Monday, December 29, 2008

Merry Christmas From Golden Illustrations!



Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone out in cyberspace! I apologize for once again not updating my blog in an efficient manner. We had a huge ice storm a few weeks ago, and our town, Jaffrey, was hit especially hard. We were fortunate to have power within a few days, but a live wire lay across our driveway. The power company accidentally cut our cable when they fixed the live wire, so we went without phone and internet through the holidays. It was a bummer, but we honestly didn't have circumstances as bad as many in the area.

Now that my internet capabilities are restored, it's time to get back to business! It's time for postings of my most recent work! Yeay!

The piece above was my holiday card design for this year. The dog featured was my beloved boy, Sunny, who passed away last February. Sunny loved the snow and would spend most of his outdoor time eating it and wearing it on his whiskers afterward. He had the most kissable snow nose. I love his expression in this drawing. He looks so debonaire.

The drawing is rendered in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum. It is 8 x 10" in size.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

On The Drawing Board - Holiday Card



Phew! The holidays are certainly moving along quickly. I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend. I was in Pennsylvania, visiting my in-laws and attending my hubby's ten year high school reunion. The weekend was the calm before the storm. Now, I am up to my eyeballs in artwork and loving every minute of it!

The drawing above is my current project. There are other portraits being created simultaneously, though. I can't post their pictures, since they are holiday gifts. I can, however, show you my holiday card design. This year, I decided to create a golden retriever holiday card to send to friends and family. The golden in the drawing is my dear boy, Sunny, who passed away last February. He looked so adorable in the snow and is the perfect holiday mascot for Golden Illustrations. I'll post another photo once the portrait is complete!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!




Happy Thanksgiving to all of my blog readers! May your travels be safe and your holiday filled with memories and yummy food!

I took the photographs above in my yard this fall. My hubby and I returned from a shopping trip to find a couple of turkeys poking around our lawn. The amazing thing was that later that evening, we were visited by four deer. It was a super day for wildlife-viewing!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Happy Holidays From The Checchi Retrievers!



The piece above is my latest drawing in pastels. My parents commissioned me to draw their two golden retrievers for the holidays and print custom holiday cards. These two fellas are Shadow (on the left) and Buddy (on the right). Both were rescued from Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue in Massachusetts. My family has raised rescue golden retrievers since I was in high school and it makes sense that these two boys are the family's holiday card mascots.

The pastel drawing is 8x10" in size and drawn in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Alstead PTO Christmas Bazaar Recap






On Saturday, I had a booth at the Parent Teach Organization Holiday Bazaar. The event was held in Alstead, NH (my hometown). This was a trip down memory lane for me, since the show was held in my junior high gymnasium. A lot of my former teachers stopped by my booth to show support. It was wonderful seeing such important figures from my childhood.

All in all, the day was a success! I met a lot of new people and reconnected with familiar faces. There was even a charity raffle and an adorable young girl went home with one of my framed prints.

I've posted some pictures of my booth above. This was the first event where I tested out new packaging for my magnets and nightlights. I was pleased with the end result.

: )

Mia

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Alstead Christmas Bazaar

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will have a booth at the Parent/Teacher Organization Holiday Bazaar in Alstead, NH on Saturday. The event begins at 10:00 am and will be held in the Vilas School gymnasium. This event features holiday and every day crafts, food, and a charity auction to benefit the Parent/Teacher Organization. I encourage you to stop by and consider buying handmade items for your friends & family this holiday season. I look forward to seeing you there!

: )

Mia

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Mother & Child



There is a magical bond between a mother and her newborn child. It's a connection that is instinctual, primitive, and beautiful. These were the emotions that I attempted to capture in the portrait above, which is my latest commission. The drawing is completed in charcoal on smooth, white vellum. It is 11x14" in size.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Ellis Bunch!


The picture above is my latest commission. These adorable poodles are snuggling up in a festive fall orchard. It's the perfect piece for fall. You can almost smell the leaves and apples...

The drawing is rendered in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum. It is 11x14" in size.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Where's My Dinner?



The piece above is my latest pastel. I felt that it was time to satisfy my interest in drawing a Persian cat. I took a lot of reference pictures of Persians at a cat show in Nashua this past spring. There was something about their cute, up-turned noses that gave me the giggles. Their expressions are priceless and their coats are absolutely stunning.

