I have begun to paint pet portraits for a commission. I'm still looking for a name for this company, so if anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
Here are a few I have done in the past 2 months.
If anyone is looking for a portrait of their pet, I'd gladly take their order. I charge $100 for an oil painting on a 12x12 gallery style canvas. If you are interested, please e-mail me or leave a comment. We can arrange a way for you to get a picture of your pet to me and I will do my best to get your painting to you before January 30th, 2013.
You only have 25 days to get your order in as I will be unavailable until summer as of January 30th.
So here's a concept that I'm trying to develop. I have a tendency to make very linear logos. After the initial sketch of this, I'm leaning towards a more vertical rectangle.
Although, I'm not quite sure how that would look. I like the inspiration of the bag from The Blue Heron Trading Co.
And I really like the frame around it. I don't know. I'm not crazy about my fonts either.
I just thought I'd show you the work in progress.
Here's the Far North Book Club design that I modified earlier this year.
Doesn't it make you wanna curl up with your favourite moose and read The Call of the Wild?
In 2012, I was met with grief as it was really difficult to say goodbye to my beloved German Shepherd in September. The pain of not having her a part of my daily routine left a gaping hole in my existence. I know it's a bit dramatic to say this, but for someone who is annoying and neurotic to a severe degree, there aren't many people who will tolerate my antics. Yet, for some bizarre reason, this rotund dog treated me like I was the most agreeable person in her world and was acutely tuned to my ever-revolving moods...Plus, she never shirked off my bear hugs. I miss her.
Looking back on this emotional year, I must now survey my attempt to meet the goals I set. I actually started a never-ending checklist that will not be posted because...well, it's pretty much a glorified shopping list, and I'm doubtful anyone would care to read it. (But there are tons of things crossed off!) Ah, but here is the list of goals I made last January on LaPineDesign and how I faired.
Find a church to attend on a regular basis.UGH...Unfortunately, this was not met. Please pray for me that I find a church in my next community this spring. Go to Moldova.This did not happen. Instead I was able to take several classes this summer. I knew it would have been a longshot, but with God all things are possible, so I wanted to be expectant and open to the possibility.
Illustrate a children's book written by my cousin, Katie.I made a lot of sketches, but am still hoping to develop
this. I did illustrate a book that I wrote for a class. I forced myself to make the book rhyme, so it took forever. It's called The Passport of Ellen Magellen. It's also the size of an actual passport..."And, he IS, he IS on TV."
Design www.JanaLaPine.com and launch site.hahaha...nope.
Paint a pomegranate.I sketched a pomegranate on a canvas in hopes to paint it...Does that count? Here's the still life photograph I settled on.
Read The Hobbit .YES! And it was AMAZING! The film was fantastic too...don't try to tell me otherwise.
Refine the next 8 cards for the 2012 Line of Ice Box Cards.YUP! Finished these babies too! To take a peek of the finished cards, click here.
Wear dresses more often.Yeppers! All the time!
Have a Titanic Party on April 14th, 2012.Well, this happened to be one of the highlights of my year. Thank you ladies...and dad, for making it so much fun!
Go water skiing.A clue...No.
Go rock climbing. hahahaha I know, I can't picture it either.
Beat my blog record from last year! (136) hmm...I reached 67. I'm okay with that.
Call my grandparents once a week.Ah, I don't even think I made this happen once a month. You know I did call them, but I didn't always get to talk to them. A lot of voice mails. In my book this doesn't constitute as a good ol' call.
Become friends with James.I'd say there was a nice 2 week period when this was fulfilled. I don't know about the current status at the moment. This will be a carry over goal.
Draw my friends and family.hmm...haha I think I did draw Hannah early on in the year. It was a terrible likeness. I'd like to continue to work on this goal too.
Host 3 giveaways on LaPine Design.Okay, only hosted 1 giveaway.
Finish reading all the books I am in the middle of; Out of
Africa, The Way of the Master, Anna Karenina (ughhhh. this is never going to
happen), Sherlock Holmes: Volume 2, & Tom Jones.I'm still chiseling away at Sherlock Holmes: Volumn 2...that will totally happen. Not too concerned with finishing the others.
Make truffles.Um. I'm embarrassed to say this didn't happen. On second thought, I'm sure everyone is pleased that I didn't do this..
Be quiet.This sadly didn't happen either...working on it though.
Spend more time in prayer.I'd say this was better, but will definitely be a life long goal to spend more time in conversation with my Saviour.
