A Sweet Sixteen!

My busiest time of the year is November when I'm buried in pet portrait Christmas gift commissions.

It's something I've come to expect. I've been painting pet portraits for about ten years. Most of my work is through word of mouth, and repeat customers, and they all want portraits for Christmas.

However, in the last year orders slowed. Concerned, I figured I should try something new.

This past October and November, I purchased a booth in two local craft fairs. My booth consisted of several sample portraits. Additionally, I brought my painting tools consisting of a Mac Studio and a Wacom Cintiq painting monitor. I added a second monitor facing the aisle to mirror the activity on my Wacom as I painted demo portraits all day long.

Big Attraction

Needless to say my demo set-up attracted a lot of interest. People gathered around the aisle monitor in fascination as I digitally painted. Some people weren't content to watch the mirrored monitor, and squeezed in behind me and watched over my shoulder.

I didn't mind that at all. They were all very nice. I happily answered many questions and listened to dozens of pet stories.

The fact is I love doing these portraits and I also love talking with people about their pets. Just about everyone had a story.

Busy Month

Those two shows kept me busy all November filling portrait orders. Commissions kept pouring in right up to my November 23 order deadline (and even a few days after).

When the orders were completed, I had finished sixteen portraits in the span of five weeks, just about one every two days.

Sixteen pet portrait Christmas gifts!

Here they are (one portrait must remain secret – at the request of the customer):

The Sweet Sixteen (including a shy one)