I decided to call this piece, "Where's My Dinner?" in honor of the high-maintenance cat. To this cat, it's owners are the "staff". Dinner will be served promptly every evening in a crystal bowl with a brocade tablecloth underneath. The high-maintenance cat lives to luxuriate. This particular cat is on the verge of a feline tantrum. Dinner is late and that is unacceptable.

This drawing is rendered in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum. It is 11x14" in size and available for sale.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Art In The Park Award



I just received the latest newsletter in the mail from the Monadnock Area Artists Association (formerly the Keene Artists Association). There was a write-up on the Art In The Park festival with a list of award winners. After browsing through the list of winners, I was surprised to see that I won an Honorable Mention in Category Three (pastel, colored pencil, charcoal, pen & ink, and original printmaking). I was standing at the main tent when the awards were announced and didn't hear my name announced. I thought that I hadn't won anything. It was a fun surprise to see that I won an honorable mention in my first year of participation. The piece that won is posted above.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Piccadilly Pooches



The piece above is my latest commission. The three pooches above were very special to the owners of Piccadilly Hutch. This drawing is in memory of three very special dogs. One of the awesome things about portraiture is that our pets and people that have passed away can come alive on the canvas. While the actual pet may not be visible to us anymore, their portrait serves as a reminder of their adorable eyes and personality.

"Piccadilly Pooches" is rendered in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum. The dimensions are 11x14".

Monday, September 22, 2008

Piccadilly Hutch


The kind owners at Piccadilly Hutch Antiques & Art Gallery in Woodford, Vermont have taken an interest in my original artwork. They are now selling my originals in the art gallery, which is absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't have found a more perfect place to sell my work. The gallery is filled with beautiful antiques, jewelry, art, and country giftware. It's location is on Route 9, just before Bennington (the main route between Vermont and New York). I hope that if you're driving through the area, that you stop by and take a look at this unique gallery. I promise you that it's friendly and comfortable and not at all stuffy. Items are reasonably priced as well, which is a breath of fresh air in the current economy.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Art In The Park Pictures/Recap






Art In The Park was a success! This past weekend, I participated in the Art In The Park event in Keene, NH. I had a sizable booth to display both my original drawings and giftware. I also advertised fine art classes, which I will be holding in my studio on an ongoing basis.

Saturday and Sunday were both very busy, with a constant flow of people visiting the various booths at the event. Throughout the day, I worked on a study of a duck in pastels at an art table in my booth. I think that it was a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate my pastel techniques.

All in all, it was a fun event. It was an excellent opportunity to introduce myself to the area as a professional artist and meet other artists. I was able to show my giftware to a large amount of people who may not have come across it in area gift shops. I sold some cards and magnets, which is always a good thing : )

Above, I posted some pictures of the event : )

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Deep Meditation



The piece above is my latest pastel drawing of my own dog, Sasha. I've drawn Sasha several times, but I wanted to draw her in a peaceful, spiritual way. She often naps in the sunlight and I love how the light plays upon her coat. She's a girly girl, so I captured her napping on iridescent tulle. I snapped several photos of her sleeping and then drew this portrait using my favorite photo as reference.

"Deep Meditation" is 11x14" in size. It is drawn in pastels on smooth, white vellum paper.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Art In The Park



Hello! The latest news is that I'll be at Art In The Park in Keene, NH this coming weekend! Art In The Park is an exhibition of New England artists and also a juried competition. It's the perfect place to find a new painting if your walls could use some sprucing up. I will have a booth at the event with framed original pastels, as well as magnets and greeting cards. If you're in New Hampshire, please stop by!

Art In The Park
Saturday, August 30 & Sunday, August 31
10 am - 4 pm

Ashuelot River Park,
West St.
Keene, NH

Monday, August 11, 2008

Chicken With Attitude



Here is my latest pastel, called "Chicken With Attitude". I met this particularly grumpy hen at the Cheshire County Fair in Swanzey, NH. I was snapping reference photos in the agricultural area and put the lens of my camera through the chicken wire to snap some pics of the chickens. Most of the chickens were happily pecking at their food. This chicken, however, moved closer and closer to my camera with its head cocked to the side. She wanted to attack and I wanted to move my camera as fast as possible. The photo that I snapped during this moment was the inspiration and reference for the drawing above.

