Pet The World

Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1492 at a Tuscan farmhouse in Anchiano, Italy, near the town of Vinci where he spent most of his childhood. He was the son of Ser Piero and a girl called Caterina who worked for him. After Leonardo was born, the father and mother did not remain together. Only recently have details of Leonardo’s birth mother come to light. In 2002, Alessandro Vezzosi, Director of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Vinci, Italy, told the press they had found substantial proof Leonardo’s mother was a slave girl and not a peasant girl, as previously believed.(1) Vezzosi went on to report that Leonardo’s father was a craftsman who owned a Middle-Eastern female slave named Caterina. And, according to their discovery, a few months after Caterina gave birth to Leonardo, she was married off to one of the workers.

Leonardo lived in Anchiana and in Vinci until he was eight years old. Afterwards, he moved to Florence with his father. When Leonardo was 14, he became an apprentice under the famed sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. In that period, Verrocchio was the leading Florentine artist. By the time Leonardo was between 21 and 23 years old, he had become a very skilled painter. Verrocchio permitted Leonardo to help with an important painting, The Baptism of Christ (Uffizi Gallery, Florence). Leonardo painted the background and the kneeling angel. It is said that when Verrocchio saw that Leonardo could paint better than anyone he had ever seen, including himself, he gave up painting for good. Verrocchio decided he would concentrate on sculpture.

Leonardo da Vinci was said to have a great love for animals, and his journals further illustrates this. He was a vegetarian, at least in the latter part of his life (we don’t have definite proof that he was a strict vegetarian in his early life). He wrote, “The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men.” He also remarked, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.”

In the 1480s, Leonardo painted Lady With The Ermine. The Lady in the painting is Cecilia Gallerani, the 17-year-old mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. She carries an ermine for three reasons. First, for the Duke of Milan, having been appointed to the Order of the Ermine by Ferdinand I of Naples, the ermine was the symbol of heraldry on his coat of arms. Second, the ermine was considered to be a symbol of virtue and purity. And finally, it was a play on Cecilia Gallerani’s name since the Greek name for ermine is “galee”.

In Leonardo’s notebooks, he wrote that the ermine eats every other day. Most likely the ermine, an animal related to the sable and weasel, stayed in the studio while the painting was being completed. In the Renaissance period, soft-hair paint brushes were made of ermine tail tips. Brushes were also made from squirrel fur and fastened into goose or hen feathers - another reason the ermine might have been at home in the studio.

Leonardo da Vinci included cats in many of his sketches. On one sheet of animal sketches in his notebook, the artist portrayed more than twenty cats, and one dragon. He drew cats in different poses, alone, with other cats, and being cuddled and held. His sketches are lively and reveal the solemn affection he had for felines.

Throughout the mid to late 1470s, Leonardo worked on a series of different studies relating to the theme of the Madonna and the Christ Child, holding a cat. It was originally thought that no paintings existed beyond his initial studies for these paintings. Recently; however, Madonna with the Cat, which is in the collection of industrialist Carlo Noya in Savona, Italy, was discovered to be a painting by none other than Leonardo.(2) The painting is based on a legend about a cat being born at the same moment as the baby Jesus.

Other sketches for paintings that feature animals and are based on a legend or myth is that of Leda and the Swan. Although no actual paintings exist, there are countless drawings. The story is that Leda was seduced by the God Zeus in the form of a swan and bore two eggs, which resulted in the creation of Helen of Troy with Clytemnestra, and Castor with Pollux.

Although there are countless studies and sketches made by Leonardo, only 13 or 14 actual paintings exist today. One of these is Madonna and Child with St. Anne, painted from 1508 to 1510. The figures depicted all relate to one another, and the baby Jesus is shown tightly holding a little lamb. Da Vinci painted the lamb with sensitivity and detail. The lamb is symbolic of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death for mankind. Leonardo’s animal subjects are based on reality and are filled with vitality.

Sources:

1.http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,810926,00.html
2.http://www.lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/cat.html

Submitted 9/12/2006

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As a popular pet portrait artist, I’ve spent quite a few hours at various dog shows, Saturday Markets and other art festivals and fairs meeting the public interested in commissioning a painting. Sometimes I even get to meet and greet their fabulous pets!

The 12 tips I would suggest for a successful show are the following:

1. Give yourself plenty of time to set up. Unless you’re a seasoned veteran, this always takes longer than expected. Allow for unexpected traffic delays or a crowded show where you may have to wait to set up until other vendors are out of the way.

