Grammy Mouse Summer Newsletter
2009
Things
have been very busy here on the farm with all the spring chores that the renewal
of life on a farm entails but finally the garden is in, the spring-cleaning of
the studio is done, and its time to pick up my brushes and get back to my
painting schedule. I’m really itching to get back to creating art (maybe the
itching is from all the ravenous blackflies I encountered getting the garden
ready). But I love working in the garden, the warm sun, and the smell of the
newly turned earth, the satisfying feeling when you stand back and look at what
you have planted. It reminds me of when I helped my grandfather doing his
gardening when I was a child. Those
are special memories. As I grow older, I find that I revisit those memories more
and more connecting with those special times.
It seems like such a different world…it was a much simpler time with
much simpler pleasures and I do miss it so much. Maybe that is why I love
preserving memories on canvas, both mine and those of the clients who commission
me to do “memory paintings” for them.
Wonderful
news, I was honored to be chosen by the Maine Discovery Museum to be a guest
artist to participate in their Annual Fundraiser Auction. Each year a select
group of Maine artists are given the opportunity to contribute their time and
talent to the Museum by painting a functional item (supplied by the museum)
applying their artistic talents to the of the decorating the piece.
This year’s item is a delightful table with matching tray, which I am
looking forward to painting. The ideas have been whizzing around in my head. The
museum mentioned that they love my winter scenes and they would love to see one
of those. Maybe it’s time for me to go on a “Road Trip” and find
a new special place like the “Village
of Head Tide”. The auction
this year is called “Tray Chic” and will be held in November.
Good news for my collectors - online bidding is available so I will let
you know more details as soon as they are available.
One of the joys of my painting life is painting the home portraits, pet portraits, and commissioned subject paintings that my clients order. The collaborative effort of working closely with a client and being able to put their ideas on canvas for them to preserve special memories and commemorate furry friends is very special to me. I thought in this newsletter I would show one of the paintings I did last year for a lovely client in Georgia. She had the most adorable cat named Charlie, a unique little guy who likes to “dress up” and participate in the local July 4th parade in his stroller. Some of pictures she sent me to work from are below.
And we discussed by
email any ideas she had about the painting.
"Charlie does
have a certain charm unlike a cat and more like a dog. He is unique but we all
say that about our cats. He loves
to go for walks in his stroller; jumps right in and off we go.
We were even in the neighborhood July 4th parade this year,
the kids loved it, he even wore a red white and blue kerchief around his neck.
Maybe he should be wearing one in the painting and have an American flag
somewhere in the scene. Here are a
few jpgs of Charlie."
“
I am so happy to get your message. I
think your idea with the vintage stroller sounds great, since that is his
favorite pastime. I will take a picture of the scarf he wore and send it asap
back to you.”
And so with that
input from Charlie’s “Mom”, I created the portrait below. With a vintage
pram on a farmhouse porch with some potted rosemary (for remembrance) and
geraniums and vinca. I have to say this one is my all time favorite!!!!!
So
if you want your home, pet, or special place immortalized in a Grammy Mouse
original painting for yourself or as a gift for someone dear, now is the time to
reserve your spot on my 2009 painting schedule. Just click on the link below to
be taken to website where you can order your painting. The commissions I take now will be the only ones I will be
doing this year, as my schedule is filling up with requests from my publisher,
so if you are planning on a Grammy Mouse Original as a Christmas Gift, order
now. I
have planned to offer painting commissions on Ebay as it “Buy It Now” events
(there will be no auctions for custom work) next week, if any spaces are left,
but I like to offer them to my collectors first out of appreciation for your
past purchases. Many of you have written mentioning that you would like me to do
a painting for you, so this will be your only chance to have one done this year.
Click on the link below for ordering information and prices
http://www.agiftofmaine.com/Home_Portraits.htm
Well
I hope everyone has a wonderful summer. Be
sure to stop by the website, www.agiftofmaine.com
, or checkout my auctions on Ebay, eBay Id -
grammymouseart, or visit my blog http://grammymouse.blogspot.com/
during the summer! You never know what
you might find!!!!!
Best
Regards,
Grammy
Mouse