"Chicken With Attitude" is 8x10" in size. It is drawn with soft pastels on smooth, white vellum.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Froggy



The piece above is my latest pastel, titled "Froggy". The inspiration for this drawing came from Fireside Gardens in Langdon, NH. I was exploring Nancy's garden about a month ago, and zoomed in on a bullfrog in her pond. He didn't move while I snapped several photos of him from different angles. I think it's amazing how frogs are so patient with me when I photograph them. I'm able to get some great reference shots.

The piece is drawn in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum. "Froggy" is 8 x 10" in size.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Jaffrey Riverfest!






Saturday was an amazing day! I was a vendor at Jaffrey Riverfest in Jaffrey, NH. Riverfest is a town celebration, featuring artisans, historical town tours, an art rescue, hot air balloon rides, good food, and musical performances. Above, I've included some pictures of my booth at the event.

All in all, it was a successful day! I sold many of my giftware products, which was fantastic. Given the state of the economy, I was unsure if it would be a lucrative day. It was interesting to see which images were popular and to get feedback in person from my fellow townsfolk.

I also brought Sasha and my family along for the day. Sasha proved to be the perfect mascot. Many people stopped by just to get a look at her up close. She's blowing her coat right now, so she really is quite a sight. She has these cotton ball wisps of hair that fall off of her like dust bunnies.

I want to thank Tom and my family members for keeping me company in the booth. Also, thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth to view my work. You made the day a success!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Cheshire Medical Center Art Exhibit







I just hung my work at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, NH for a solo exhibition. My pastels are on display on the 5th floor of the hospital (the Farnum Rehabilitation Floor) until September 11th. I'm really proud of this exhibit, since it will be viewed not only by visitors, but patients who are in the healing process. I included pieces that I created during my own period of healing to spread some positive, hopeful energy.

If you're in the area, feel free to stop by and view the artwork in person!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Lakeside Buddy



The portrait above is of a special golden named Buddy. I call him Bud and sometimes "Big Guy". He's also known as Buddha Bud, because he has gigantic ears like the Buddha. I swear that if you rub his ears, he'll warm your soul and your face with a series of kisses.

Mr. Bud is reclining next to Dublin Lake in this picture. He wasn't actually there, but I wanted to draw a summery golden retriever portrait. I combined reference from my own landscape photos and some reference photos of Buddy. Then, I tried to create a serene rendition in pastels. The result is the portrait above.

"Lakeside Buddy" is 8x10" in size. It is drawn in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Just Ducky



Here is my latest pastel, titled "Just Ducky". I'm not sure what I think of the piece just yet. The thought of creating a pastel painting with baby ducks was irresistible to me. It seems like there are baby geese and ducks everywhere in the countryside currently. Yesterday, I had to stop the car to allow baby turkeys to cross the road. They sort of hobbled and attempted to fly, although they were quite bad at it.

The drawing is 8 x 10" in size. It is drawn on smooth, white vellum with soft pastels.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Dziadzio's Friends




Here is my latest commission, a special landscape/wildlife portrait called "Dziadzio's Friends". The commission was for a Maine landscape scene, so I chose a section of the Nubble Light lighthouse site in Maine. This particular spot is very special to me, as I used to travel here with my family when I was little.

My grandfather was especially fond of Maine and Nubble Light. I can remember feeding the gulls french fries with him. He thought that seagulls were magnificent and I am reminded of him whenever I see them. This piece recreates a scene that I would've experienced with my grandfather when I was young.

The title comes from his nickname, Dziadzio, which is the Polish word for grandfather. Whenever we go to Maine and watch the gulls, we say, "There are Dziadzio's friends!"

The portrait itself is drawn with Dziadzio's pastel set that he used while he was alive. It's drawn on sabretooth pastel paper to create texture and is 8x10" in size.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Norman



This adorable pup is Norman. He is my latest commission and was a pleasure to capture. I wanted this portrait to be reminiscent of the classic dog portraits of the 19th century. During this time, outdoor dog portraits often featured a simple foreground with a tree-line background and a blue sky. I brightened up the colors a bit and gave this theme a try.

