as was the case in Wilkes County. These investigations frequently if not always end in the death of all Pit Bulls involved, often at the behest of the HSUS.

Yep, you read that right. The HSUS pioneers these witch hunts to arrest dog fighters (all in the name of ending animal cruelty, of course) only to finish their "noble" work by advising the judge to kill all the dogs they just "saved."

In this particular case according to Winston-Salem Journal, "Representatives of The Humane Society told the judge that the dogs should be destroyed, because they had been bred for generations to be aggressive." Read the article here.

Gee, that sounds familiar.

And to think if HSUS' "experts" had been at the forefront of the Vick case, I might never have known Leo, one of Vick's dogs who is now a certified therapy dog and lives happily with three other dogs. Read about Leo at the Our Pack site.

Not to mention that the logic simply doesn't follow. Because they had been bred for generations to be aggressive? These representatives have conveniently left out the fact that Pit Bulls have been bred for generations to be HUMAN-RESPONSIVE and HUMAN-SOFT by the very fact that they were bred for dog fighting. Dog fighters could not make use of dogs that wanted to bite THEM. They needed dogs that would do their bidding until death, that could be handled despite extreme pain (you don't think they actually took injured dogs to the vet, do you?). Voila, the Pit Bull. Inherently human-gentle despite its vicious ancestry.

Of course, there's no word about this on the HSUS site...only the article detailing their glorious initial victory: http://www.hsus.org/acf/news/nc_dogfight_raid_121008.html

If you donate to the HSUS I urge you to reconsider. There are organizations who need your money greatly...and they aren't calling for the death of potentially adoptable dogs simply because of their ancestry.

Me & Miso - nothing like cuddling with a Pit Bull

Wally the Golden Retriever

2009-01-29T18:02:00.001-08:00

Darling Wally is no longer with us; his owners wanted to commemorate him with a portrait. His mom suggested the phrasing "Have a Dog!" as a way to brighten up his portrait (for fear they'd cry otherwise, they miss him so much!), and I think it's a terrific touch.

Zaeda

2009-01-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

Zaeda does tricks, believe it or not! For a bit of kitty kibble, she will shake her paw just like in her portrait.

Snowball

2009-01-29T17:57:00.000-08:00

What a precious little thing Snowball is...and she has a best buddy that's just her size!

On display...

2009-01-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

I always love seeing where my portraits end up. In this case, the client who commissioned 4 portraits of her dogs for Christmas sent me a wonderful photo of them all hung up. Don't they look great?

And Stella with "Stella"....so cute!

Harley & Chubby in Snow Boots

2009-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

My Dogs as Nuns

2009-01-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

Murphy

2008-12-23T23:54:00.000-08:00

Sweet Murphy is no longer with us, having died abruptly at too young an age. But he lives on in the hearts of his owners and even has his own photography business named after him: Murphy Dog Studios. Dad is a whiz with the camera and loves to photograph our furry friends!

Murphy's dad commissioned me to paint a portrait of Murphy in his element - underwater! He asked me if I knew of a dog that liked to dive below-surface just for fun. I had to confess, I'd never even heard of such a canine! This portrait was worked from a shot of Murphy diving to the bottom of the pool - something I'd have loved to witness in person!

Sheila & Jersey

2008-12-23T23:49:00.001-08:00

Yet another Christmas gift...Sheila is a Border Collie and Jersey is a Border Collie/Pit Bull mix. Mom and Dad are heavily involved in agility (and with Border Collies, how can you not be?) and both of these lovely ladies compete at the Masters level in agility (wow!) and are champions in several of the games.

2008-12-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

Presenting four furry family members - Lexie, Diggler, Stella, and Rufus! Mom saw me featured in The French Bullytin, a magazine dedicated to French Bulldog lovers and soon after commissioned me to paint her marvelous crew.

And what a family they are! Sadly, Diggler is no longer with us but remembered in spirit. Little Lexie is quite the princess and recently won a major photo contest in her hometown! Stella is a sweet sophisticate and Rufus is quite the loverboy.

The portraits are a Christmas surprise for Dad! They're all wrapped in pretty paper and on a FedEx truck en route to their destination. Santa's very generous this year!

Our Pack Calendar 2009

2008-12-17T13:32:00.001-08:00

Check out the 2009 Calendar from Our Pack Rescue (designed by yours truly). Chock full of adorable photos of our foster dogs, bust dogs, and puppies! The proceeds help us pay for vet bills (most recently my foster, Elvis, had to have a tumor removed that, thank God, turned out NOT to be cancer - but we were pretty scared there for awhile). Thanks for thinking of dogs in need this holiday season!