2. Purchase a canopy that will withstand the wind and rain that you may encounter if it is an outdoor show. Caravan makes a canopy that is easy to put up and has several outstanding features. Canopies are also well worth the cost for indoor shows, because the white sidewalls reflect light to the interior of your booth and help with a feeling of privacy during the show. The sidewalls are easy to put up during the evening hours when that day’s show comes to an end. I also have a carpet remnant that I bring that is a lifesaver for standing on cement floors all day. It also gives my booth a homey, friendly feeling.

3. When wondering what to put in your booth, remember that you will have to fit everything into your car or van and set up/take down whatever you bring. A good idea is to set up a few days before in your den or backyard. This gives you an idea of what will work and what is just too cumbersome to bring. There have been times I’ve wanted to bring that special something, then thought better of it. One of my favorite things to bring is a small mirror to place beside me while I’m painting, or place near my note cards. It adds sparkle to my environment.

4. Fill your booth with lots of samples in various sizes. Be ready to answer questions as to which size is appropriate for your clients. Stock your booth with smaller items such as note cards containing your art with your information printed on the back of each card, small prints, or other inexpensive items. These are traffic stoppers. A potential client may walk past your booth if they only see large items, but they may stop and chat if they find just the right note card for a relative or friend. The person who purchases a $3 note card one year may commission a painting in the future.

Bring gift certificates also to let people know that you are happy to provide a gift certificate to someone’s friend or relative. This may seem like an obvious addition to the booth, but I’ve had people in surprise exclaim, “Oh, you give gift certificates, too?” Display your items in a festive manner. For your gift certificates, you may want to decorate an open box with a painting set half inside of it with a big, shiny bow.

If you don’t have painted samples of every size portrait you offer, you may want to bring empty canvases. The rule of thumb is: the more you can show your clients, the better. I bring five notebooks full of pictures of scans of past paintings with an index in the front. That way when someone asks me, “Have you ever painted a Doxie?” I can show them a sample.

5. Be sure to bring a sign-up sheet. Many times your business card may be lost in the shuffle, but if a prospective client has given you their contact information, it lets you know they have more than a casual interest in your work, and you can ask if it’s all right if you contact them later on to follow-up if they have lost your information. One such event happened for me when I called a woman who wanted to have a portrait of her Schappendoes. She was so glad I gave her a call a month after the show as she had lost my information.

A blank notepad is also a lifesaver. You may want to jot down a person’s name and phone number to let them know of a breeder friend of yours at a later date, or to send a gift certificate or custom note card.

6. Invest in a great booth sign. A very large eye-catching sign is worth its weight in gold. Your sign should preferably match your business card and be one of your trademarks at a show. You may be a vendor at the same show for several years running and your sign is what will initially catch people’s eye.

7. Be painting at the show. This not only gives you something to do, it is an ice-breaker, too. People are much more likely to stop and chat about your paintings if they see you at work. The shows I attend sometimes start at 7:30 a.m. and run until 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. This makes for a very long day. But if I’m working on a painting, the hours seem to fly by, and I get something done to keep up with my orders.

8. Wear some kind of a badge or sign on your person. That way whenever you leave your booth, you are a walking advertisement for your artwork. This also lets everyone know who enters your booth, that you are the artist to talk to. This may seem like a small item, but when your booth is packed with people, this can clear up any confusion.

9. Keep your spirits up during the slow times. I like to bring my own food, hot drink or whatever else will make me the most comfortable. There may be times when no one passes by the booth, and it’s important to keep your spirits up. You never know when someone will pop in and say “There you are! I read about you in the newspaper vendor list and I’m so glad you’re here!”

10. Get plenty of rest the night before and drink lots of water during the show. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of visiting with so many potential clients and you may forget that you are expending an enormous amount of energy and will need to replenish yourself.

11. On the last day of the show, you will be expected to not only greet the public all day, but also to dismantle and load your booth into you vehicle, as well as drive the distance home. So be sure to take extra snacks for the last day. You may also want to bring a change of clothes if you feel you will be more comfortable taking down your booth in your work clothes. Keeping everything organized as you pack up is a time saver for setup for the next show.

12. The other vendors can be a wealth of information. Some are seasoned veterans and most are happy to share their knowledge with you as to which shows are most appropriate, where they purchased their card rack you’ve been admiring, and other odd tidbits that can make the experience more enjoyable for you.

I’ll never forget one artist whose booth was next to mine who told me to get to the show very early the next day or there wouldn’t be any parking to be had. I thought she was kidding about the early hour, but just to be sure I got to the show the next day extremely early. I was stunned to see the parking lot already half full!

