Such a Sweetheart!

Honey

10" X 8" pen and ink

2009

Honey, a blonde Cocker Spaniel, is the subject of my newest commissioned portrait. I like the way her head is in the shape of a heart. Can you see it? Honey is obviously a real sweetheart. Her owner says, "This is how she most often looks at me." I hope I have captured that special look.

Today I tackle the awesome task of uploading my first few PenPets products to my Etsy Shop. I don't know why I'm so intimidated by this whole process. My friend Melissa says, "Remember, you cannot do it wrong!" Nevertheless, I get a queasy sensation in my stomach at each step of the way. I had to have another friend literally hold my hand as I sent PayPal all my banking details. Then it took me a whole morning of wrestling with my laptop to upload a banner for my shop. I am determined to do this, however. So bombs away! I'll even give you my address--www.PenPets.etsy.com--to spur me on. Please don't check it till this evening. Of course, the power may go out today. We've had another foot of wet, heavy snow that is smothering all the tall shrubs in our yard and bending over a few thin trees.

A New Portrait and a Tanka

Kerry

8" X 10" pen-and-ink

2008

The Monsignor’s dog
is a black-and-white cocker--
saintly and sinful--
his eyes lifted to heaven,
in his thoughts he's digging holes.

I've taken up Tanka, a Japanese style of poetry, similar to Haiku, but with five lines in each poem, and 5/7/5/7/7 beats in each line. Actually, Tom signed me up for his Tanka group, but I am having fun writing Tankas for each portrait I draw. Maybe I'll start combining portraits with poetry on my greeting cards.

I'm off to my Japanese Block Printing workshop this weekend in Florence, Massachusetts. Stay tuned for my first woodblock print in COLOR!