Introducing Ruby

A year ago a friend had posted about two puppies that she rescued on Facebook...little did I know my life would change forever. Thank you Melissa and Preston Seaver for being the angels that they are-rescuing dogs like ours out of the situations of harm. Also, thank you both for tag teaming my husband and myself with pic messages and specific questions that lead me to love her and want to be the right adoptive Mom for her. I loved her before knowing her so strongly.  I have had Springer Spaniels before, and know exactly what kind of energy level they have, their temperment, and their health problems. Yet, the one that made her way into our home and our hearts constantly surprises me still. She is the freckle faced alarm clock, child lock cabinet opening, crazy smart and equally stubborn, pillow stealing cuddle bug of a dog and her name is Ruby.

This is our first picture of her when we brought her home. Two days before the wedding! She was so terrified she would not leave the comforter I had placed on the floor for her. 

Her coat was really thin when she came to stay with us in September of 2012. So she wore the pink fleece coat a lot. It also helped with the biting issue she had at the time. (She had a food allergy and was itchy, poor thing!)

She soon came to like us and showed us her true nature. Our little diva dog! We got to meet Ruby in full out puppy mode at 5 months old with all the eh...joys...she brings at that age. 

Dog shaming for a dog that is not ashamed ever. She tested us and cost us a lot of money, but the love and simple pleasures she gives us are irreplaceable. The remedy for the destruction is 1. 3 walks a day 2. Lots of play time 3. Chew toys, rope toys, and Kong balls 4. When all else fails, bribe her with cheese!

Look at that face! This is the "uh huh...yeah OK...I know you have something up your sleeve."

 This picture was a rare moment in our house at the time. Ruby napping! I snapped a photo and it inspired me into drawing an oil pastel portrait of her this way. I changed the background coloring to pop out the beautiful red tones she already has in her coat.

I drew this portrait of her in April of 2013.  I'm titling it "Ruby Sleeps" 

My husband would never forgive me if I even thought about selling it. This piece will forever be in my home. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of the love I have for my gift as well as the things that inspire me in this life, and of course my love for my dog.

There will be more Springer Spaniel artwork to come, I'm sure.

Sweet Chalk Festival 2013

Hello!

A week ago I had the privilege of creating art for a special event in Lockport, NY.
Sweet Chalk Festival was held on August 17th-18th. Artists of every age arrived and created masterpieces and originals on the pavement with chalk pastels. The festival took place in front of Sweet Rides along the canal.

Towards the end of July I got a phone call from a woman named Monnie asking if we can meet up to talk about this event. Her mother had seen some of my pieces in Hair Chateau and particularly liked my first lion "The Kind King." I was then invited to create another piece as a featured artist after meeting with her and Ellen at Sweet Sixteen Cafe in Lockport. The Niagara Gazette released an article about all of us.
http://niagara-gazette.com/communities/x389855976/Sweet-Chalk-Festival-hopes-to-draw-crowds-to-Lockport

I chose to do another lion for this event. I had 3 weeks to prepare.

I started out creating the "canvas" I had a 6x4 foot space to use for my piece. I grabbed a bunch of drawing paper and put it together then I started with the grid. Grid work helps lay out the subject to ensure proper size proportions. This "canvas" took up my entire living room floor in my apartment!  I chose to do the drawing before the event because of the time crunch.The drawing itself took me about 5 hours with a lot of erasing I knew I was almost done when I got the amazing chill factor when his eyes stared up at me from the paper, so incredible and its one of the reasons I love drawing-that feeling!

 I had a window of 9am to 3pm on Saturday the 17th to finish my piece. (I went to the Jason Alden concert with my sister, Grace for her birthday that is why I didn't stay until 5pm.) I did a trace of the drawing itself lining up the grid work to take with me to the pavement on the big day. In true Jessie fashion I waited until the week before the event to start drawing, squeezing it around studying for the State licensing test to be an Insurance Agent for work. Talk about being busy! Here are some work in progress photos:


I arrived at the event carrying all my supplies and these giant folded up papers prepared to rock it out. It was a GORGEOUS day. I am fair skinned so I worried about being sunburned. I brought my sunscreen though and sprayed every hour. Unfortunately I missed spots...

Anyhoo! Usually with a trace you use graphite impressions to copy onto paper. That was not something I could do with this type of artwork. So I used my simple line drawing as a stencil. As I drew the lines I got the pieces away working until there was no tracing paper left. It was an effective way to work. I was able to transfer my drawing to the pavement in about 45 minutes.

I started the color process with the eyes first.  Because it was black road pavement I only used oil pastel twice-black and an olive green. The surface was so rough it was tricky getting the pigment to look smooth for oil pastel. Thank goodness for blending sticks. I used chalk pastels for the rest of the piece. The music outside of Sweet Rides was so catchy and I worked right along. At one point the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" played and it was pure perfection.

