“Flower Girl”, my painting of Sophie Connor, makes an appearance again on this invitation to the Friends of the Animal Shelter “Paws to Celebrate” fundraiser. It is the first formal event to benefit our local animal shelter and is expected to become an annual event, similar to the PussNBoots Ball, a Halloween masquerade party. Paws to Celebrate is tonight at the Ashland Springs Hotel and the live auction includes one of my custom pet portraits, up to 16 x 20 inches in size. I think there are a few tickets still left, so maybe I will see you there!

I was pleasantly surprised to be contacted by the editor of Southern Oregon Magazine saying I would have a small feature article in their spring issue! I submitted four images and they selected Flower Girl, the Boxer dog painting below, which is also the same painting that will be featured on the Friends of the Animal Shelter invitation for their fundraiser this spring. Then, this morning, the painting sold to a collector from New York, who now owns four of my paintings. All in all, it’s been a good week!

I am so excited to be part of this fun benefit night for Sanctuary One – and look, there’s Ferdinand on the invitation! The Jacksonville Barn Company is hosting their annual open house on Thursday, April 17th at 6PM, and 10% of all sales benefit the Sanctuary. My artwork will be featured (and also for sale), along with sweets by Kat von Cupcake, hosted champagne and appetizers, music by Christine Anderson, and of course shopping at the Barn. If you haven’t been there, they have some really fun and interesting things – lots of vintage finds as well as newer, unique items.  I found the perfect polka dot scarf during my last visit. All guests attending this event will also receive a raffle ticket for a free gift. Join us at 150 South Oregon Street in Jacksonville – and bring your friends. Thank you to Erin and John Buda for organizing such a great event for the Sanctuary!

Today, these paintings of Dodger, Chewie and Chance are going to their new home! After struggling with a very long dry time with quinacridone rose paint, I rediscovered cobol blue dryer. It’s now back on my painting table. The background color on all three of these is the same – it’s my novice camera skills that makes one of them look a bit different.

This Friday, December 6th from 6:30 – 9PM, a group of Southern Oregon University art advocacy students are hosting a silent auction art fundraiser to benefit Equamore Horse Sanctuary here in Ashland. A framed print of my painting of Equamore horse, “Chaps”, is included in the silent auction, and my French Bulldog holiday cards will also be available. All money raised through this event benefits the horses. Stop by during Ashland’s First Friday Art Walk, or afterwards to learn more about Equamore. I will be at the Ashland Art Center for the beginning of Art Walk, and then at SOU for the last hour or so of this event. Hope to see you there!