Norman's portrait is 8x10" and drawn with pastels on smooth, white vellum.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Waiting For The Rain



The piece above is part of a series of pastels that I am working on for Fireside Gardens. The gardens are owned by my friend, Nancy, and I sell my artistic wares in her gift shop. I thought it would be a neat idea to start a series of animal portraits set in Nancy's gardens. The location is so colorful and lively. I couldn't think of a better background for my work.

Last week, I visited the gardens and snapped several pictures. I also took several pictures of Nancy's schnauzers, Whitney and Ida. For fun, I super-imposed one of the girls on a work bench area of Nancy's garden on my computer and printed out the reference. Then, I drew the scene in pastels. The piece above is the result!

I plan on creating more Fireside drawings in the near future. The pastels will feature Nancy's dogs, as well as a few cats, relaxing around her gardens. If you are in New England, I recommend making a trip to visit Nancy's gardens and gift shop. It is the perfect place to find just the right plants, flowers, and country gifts.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Clawing Her Way To The Top



Here is my latest portrait, called "Clawing Her Way To The Top." While I've never been the type to viciously climb my way to the top, I thought that this title puts a funny spin on a kitten portrait. I'm more of the type to work like a mule while being fed morsels of success here and there.

This kitten, however, operates differently. She is a show kitten that I photographed at a Cat Fancier's Association confirmation show. I believe that she is a Maine Coon kitten, but it is hard for me to tell with the low lighting. I snapped the reference photo just as she was climbing a raffia scratching post to impress the judges.

The portrait above is drawn in pastels on textured pastel paper. It is 8 x 10" in size. I hope that you enjoy this depiction of ruthless competition. Meow!

New Look

You may have noticed that this blog looks a little different, along with the Golden Illustrations website. I decided that it's time for a new look. The black background of the old blog and web page was kind of depressing. Now that I'm living in NH and am happy with my surroundings, it's time to have a web page and blog that reflect that.

I hope that you enjoy the new look. There is even a new gallery on my web page to browse through. We used a new gallery program that presents my artwork simply, without a lot of text clutter. To me, simplicity is best.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Dreams of Mice and Everything Nice



My new studio is a bit unconventional. I work on an antique table with a wrought iron base and a set of chairs with mustard/golden colored cushions. The chairs have seen better days, but it's good to work on worn furniture since my pastels tend to cling to the wood.

My cat could care less about the distress of my chairs. To her, the fluffy golden cushions provide the perfect napping place in the sun. Rays of warm sunlight filter through my studio windows every afternoon. Any toasty spot entices my kitty. I snapped the reference photo for this piece while she was napping on a studio chair and tried to imagine the images floating through her head. She looked so content, she must have finally caught a mouse or her bird toy.

This piece is 11x14" in size and drawn in soft pastels on smooth, white vellum paper. With luck, I will manage to cover the piece with tracing paper for protection before my cat decides to nap on the drawing. She has been known to nap on drawings of herself. The drawings of other animals don't intrigue her as much as her own portraits. I'm not sure if all of this artistic attention is going to her head. Or... Maybe I just have an active imagination. It's probably both.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Creature Comforts



There are times when nothing is more soothing than a pile of pillows and a stuffed animal. The portrait above shows how my beloved furball, Sasha, finds comfort. If Sasha is looking to blow off some steam, she'll jump on our futon and chew on her stuffed goose. I think she enjoys the stacks of cushions on the futon and the furry texture of her goose toy. Furry toys are pretty much the only toys, besides rodents, that she enjoys playing with.

I thought it would be cute to take a picture of Sash with a stuffed toy in her mouth. This portrait is a bit different then many of my portraits, since I set up the scene. I lured Sash onto the futon with her goose toy and snapped away as she chewed on the faux fur. Yum.

The background was created in my imagination. I didn't like the cushions that were in the reference photo, so I drew some sari-like cushions in the background. I thought that a little color would spice the portrait up.

The portrait is 11x14" in size and is drawn with soft pastels on smooth, white vellum. I used a kneaded eraser for blending and texture. The kneaded eraser is excellent for creating stuffed animal fur texture. Hope that you enjoy this new piece.

