Pet Portrait Commission

Sammy
© 2013 Claudia Ballard
8x10 on canvas panel
Private Collection

I just finished this 8 x 10 commission of a lab retriever named Sammy, who LOVES leopard.  She is a grand old lady of 15, but she still knows how to party...especially in the swimming pool!  Will let this dry today and then varnish and deliver to her owners.  Really makes me feel good to paint such a beautiful pup, knowing how much her family will enjoy it. 

Reflecting on 2012



Pack Horses
©2012 Claudia Ballard
16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

 

This year I have been very privileged to be part of a free year-long art mentorship under the capable hands of my dear friend and master landscape artist Linda Blondheim of Gainesville.  Linda has been incredibly generous with all of us this year; sharing her time, knowledge, and marketing expertise.  Not everyone survived the process.  But those of still standing at the end have learned from each other and formed what I hope will be long-lasting friendships.

Looking back over this year, I am frustrated that I did not accomplish more.  Health issues caused me several setbacks this summer.  I did not push myself as much as I could have.  However, I have started a blog, launched myself kicking and screaming into social media ;->, discovered that my true love is painting animals, written an artist statement and  my bio, learned how to critique my own work, had two mail marketing campaigns, held a successful contest among viewers for the cutest pet portrait, and even improved in my technique.

Now it is time to push out of the safety of the nest in 2013.  This time I am flying solo, setting my goals, juggling business with easel time.  There will be no mentor hovering and pushing me, saving me from near disaster.  The mentorship may have come to an end, but the adventure is just beginning. 

 

 

Birds of a Feather

Congratulations to November's pet portrait contest winner, Stefanie Robinson!!  Stefanie submitted a photo of her adorable lab, Sammie, and she will receive an unframed 8 x 10 custom portrait in acrylics, a $70 value.  It is just that simple to have a painting made of your furry or feathered companion.



Pretty Parrot
© 2012 Claudia Ballard
acrylic on 5 x 7 canvas panel

Well, I seem to be on an avian streak this past couple of weeks.  The sandhills are becoming regular visitors in our yard and are becoming less shy.  I painted this pretty bird several weeks ago.  It reminds me so much of the stunning macaws and cockatoos and parrots visited at Busch Gardens in Tampa as a child.  Of course, when I was that little, the birds were a lot bigger.  :->

Pet Photo Contest

Bright Eyes
©2012 Claudia Ballard
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas panel

Don’t forget November’s pet photo contest!  E-mail me your favorite dog or cat photo by 11/30/2012.  Winner will receive a free unframed 8 x 10 portrait of their adorable furry friend.  So join the fun and enter your photos! 

Sandhill Cranes Are Back

 

The sandhill cranes have returned for their winter migration. We have heard them overhead on their flight path from their feeding areas in the wetlands along the Cross Florida Barge Canal and their nighttime roosting spots inland.  Last week on a really overcast day with dropping temperatures and a light drizzle, I heard them honking overhead on their way home for the night and stepped out the back door to look up and see them.   Nothing overhead.  Once outside, I realized the noise was way too loud to be overhead.  I raced back through the house and out the front door to see a pair landing in the ditch.  With a lot of flapping and boisterous trumpeting, they hopped out of the ditch and proceeded to march right towards me and down the side of our house, made a left turn into the neighbor’s yard and circled her house. 

As soon as I could safely move without alarming them, I headed back inside to grab the camera and stalked them around the neighbor’s trying to remain unseen.  Took some photos and given the bad weather headed back to the house.  Hearing an even more raucous outburst from the pair, I turned in time to see three more cranes land.  There was much flapping and preening and trumpeting among the group.  Perhaps they were waiting for the dawdlers to catch up.  They poked the ground for insect snacks for some time and eventually before total darkness, flew on to their “beds” for the night.  It was like having National Geographic in our own yard.

More “People Foods” That are Safe for Dogs

Sprocket

© 2012 Claudia Ballard

8 x 10 acrylic on canvas

Green Beans

You already know that green beans are nutritious because they’re full of vitamins, minerals and fiber, and since they’re so low in calories too, they make a great weight-management snack for dogs that have put on a few extra pounds.

