2014...Bring it On! :)

What a year 2013 was and 2014 has already started out with quite a bang! Swamped in commissions and it's only the 2nd week of January! I will be working on a large portrait of a beloved Labrador Retriever, a Golden Retriever Wyeth Painting from my ongoing series, a large French Sevres floral, and a HUGE 36x48 horse painting among others! So grateful to God and looking forward to the many blessings ahead! All the best to you and yours! Make this year the best year yet! ;) 

Life Imitating Art

An adorable Lab asleep by Andrew Wyeth's "Master Bedroom,"...truly life imitating art.

available on etsy

My 'gift' to A Place to Bark...

My gift to all the pups rescued by Bernie Berlin...

from now thru Christmas $10 of every 8x10 & 11x14 print 

from my etsy store

will be donated to 'A Place to Bark'

...helping to save lives,

 is there any better gift to give?♥

The Rainbow Bridge...

I've been blown away at the interest in my Rainbow Bridge painting, but I reckon it has hit a spot so many of us hold in our hearts for those precious pups that we have lost...I believe whole heartedly they will be in Heaven...I can't imagine God would create such loving creatures for it not to be so.~Lara

 I'm so moved by what Bernie Berlin does for animals in need, I have decided to donate $10 for each 8"x10" & 11"x14" print sold of my Rainbow Bridge Painting from my etsy store to her rescue
'A Place to Bark'...she is truly an angel here on earth.

Not Ready to Say Goodbye...

My parents Black Lab, Pepper hasn't been eating the past few days & has been getting quite thin. She's been sleeping most of the day as she is 12 now, but I just cannot even 'go there'...none of us are ready to say goodbye to her...we've had her since she was a puppy...I remember the night we got her. She came through the front door like a bullet...so full of life & energy. Our Golden Retriever, Cassie was not at all thrilled that night, but eventually grew to tolerate Pepper & in time they became the best of buddies. We lost Cassie a few years back & our hearts still ache for her...how will we ever let go of our Pepper-pot?...I hate that big dogs don't last as long as the little ones...Small dogs seem to live forever...life just isn't fair. She's been such a good ol' girl. 
  
(from my Mom): As I lay down beside her, our eyes met w/a special understanding of what our time together has meant. A pup, 4x given away, (no one would give her the ♥ & patience she required), to the strong, bright companion I knew she could become...our lives intertwined. I stroked her head, her tail thumped against the floor,& then she placed her outstretched leg on my shoulder & my eyes welled with tears.

Custom Pet Portrait ...Westie, Daschund, & Labrador Retriever Painting in OIL

A large private commission just finished last night...3 pups kicking back and relaxing on a couch :) Feel free to contact me if you would like a portrait done of your pup or visit my website: studiolara.com

I'm No Longer Afraid of Blue...

For a long time I have avoided using some colors in my work for fear that I would make an absolute mess of something I had spent hours on, but I finally took the plunge and added a bit of blue to this black Lab. It may not be so apparent in the photo, but there are subtle hints of blue in some of the highlights and doggone it, it just works! And I have to say I'm really lovin the nice light brown of the blanket and the bit of brown in the eyes...both seem to complement the blue just right! If you are interested in having a pet portrait done feel free to contact me!

Our Jedha has Cancer...

Our Jedha went to the Cancer Specialist today and has a cancerous growth that will need to be removed...to read more click here.
*When in doubt, get it checked out!