: )

Mia

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Fabric Softener




Yeay! I'm finally managing to keep up with my blog. In between making prints, cards, and magnets, I've found time to work on some new artwork for my portfolio. Since I enjoyed drawing the previous long-haired cat so much in charcoal, I decided to create another black and white cat drawing.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one, but I gave it a clever name. It may be a bit corny, but it makes me giggle. The "Fabric Softener" is my own kitty, Molly. Do your cats like to nap on laundry? Mine does. If I have a pile of clean laundry spread on my bed, ready to fold, she will curl up in a nest of clothes that smell like Morning Fresh scent. I don't enjoy little black cat hairs on my fresh light clothes, but it happens. And, it's cute.

I snapped a pic of my kitty caught in the act of filling my clothes with cat hair. Then, I drew a piece based on the photographic image. The drawing is 11x14" landscape in size. It's drawn in pressed charcoal sticks on smooth, white vellum.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Suncatcher



Here is my latest pastel drawing, "Suncatcher". I've been in the mood to draw wildlife lately. It's not a surprise, considering that I am surrounded by beautiful trees and nature in my studio. I'm tired of snow, though, and drawing summer animals helps me look forward to warmer weather.

The reference photos for this piece were taken at the Beaver Lake Nature Center in NY. There is a group of turtles that likes to sun themselves on a log on the "Bog Trail". On a sunny afternoon, I felt inspired to photograph these fellows. They were posed in such unique positions.

The drawing itself is 11x14" on smooth, white vellum. It is drawn with soft pastels. I've been using different brands of pastels lately, but most of the piece is completed using my grandfather's set of pastels.

Enjoy!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Kermit



I've been steadily working and am in the process of opening Golden Illustrations in NH. While I am waiting for my registration to be accepted, I've had some downtime to draw. The piece above is my latest pastel drawing.

The piece is titled "Kermit", because Kermit The Frog holds a special place in my heart. I thought that this lovely guy deserved a name fitting of his easy-going personality. I took the reference photo for this piece at the Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, NY. Beaver Lake is a park that I loved to frequent for some quiet time in nature.

I visited Beaver Lake on this particular day, because I wanted to release some sadness over the passing of my godfather. There's nothing like nature and cute critters to pull a person out of a difficult time in their lives. As my husband and I walked on the wooden pathway on the "Bog Trail", we came upon this fellow. He was basking in the sun and allowed me to walk right up to his webbed feet to take close pictures with my new digital camera.

I was so amazed that he didn't hop away. It was as if he didn't even sense me. Either that, or he wanted to show off for the camera : ) I took several photos and decided to create a drawing based on this photo shoot.

"Kermit" is 11 x 14" landscape. He is drawn in pastels on smooth, white vellum paper. I'm sure that he finds it not easy being green.... with brown spots.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Art Show At The Dog Show Results


Best Entry Depicting A Golden Retriever

Fourth Place, Drawing Category

Last night, I received news that I won two awards in the 2008 Art Show At The Dog Show. I received a Fourth Place award in the Drawing category. Also, I received the "Best Entry Depicting A Golden Retriever" award for the second year in a row! The portrait that won in the Golden Retriever category featured my beloved Sunny and the award is a wonderful tribute in his memory. I couldn't be happier!

The winning pieces are featured above. For more information on the Art Show At The Dog Show, click on the link on the right side of my blog. The Art Show At The Dog Show is a national juried competition of dog art held every year in Kansas.

Monday, March 03, 2008

In Memory of Sunny





Sunny, my beautiful golden friend, died on Friday. He was the first golden retriever that I have owned myself. I grew up with goldens and as each passed in my family, they were just gone one day. I wasn't with them as they passed. Sunny was in my arms as he passed from a long bout of illness.

I think he was the oldest golden retriever that I have ever seen, let alone owned. The vet in NH estimated his age at between 15-17 years old. In golden years, that is an astronomical age.

He was a happy gentleman, always willing to flirt with the ladies. I think he was the only dog that I have come across that actually liked going to the vet. He would nuzzle against the female techs and give them gentle kisses. They would fuss over him and cuddle him with every visit. He would just lay on the floor of the exam room and never complained. What a ladies man.

He was a happy gent that liked to chew on toys and let them hang out of his mouth like a cigar. It was as if he was saying, "Hey Toots, would you like to snuggle?". He was the kind of guy who would call a woman "Toots". And he would crawl right into your lap if you were sitting on the floor.

