How Shelter Pups paintings for charity changed my art career life!
4 years ago today, I posted my very first painting here!
Over the years, I have experimented with so many different techniques; mimicking other artists like Bill Alexander, Buck Paulson, Leonid Afremov, Albert Bierstadt and Tim Packer, and as most of you know, painting my realistic pet portraits. However, lately I have been thinking hard about who I AM as an artist - what is MY artistic voice? When I asked my friends and family, they all responded with, "your pet portraits ARE your voice". But I didn't feel like they were unique enough to brand as my own style. I wanted them to be more painterly and artistic instead of simply realism.
About a month ago, I was inspired to create a new group of paintings I called my "adoptables"; paintings of dogs available for adoption at a local animal shelter (Profits all donated to the shelter 🐶), combining realism with color and abstraction. I was not even close to being prepared for the overwhelming response by customers to these new style pet portraits. I received almost 20 custom orders in this new style from my first show - AND people were buying the "adoptables" like hot cakes.
I LOVE creating each one of these unique portraits, and my customers LOVE them. I feel I have finally found my unique voice!
Thanks for looking - and reading my LONG story post (if you made it to the end 😉 )
HAPPY PAINTING ALL!
Comments
What a great thing. Good for you
Fantastic Pam! These are super, I think a Bassett Hound would be really cool in this style. I may be a little biased though. ✌️😂👍
Love your dog paintings. You have no idea how jealous I am! Congratulations on your art journey.
There are very few artists, i would suggest,that find their calling in life and art, but I truly believe you have found your Pam, the detail in those little faces shows their hopes and struggles, as a dad who has adopted a rescue pup myself, I know their pain and I've seen first hand what a change it can be to be "chosen" , if I had my way then I'd adopt them all. I know first hand that these type of painting fly off the shelf so to speak as I have done some similar ones before that didn't even get onto the table at local craft fairs! Keep up the amazing work Pam and keep producing these wonderful paintings to help those poor souls who do not have a voice. You are an angel. 🐾🐶🐕
hmmmm sweet doggos <3
Incredible Pam all those beautiful colored dog paintings, hope it will help those doggies to find a new home.
They're fantastic, no wonder they sell like hot cake!
Was the abstraction challenge part of what lead you to this style or did you develop it before the challenge?
Thank you Sandy - you are so sweet!
Thanks so much Rebecca!
Thanks Brian - and I agree...those DROOPY faces are so cute! I take it you have a basset hound😋
Thank you Helen! I KNOW you love them puppies LOL!! I am still waiting to see your attempt at one of yours🙂
Thanks Kevin! I love to paint them, but reading their mostly horrible back stories is so heartbreaking indeed! I also want to adopt them all (I already have 4 doggies). The longest dog has been at this shelter for 4 YEARS 🥺, and about 5 more have been there over 2 years. The thing that I can't believe is how happy they look....their smiling faces awaiting a fur-ever home. I have decided to use my donations to sponsor adoptions, so that the adoption fee for a new owner is FREE.
Thank you Relzet!!
Thanks Jos - I have quite the display when I go to shows with a lot of information about the shelter and adoptions. Most people are very interested in the project, so hopefully word of mouth gets them adopted!
Felix - Your challenge was most DEFINITELY the inspiration. I knew I could not go quite so abstract here in conservative Midwest America (LOL), so an adaptation mixing my realism with that wonderful abstract challenge I enjoyed so much. You deserve so much thanks for just creating this wonderful site, and I know that I would not be the artist I am today without you and my awesome TIB friends!
Thank you so much for the kind words, it warms my heart to read this ❤
I can't wait to see more of this new style and how it continues to develop
beautiful paintings and such a noble cause! I love animals <3
Congratulations on finding your unique voice and sharing your story here! I just love the whole idea behind this project and this painting is so beautiful and meaningful. So happy for you and the shelter pups! 🥳🐶🐾
Thank you Carolyn!
Thanks Kerri, they really are so fun to paint 🤗
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I really love these! You are a very talented painter and have always admired your work and am so happy you found your calling! So wonderful!