Well, this past Saturday evening was the library art show opening. I entered "The Overseer" (my recent golden eagle painting) and "Heather - Looking Right 2009" (my recent cross-blend fox painting). I'm finally getting more original with my titles, but there's a downside to that - the paintings were hanging up with the titles switched! (It's even more ironic, because the golden eagle is looking left - you'd think that would be a dead giveaway! *lol*) So, I fixed it before the reception got too busy. As it turned out, it was my father who mixed up the titles! *lol* He was hanging the paintings, and wanted to be sure mine got good spots - also, he thought the fox was my fox, Aurora, so I guess that threw him off. It was kind of funny, actually, but I appreciate that he wanted my paintings to get good spots. I didn't win anything, as expected, but at least my paintings will be on display (with the correct titles underneath *lol*) for the next month. The winners were more on the landscape-ish side, as well as a sculpture, which won best of show. This one guy commented that my fox painting has demonic eyes - I took that as a compliment!

I currently have some paintings (and a couple photos) featured on the bird of the month journal, this month's featured bird being the eagle! [link]

Anyway, I'm currently in the finishing stages of the dog commission I'm doing, which is coming along well. For my final painting of the year, I'm doing one more fox - this one will be a 12" x 16" face closeup, which I'm really looking forward to doing! I feel a bit inspired again by my dA wolf artist friends artwork, so I think it will be a good way to finish the year.

Oy, the only bad thing is, this commission really opened up a Pandora's box I was hoping to avoid. I don't mind the idea of doing an occasional painting of someone's dog or pet, but it's not something I want to do on a regular basis. However, the lady who runs the painting group I go to is now harping on me that I should go into business doing portraits of people's pets, just because I work at a pet store and that I'd probably get a lot of business. I tried to explain that I'm an artist, and money isn't my primary concern, inspiration is! I have to paint what inspires me the most, which is birds of prey, and also occasional foxes, and after that, whatever I may feel inspired to paint. She wouldn't hear any of it, citing that I won't make any money doing fox paintings, and that I shouldn't turn down ANY commissions. I adamantly told her I am doing this fox painting as my last painting of the year, and that after that, maybe I'll consider doing another commission if one comes up, but she basically wants me to stop painting what I want to paint and do this soley as a business. When I think of that, it's such a nightmare! I can't imagine having to do all these paintings of other people's pets, especially after all the photos I've taken the past few years of birds of prey and foxes, etc. for painting references. On top of this, the only day I can guarantee I can paint is Thursdays, which is why I'm not very prolific. Unfortunately, my current living arrangements don't allow me to have a setup at home, so I don't really get any painting done at home anymore. Now you have to understand, finishing a painting takes up a lot more time than a drawing - I envy all the great artists here at dA who can draw, and do commissions in a week or so. If I could finish a painting in a week, I might be more open to the commission thing, but considering even a small painting takes about 3 weeks of sessions to finish, I just can't see doing it. Also, money doesn't motivate me to paint - if I don't feel that spark of inspiration, I can't paint. Like I said, I don't mind the idea of doing an occasional commission, for a little extra money on the side, but not for a living. I just wish I could get her to understand that.

Anyway, I also have a request for anyone who may be able to help me. I'd like to someday do a wolf painting, but I don't have any photos of wolves that I have permission to use for reference. If anyone out there would please consider it, if you have taken any decent wolf photos, I'd like to use them for reference for a possible painting, and I will give you full credit for use of the photo! Please note me if you can help! Thanks!