He was Sasha's best friend and that's saying a lot. Sash doesn't care much for other dogs. She's perfectly obedient and likes to play with little, spunky dogs. Big dogs make her nervous. At first, she and Sunny had some minor territorial tiffs. In time, they shared their space well. They sort of resembled Kermit and Miss Piggy, with Sasha being the flamboyant diva.

Sunny is very missed. The house feels empty and it's hard to imagine life without him. The last year was quite a struggle and you can probably tell through my portraits that he was not feeling well. I cared for him like a child and documented the peaceful moments in pastel. Two pastel drawings of Sunny are hanging in this year's Art Show At The Dog Show. The show opens this week, a perfect memorial to my favorite gentleman. I love you, Sunny.

Friday, February 22, 2008

When Are You Coming Home?




It's been ages since I've posted a new drawing on my blog. My art supplies had been sitting in boxes for about a month or so, making drawing impossible. Regardless, I have unpacked most of my studio and already finished a new piece! Voila!

I thought it would be fun to name this piece, "When Are You Coming Home?", since the kitty looks like it's anxiously awaiting it's owner from behind a window. The reference photo was taken on one of my trips to NH, before we moved here. I happened to catch this cat in a window, thinking it was perfectly unique for a portrait.

The drawing is 11 x 14" landscape and drawn in charcoal on smooth, white vellum paper.

P.S. You may have noticed that the title of the blog and description have changed. This is the beginning of some layout changes. I wanted to update the blog to reflect my new surroundings. My website will also have a new look and updates soon!

: )

Mia

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Art Show at the Dog Show





Hello, bloggers! Yes, I have decided to ambitiously write two blogs in one day. It helps me feel like I am actually accomplishing work while things are still in boxes.

I have exciting news... Three of my drawings were accepted into the 2008 Art Show At The Dog Show. The Art Show At The Dog Show is a national exhibition of canine art held in Kansas every spring. It is a juried show and I feel very fortunate to be selected to participate for a second year in a row!

Two of my accepted drawings are pastels, "Would You Like To Snuggle?" and "Blanket Buddy". The third accepted piece is the charcoal drawing, "Boris Reclines". I finished framing all three pieces last week with the help of a frame shop. Each piece looks fantastic and I am hoping to have them shipped to Kansas this week.

Wish me luck with the show! My pieces are eligible for awards and I should find out results by the month of April. I've posted pics of the accepted pieces above.

: )

Mia

New Beginnings

Hello, bloggers! In a month's time, I have packed up my life belongings and moved to the beautiful state of New Hampshire. My husband and I just moved into our new home in Jaffrey this past weekend.

I've already started setting up my new art studio! It's painted a golden yellow and my golden retriever has already decided that my studio carpet is his favorite place to nap. He's actually at my feet right now, curled up in an adorable ball.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do any new artwork, because my supplies are currently in boxes. I now have internet, but no printer, scanner, or camera hook-ups. My mantra has been to remember that great things do not happen instantly. So... I will be patient and slowly set my studio up to be a happy, comfortable place.

I will write soon with more updates and progress. My goal is to set my studio up for classes and portrait creation. In the meantime, have a happy Valentine's Day!

: )

Mia

Monday, January 07, 2008

Golden Illustrations Is Moving!

With the new year comes new beginnings... My husband and I will be moving to NH this weekend. We've had an offer accepted on a house in Jaffrey, NH and are scheduled to move in at the end of January.

This means that Golden Illustrations will be moving to NH and is temporarily closed until we are settled in Jaffrey. I will be open for business in February, just in time for Valentine's Day! It's the perfect time to order a portrait for your sweetheart : )

Our new house will have a studio where I have plenty of space to create! I also plan on offering art classes to NH residents from my home studio. I've always wanted to teach art and am looking forward to sharing the healing energy of creating with my students.

To all of my friends and family... Happy New Year! I wish you a healthy new year full of possibilities! I will catch up with you in February!

: )

Mia

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Golden Illustrations at the Santa's Workshop Event

I hope that everyone had a happy holiday season! I certainly was a busy bee over the holidays! Before Christmas, I took part in the Syracuse Research Corporation's Santa's Workshop event. Local businesses related to employees could sell their wares at a holiday arts & crafts event.

I set up a table with cards & framed prints for sale. Business cards, brochures, and gift certificates were available for those interested in custom portraits. All in all, it was a busy day and I met many kind people.

Here is a picture of my booth: