Portland, Oregon for the Holidays and some Pet Portraits

My son needed me to pet-sit his dog and cat during the months of November and December, so he sent me an airline ticket and here I am!  It was less expensive than paying for a kennel for the two furry grandchildren.

It's nice to be in Portland again - to see the family - but my gosh it's cold here!

This weekend I went to an RV show.  I've been thinking about getting something larger to live out of; something I can stand up and cook in. I fell in love with a T@B Trailer and actually put a deposit on it. But after a couple of sleepless nights worrying, reading for hours on T@B forums about problems with the trailers, talking to female friends who had towed rigs, I decided to wait and get a larger van instead.  It was a fun ride though for those two days I thought I'd be in that sweet little trailer!

I'm using the time while I'm here to do more art.

I'm learning to use a variety of mediums.

I still have my lessons with Anna Mason.

That has been such a great foundation!

In addition,

I've signed up for 3 Patreon accounts; one with Lisa Ann Watkins, who does incredible colored pencil work, one with Jason Morgan, whose pastel pencils and panpastel work I"m interested in, and one with Leontine Van Vliet, who also works with colored pencils but has an entirely different technique.

I'm really enjoying learning!

I did a series of free pet portraits for some of my vanning friends last month.

I needed to practice and I needed some photos for my new website, 

which I hope to get up before the holidays.

Here are some of those portraits. 

I used various techniques for each.

1) Leo the Boxer

Colored Pencil and Watercolor Underwash

Arches Hot Presses Paper

2) Sherlock the Mixed Breed

Watercolor on Arches Hot Pressed

3) Quinn the Australian Shepherd

Colored Pencil on Anthracite Pastelmat

4) Cookie the French Bulldog

Colored Pencil and Watercolor

Pastelmat

5) Emily the Cat

Colored Pencil and Watercolor

Pastelmat

6) Mittens the Cat

Colored Pencil on White Pastelmat

This one isn't finished. 

I just bought some panpastels and want to do a dark background.

Her fur also needs more work.

7) Abbey the Cat

I'm working on this portrait this week.

It is one of my commissions.

This is just a very quick, rough watercolor study on Arches Hot Pressed Paper.

The original will be on Pastelmat 

and will be in panpastels, pastel pencils, and colored pencils.

I really feel I've found my niche.

I wish I'd figured out that I could do art when I was in my 20's

instead of finding out in my mid-60's!

Doing pet portraits is a great way I can earn a bit of 

extra income while moving around in the van.

So I'm pretty excited.

I will also do other subjects.

Here is a Kingfisher I painted for Joe's Yule gift

using an Anna Mason tutorial:

Soooo.. that's what I'm up to.

I purchased business cards, and made a Facebook page.

I've picked up my first few commissions.

I just have to set up a website.

I'm flying back to Palm Springs on December 29.

I'll pick up the van and head for Quartzsite,

and be there in time for the WRTR and RTR.

For those who don't know what those are:

WRTR:  Women's Rubber Tramp Rendevous

RTR:  Rubber Tramp Rendevous

Last year, there were over 3000 rigs at the RTR.

I'm looking forward to connecting with old friends!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and whichever winter holiday you celebrate.

Happy Trails!

Annie