For baby Lennox

 

A while back I got an email from my sister's friend Ashley.  She was expecting her first babe soon and wondered if I might whip up some art for the little one's walls. 

Ya'll know how I love a baby, so there was no way I'd say no.

 

She had some really cute bedding called Lolly Living. 

Check it out.....

 

 

Adorable right? 

 

 This is what I came up with for her.

I loved it. 

 

 

 

Thankfully, so did she. 

Now they grace the walls in this little sweethearts room.

 

 

Lennox is 2 months old already and just adorable!  I hope she grows up to love her paintings too!

 

Astro the chihuahua

In June (I think) I got a request from the niece of a client.  You may remember, I painted Jenny's dog for her.  Rachel saw the painting and immediately thought of her best friend.  

Her best friend had a very beloved chihuahua named Astro. 

As you can see from this picture, Astro was pretty freaking adorable.

How do you not love a dog in costume?!

Unfortunately, little Astro had past away, but Rachel thought her friend would love a painting to help memorialize her pet.  I can't turn down a request like that.  Just can't do it.  

I sent a couple emails regarding preferences, but was pretty much given carte blanche to do whatever I wanted.  The only thing I had to remember was that Astro's favorite collar was brown leather with silver cirlces.  This is what I came up with.

He looks just like Astro.  

Rachel loved it.

Can't ask for more than that :)

Tiffany's family portrait

In June I got a request from a girl I went to high school with.  She has seen some of the pieces that I have done for other people, and knew her living room needed one!

She sent me pictures and wrote me a description of her family that cracked me up.  This was her request....

We are Cardinal's fans. Baseball consumes life in our house, it is something that maybe we need therapy for because it can't be healthy. Kerigan is a princess, and she is spoiled like one, but she isn't scared of mud, or frogs, in fact, she likes to play with both in our backyard.. in her underpants (maybe we need therapy for that too). Willow is a slobbery-beast. She is a big, big dog. She weighs about 150 lbs. She is a big baby though, and she wants to always be hugged, and loved, and I think she is unaware of how big she is. Seth is surprisingly similar to the dog actually, he is big but he too is a big baby.. and a slobbery-beast, HAHA! 

 How can you not crack a smile at that!?  The part about Seth made me laugh out loud.  

I live with Zac the smelly man, so I get it :)

This is Tiffany and Seth

Miss Kerigan

And the slobbery beast Willow

Isn't she cute?  Makes me want one!

In the end, they all made it on the canvas....with Willow bigger than Kerigan as that only seemed appropriate....and they all made it into Cardinals gear.  

Tiffany's shirt does have a bird painted on it, as does Kerigan's but I Keri's is just the top of the emblem...and Tiffany's doesn't show up well with the glare.  But I promise, it's there.  

Ya know what's worse than crappy pictures on my blog...me sending crappy pictures to my clients using my cell phone.  But that's just what I did.  Luckily, even my weak Samsung low-megapixel picture was enough to ok the painting.  I got this response "it is PERFECT!!" and I can't ask for more than that!  Hope it finds a perfect spot in your home Tiffany!

Fancy girls

Back in June I got a request from a girl I went to high school with.  She has just moved into a new condo and was looking for the perfect thing to showcase her personality and "claim" the space.

I got a terribly nice email from her, in which she said she didn't realize I was so "talented."  God love her for  calling it talent :)

She sent me pictures of her two fur babies.  

Talulah and Georgia.  

She wrote me a little description of each, which cracked me up. 

"Georgia is 100% just like me.  Extremely type A if a dog can be…Talulah is a rag doll 99% of the time and resembles a little gremlin." 

She had a few other requests...my first pink background (which I was thrilled about...I think it makes them fancier and I like that) along with some simple things like bows and collars.  

I took my sweet time, but this is how it turned out in the end.

Talulah

I did go back and add in eyelashes. Apparently Talulah's are super long. You can't seem them in the pictures, but this girl has lashes and she rockes em!

See...I am a bit jealous of them!

This is Georgia 

Georgia

I love her wonky ear.   

For some reason, Georgia was so hard for me to get right!  I painted her 3 times.  Thank goodness the background was easy to repaint!  But, I just can't have someone pay me for something I think is not good...and turns out, third time is the charm!

I sent Ashley pictures to get her OK, before I wrapped it and shipped it.  Again, always the fretter, I hovered over my email until I got her response.  Thankfully, she was very gracious in her reply.

"Love it love it love it!  You just made my afternoon!  I feel crappy and it is raining here..lovely Monday, but that definitely put a smile on my face!...You.are.awesome.  This is going to be the perfect addition to my new condo!  I will send you a pic of the girls by it when it comes.  And how on earth could I not love it! It is EXACTLY what I pictured!  Love the pink!!"

I am thrilled!  There is nothing better than when a piece turns out the way your client expects.  I can only hope that everyone I paint for loves their pets and their paintings the way Ashley does.  I am sure it will be fab in her new place!  And, in my opinion, every girl deserves a pink painting!

Troy's dogs

My uncle Troy and his girlfriend Michelle have been working like crazy to finish up their new house.  

It has been a process for them....like all constructions projects, ever.  

After seeing a few of the paintings I have done, they asked me to do two of their furry babies to hang in their bedroom.  They had just the spot for these two much loved beasts.

Michelle said she loved the pictures with the dogs staring up at her the most.  

Ask and you shall receive!

The paintings cracked us up and were exactly what Michelle and Troy were looking for, something unexpected and fun.  

For a future athlete

My friend Jenni asked me, when she suspected that she was pregnant with a boy, if I might do a few paintings for his room.  Of course, I could not deny a baby, so I had no choice but to say yes!

She was considering a sports theme, without going full-on matching design everything.  She found some really cute images online and emailed them over to me, asking if I could pull them off.  

I think they are great and perfect for a manly man's room. 

Here is what I painted for her.  

I did age mine a bit, but not as much as in the originals.  

I just love them.  They look great and Jenni was thrilled.  I think I even got her convinced to do make pendants to hang in the nursery with his name on them....whatever that name will be (which I can't wait to find out).  I look forward to seeing some pictures of them up in his room.  They will be great!

Hope you love them baby Storm!

Kenly and Rusty

Not too long ago I got an email from a proud mama who was getting ready to move her baby into her "big girl" bed.  She wanted to mark the memorable occassion with something special, like a picture of the big girl and her favorite pup, Rusty.  How could I deny this request?

"FYI - I am completely in love with your paintings and the ones in your last blog were awesome! Kenly is graduating to a big girl bed soon, so we will be redecorating her room. I would love to have a painting of her and our dog rusty."

This is a picture of Kenly.  Doesn't she just look ornery?  I just know she will be an instigator like I used to be....and I like it!  I love her whispy bangs and pig tails.  Not to mention her beautiful eyes!  

This is Rusty (and Eric).  He was the baby before the baby, and a much loved baby at that.  

A handsome dog indeed.  

As I was cruising the pictures of the both of them online, I found a few that show how they love each other.  I love her staring him down.  

And, of course, Kenly showing Rusty just who is boss.  While her expression cracks me up to begin with, I love how Rusty is completely unconcerned.  Apparently Rusty is used to being wollered on, and I like that in a dog.  

This is what I came up with for her big girl room.

I loved her grin in her pictures, so I tried to give her the same wavy smile in her picture.  

I dig the way it turned out.  I got the approval of Kenly's mom too.  I think she said "holy cow I love it!" if I remember right.  I tell ya folks, there is nothing better than a happy customer and a happy little girl!