Hi, my name is Jean
 

I've been lurking this Forum and site for a few months now, and finally got the guts to post something. I'm a 51 year old grandmother of two who is finally back to traditional art. I've been drawing since I could hold something. Used to draw with rocks on the sidewalk!

I use a form of airbrush ink combined with pastel, so am not sure where to post my work. I put the first one, Meagan, under the "Other medium" section. As I have read so often on here, I spent years doing other types of work than art, but the time is NOW to do it. I hope to become a full-fledged portrait artist (also love animals). Any and all feedback will be most welcome. I'm delighted to find this site with all the fine work and kind people.

Welcome Jean,

Glad to have you aboard. This site is unique. Where else could you have such outstanding contemporay artists critique your work?

Hi Alicia
 

Thanks for your warm welcome. I've seen so much incredible art in the past month that my head is reeling. I'm glad to be here. I started painting again in January, after spending 10 years in quilting. I painted, pieced, and appliqued quilts for commercial and private customers. The actual nuts and bolts of the business was in custom bedrooms. I made more dust ruffles, pillow shams, and bedspreads than I can remember. It did pay the bills though, and I was able to do some artwork. I closed the business this year and decided it was time for me now.

I'm working on my 8th painting at this time. Here's my self-portrait with my constant companion, Zoe. She was 6 months old at the time, now a full grown German Shepard with both ears standing straight up. It's done in soft pastel on whatever paper I had laying around. It's good to be here.

Jean,

I love your painting with Zoe. I am also a dog lover, and my constant companion is a Pembroke Corgi. This obviously shows the bond and love between you. Beautiful job!

Alicia
 

Heartfelt thanks to you. This has warmed my night. Like many, I suffer from chronic insecurity. This was my second try at pastel, I succeeded in creating a massive mess in the dining room, but had fun.

This painting literally made me get "teary". What an excellent expression of love between mammals. You have done such a wonderful job with the composition and facial expressions. Superb!!!!

Zoe and me
 

Thanks Linda, Zoe is by far one of my best friends. The GSD is supposed to be regal, independent, intelligent, devoted, etc. but Zoe is just a nut. Her favorite position is on her back, waiting to get her belly rubbed. I could write a book about her antics and my love for her but, this is a portrait art forum, so I'll stop here.

Jean, that painting of you looks exactly like my daughter. She had a female German shepherd that looked like that. She threw a frisbie for her, and the dog ran into a metal post and died from a skull fracture. She now has a larger male German shepherd.
Anyway, I sent this painting to her by email, and she is using it as wall paper for her computer. She is 35 and lives near Madison Wisconsin.

Coincidences
 

Hi Linda,

It must be a very small world! Where does she live? I'm honored to know that my painting is being used and enjoyed by someone. Maybe sometime I will run into her at a mall or grocery store and meet my younger twin! And for the record, my self portrait doesn't reflect what I actually look like. See, my brain is still only 35 or so (sometimes only 19) but my face shows normal signs of aging. Of course my hair covers a lot of the wrinkles and hair dye still keeps me blonde! Would it be better to continue this conversation in e-mail?

Hi Jean,

Really strong painting that will speak directly to the hearts of dog owners. In terms of marketing, if you want to paint dog portraits, you could approach local veterinarians; they may hang pieces on their walls for you, sort of a one-man show. They will get original art, a community-embracing ambiance, and you will get commissions from it. You've really captured huge spirit here, the no-strings-attached love that connects us to our pets.