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Just under 70 days until Christmas. Wow! And I imagine you are all trying to come up with some great gift ideas for friends and family, without breaking the bank, right?

What about a customized portrait? Does your sister LOVE her dog? Does your father love "The Godfather"? Did your best friend just have a baby? Is there someone in your life that you've lost to soon and want to remember them somehow? Customized portraits are so personal and so unique and can inspire emotion - sounds better than giving gloves and scarves every year doesn't it?

Check out my website and see if there is anything you like. Or if you have a portrait idea that you would like me to draw for you, let me know. Visit my contact page for my contact information and for instructions on what kinds of photos I'm looking for and how to send them.

Can't wait to hear from you!

It was recently suggested to me to draw more musicians. And I agree. I would love to draw more of them, but there is a problem. There are so many of them I don't know where to begin.

Aside from the normal and obvious choices - Elvis, John Lennon (which I do plan on drawing) and the like - who do you think I should draw? Please leave comments with suggestions.

Also, it was suggested to me by the same person to draw more movie scenes. I love this suggestion. I've started on a scene from the Godfather and its turning out quite nicely. I've done the "Here's Johnny" scene from The Shining as a portrait actually as well. Very frightening to look at, but very cool. What other movies or movie scenes do you suggest? Please leave a comment with your ideas!

With your help I can have an amazing collection of drawings for you all to enjoy - and to display at the Zombo Gallery in February.

I've suddenly been filled with new ideas to draw. Sometimes I think to myself - If I did this portrait, who would actually want it? I've realized, no matter how outlandish the portrait, someone will want it. I am getting ready to begin a pen and ink portait of Lady Gaga and I can name 4 poeple who would want it. If I get a good response on her portrait, I think I may do a larger painting.

But my ideas aren't enough. I want your ideas. What would you want to see? Who do you want me to draw? What do you want me to draw? