September 9, 2009
In April I was married to Joel Friedman, the love of my life. My work is flourishing because of our union. We adopted a wonderful little dog named Brady. Pet portrait requests keep coming in despite the bad economy and his interest in antiques has influenced my landscape painting. I notice a greater control over color and a desire to tone things down a bit so as to be more selective with flourishes. Maturity in my work is apparent. I'm beginning to win juried exibitions but I know I have a long way to go on my art journey.
October 10th and 11th the studio will be open to the public for the "Artists at Work" event sponsored by the Salem County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Please come and visit.
May 3, 2009
Wow. I can’t believe so much time has passed since my last entry.If you visit my blog you will see what I have been busy doing. My life and studio has completely changed. Would you like to check it out in person? Well, come and visit Soulful Studios on May 30th and 31st during the Arts in Bloom event. You will be able to see the beginnings of my new horse portrait and perhaps a new dog portrait. Don’t forget that my framed originals and prints will be available for sale as well as cards and other items. So, what makes this new space special? Why should you come out to visit? The answer is simple. This is an opportunity to see how my work is created and to feel the true inspiration behind it. Feel free to ask me questions and get to know my work up close and personal.
More updates will be posted very soon and information that can find here. This is where the secrets hide.
October 20, 2008
What makes pet portraits from Soulful Studios different? There are other pet portrait artists on the internet. Why choose my art? I think the answer is simple. My drawings and paintings have life to them that you do not see elsewhere. Photographs do not capture your pet’s essence either. Anyone with skill can create a good likeness. It takes a special understanding and empathy to render the soul. That ability is a gift and cannot be taught. Since I was a child, I was able to see animals as individuals with their own personalities and spirits. As I matured in my creative skill I was able to bring that out in my art. Each portrait I work on is a custom piece. I listen to my clients and create a fine work of art that not only looks and “feels” like their pet but is something that becomes the centerpiece of every room. Many of my custom commissions are beautiful works of art in their own right that anyone would enjoy even if they did not know the animal. Also, my work is guaranteed to please or your money back. In my next post I will discuss my materials and why they are important in terms of quality and longevity.
October 15, 2008
If you’ve checked out my schedule page you see that I’ve recently completed two outdoor shows. My last show/demonstration for the season is October 25th. Doing these events always teaches me something and strengthens my commitment to my work. Time after time people came into my booth telling me there is something about the eyes in my animal portraits that seems to capture the soul. I discuss this aspect of my art in the entry below. It is always good to hear it again from someone I’ve never met. That tells me I’ve made a good choice in naming my pet portrait website, “Soulful Studios”. Marketing gurus will tell you that one should name an artist’s site using only their name or their specialty. However, that didn’t feel right to me. Maybe it was a bad business move not to purchase a domain name with words specific to dog portraits or animal portraiture. I don’t think so. Meeting the folks that were kind enough to chat with me at my booth reminded me that my business is well named. My work is about the soul of animals and their people. It will evolve and become more linked to my mission with every brushstroke. My art and speaking from my heart comes first. I believe that will make me successful in the long run.
One of the most often asked a question about my work is how I put the life into the eyes of the animals in my pet portraits. I can tell you it isn’t about what brushes or pencils I use nor is it related anything I’ve learned in college. When I look at a dog or a horse I am actually studying their thoughts as much as their structure. Certainly I am not saying I can read an animal’s mind. What I’m looking for is emotion. Often I ask people to tell me about their pet and I become inspired by the human’s feeling about their animal friend. Then I go to the painting or drawing and I try to recreate that emotion. It is not uncommon to find me making the face myself that I want my subject to have. If I can feel myself make an expression I can put that onto canvas or paper. Some may call this anthropomorphizing my subjects. I call it being an artist. So if you stop by Soulful Studios and peek in the window, don’t be surprised if you see me making faces. It is just me bringing my art to life.
Come back to read updates on what happens inside Soulful Studios. Don’t forget to check out my blog to see what I’m drawing and painting right now. Thanks for stopping by.
