Someone STOLE an Image from me!

And I am very, very unhappy about it!
You - in Kansas - you downloaded the image of the charcoal drawing horse art I posted on June 2, 2010.
ALL of my art and photography is copyrighted by me - I ALONE have the right to use it, download it, reproduce it or use it on the web. 

Here's the info I have on you. I'm sure I can track you down further.
You have an option: contact me and apologize AND destroy the file you STOLE!
or things may go very, very ill for you!

Overland Park, Kansas, United States  IP Address: 76.92.116.157  Road Runner

New Horse Art

( IMAGE removed due to THIEVERY by someone in KANSAS IP Address: 76.92.116.157




I've been wrestling with my studio - its divided between two rooms, which feels like it divides my brain! Never a good thing!  I've paid my son to paint the upstairs room I use as a natural light filled studio. Really, its just a drafting table and a couple of storage pieces for now.  I share this room with three cats and their various perches. They insist on possessing window sills, so each of the five windows has something on which they may recline to view the world. I also share this room with a hand-me-down out-of-key piano, which my daughter plays on occasion; and two or three guitars hang upon another wall. Oh yes, one of the windows is occupied by a bird cage with three budgies.
Its a busy room.
No wonder I'm distracted in it!
I did manage to create one drawing so far (above)...I posted it as a Work In Progress on my facebook page.  Come on by and check it out!

Zazzle print from Renee: Portrait of a Dark Horse

CREATE  |   APPAREL  |   MUGS  |   POSTAGE  |   CARDS  |   POSTERS  |   GIFTS  |   ALL
Zazzle print from Renee: Portrait of a Dark Horse Portrait photograph of Jazz: edited from a photo taken in 2009 creates a beautiful print to buy for the horse lover at Zazzle. Visit ReneeFukumoto's store Join ReneeFukumoto's fan club	View "Portrait of a Dark Horse" by ReneeFukumoto Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Zazzle shirt from Renee: Black Horse Head Bridled Equine Art Oval T-sh...

Zazzle shirt from Renee: Black Horse Head Bridled Equine Art Oval T-sh... This is the most recent adaptation of a design based on Jazz, my beautiful black horse muse. The design is a digital version of a headshot I took of him some time ago, encased wit Visit ReneeFukumoto's store Join ReneeFukumoto's fan club	View "Black Horse Head Bridled Equine Art Oval T-shirt" by ReneeFukumoto Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

My Equine Muse

My favourite equine muse in the world is Jazz. I have taken many pictures of this amazing guy (you can see them on my facebook page - c'mon over and become a fan! Renee Fukumoto Art & Photography) Jazz has been my muse for several years. He's the kind of horse that is trustworthy to ride, sensitive in the mouth, responsive and just all around fun. But one of the most exciting things to do is take him into the indoor arena when no one else is around and turn him loose. Explosions of energy and joy! He is the personification of "YeeHAW!" at that point, bucking, jumping and galloping around like the world was created just for him.

Sadly, Jazz has experienced ongoing trouble with Uveitis in his right eye for the past year. It has meant extensive stall rest, dim lighting, loads of medication (which he has so patiently tolerated) and very little opportunity to just be a horse. Thus, his turn out into the indoor arena became more precious. The design on the t-shirt above, of the horse kicking out high behind, is developed from a photograph I took of Jazz on one such occasion. I hope there will be many more to come! You can check out this design on many products by clicking the image or visiting my Zazzle store. Enjoy!

Pony Attitude!

Pony Attitude Girl's T-shirt by ReneeFukumoto

It was such fun painting the portrait of this little Chestnut pony.  I took a digital photograph, cut out the pony from the background in PSE5 and now can use it in a multitude of ways!  Here I'm using it at Zazzle on a t-shirt, but I also have it on  paper products like cards, business cards, postcards etc. I can use it on stationery, shoes, mugs and mousepads too! If you love ponies and appreciate "Pony Attitude" then this horse art design may just be for you!

Taking Cat Photographs

Such an interesting experience!  Of course, these are house cats, pets, princes and princesses of their domain. They do not perform. They do not permit placement or posing. So, you must accommodate their behaviour and attitudes. I do not carry light equipment with me. I do not actually own light equipment, actually. Perhaps someday...  I feel that animals like pets will often give you their best stuff if you make yourself part of their world, rather than trying to push them into some mold or ideal of ours.

Therefore I found myself crawling, lying on the floor in various positions, upside down and whatnot. The subjects of my house safari found me intriguing. The human must be doing something worth investigating. And so I was properly sniffed, climbed upon, and demanded attention of by the three performers. Approach and retreat and finally curl up and watch the silly human on the floor. Perfect!
 I'm interested to see how large I can print a couple of these portraits. I'm also looking forward to going back and taking more pictures!  There was one cat who didn't join our party - she slept my visit away, not ready for her close-up!
I've got the photo you see here and a couple of others at Zazzle. I've converted the portrait above into a graphic design for t-shirts and other items. Lots of fun, lots of possibilities!

To Ride is to Free Your Soul Horse Lover T-shirt from Zazzle.com

To Ride is to Free Your Soul Horse Lover T-shirt from Zazzle.com

Creating some new designs in the new year: this one sums up a horse lovers sentiments. A charcoal rendering of a bridled horse head with the text "To ride is to free your soul". Simple and unique.

Just Made it to ZPro!

Its pretty cool to be rewarded for one's work and efforts, especially when you feel as new to the process as I still do. I finally have the ZPro symbol beside my name on my posts in the Forum! It is so exciting to me to see the visible sign of having achieved a certain level of success at Zazzle. The Autumn and Christmas sales are what pushed my sales over the top, though I'd been climbing along steadily.


This sort of reward is definitely motivating. This year I really need to learn how to promote more thoroughly, design better, stronger designs, and continue getting my nature and landscape photography up and develop my other shops. I'm having so much fun with it while at the same time finding an audience for my work. It is wonderful!

Ever since damaging my back at work and experiencing a powerful flare up of Fibromyalgia I haven't been able to do much work outside the home. It was discouraging (to say the least!) until I found Zazzle. No, Zazzle is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Not by a long shot. However, the longer I'm in it, the longer I'm building up my design and product repertoire, the more I see it as serious business and the more I take myself and my artwork seriously. Its amazing.

I'm in a wonderful learning curve at a 'school' that includes so many talented artists and designers: my fellow shopkeepers at Zazzle!

I am very thankful! And very excited! Dare I already imagine making it to the next ZPro level?

Why not!

Live and Learn: A Commission Experience

http://www.zazzle.com/chestnut_pony_in_wooden_frame_print-228270136514590971http://www.zazzle.com/rich_chestnut_pony_portrait_print-228169531032407243

The originals of these are Stall Portraits, a small (5.5"x7") acrylic painted portrait of the horse or pony painted on a gesso'd wooden plaque, with the client's choice of background and trim colours. The lower portion of the board is open for an engraved brass name plate. I used to hand letter them, but I don't care for hand lettering really (I'm not a calligrapher!), so now that space is better served by the brass name plate. They are meant to be attached to the stall door, to be a portable and unique representation of the horse so even at an extended stay at a show you have a sense of home-away-from-home.  Of course, they're lovely used anywhere: a tack room, in the home...

 I retain the copyright to my artwork regardless of who it is created for (unless I've stated specifically otherwise, as with the donation of "Grace" to the Georgia Horse Rescue) so I think I will get busy putting their digital versions on Zazzle. They'll make lovely cards etc.  In fact, I've become rather attached to these little portraits.