Watermelon

Summer is almost upon us and our dogs are just as excited as we are for warm weather, fun in the sun, playing at the beach and stuffing our faces with juicy, delicious watermelon. Yes, dogs can eat watermelon. Other melons are good for dogs to eat too, but stick to the familiar fruit-salad basics like watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe instead of anything exotic that you might find

Blueberries

Fresh or frozen, berries are good for dogs for the same reasons they’re good for us: they’re packed with vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals. But don’t share too much, because dogs are just as prone as we are to the digestive discomfort that can come from berry overindulgence

Carrots

…they’re healthy because of all the vitamins, fiber and potassium they carry. As a bonus, carrots are great for canine dental health too…[some veterinarians suggest] baby carrots to help remove plaque from your dog’s teeth and keep its breath fresh and pleasant.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin… is bursting with vitamins, beta carotene and fiber. It’s also low in calories, and you can feed it to a tummy-aching dog to settle its stomach or help relieve diarrhea. As always, fresh is best. If you really must buy the canned stuff, make sure you select a brand of pumpkin that’s not full of sugar and preservatives.

 

 http://www.pawnation.com/2012/06/03/10-people-foods-dogs-can-eat-too/

“People Foods” That are Safe for Dogs



Dreamy Kitty
© 2012 Claudia Ballard
11 x 14 acrylic on masonite

 

There are all kinds of opinions on what to feed the canine members of the family.  My vet insists dogs should never eat “people food”.  Try telling that to my brother’s German shepherd as he snatches cherry tomatoes out of my sister-in-law’s garden or begs and whines for raw carrots while she cooks.  :->

Most of us know there are foods that are harmful to our pooches, even toxic, and we hear a lot about the evils of grapes and chocolate.  However, I found something interesting on Pawnation.com and thought I would share some excerpts here:

 

 

Peanut Butter

… peanut butter is safe (and delicious) for dogs to eat. And because dogs are generally quite fond of peanut butter, it can be used to conceal yucky medicine. It almost goes without saying that your dog is best off eating natural, unprocessed peanut butter without added salt, sugar and preservatives…

Cheese

They’re usually eager to gobble up some cheese, and generally it’s perfectly safe. But like us, dogs can be prone to lactose intolerance, so tread lightly. Cottage cheese is a good choice because it’s gentle on sensitive tummies

Yogurt

Yogurt is one of the best treats you can give dogs for the same reasons it’s so often recommended to humans: it’s packed to the rafters with probiotics, vitamins, protein, calcium, riboflavin, zinc and potassium. …. Avoid yogurts that are chock-full of sugar, preservatives and other additives. By the same token, fat-free yogurt is an acceptable option for dieting dogs, but be careful not to choose a brand that replaces the fat with an artificial fat substitute. All-natural is the name of the game here.

Salmon

The fish is a great source of protein, and it boasts a ton of omega-3 fatty acids which promote a strong immune system, healthy skin and a shiny coat. And if your family has both dogs and cats in the home, that’s all the more reason to stay stocked up on this nutritional powerhouse.

Sweet Potatoes

These sweet spuds have got fiber, vitamins and carotenoids up the wazoo. What’s the best way to prepare them for canine consumption? You wouldn’t want to eat sweet potatoes raw, and neither would your pooch. Serve them up in a dog bowl cooked, mashed or even dehydrated. Just don’t add salt or butter.

Bonnie and Big Bird

Evening Deer

©2012 Claudia Ballard

Matted to 8x10 acrylic on Arches WC paper

Dark wood frame under glass

One day last week I heard my husband calling me softly to come to the back door.   He had heard a ruckus in the backyard from our usually quiet cocker.  A small flock of wild turkeys had wandered through the yard and Bonnie did not know quite what to make of such big birds.  Apparently she charged the fence and the gobbler turned on her, ruffling his feathers, and charged back.  Totally taken aback for a bird to behave that way towards her, the bird dog, she retreated. 

