Life With Dogs Giveaway! :)

Be sure to hop, skip, & jump on over to Life With Dogs for a grreat giveaway! Three lucky pups will win a fine art print signed by moi! ;)...and if you feel your precious pup needs to be immortalized in oil be sure to contact me and/or visit my website at Studio Lara .com
Cheers!

Feature on Become.com & New Prints Available on etsy!

Thank you to Become.com for featuring my blog on their site! I've been busy as a bee working on summer commissions and I listed some new prints in my store on etsy...be sure to take a peek! Hope you are enjoying your summer! :) If you are interested in having a pet portrait done or a custom piece done feel free to contact me and/or visit my site at Studio Lara.com.

Viewing Mary Cassatt's 'Children Playing with a Dog', Master Portrait Study in Oil

 

 (Viewing Cassatt's 'Children Playing with a Dog', 

6"x 6", oil on stretched canvas,
available on etsy )

This is a 6"x 6" oil painting on stretched canvas with the edges painted black
(can be hung as is, no need for framing) depicting a little girl and her Yorkie viewing
Mary Cassatt's "Children Playing with a Dog." Amazing to think that Cassatt's painting went for $6.2 million at Christie's Auction House in 2007!

(**Note: This piece is more vibrant, colorful, & detailed than what may appear! :)

Currently on my Easel...

(8"x 10", oil on canvas,

nfs, private commission )

("Duchess," 8"x 10", oil on canvas,
nfs, private commission)

Well, contrary to my belief I suppose I CAN paint horses! This is only the 2nd horse I've ever attempted to paint, but I have to say I am really thrilled with how it's coming together! Stay tuned for the grand finale!...The 'Duchess' is complete, and I am also really happy with the end result on this piece. I think the ornate chair really fits this little lady, don't you agree? :) (*Update, I finished the horse painting, and replaced the image above so you can see how it turned out...fingers crossed that the owner is happy too!:)

Meet Mathew Mead's Pup, "Oscar"...& A Giveaway at A Gift Wrapped Life!

Oscar, 11"x 14", oil on canvas (nfs)

I just wanted to share some awesome news! I recently was commissioned to do a surprise painting for none other than interior designer/stylist/author/editor Matthew Mead! Linda MacDonald over at Restyled Home asked me to do a painting of his pup, Oscar, for him and his wife as they were coming to her home for a photo shoot as they are launching a new magazine soon called Flea Market Style! You can read more about it here. Linda will be sending me a photo of Matthew and his wife with my painting very soon! Just so thrilled to hear that they are pleased with how it turned out! It was a true pleasure...thank you Linda! :o)
To have a portrait done of your precious pup feel free to contact me!

** Also!! A GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY will be taking place at
A Gift Wrapped Life! Click Here to learn more!

**AND I just selected the next lucky WINNER from those who originally entered my 1st ever Blog Art Giveaway...and can I tell you I had actually selected this one person but was sad to find that they are no longer following me for whatever reason :o( and I kind of felt like, well that's going against the rules of the original contest...so, I thought about it, re-checked again to see if maybe I was wrong, but no this person is no longer a follower so I chose another entry...and the winner is!!!Mason Dixie of
Who Says Dogs Don't Blog: the Day and the Life of Mason Dixie

***I also wanted to give a very SPECIAL THANK-YOU to my husband, Jonathan, it is his birthday today and I want him to know just how much he means to me...he has been so supportive of my work, loves me at my best & at my worst, and is my very best friend in life...someone once told me I'd never find my 'Prince Charming'....well they were wrong....mine came by way of the land down under, and yes he is my prince! :o)