Gifts ~ who is the REAL beneficiary?

MEET

BIG POPPY!

I did...he is a beautiful and gentle boy cat who meets and greets you by climbing into your lap and giving you so much peace and joy just to pet him.

PURRFECT companion for the person who wants a feline friend to sit with, read, watch TV or a movie and find your zen moments with.

WHERE IS HE?

at the

BRISTOL ANIMAL SHELTER

10 Minturn Farm Rd

Bristol RI

http://www.friendsofthebristolanimalshelter.org/default.asp

and Friends of Bristol Animal Shelter

(raising funds for the new facility)

have only one thing that you need to know....

THEY CARE ABOUT FINDING FOREVER HOMES

for

HOMELESS ANIMALS IN NEED.

Below is the link to the FACEBOOK PAGE of those needing homes.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/media/set/?set=a.1738889082042.99085.1533113486

****

Recently they put out the call for DONATIONS of cat food.

Always, there are cats and kittens needing care and a place to stay while awaiting adoption.

Several people stepped up to the plate and stopped by (see address above) to drop off some food.

THANKS on their behalf.

YOU ARE WONDERFUL!

***

Times are tough for the whole country...every little bit helps.

Whatever you can do...one extra bag while you shop or a Grocery or Walmart gift card designated for pet food. ANYTHING! is SO appreciated for THIS shelter or YOUR local one.

It's all good.

Please give what you can. Time is also something these non-profits can use.

Walk a dog, pet a cat.

~*~BELIEVE ME~*~

YOU will be the beficiary of the Blessing!

***

Those of you who know me...

(Keeper of Secrets)
oil
...know I have a passion and mission to use my artwork to help wherever I can.
You also know the last year has been pretty tough for me to be able to do that with a miserable shoulder injury that I am fighting my way back from.
I was given the GRACE to paint this little painting above (using my Rainbow Bridge cat Emmi as my inspiration, yes, she is STILL helping homeless cats!) and to my great surprise it sold internationally almost as soon as it was listed.
(PLEASE visit ART HELPING ANIMALS , link is on the page here, to see the work of artists with a passion to help!)
That little painting helped
TABBY's PLACE & BRISTOL ANIMAL SHELTER
with all proceeds going to both.

So who gets the true blessing?
In this case ....ME!
I got to give once again to honor my EMMI who provided the inspiration,
and do the work I seem to be called to do.
***
Give what you can, the delight in doing it is multiplied many times.
Help homeless animals...they need us!
Thanks so much!
and please check out the animals in your shelter who are looking for your love.

Loose Ends and New Things....

Munchkin's Painting for Falmouth Friends of Dogs rescue in Falmouth MA

has found its home.

I received a nice email that they forwarded to me from the winner of the fundraising raffle.

A true coast to coast effort, the painting is now in New Mexico.

Ellen B. loves the painting and the work done by this rescue and the knee surgery that gave this dog a better future.

It is nice to know that people help from all over the country!

"MUNCHKIN"

****

On the easel:

"HALIFAX"

(a work in progress)

This week has seen some requests for commissions in my inbox...I have been moving slowly since the first of the year. Some of you may know from my FaceBook postings that I have been
doing some therapy on my "painting arm" and trying to get back into the work of helping rescue with art but the pace is slow.

One of the commissions I started a few weeks ago is of Halifax the beagle.

( I have permission to share some work in progress from Hali's dad.)

This painting will be done this week. The charity that will benefit will be BONES at the client's request.

***

New work is about to start. I look forward to "picking up the pace" and getting some

good rescue work going.

Thanks for looking...updates coming soon.

New Work In Progress - Dacshund Art

This new oil will be offered to assist dachshund rescue. It is my first holiday themed piece of the season. Pam's Oscar is my model and her images of him are used with permission to help inspire me with ideas to assist raising funds for rescue groups.

In this piece I am concentrating on the eyes and the reflected light.

Thanks for looking and comeback and see the finish soon!

*****

Painting to help homeless animals with all the passion I can paint with.

Inqueries welcome anytime and commissions accepted.

carolchretien@aol.com

A Gracious Welcome Home

SOLD

A Gracious Welcome

10x10

Carol Chretien

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

***

You know from previous paintings and previous posts that this expresses my vision of the welcome home once they have crossed the Bridge.

I believe in the Divine Benevolence that animals must be received with when they cross the Rainbow Bridge.

***

It was difficult to get the accurate colors in the images...They are a bit more vibrant with much depth and texture. I added extra images to try to show the detail.

If this painting resonates with you and you want to add it to your collection then please contact me at

carolchretien@aol.com to purchase.

SORRY THIS PAINTING IS SOLD!

donation to

Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay.

http://www.dalrescuetampabay.org/

to see the Dalmatians available and the great work being done there.

***

Thanks for supporting the work of rescue.

Inspired by Dusty ...Wait, Love, Pray...For a Home!