Well, there's an awful amount of blue (unsuccessful) in this list. I'm hoping next year will bear favourable results. I have a feeling it's going to be crammed with a lot of accomplished goals.
This show opens on the 7th of December. It's one of the more illustrated designs I've created. It features a seal that made a spontaneous public appearance in Duluth this summer after the zoo flooded. Apparently Fiesty the seal swam into an intersection of awaiting paparazzi.
From what I gather, this is one of the topics covered in this Holiday Show from Rubber Chicken Theater who has been very encouraging as they have asked me to do several posters this year.
Thanks to Brian and all the actors, company, and crew that support RCT!
I hope this show is immersed in great success! Go see this one too!
Here's my latest poster for Rubber Chicken Theater. They are going to perform a live read of the Mel Brooks cult classic, "Young Frankenstein."
It raises the question:
WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO SEE THIS FILM?!?
It's brilliant!..."That goes without saying." I tried to use something iconic from the film, so I threw in the top hats on the "G" and "F" as they are featured in the "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene and the "Hold onto your hat." scene and I liked the contrast in size of the two letters. I still wish it would stand out a little better.
I'm not gonna lie, it's a little inspired by Downton Abbey as well. EEE!!! Season 3 is merely weeks away!
LaPine Design sat down with emerging artist, Jana LaPine to discuss her destruction of a previous painting called "Serendipity."
LD: What was your source of inspiration for the original Serendipity?
JL: One of those wall decals that are mass produced...I just followed the line of the stars, but I ended up hating it. It wasn't me. I was just copying something someone else created and I could really feel the tension going against my aesthetic taste.
LD: What was your vision for the revised version?
JL: Well, it's certainly not what I had in mind. Close, but no cigar. I still want to dump a vat of gloss over the entire piece and see what happens. I really envisioned large egg shapes in the caulk and someting that resembled the patterns found in stone, but for now I'll leave it.
LD: What memories surface for you with this work?
JL: Nothing too concrete. It just reminds me of an album cover by Rogue Wave...Lake Michigan, if my memory serves me right. That album had a foil of some sort or precious metal on the cover. (It was actually "Asleep at Heaven's Gate.")
LD: What was the atmosphere when you create the original as suppose to the revised canvas?
JL: For the original, I was trying to balance the canvas on a crappy easel. Terrible idea. This time around it just covered the floor while I listened to Hugh Grant movies playing in the background.
LD: Why Hugh Grant movies?
JL: It's all in the accent...plus, I just happen to have more of his films on VHS, I guess. Subsequently, there is a shredded poster of "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" (which I've never seen) incorporated into this piece.
Here's a card that I drew for one of my best friends!
It's Puppers! "Son-nee."
He's part border-collie, part gentleman and what I would imagine would result if a seal and My Little Pony mated...if that's even possible. He's the apple of my friend's eye and her little Bay-Bay. "Sonny, NO!"
I'll like to do a companion piece to this one, same dog, but in a bonnet thus forever securing my reputation as Angela Martin.
When I like where I am, I take a picture of my feet in that location. Here are a few over the past year.
Is this a little morbid? I hope not. Graveyards can be such beautiful places. So sacred. This was also taken in Tennessee during my friend's exquisite wedding on a plantation. (Don't worry, not DURING the wedding...more like during the reception.)
Don't worry, I'm not going to pretend like I know what these figures mean...I
think I am looking at graphs?!?! This was on a walk with my Snick...
Here's the latest postcard that I designed for CEF. I just love working with pastels. They're so choice. I used the box of No. 912 Excello Squares by The American Crayon Company based in Sandusky, Ohio. They were given to me by my high school art teacher before he retired. I will always cherish the gesture.
There's this remarkable land artist, named Andy Goldsworthy. If you haven't heard of him, you need to become informed because his work is stunning. (I think his documentary is available on netflix too--"Rivers and Tides")
And, here are some of my favourite examples of his work:
So, I spent a few days trying to be like Andy Goldsworthy. I don't feel that my results came anywhere close to his brilliance, but I had a blast and can always try to be like Andy in the future.
The first two are works that I made with my cousin, Jill.
This is out of a rhubarb. I had such a great vision for this, but my rhubarb plant was in rough shape this year.
Jill and I made this pattern with pinecones too!
This was made from fish scales and as the video demonstrates, this design was ever fleeting...
Here's another pinecone maze...
And a bit of yellow peeping through some bark.
I must end with this quote, "I like Andy. He is nice to meee!" The End.
