Here’s news about The Professional Dog and all of my projects that I couldn’t talk about in my last posts! First, this weeks sequence of dogs.
Below is a closer look at the artwork of each of those dogs with the book text beneath.
As I mentioned in another post I tend to work first and talk about the work later. This means all of the artwork is finished for The Professional Dog and I could work hard this past week on the book layout. Here’s a photo of me at my laptop doing the book layout.
I wanted this book to be able to be shipped by Christmas so I focused on getting the book design done – and uploaded – which altered my posting about the artwork itself or about my creative process surrounding the book but I think that’s okay. If you have questions just ask.
But here’s the cover for The Professional Dog and a link where you can preview the entire book and order a copy if you wish.
There’s a lot still to do for this project but the publication on the 16th of Nov was a big deal. There are 40 portraits in the book and this is the most pages I’ve created for any of my books so far! So I’m celebrating! Wahoo!
Because I made portraits of my friends dogs I plan to keep posting each dog in alphabetical sequence so that each dog gets to be featured and each friend has a chance to share the portrait of their dog if they want to. Mainly it’s just a bit of cheerfulness from me over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Speaking of small cheerful things: I took some more of my books, mug mats and postcards to the Aurora Gallery at their request.
The Caplan Art Designs Gallery did a studio visit and selected some artwork from my studio stash for the special Thanksgiving event the Gallery is doing Nov 26, 27 and 28th. Each of the artworks Caplan selected are autobiographical. I’ve been sharing details on my Instagram page for each of these pieces but generally speaking each painting is about some aspect of my life here in the Pacific Northwest. Like the time we went hiking in Forest Park and my bootlace broke and we discovered a wonderful coffee shop that also sold bootlaces! Or the Rainier cherries we enjoy eating by the sea. Or the fine dining we’ve enjoyed…my feeling is reflected in my choice of dog breed depicted. And the bookstores… There are many more artworks selected by the Gallery than I’ve included below but perhaps this gives you the idea? The Gallery event happens the 26th, 27th and 28th in Portland Oregon.
Why were the above artworks languishing in my studio? They didn’t fit neatly into a theme or a unified whole for any of my exhibits. And also they were still there because I forgot about them. This is an example of when it’s helpful to have someone outside my head – in this case a gallery owner – look at things with fresh eyes.
Another example of the value of “fresh eyes” is that my spouse looked at my digital book layout of The Professional Dog and caught a major mistake I had made before it went to print!! (I had one out of alphabetical order 😱) I thank her on the book info page seen below.
And now for what we’ve all been waiting for (drumroll please) the Holiday Box Project! The Box Project exhibit opens at Caplan Art Designs the first Thursday in December. That’s why we artists were asked to wait to post and to only do a “teaser” post now because the Thanksgiving gallery event happens first. We artists were each given by the Gallery a solid brown wooden box, 8 inches cubed, some time ago so we’d all have time to create art on them. Below are before and after photos of my box.
I’ve titled my holiday box “All The Chances” – what are the odds you’d find 21 dogs named Chance? Anyway, are you teased? Lol! I will tell more details about “All The Chances” including about my working process after Thanksgiving.
It’s been a super busy week (no time for Creativity Chats or for much cooking creativity either) and frankly I am very tired from all of the activities. But at the same time I’m very happy! So I’ll rest up and share more this week on social media and on next Monday’s blog post.
I hope your week is a good one. Thank you for your many kind comments and your support! I am grateful for you and for the blogging community! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love the take off on Guy Beaufete.
Lol!! Thank you for catching that aspect… yes, it’s an affectionate nod!!
Quite an accomplishment, Sue. I especially like the doggie waitstaff. And that holiday box is quite the mystery! Have a good Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
I always enjoy following along with your projects and the professional dog series has been no exception. I look forward to seeing the rest of the alphabet and to learning more about your box project. Meanwhile I wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and J. I am thankful for your friendship across the miles.
And a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too! Like you I am very grateful for our friendship across the miles! I have enjoyed watching you develop as an artist too and I applaud you!! ❤
Finally, a glimpse of the holiday box!! I just ordered three copies of The Professional Dog. Whoo hoo!!!
Wahoo indeed!! Thank you so much!! I hope you’ll enjoy the books!! And thank you again for letting Mr Johnson participate!! ❤❤❤ More on the holiday box next week… And Happy Thanksgiving!
You’re most welcome, Sue! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Love this selection of dogs, and at last we get a peek at the holiday box! How fun and clever to do it as a giant die and dots as portraits of dogs named Chance. Love, love, love!! I’m nearly done with my editing goals/tasks and will publish and release my book before the end of the year. Down to final touches, and then I too shall rest!!
Congratulations on nearing completion on your goals – and for your upcoming book!! Yippee!!! And thank you for your kind words!! So glad you liked the dice piece!! ❤