To sum up, remember to start with whatever you have and build from there. At my first major show I only had four tables, two or three paintings and one book of samples and a homemade sign with no canopy. Each year I’ve added more and refined what I have. As my confidence has grown, so has my booth and my clientele!

At the close of the show, remember to thank the vendor chairperson for a fabulous show! Always keep a positive attitude about the outcome of the show. The client with seeming interest who signed up for a large painting to hang over their fireplace may change their mind after the show, or be unreachable by phone or e-mail. On the other hand, the person who grabbed your card on the run who never spoke with you may call a few months later and commission several paintings as gifts, as well as a portrait of their own dog. They may be so thrilled with their portrait that they take it to their office to show their co-workers which may lead to other commissions. So always keep a bright and positive attitude and it will come back to you in repeat sales, more show invitations, and a happy, fulfilling career doing what you love!

Note: this article may be re-published freely as long as the following resource box is included at the end of the article and as long as you link to the URL mentioned in the resource box:

© Connie Bowen. Pet Portrait Artist and Professional Illustrator Connie Bowen creates stunning pet portrait paintings on canvas from photos. Specializing in capturing the spiritual nature of dogs, cats, horses and other animals in a realistic fashion with impressionistic backgrounds as seen on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s TV show, Art Beat. Over 200 pet portraits completed and counting! Visit http://www.conniebowen.com to view exquisite samples.

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I know from my experience as a pet portrait artist, that dog portraits are truly the best gift! When my phone rings and I hear the person at the other end of the line describe a relative’s or friend’s dog, I know that this person feels as I do - dogs (and all other pets for that matter) are people too!

There are many reasons why portraits are the very best gift. A painting which captures not only the likeness of a pet, but also their spiritual nature can help ease the grief a person feels after their beloved companion has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. One thing I cherish about my profession as an artist, is that I love connecting with the animals’ energies as I paint, especially for animals that have just made their transition. I sometimes feel that it’s the animal, themselves, who have brought a client to me to commission a portrait to help heal their guardian’s broken heart.

Here is a quick story to illustrate my point.

I was commissioned to paint a memorial portrait of Bear, a Kuvasz -a large, white breed of dog originally from Turkey. I’d never heard of this breed before and did some research before starting the painting. As I was waiting for my client to come to our respective meeting place where I would deliver his finished painting, I was thumbing through our local Dog Nose News. Lo and behold there was an article entitled “Compelled to Rescue” and that month’s subject was - you guessed it, the Kuvasz! I excitedly pointed the article out to him and sure enough, he contacted them later that day and ended up driving over 300 miles to rescue a senior Kuvasz. Was it just a coincidence, or did Bear really bring him together with a new friend?

Sometimes very old and frail animals will have their portrait painted. It’s almost as though the animal is waiting for the portrait to be completed before they pass over. In one case, I arrived to take the photo of an aged kitty who was over 21 years old. I felt strongly that she would wait only as long as it took for me to capture her likeness on canvas before she would cross over the Rainbow Bridge. It wasn’t long after her guardian received the painting that the kitty did, indeed, make her final journey.

Another reason these paintings are such fabulous gifts is that they are long-lasting. Paintings can last for generations and bring to mind fond memories of a life of shared experiences and touching moments.

One of my clients asked me to paint a portrait of every animal her family had ever had and place them on one canvas! The painting consisted of a bird, horse, cats and several dogs. After she received her portrait, she told me that her two daughters wanted it written into the woman’s will as to who would receive the portrait after she and her husband had passed on! It was then I knew, these are not ordinary gifts.

A third reason why pet portraits are the best gift is that they chronicle a life well-lived. Action portraits are one of my favorites. Who can forget the moment when a horse strides easily over the jump, the agility champion races passed the weave poles, or the puppy or kitten is caught tangled endlessly in a ball of yarn? One client of mine wanted his Schipperke painted with all of her stuffed toys around her. She looked so adorable with her black fur against the soft pastel colors of a duck, a bird and a chicken!

As you can see, there is an alternative to another collar, leash or food bowl which is available to dog lovers and pet lovers everywhere!

This article may be re-published freely as long as the following resource box is included at the end of the article and as long as you link to the URL mentioned in the resource box:

Pet Portrait Artist and Professional Illustrator Connie Bowen creates stunning pet portrait paintings on canvas from photos. Specializing in capturing the spiritual nature of dogs, cats, horses and other animals in a realistic fashion with impressionistic backgrounds as seen on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s TV show, Art Beat. Over 200 pet portraits completed and counting!

Visit ==>http://www.conniebowen.com to view exquisite samples.

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