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.

Christmas Preparations...

In a departure from the usual 'picture' post I'm just gonna let off a little Christmas preparation steam.
We have been hosting the family Christmas (and Thanksgiving and Easter) gatherings for the past 7 years.  Everyone pitches in with bringing food dishes, while I do the turkey, stuffing, gravy and potatoes.  Usually the sisters-in-law and aunt cut up the turkey; people bring desserts and punch fixin's...Its a load of fun.

Unfortunately, over the last years, my own family of 6 has managed to accumulate a remarkable amount of detritus. Unwanted, unused, unnecessary stuff that really has no place here anymore. This crazy accumulation must stop! In fact, I've begun, over the last couple of years, to get rid of a lot of stuff. Somehow, everytime I turn around, there seems to be more of it. I"m baffled. Utterly flumoxed. Where does it all come from?  Why is it still here!?

Well, I've begun again to purge.  It doesn't seem to happen quickly enough, but I have, at least, managed to pass along a couple of real space-eaters: a ping pong table and an air hockey table.  I've discovered the most wonderful site:  http://www.freecycle.org/, where you can offer up your Stuff, free to good home! Love it! It makes me excited to unload our still good but unwanted stuff. Frees up all kinds of lovely space in my garage or basement, and gives the stuff a new life.   Whew!  Next will be to try Kijiji for the few items that are still worth a few bucks.

I dream, not of a white Christmas, but of a clean, uncluttered, airy home. A place where running the vacuum doesn't end up in a obstacle run, and dusting is simple because there is simply nothing to dust around! I can hardly wait!

Besides, how does one host a party for 22 people in a jungle like this?  I'm completely over having to shuffle stuff from one room to the next, hiding stuff behind closed doors, squirreling things away (in the likelihood they'll never be seen again!). Christmas is stressful because of all the clutter. Well, it may be a bit late for perfection for this Christmas, but I am declaring that by next Christmas, the clutter will not live here anymore!  (wish me luck!)  It will naturally entail giving away stuff that isn't mine, that in fact belongs to my kids or my husband. Too bad.  This is war. War on clutter. War on the junk that brings me down, that enslaves us all! (Maniacle laughter here). 

I'll try to update this...or maybe start a different blog to chronicle my adventure. Hmmm. that may be the answer in many ways.

Anyway, Merry Christmas, everyone. I wish you blessing and peace from the Father of Lights.

Horse Romance

"Romance"

Acrylic on Canvas
36" x 24"
© Renee Fukumoto
NFS - prints pending

This painting was inspired by the horses of a couple of my friends. On the left is Jazz, who remembers his stallion days and courted Friday (on the right) so sweetly. He trotted big fancy circles around her, showing off, then came to her quietly and curled his neck over hers. She tolerated him quite well. I took the picture of them in the sand ring; quite a poor photo really, and an uninspiring background. So, I gave them a domain of their own with the Niagara escarpment in the background.

I'd like to make prints of it, once I locate a place to have professional digital image made - anyone interested?  Contact me at reneefukumoto@hotmail.com