Pet Expo 2007

This weekend from Friday evening until Sunday at 5pm, I will have a booth at the Pet Expo in Fredericton. It is an SPCA fundraiser and last year it brought in 3000 people. I expect it will be quite a busy weekend for me, but I'm really looking forward to it. I've been preparing for it for a little while now, getting greeting cards and prints ready to sell, making up signs, and framing my prints for display.

I expect the expo will include anything and everything pet-related. Plus there will be an NBSPCA auction and agility trials and/or flyball if I read correctly. It should be a good time, so if you're wandering around, be sure to stop by and say hi.

Finished Jessie, Bart and Cooper

After 29 hrs of drawing I'm finally done. I had originally estimated that it would take me 30 hrs, so I guess I was pretty close. I'm really happy with how this one turned out and so is the client. It's always a relief to hear that the owner is happy and doesn't want any changes! This isn't the final scan and it's missing my signature, but it is finished. I plan on having it scanned tomorrow and then I can hand it over to the owner.

Next on my plate is a pastel portrait of a cat named Whisky. Whisky's portrait will be done in the same style as Bosco (both cats come from the same household).

After that, I finally get to do a horse portrait of a beautiful horse named Emerald. Emerald's portrait will be a 14x17 montage, meaning that there will be a large portrait of her head and neck as an adult and a smaller version of her as a baby. This will be done in coloured pencil.

I also have been approached by a photographer here in Fredericton to do a wolf drawing, potentially for a wildlife calendar, so I will be working on that soon too. I will keep you up to date on what, if anything comes of that.

25 hrs

I'm getting really close to being done this drawing. All I have left to do is a bit of shading on the ground and touch up a few things. I guess my estimate of 30 hrs was pretty close!

Article in my local paper

The Daily Gleaner, Fredericton's local newspaper, printed an article on me today. Here is the article:
http://www.pagesportraits.com/dailygleaner.html

21.75 hrs

News

Well the summer is coming to an end and although I'm sad to see the warm weather go, it will be nice to have a little more free time (that will be filled quickly I'm sure). I've got two portraits on the go right now. I plan on getting the one of the three dogs finished pretty soon, then I've got a pastel portrait to do. I will only be taking on a few more commissions for Christmas so you might want to put your order in soon. I also offer gift certificates for anyone who doesn't get their order in in time.

I have some exciting news...last week, a reporter from my local newspaper, The Daily Gleaner, contacted me and asked to do an article on me. She interviewed me last week and a photographer came to my house. The article will be in the Balance section in tomorrow's paper. I'm quite excited about this...and a little nervous. This article will be great for exposure and I'm quite flattered that she asked me to do this. The article will be a profile of me, apparently discussing different aspects of my life. I will of course be purchasing several newspapers tomorrow when the article comes out! I will also post a link to the article on my website and blog.

In other news, I will be at the Pet Expo in Fredericton on Sept. 28, 29, 30, displaying my work and advertising my business. I have a lot of preparation to do this month because I plan on selling greeting cards and prints, as well as promoting the commission side of my work. Apparently the Pet Expo brings in a large crowd (over 3000 last year), so hopefully I will get some new commissions from that. It will be a long, busy weekend, but I've got some helpers and I expect it will be an enjoyable experience.

And lastly, I've entered a couple of my drawings into an art competition at the Fredericton Exhibition being held this coming week. I've entered "Britainy and Briggs" and "Noah" . These portraits belong to friends of mine and they were kind enough to lend them to me for the competition. I should know how I do in the competition in the next few days. Fingers crossed!

Well that is it for my news for now. I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer.

18 hrs

This is 18 hrs worth of drawing on the Bernese Mountain dog and Leonbergers.

Facebook

Hey everyone, just a quick note...if you use Facebook, I invite you to join my group. It has the same title as my blog: Page's Portraits - Pet Portraits by Heather Page. Feel free to pass it along to your friends!

Oil Painting Lessons

I am quite excited to say that I'm going to be taking an oil painting class this fall. I have never used oil paints before and have limited experience with acrylics, so I am really looking forward to learning a lot. I have always wanted to try oils, but have to admit I've been a bit afraid to try on my own without proper training. I've used acrylics in high school (many years ago!) and the odd time after that, but I've never really been taught to paint properly. I've always been quite partial to pencils, but maybe if I really enjoy working with oils, I'll eventually offer it as an option for pet portraits!

Jessie, Bart and Cooper update

Here is another update from the portrait I'm currently working on.