The gobbler was shielding his flock by staying between us and the hens while they made their way into the woods on the edge of our property.  Bonnie studied this some more and rushed the fence and gave one small bark, just to let him know this was her yard after all.  Once the hens had slipped into the cover of the undergrowth, the gobbler too disappeared into the woods and they vanished.

When we first lived here, before development around us, we would see huge flocks of turkeys on a regular basis, pecking their way through the tall Bahia grass and snacking on the acorns under the large oaks.  It was a grand sight!

Squirrels Are For Chasing

Out On A Limb
c. 2012 Claudia Ballard
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas panel

Apologies for having been missing in action so long.  I had a serious skin infection that landed me in the hospital for a bit.  But I am on the mend and loaded up with antibiotics for quite some time to come. Hurray!  It is good to be back home and back in my studio.

Of all the dogs I have known, only a couple of small poodles were not inclined to chase squirrels.  Sam, our “granddog” golden retriever, spent hours slowly stalking them...like they could not see his 96-pound frame approaching.  They would taunt him by waiting until the last second to scamper up a tree.  Sam would try to follow them up the tree, jumping wildly in a futile effort to get them to come back down.  He gave a few of the squirrels a near heart attack as his tactics improved.  ;-) 

On the farm we had a beagle named Barney…scrappy and fearless.  His hunting partner, Shelly, was a shaggy, white female, a wild dog who was adopted as a puppy and tamed (sort of).  She had good instincts for hunting.  They would each chase the same squirrel, working together, one straight on and one sneaking around the house to come up behind it.  The squirrels still usually won.    I think the real fun for them was in the chase.  Goodness knows it provided lots of entertainment for us watching them.

 

 

 

Playtime For Bored Cats

Bright Eyes
c. Claudia Ballard 2012
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas

Like people, cats get bored with their old toys.  But they don't have to lose interest.  Cat behaviorist Marva Marrow has suggestions on how to make every play day fresh and fun for you and your feline companion:

1. Limit the Options

Have just a few toys around.   Cats aren't great decision makers. When they have too many options, they become unable to focus and can’t choose.

2. Rotate the Toys

If you own more than a few cat toys, you don't need to get rid of them all.  Then next week hide those away and pull out three more. The three you choose should be dissimilar.

3. Know Your Cat's Turn-Ons (and Turn-Offs)

Most prefer texture to sound, making a furry stuffed mouse more enticing than a rubber one that squeaks. Cats are also smart, and not easily fooled by mechanical prey.  What will remain appealing to most cats is any toy they can bat around.

4. Know Your Cat's Nature

Cat play is practice for hunting prey.  They don’t make a quick kill. They toss it up in the air, force it to move.   That is why they can spend hours batting a ball of tinfoil.

5. Keep It Real

Most cats are unable to follow quick movement. Drag a pole toy or string toy along the ground slowly, just out of your cat's reach.  You can also attempt to mimic the movement of their natural prey by holding it still so your cat can focus, and then wiggle it a little, stop, and then wiggle again.

6. Use What You Have

A cat’s favorite plaything may turn out to be the plastic ring from a carton of milk, or a ball of cellophane.  Socks filled with catnip, small balls of yarn, or ping-pong balls let loose in a dry bathtub may also bring your cat more hours of pleasure than the most expensive store-bought toy.

What does YOUR cat love to play with the most? 

Excerpted from petpeoplesplace.com (here)

Sam's Story...The Beginning



Golden Smile
c. 2012 Claudia Ballard
12 x 16 acrylic on masonite panel

Well, this is not really him, but sure does resemble him.  I will do another painting one day of the real thing.  He was an awkward and lanky golden retriever pup that arrived at our neighbors´ home and quickly tried to climb their picnic table, but his wobbly legs would not cooperate with the rest of his fast-growing body.  He discovered we were home a lot more than his owners and spent the day camped out on our porch or following us around the yard.  Sam was quickly adopted as our “granddog”.  He grew up to be a strapping 96-pound lapdog!   He was exceptionally smart and talented (as any grandmother would tell you) and was always into something that made us laugh. 