" WAIT, LOVE, PRAY...FOR A HOME"
12x12
oil on canvas
CAROL CHRETIEN
***
Painting for
DALMATIAN RESCUE OF TAMPA BAY
where you can adopt the inspiration for this painting!
20% of the sale goes directly to the rescue.
125.00

Dusty is in foster care and is available !!!!
http://www.dalrescuetampabay.org
for information.

***
and if you want to purchase the painting email me:
carolchretien@aol.com
a lovely way to add fine art to your collection of dalmatian art while helping rescue!

And the Winner Is.....

ABE

This year's winning custom portrait for charity was

painted to help raise funds for the

Lincoln D Lynch Memorial Scholarship Fund.

***

Abe spends his time with his family between MA and FLA

He is a lovable and well loved little Scottie and it was my pleasure to paint him for this worthy cause.

***

The scholarship serves students from the Middleboro MA school system where Mr. Lynch was an educator and the Superintendent of schools for many years.

This was the second annual Charity Golf Event for the scholarship fundraiser in his name. Allendale Country Club held the event in Dartmouth Ma.

Exercising My Art Muscles

Sunday I was in the studio I worked on a couple of things that were close to being done. One was for our Atlanta mini show that AHA is going to do thanks to Andy Mathis our co-ordinator for that venture. One was the Penny Experiment...needed to finish that too.

So I did that. Then I sat.... and stared.... and sat looking and thinking.... had so many thoughts buzzing by, I wanted to paint something unrelated to animals or my usual...I have been having this image of an "African" inspired (ie: my version) head wrap and beautiful dark skin tones both of which I have never painted.

So the figure is a composite of many black women who are regal and beautiful and now I am going to find some great fabric to paint for the piece.

It is fun to do something unexpected...even for me. I was sitting there with that a blank canvas and was interested to see what was going to come out of the brush.

***

Today I will finish two Dal pieces and continue on my painting journey.

When the figure piece is further along I will post the update.

It has been a while since I painted a figure in this way but I am in love with the colors and can't wait to do the material. Should be fun.

***

Did I mention my Muse has been running around like a crazy muse waving her arms and shouting in my head with so many ideas that I can't do them all? I need to sit her down and have a chat. I LOVE the ideas but there are just so many hours in a day. And...some of them take some research and prep time. Yikes!

That was part of what happened yesterday. Even I was happily surprised when I started the painting above. Everyday something new.

***

Stay tuned!

Dear Prudence - FIRST LOOK!

SOLD!

10x10

oil on canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

This painting is available for

DALMATIAN RESCUE TAMPA BAY

inspired by "Prudence" a senor up for adoption.

DEAR PRUDENCE by the Beatles does come to mind...but she is "dear" and she needs her own bed, your bed? and a forever family.

you can find her on the DRTB website.

***

Also I would like to say it is a poignant reminder to me of time passing. Our own Lizzie, the central figure in our home , is aging and my connection to every single senior Dalmatian is so evident in my heart and in my art.

I live in that state of denial and see her as the "puppy" she has always been but the reality is she will be 13 in August and I am keenly aware of every moment of her time.

Our time with her.

I think she keeps wondering why we are always kissing her. LOL

***

If you want to purchase this painting before I list it elsewhere for sale

email me: carolchretien@aol.com

once it is gone...it is gone.

20% to the rescue!

125.00

free domestic shipping.

***

STAY TUNED!

update:
THE PAINTING HAS SOLD...................

Anatomy of a Portrait(s) Commission

Four Dalmatians (one is a mixed Dal ) Phase one is about gathering images that you can work into a group composition. Not an easy task but given enough time to contemplate you get ideas!
Next the size of the canvas, 24 x 3o is the one that I stretched by hand.

Figuring out a layout I liked and the commissioner was good with...Great time to get a feel and make corrections. I made lots of adjustments and do it right on the canvas ....I am not a big sketcher...I like to see the canvas in front of me...sort of like "A blank canvas" and try to imagine the design. I wanted good faces, a pecking order that makes sense to the commissioner and of course some accuracy. There is plenty of room for artistic license but you need to be on the money when it comes to the ones who know them best.

Background was decided...a loose rendering of maybe a porch suggested in the background which gives the viewer the chance to finish the story (they are sitting on steps) that was what I was going for ....also the colors are neutral, light and will fade away from the subjects.

You can see here that I switched dogs and put Maggie down in front. The commissioner also asked that I paint her with her ear folded back as she is often seen that way.

Now I have their faces with some life in them and their eyes are more alive...nothing worse than working on a canvas with "Little Orphan Annies" watching you while you paint.

I have cleared the decks of other work and am focused on this piece. It will be ready for gift giving time. I will be updating this posting as I go and you will see the changes as they occur.

As I always say....this is the ugly phase and I warn the clients don't get nervous...it will all pan out in the end.

To this day I have not heard of a disappointment ...I hope to keep that record going.

The commissioner of this painting asked that I share it here so here you have it.

Please stay tuned...as we travel this road together.

Cheers!

Carol