ORDER YOURS TODAY! Only $19.99

Baxter, Brodie & Bazooka

2008-12-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

Three amigos! Meet Baxter the Italian Spinone, Brodie the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, and Bazooka the Golden Retriever. They're probably the most eclectic trio I've ever painted! These party animals are on their way to Florida to surprise their mom for Christmas.

Troy

2008-12-11T17:09:00.001-08:00

Here's a change of pace....meet Troy! One of the few cats to leave my studio. "Troy" is a Christmas gift and is getting shipped out to the East Coast tomorrow. Wish him luck! His namesake (the real Troy) is a rather discriminating and adored sort of fellow...we'll see how he takes to having his likeness on the wall!

Zelda

2008-11-26T21:43:00.001-08:00

Zelda's portrait is a birthday gift! This beloved Australian Cattle Dog is no longer with us, but her owner still misses her deeply.

This is where loving - be they animals or people - gets costly. No matter how well we're able to move on after they're gone, our beloved companions leave holes in our hearts that only they filled. But I'm sure most of us would agree with Tennyson that, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

To Zelda, and all those special furry friends who are no longer with us.

Penelope

2008-11-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Shhhh....Penelope's portrait is a surprise birthday gift to her mom! Little Penelope is a rescue, and like many rescues, not much is known about her past. Mom suspects she may have been abused due to her very timid nature and the fact that one of her ears never stands erect. But who knows! Either way, these quirks are part of what makes her Penelope, and she is loved dearly.

Uno & Dos

2008-11-05T21:44:00.001-08:00

One and Two? No! It's Uno and Dos! Clever as their names may be, these guys are an equally cute pair. Uno is an adult Rat Terrier who had the world to himself until....little Dos! Dos (painted here as a puppy) is a mix - Chihuahua perhaps? And loves to give big brother Uno a run for his money.

The two play together all day long, and Uno has found that life is pretty cool with a little buddy like Dos.

Cooper & Lola

2008-11-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

Introducing a lovable pair of English Springer Spaniels: Cooper & Lola! These guys were a joy to paint; "Dad" gave me free license to depict them in whatever fashion I felt suited their personalities. Cooper is a big clown who manages to give that classic Springer look when you get his attention (tennis balls and high pitched squeaking work best).

Lola by contrast is more dignified (you'd never catch her making a fool of herself like her brother) but equally accessible and especially sweet-natured. They're a well-matched, well-loved, and well-traveled (they spent the summer vacationing with Mom & Dad) pair!

Heeeeere's Monty!

2008-11-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

The poll is closed, the results are in! It was extremely close with a ONE vote win.....Monty the Python is the name of my Super Tiger Reticulated Python! My thanks to everyone who participated (nearly 30 of you!). Monty thanks you too: he's finally being called something other than, "Hey Snake."

Some latest pics. Monty shed recently and is now over 3ft. long!

Rocky

2008-10-31T17:37:00.000-07:00

The latest out of my studio is a portrait of Rocky! When I visited him to take photos, my camera frightened this handsome little guy. Luckily, Rocky's mom had a wonderful picture of him standing among some pumpkins - making this a fitting Halloween announcement!

It took me a few tries to settle on a background color. Rocky's mom wanted his portrait to look sophisticated over cute, and I wanted something that would enhance his coloring, not compete with it. Ultimately I think this blue suits the sophisticated tone and will stand out nicely on the wall. It was a pleasure, little Rocky!

Meet Elvis!

2008-10-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Dreamboat alert! Elvis, true to his namesake, is a hunka-hunka-burnin' love! This guy is a foster of mine through Our Pack Inc. Pit Bull Rescue. I can't say enough good things about this dog! He's sweeter than sugar, always coming up to me and sitting at my feet for pets and TLC. A VERY well-mannered fellow. He gets along terrifically with my other dogs; I have no doubt he'd do great in a home with a nice dog buddy. He's tested safe around my cat - another plus for any cat & dog owner out there. He makes goo-goo eyes at all the neighborhood kids who want to come up and say hello.

I plan to get him started in therapy work soon, and earning his CGC certification should be a snap. All in all he's a fantastic dog - if I didn't have a full house I'd be keeping him for myself!! Elvis is a true goofball and sweetheart, willing to make a fool of himself for your love. Did I mention he plays fetch? He actually brings the ball back too! :) If you know anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime dog (and I really do mean that, you don't find these dogs everyday), have them email me!

Brody & Clara

2008-10-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

Meet Brody & Clara! These sweet goofballs are Labs through and through. They're ready to go at the wag of a tail and will charm the pants off of you with their happy smiles. Mom & Dad wanted to capture them in a slightly more dignified moment but that Lab lovability just shines through.