Watch for more stories about Sam and the other dogs we have known coming soon.

 

As you will see, I am retooling my blog to reflect my new focus on animal art…specifically pet portraits.  Please see my pet portrait page here, if you would like more information on a custom portrait as a gift for a loved one or yourself. 

Marjorie's Washer
@2012, Claudia Ballard
8 x 10 acrylic on panel

Please ignore the bars of light across the top of this painting...I shot this on the road and not in my usual studio setting.  This is one of the paintings I finished during my “retreat”.  It was based on a photo reference I took at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings home in Cross Creek, Florida.  Growing up I remember my grandmother washing clothes in these big galvanized tubs.  When we were really little, we would turn them into wading pools on hot summer days.  I might be able to get both feet in one these days.  :->  It is a beautiful historic state park and there are tours of the house, which is just as she left it.  Have more photos of this site which I hope to develop into paintings someday.  Click here for more information on the park.

For now it is good to be back home in the Florida sand.  South Carolina was beautiful...still some spring rhodedendrons and azaleas hanging on.  My sis-in-law has beds of irises just opening into huge blooms.  They have a bird feeder just off the dining area in front of a bank of windows.  Lots of cardinals, gold finches, wrens, house finches, and a stray woodpecker or two stopped by while we ate breakfast.  I went to sleep one night to sounds of an owl in the woods across from their property.  Stay tuned for more animal paintings coming soon!

Homespun Artist's Retreat

I am traveling this week to visit my 87-year-old mother in SC while my brother and his wife are away.  I decided to steal, ummm borrow,  ;-> an idea from one of my fellow artists in the mentor program, Terri West, of Orlando.  Being short on funds to attend a formal workshop, she decided to create her own art retreat at home for a week.  So, I have packed up my essential gear and canvases and paint, and have made the most of my week away from the distractions at home.  After recuperating from the 9-hour drive, I have managed to finish three paintings that needed fine tuning and prepared the background on several canvases and worked out my sketches for those.  I hope to at least get a number of starts done to take home to finish up.

Bright Eyes
@2012 Claudia Ballard
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas panel

I am working on a portfolio of animal portraits to hone my skills for doing pet portraits.  Will put together some flyers to leave at the veternarian offices and other pet friendly outlets to see if I can generate some commission work.  If you know any animal lovers, please help me grow my business.  Just ask me for referral postcards; they are stamped and ready for you to address and send to your friends and have a photo of one of my paintings.  (I even left room at the bottom for you to scribble a note if you like.)

Spring is for the Birds

Jay
@2012 Claudia Ballard
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas panel

Long after the bulbs have died back and the azalea blooms have dropped, there is the happy sound of chirping in the trees around our home. First the robins pop in on their migration, which of course makes the resident mockingbird crazy trying to protect his territory. Then the cardinals and jays and wrens add to the chorus. And the pine siskin which is so tiny it is hard to see.  But the final sure sign of spring for us is the evening we hear the first whippoorwill call.  We are always longing to hear that sound…kind of haunting but so beautiful.  In the next few weeks, as they seek mates, there will be long evenings of calls back and forth until the chorus becomes so loud, we have to close a few windows to be able to hear.  Now we have to scurry to get the feeders out for the hummingbirds who will land next.

Walk In the Woods

It was really foggy this morning when I took Bonnie out for her walk.  The mist had settled on all the cobwebs leaving little white tufts of webs decorating the shrubs and undergrowth in the woods behind our house.  It would be lovely to paint, but I don't think it is possible (for me) to capture the delicacy of those little webs on canvas. 

Bonnie is my two-year-old Cocker spaniel.  She is a rescue dog we adopted last fall from the Florida Little Dog Rescue out of St. Cloud, FL.  Bonnie gives us lots of reasons to laugh as she discovers her new world--squirrels, birds, even a baby gopher tortoise.  The gopher has long since vacated his chambers for safer housing and we had laid bricks over its entrance to discourage the dog from digging under the steps.  But this afternoon the scent must have wafted up from somewhere and 20-pound Bonnie would not rest until she had dug up the pile of bricks and had her front half under the steps and down the hole.  She eventually realized nobody was "home" and gave up, but not until she had dirt stuffed in her ears and nose and her pink tongue was hanging out sideways.

