Pet Portraits

The other day, when I wrote about drawing a long haired tabby cat portrait, I mentioned I had opened an Etsy shop at the bottom of the post. Sort of a footnote.

Like, blink and you’d miss it.

And that was that and I moved on, painting another pet portrait along with a few other projects. I probably would’ve left it at that, without putting much more attention on pet portraits because, heaven knows, I don’t want to cram anything down anyone’s throats.

 

But I read something that really got me thinking, a post by Kate Riley, better known as Centsational Girl. The post was written the day after Maya Angelou passed away. In it, she’s talking about the line of fabrics she’s designing, how much she loves doing so, and how Maya says “you’ve got to grab the world by its lapels and put yourself out there” and that’s what Kate is doing.

Kate is one of the few bloggers I’ve met in real life and, I’ve gotta tell you, she’s one of the sweetest, most unassuming gals I’ve ever met. However, in the few minutes I chatted with her, it was very apparent how much she loves what she does. That, along with an incredible sense of style and a gift of wordsmithing and it’s no wonder she’s so successful.

 

To hear her say she was going to “put herself out there” really stuck with me. Mainly because it’s something I struggle with, a lot. I think most people do.

But the response I received from Lola’s mama – the gal who commissioned the pet portrait – the response was so heartfelt and warm and . . . loving. Yes, loving. Because I was given the incredible opportunity – no, privilege – to paint her kitty and she loves her furbaby and she also loves my rendering of her as well.

That is something special. It’s beyond special, really, when what you do for a living can bring such joy to others. It deserves so much more than a footnote at the bottom of a post. So  . . . here I am, putting myself out there, like Kate.

And if you’re gonna jump, you might as well jump with both feet, right? So I even created a pet portrait Facebook page. I know. sigh. What’s one more thing?

I’ve asked myself that very question quite a bit lately. Most of the answers are not good – not enough time, energy, blahblahblah.

Then I see someone’s furbaby on Facebook or their blog or wherever. And I melt. And I wish I could paint that precious dog or kittie. Or horse. (Living in California, California Chrome stole all of hearts and I might have to foray into equines soon.)

The point is, nothing matters other than, for some reason, I am blessed with the ability to create pet’s images and I know it’s a huge gift, one that I can offer to anyone who wants it.

I can hear my husband now, “It took you long enough.”

Come visit my Just Paint it Pets on Etsy! New arrivals almost weekly! 

Colleen

about Colleen