Ft. Flipper

Okay - so the title of this blog probably makes no sense, but it is the theme of my latest painting. Before Christmas, my dearest and oldest friend Jen asked me if I would do a painting for her to give to her brother as a present. I was touched and nervous - Jen is pretty particular and I knew that she had something cooked up in her head and it was going to be no small task to get that out and on to paper. We sat down and we discussed the painting for over an hour, details, location, font, etc. She wanted a vintage resort poster look, her brother loves to fly fish, so that would be our focus for the painting. Her brother's in-laws have a cottage in Maine and that is where he proposed to his fiancee. The final touch was to give this gem a name - apparently Jay's pet name from his wife is "Flipper, " I'm not sure why, it isn't my job to ask - in their home they have a basement or what is fondly referred to as the "man-cave." Jen thought it would be fun to label the painting "Ft. Flipper" since it would go in the basement in his space.

I was excited to do this painting because it made me work with a bit more realism, I used Mt. Battie as my reference (which worked out well because that is where Jay proposed - I love when things work out that way!) and then started looking up fly lines, baskets, the type of trout that would be in a stream in Camden, Maine, etc. I am really pleased with how this turned out and best of all Jen was too. I present to you - Ft. Flipper:

I decided to line the painting with an irregular border and the bottom edge would be a copy of a fly rod and reel. A funny side note, the painting has since been altered. When Jay received this he liked it, but after awhile he had to ask Jen what the significance of 2007 was. She said it was the year you got married and bought your house. He laughed and said, "No, it was 2008." Oops! Well at least I'm just the painter and didn't stand up in the wedding like Jen did! Ha! All is well though and we are now Est. in 2008!

This actual fly basket was in an auction on the Orvis website for $1,500!!!

I learned that Brown Trout frequent the fresh water streams of the Northeast.

Thanks again Jen for trusting me with this project - I had A LOT of fun doing it and creating it with you. I hope Flipper enjoys it for years to come in his man-cave. Thanks again - stay safe and watch out for all that damn snow we're suppose to get tonight. My kids are praying for a two hour delay...

in the jungle the mighty jungle....

I was contacted a bit ago by a lovely woman named Liz.  She had a request to do a canvas for a friend (lucky friend!) who was about to deliver her first. She photographed the bedding from the nursery and wanted me to use that as my inspiration and add the baby's name and birthday. We then discussed fonts and here's how it turned out:

The nursery bedding

My version!

Here is what Liz had to say about her painting:

The final product is WONDERFUL!  I'm very happy with how it turned out.  Thank you for your efforts to match the nursery...you did an excellent job.  I am certain that the new mommy and daddy will be thrilled when they see this new addition to their son's bedroom. Working with you was a delight. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

My favorite - the curious Mr. Hippo

Just hangin' with Mr. Monkey

This bedding was absolutely adorable and I loved its simplicity and the opportunity to add my own flare to it.  I was a bit nervous, since I had never done text like this, but I hope you'll agree it turned out great.  Thank you Liz for hiring me to do this for you and your friend.  It was a joy to work with you!

I haven't forgotten about the contest! I have chosen my winners and will be announcing them first thing tomorrow morning!  More about that later - for now - it's a jungle out there!

Thanks!

Random thoughts for the day...

Today is a collage of thoughts.  

Ryan had his follow up meeting/interview with a company in Zionsville.  He said it went very well - he is suppose to go in on Monday and they will firm up an offer.  Cross your fingers, pray, send good energy - whatever it is that you all do, do it please on our behalf, it would be nice to start the week with a job.  He is at an another interview this morning, he isn't back yet, so we shall see...

I am almost done with my most recent order for a nursery, its cool because I am hand lettering the babies name and birthdate.  The bedding that they have and what I modeled the painting after is so cute - I am moving right along and if I play my cards right I will finish this evening.  It is amazing to me how some pieces go so quickly and others not so much.  I need to do a quickie surprise gift, so hopefully this weekend I can whip that little fella up.  I am waiting on some feedback from two other pieces or else I would have some pictures for you.  But alas, I do not.  But I did find this little one - if you have a mac, you gotta love photobooth!

Me with two out of my three chickens!

Oh, the contest, okay so I am going to open up the contest on Monday!!!! I have my idea and I will explain what I need from you, then on Monday look for the posting, okay unless something bigger happens, then we'll start Tuesday, but for now its Monday!  I am excited for my first contest, now ask me next week when I have two entries into my contest, how excited I am.  So check back, tell your friends, until then...

Thanks!

some updates

So just to give a few updates:

Jon had a great day at school, but he missed his bus coming home because his teacher thought he was on bus 89 not 68.  Jon got all flustered and missed it.  All is well, he got to have a snickers bar with the principal as he waited for me- so it wasn't all bad.

Jon had football practice last night and ROCKED!  All those games in the basement during the Colt's games have paid off!  He even took a ball square in the nose and after some cuddling from mom and slap on the butt he went back out and picked up where he left off!

Okay- on to business - I have had several requests to add a page to my website of my finished work.  Well I've done it, but my technical advisor (Ryan) has been busy (I have actually seen him less now that he isn't working ) and I need him to make some adjustments before I upload the new page.  So in the mean time if you are curious how these little pieces go together or what I've done, then scroll through my blog's archives. I also will be adding some of my new themes and finished additions to themes so check those out as well.  

I finally am ordering business cards!!!!  I am so excited, I have had people ask (Jennifer) and ask, but I had a vision and I just couldn't get it to work.  Grr, insert Ryan here and he fixed if for me, so I will be ordering those later this morning. 

Today is picture day, I can't wait for Leslie to photograph some of my finished pieces and rephotograph some that I didn't do justice.  So check back for new and improved images!

Oh and while I am thinking about it - I received an email this morning from a prospective client, curious about doing work for christmas presents.  IT IS NOT TOO EARLY to think about Christmas.  I am one woman and I can paint fast, but even I have my limits.  That being said, if you think you might like to order something for christmas - lets start talking about it and at the very least get the ideas flowing.  Until then....

Thanks!