We named this pup for another Bonnie--an amazing maternal black lab--who helped me overcome my fears and feel truly at ease with animals.  More about that to come.

Vincent's Starry Night

Just stumbled across this on the internet and had to share.  One creative genius has designed an interactive application to combine music and motion using works from the Masters.  Hope you enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/36466564

Getting Back Up

@2012 Claudia Ballard, Ricky Up a Tree, 5 x7 acrylic

If you trip and fall down, you don’t just lie there on the ground….unless something is seriously broken.  You hop up, dust yourself off, and go again.  Hopefully a little wiser to watch where you put your big feet.  My blog and marketing plans suffered a tumble due to a mountain of tax returns, the “go-live” for two major new clients at the day job, capped off by our septic tank backing up into the house. 

So, I have filed returns, rearranged my work schedule, and cleaned up the mess.  I am learning to make better use of my time….writing this while waiting in line for customer service at the bank.  Have designed and ordered business cards and promotional materials.  Just need to find a balance in my schedule to make a place for my art, because I refuse to lie there and give up before I have even started walking.

Mentorship

We did have a wonderful session with our mentor group this weekend.  We have such different styles as artists, and we are all at different stages in the development of our art careers, but I am learning so much from all of them.  They have all helped me find a clearer focus for my work…so expect to see more wildlife and less trees. 

Patterns and Color in My Garden

@2012, Claudia Ballard, Fancy Cock, framed 8x10 acrylic on canvas panel

Sometimes my garden provides valuable inspiration. The simplicity of the repeated shapes, the round cabbages with their ruffled skirts in green and bluish purple, the (mostly straight) rows of greens: pale buttery green lettuce, shiny dark emerald spinach, smooth bright green mustards, and feathery carrot tops. Lots of contrasts in texture and values. Now if I can just remember to use all of that when I paint!

It is amazing how much you can grow in one tiny plot. When we lived on the farm we had a huge 50 x 100 foot family garden with rows of beans, onions, corn, squash, etc. Now I am happy with a 4 x 8 foot raised bed that my husband built for me that is just a few feet off my kitchen door. I have learned that the more you pack into it, the happier the plants are. We save the pine straw from the yard to use as mulch both to retain moisture and to protect from the heat of the sun and frosty mornings. Nothing is quite as tasty as fresh-picked produce on the dinner table.

The Great Creative Adventure Begins

@2011 Claudia Ballard, Grandpa's Barn, 8x10 acrylic on canvas panel

My amazing mother made sure that growing up we always had a cigar box full of crayons, watercolor and tempera paints, lots of paper, and anything else that would spark our creativity.  Later our neighbor, who was an elderly Russian gentleman and an accomplished artist before arthritis crippled his hands, was generous enough to pass along a beginning artist’s oil set when I had just entered my teens.  As I fingered the canvas, brushes, table easel, palette, and of course, paints, I thought I had the greatest treasure possible.  

Life takes lots of twists and turns and I spent many years pursuing my love of quilting…which in my mind was painting with fabric.  Several years ago to cope with the stress of caregiving, I found myself coming back to the easel, this time to watercolors and then acrylics.  When I am painting, everything around me slows down and I can focus on the story unfolding on my canvas.   Sometimes you wrangle with the paint trying to make it cooperate and behave on the canvas to finish the image you have in your head.  But always I step away from the finished work and think (no matter how sad it may look), wow, I made that!  There is the marvelous feeling of accomplishment, of having made something with your hands.

Now my good friend, Gainesville artist Linda Blondheim, has bestowed another generous gift.  Over this next year, I—along with Harold Barrand, Terri West, Lynn Biddlecomb—will benefit from her mentorship.  Hard work, yes.  Scary, yes.   But when we reach the end of this year, I hope to stand back from my easel and say I am a better artist….and that the adventure is just beginning.