painting the birdbath...part 2: glorious color!

Here's the color portion of this story...spent a week deliberating if I should have 3 different color schemes/tiers and in the end stuck with it. In the past I would have done a coordinating border like the black and white bones I did in the 'Suite Chicago Dogs' set....but since this is one single piece and that was 4 separate pieces opted to try something different. It might look a little odd here, but wait until you see it with the black outlines painted in....stay tuned!

Actually going home to finish it tonight as I have to deliver to the autobody show in Westmont that is doing the clear coating...wish me luck!

Anne's Pet Portrait Debut on 190 North....Watch the Live Podcast!

Check out our fun feature from ABC Channel 7's 190 North Television Show! It turned out great thanks to the wonderful interviews with my customers  and their pets (Cris & Kaaren & Tango and Sarah & Bear), and all the great folks and camera crew at 190 North, thank you Janet & Holly!! Sadly, Bear, the sweet Bernese Mountain Dog in the segment passed away a few weeks ago...so honored to have created his portrait and that he's also immortalized on film. He was beloved by everyone in the neighborhood.

Please contact me if you are ready to order a Pet Portrait!

The other wonderful part of this feature, it aired the night before my 44th birthday...a lovely gift!

Happily Ever After...

VanSluys

This Custom Narrative Commission Print was a gift for newlyweds Katie & Tim. It features their Chicago neighborhood, Lincoln Square, their house, their beloved beagles: Nigel & Zoe, their love of travel and Mini Coopers (he races) and the site of their recent wedding ceremony: the Natural Bridges of Santa Cruz, in California. They received a Gift Certificate and were able to collaborate with me on the design for a most meaningful and vibrant work of art!

Katie & Time came by the studio this afternoon to pick up "Happily Ever After". And on that subject, they are currently fostering Kaylee (see below) a very sweet Beagle here in Chicago that needs a home. Please contact the number below or visit FoundChicago.org if you think you could give this wonderful dog a 'happily ever after', too!

A Narrative Portrait of Alice...

This is the long overdue Narrative Portrait that I'm working on of my dog, Alice....

The image below was my initial sketch. There are so many silly things about her, it was hard to narrow it down, but I think these translate well:

King Kong and the Godzillas...

 

This portrait evolved from my sprained ankle incident back in October. As I lay in the bed of my pick up with ice on my ankle waiting for my pal Stephie (Angel Food Bakery) to notify her staff that she was taking me to urgent care, I met Dave Clayton...he was visiting from Brazil and said 'hey, you do the pet portraits...you've got to paint my pugs!". So I did, and now this painting resides in Brazil. Godzilla sadly passed away so we gave him a halo, King Kong, of course, got the crown and Space Godzilla is from Brazil, so he got the Brazillian Flag. I love how this turned out...let me know if you have a pug you would like me to paint!

Tango....A day in the life of a Vizsla

This was another Holiday Pet Portrait Gift...this one a 24x36 Painting of a local Chicagoland Vizsla, "Tango". I met Cris and his wife back in August at the Bucktown Arts Fest, he contacted me in November wanting to surprise his wife with this wonderful gift. He was the perfect client - supplying me with many wonderful photos and a list of Tango's favorite places, activities, toys and treats, including baguettes after picking one up on a walk near the Red Hen Bakery. This was a fun project from beginning to end!

Tango with his painting!

This was the final sketch before I did the painting....and black and white below:

Winterfest a success...and the Holiday Sale Continues!

Below are photos of some happy new collectors from last weekend's Winterfest Sale...and few other paintings I said farewell to...Good News! The HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIO SALE continues this weekend and next:

Saturday & Sunday: December 11-12 Noon-5pm
Saturday & Sunday: December 18-19 Noon-5pm
Anne's Studio 2040 W. Roscoe Avenue, Chicago, IL

My Gift to You: 20-50% Off on Original Paintings!
(On-line shoppers contact me to inquire about Sale Pricing on any Painting in my Web Gallery)

Please join us for wine. cider, cookies and holiday cheer. Shop for great Holiday Gifts featuring Anne's Art: Mugs, Coasters, Ornaments, Magnets, Cards, Paintings and Prints! Variety of Prices Ranges and Sizes...something for everyone on your list...or treat yourself to that One  of a Kind Anne Leuck Feldhaus painting you've had your eye on!

*HOliday Weekday Studio Visits are Welcome by Appointment Anytime! Just Call Anne at 773.772.1085

Mr. Gilmore with his beautiful new "Teal Night Scape" painting.

Artist & Architect Sharon Sears with her new "Urban Thoroughfare" painting!
This one went home with one of the 190 North Producers!

And this little sweet heart I'll miss: 'More Round Bales'...made at the Fields Project in 2003.

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Also Sunday from 1PM-7PM...you can continue Shopping across the street at the Village Tap (2055 West Roscoe) at: Come Eat, Drink, Shop Unique! With a select Group of Chicago Artisans setting up shop in the beer garden, all sorts of incredible handmade goods - everything from graphic apparel, exotic scarves, jewelry, bags and wallets to art prints, hand painted items, candles, chocolates and more! Stay for lunch or dinner an enjoy 20% off food & beverages when you purchase an item at the Holiday Market.

Homeless Pets Inspire Art by Chicago 7th Graders...

Back in October I volunteered to do an art project with Friends of Audubon School to help raise money for educational programs. This school has no budget for art so it was a treat for the kids and I also got a chance to share awareness about all the homeless pets out there. These nineteen 7th Graders certainly rose to the occasion. Using Petfinder.com to search for homeless dogs in the Audubon zip code, I found over 5,300 within a 100 mile radius. I printed out photos/descriptions/adoption information for 19 dogs and gave one to each student to use as their subject. They each painted their dog’s portrait on a 6x6 inch piece of cardboard and attaching tags with their particular dog’s name onto the painting. I mounted the paintings on wood panels and they have been on display at Starbucks since early November. They will be auctioned off to raise money for the school next Wednesday, December 8th. You are welcome to view them and even bid on line at the links below. Thanks to Amanda Shell to helping out on painting day!

Bid on 'Nine Lives':

  

Bid on 'Adopt A Friend For Life!'

The administrators liked the kids' work so much they used it for the promotional materials for the Auction Fundraiser. Follow the links to see all the other wonderful art available for bidding by kids who worked with other artist volunteers.