I have spent some time in the studio revamping my photography section. Its been sorely needed for so long, I have to admit is was quite a neglected area and im much happier with it now.

Im gradually getting my site organized and on an even keel since my new design change over xmas. I have had some wonderful comments on my new look website and I thank you all! I really appreciate it as it is a very time consuming job and after all the problems I had with bandwidth in January its all worked out for the best. Sometimes these things are sent to try us and cause us a lot of work in the process but I believe everything happens for a reason and the outcome has been successful.

During writing my new text for the photography section I came across my old tutors website David Boag a professional wildlife photographer, who taught us at college, his site too has had a big revamp since I saw it last and Im very impressed! Its a wonderful website and you must all go and visit, his photos are superb. We were very lucky to be taught by David for a term while at college and he tried his hardest to impart his photography skills on us, and I think he probably shook his head in despair at our class results sometimes!! But he persevered and I would like to think some good skills rubbed off in the end!

This is his website “ enjoy!!

http://www.naturalfocus.co.uk/NaturePhotographer/index.asp

Finally, i hear you all cry, is the final scan of Tillie!

Friday was a busy day and again I didn’t get to scan my bulldog in, im just about to start now!  I had Daniel for a lesson in the afternoon as the kids are on half term and then in the evening we were invited to the opening night of our artist friends exhibition Garry Jones. He was exhibiting one piece for the printmakers association and we enjoyed viewing everyone’s work and the glass of red wine went down well! I took my camera and enclose a photo of Garry next to his silk screen-print below!

Well I cant believe my eyes this morning, my blog has been ranked by Google – PR5! Im so pleased! My forum has just been ranked PR4 too. Considering the forums only been up since January, and my blogs only been online since I think last October, Im not doing too badly!

Went to the post this morning and posted a few portraits. Good News, I have now purchased the use for Canadian dollars from my payment provider and I have integrated it within my shopping cart today. My gift voucher page got a long awaited overhaul, I have wanted to update the payment section there since I redesigned my prices page, as I felt that area was looking really nice and snazzy and the gift voucher page just had to follow suit.

Some more of my new products arrived for packing my canvas and so they will now be even more safe in the post! I cant wait to test them out.

The bulldog is now complete, I havent scanned it in as its slightly tacky so I will scan it tomorrow and add it to the blog and gallery. I have quite a few now to add to the gallery and archive section, so it looks like I have some updating to do!!

See you tomorrow!

Its been a busy day as usual here, I have been discussing with my new packaging guy about different options for posting my portraits as im still not happy with my current packaging supplies. Samples are being sent as we speak for me to test so im looking forward to trying them out.

I have also been working some more on Tillie, I have added new stages on work in progress 1. <

This evening I have been working on my fantasy section of the website, its been so long overdue for an overhaul, I have added a few new pages, but it still all needs some titivating although its getting there now. I dont think I ever bloged about my work being published in the ˜Watercolor Fairies – Step by step guide to creating the Fairy World by David Ritchie and Anna Franklin. Im on page 24 if any of you get a copy (of which you can now purchase direct from my website!!) you can see one of my fairy paintings, the early sketches, the reference photos and the final painting. If you visit my fairy pages at the link below you will be able to see the book in question and I have added a pic below.

My client has just sent me though a fantastic photo of her two dogs, Brooklyn and Emma with the portrait framed. Fantastic! This will be going on the website tomorrow first thing!

Well its the weekend again and these weeks are just flying by! Friday was busy again, I sorted out loads of client emails as I am so behind on those, scanned the sketch in (below) did some more to Tillie the bulldog in the golf course and also had my little student for the first time since Xmas. I set him a task to draw some boxing gloves and he did really well.

Today I have started an Airedale terrier portrait, which I will add to the working in progress later today for you to see and now this afternoon im going to settle back and assess some of my LAC assignments. I have a whole pile here so im going to be a while!

Yesterday I also added some new topics to the forum, I have added a section for people to upload photos of dogs, cats, horses, other animals and background photos to use as reference for paintings. It was a fantastic idea and i started everyone off with a few photos, a collie dog, a goat, a cute little baby guinea fowl and a lovely photos of hills/mountains suitable for adding a dog in. people have already been uploading photos, my favourites so far has to be the giant schnauzer and the Canadian geese! Go and have a peek!

Heres the latest sketch of two pomeranians in Central Park New York

I was up quite early this morning – saw the sun come up while working on my website before breakfast! So now I have finally got my Woof-Mail up and running!  Its only taken me since last year to get around to it!! I have had a holding page for my e-cards for at least a year now but have never had the time to set them up. I sent friends, family and clients an e card for Xmas by hand, you probably all saw it on my blog. That was when Woof-Mail was born.

I have coined the phrase Woof-Mail, it came to me in a flash of inspiration (I love those moments!!) and as it hadnt yet been used its now the new name for my e-cards. I have lots of ideas for new cards so keep checking back. I want to create a great section of my site where by people can send some ‘good quality’ e cards. The link is below and I hope that you enjoy sending them. Let me know if you have any problems or if you would like any requests for types of cards (i.e. birthday anniversary etc) or paintings to be used!

http://www.pet-portraitartist.com/downloads/e-cards.htm

Well these last few days have whizzed by again and i have only just got around to updating my blog. I enclose a portrait I finished over the weekend, it was a valentines gift for a client and it arrived just in time! I have also started a lovely English bulldog in a golf course background in Florida and I will be adding it to the work in progress tomorrow.

I hope you all had a wonderful valentines day too!