Thanks guys!

Photo Books by Jill Cody

2008-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

Have your photos arranged in a professional-looking book by Jill Cody! Jill (Sassy's mom, see blog entry below) will present your favorite baby pictures, travel snapshots, wedding photos, and even cute pet pictures in a fun book to show family and friends! There's a variety of template designs to choose from and you can include an introduction and captions. The final product is a hard bound book with an optional, full-color paper jacket.

I've seen one in-person and can vouch for how professional and colorful these keepsakes are - like something you'd buy at the bookstore! You also don't have to worry about cutting up your own original photographs, a major plus in my opinion.

A 20 page book (40-60 photos) starts at $75. Contact Jill Cody for details! Makes a great gift!
codyassoc@mac.com
408.298.1182
408.836.0401

Sassy in Doggles

2008-10-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Meet Sassy! As her name implies, this little girl is full of life and can't wait to tell you about it! Case in point: Sassy loves riding in the car, but she can't start travelin' until she's got her Doggles! Sassy's portrait was worked from the photograph shown below. Her owner wanted vibrant colors that matched colors in their home as well as Sassy's personality.

Aaaaaahhh! It's a SNAKE!

2008-10-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

Meet the latest addition to my ever-growing zoo: a Super Tiger Reticulated Python. While at the San Mateo Pet Expo, I had the chance to meet and talk snakes with Jean Bolinger and B.K. Baker, the folks behind The Creature Company - a SoCal-based reptile breeder that specializes in snakes.

After handling a handful of different boas & pythons, I ended up purchasing TWO snakes, one for my brother as an 18th birthday present, and the other for myself. Snakes are amazing creatures and must always be handled with prudence and respect.

This guy just had his first meal since his homecoming a couple days ago. What an experience that was! Definitely not for the faint of heart. :(

As you can see from the photos, my brother's snake looks quite different from mine. That's because he has a Pastel Red Tail Boa, one with exceptional coloring. It's hard to tell from the pic, but that snake has salmon pink coloring along its sides, jaw, and head, something that will intensify as it ages.

At the moment, my guy is going name-less. After coming up with a few names (and struggling to decide on one), I decided to leave it in your hands. Thanks for voting! I'll let you know the results....

San Mateo Family Pet Expo 2008

2008-10-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a blast at the San Mateo Family Pet Expo! I got a chance to meet so many new people and their pets. We even saw Gibson, the World's Tallest Dog! Throughout the day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I was in my booth painting and finished a commission (check back soon for photos). Not to mention I brought two VERY special guests: Capone and Miso! These guys are two of the best behaved Pit Bulls you'll find. They eagerly welcomed visitors to my booth and even changed a few minds about the breed. Way to go guys!

Miso was pooped out at the end of the day

I also bought (drum roll) a snake! The Creature Company was there with pythons & boa constrictors and boy, was I amazed! I haven't named him yet....but I'll definitely introduce him to you guys soon.

Thanks for stopping by the booth - it was a pleasure meeting you!

Bark in the Park 2008!

2008-09-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

What an amazing year it was for Bark in the Park! The weather was cool (perfect for doggies) and the turnout was unimaginable; there had to be more than the anticipated 10,000 visitors this year!

As always, I had a primo location - right next to the food! I also got to buddy-up next to Our Pack Pit Bull Rescue, the rescue for whom I do a lot of volunteer work, including web design and class instruction (check them out at www.ourpack.org).

The first of The Breed-y Bunch series made their debut: Beagles, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Labs, French Bulldogs, and Pugs! I got LOTS of requests for more breeds, something I will be working on in the next few months.

FYI, pieces from The Breed-y Bunch series will be for sale at the Happy Go Lucky Dog Boutiques in Valley Fair and Oakridge Malls. I'll announce when they can be purchased there - stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth this year to say hello, sign up for my new Pet-tastic Newsletter, and let me feed their dog a treat! It was a pleasure meeting every one of you and your beloved poochies. I hope to paint a portrait for you soon!

See you at Bark in the Park 2009!

Moving into the Kitchen!

2008-09-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Well I should've known the converted bedroom I was using wasn't going to cut it. As much as I enjoyed that space, I've outgrown it! Instead, I've pushed the kitchen table aside, moved the dog crates into the living room, and set up shop right in my kitchen! So far it's working out great - I've got easy access to a sink, lots of natural light from the sliding glass door, and plenty of space for the dogs to kick back and hang out while I paint.

We'll see how long this works. Who knows, I might end up switching to the living room!

My studio before: (see image above)

My studio now: Note the abundance of dog toys and beds....an artist's space is never clean!