People were stopping to see me work and were surprised by how fast I was laying the color down. I loved answering questions and talking about my inspiration. I had a photo with me to inspire the color placement and it was kept with the piece and my bio. Yeah that's right! I had a bio. Several friends stopped by and took pictures of the work in progress with me and I have a few here. 

Ellen brought us a terrific lunch. OMG everyone should try the roast beef sandwich from Sweet Sixteen Cafe. DELICIOUS, I am ruined forever for all roast beef sandwiches, hers are the best. I got to check out how the other artists were doing as well as talk to some kids, our little chalkers!

Carolyn Schultz of Orlando, Fla. our headlining artist did the 

Monda Lisa and it took two days to finish. It was insanely awesome to see. 

The teens and kids had some great pieces and messages for the festival walkers. 

                        

There were so many drawings, too many to put on here. If you got to go to the event you saw the amount of budding talent we have in Niagara County. What made me tear up and get a lump in my throat was that my drawing inspired more lions. That right there is why I LOVE LOVE LOVE art.

 A true form of encouragement, expression, and the spirit. 

 

 My husband, Tim and Ruby came out to visit me and see the finished work. Ruby wasn't the only fan. 

A poodle with a lion like hair do posed for a pic too!

 

The finished work! The Lion of Lockport.

I took pictures of the other works from local artists as well when they were finished. 

                                  

The voted for fan favorite on Sunday August 18th, 2013 was the angels.

 A recreation of the famous artwork “The Seduction of Psyche.” The artist is Joe Mahley. 

The finished Mona Lisa by Carolyn:

We are in Lockport and what happened to be down the street? Lake Effect Ice Cream at their new location. OH YEAH!!! I got the sponge candy flavor if you can't tell by the picture. It was heavenly.

 

The piano project had my friend Julie giving it a try while we waited. 

 I got pictures with the ever wonderful Monnie and the brilliant Ellen.

Monnie and I at the end of the event.

Ellen and I with The Lion of Lockport.

A Sweet Success all the way around for this event and for Lockport. 

Thank you for the support and the opportunity.

New in the Life of Jessie

Hi everyone,

So a lot of things have happened in the past month.
1. I got a new job!!! I now am working for a insurance company and the paycheck will be very nice. This job has also changed my schedule around so I have more time to do what I love in the morning. No more "too tired from brain drain."
2. I am no longer doing the Dog Days event in Lockport.
3. However, I am doing the Sweet Chalk Event in Lockport on August 17th and 18th.

My current works in progress are:
1. 4x6 foot grid/drawing/stencil pieces for the Sweet Chalk event
2. Custom dog painting for my biggest fan. A flattie and a springer spaniel, AKA Nora and Junie.
3. Sketches for Hair Chateau's custom piece
4. Fred the Fruit Bat oil painting
5. I have been doing a lot of photography studies and will be posting those eventually. I am not a professional photographer, more like a seize the moment of inspiration photographer.

I will be making a series of updates to this blog.

Thanks for stickin' with me :)

Furry faces! Friends! Family!

May and June have flown by! I have been busy with several custom pieces!

Grandma Jackie's dog, Penny made it to the sketch pad! The original piece was 9x12 but I had it cut down to 8x10 so it didn't take up too much room on her dresser. I had several pictures to pick from because this little lady has been in my life already. She is super soft and can't hold her licker. I chose this picture on the left as my inspiration and adjusted some of it due to flash and a boring background. 

        

My Grandma Jackie was thrilled and teared up a bit when she saw the finished piece!
Penny just licked my face...

My "cousin" Danielle had contacted me about her loving old horse Mo, unfortunately there were not a lot of pictures to work from. The one she had was a photo that was color edited already so it put me to the test! I also don't like to draw people but this photo is truly an amazing one of Danielle. I really wanted to capture the sense of ease he gave off. I know he loved his girl.

Here is Danielle with her 9x12 custom portrait of "Mo and His Girl"

Then there is a furry friend and his Dad that are both dear to me. Dan has been my friend for about 6 years now. I can't imagine my life without him. He adopted Bo and they come visit us for walks at the gorge. I know its tricky getting pictures of dogs, especially super active ones...

We spent an entire afternoon trying to snap a picture of him and Dan got one of him by the water. This is my interpretation. I say time and time again that my work is so much better person and anyone who has seen it in person will agree. 

We took about 10 pictures together for this blog and we have this one that actually came out-the blur may be a rain drop...or a ghost! This portrait of Bo is an 11x14 oil pastel. 

I'm going to take two seconds to brag!

 My beautiful baby sister had her Senior prom and graduated from high school!  

New beginnings for everyone here. It is the best kind of busy anyone can be! So stay tuned :)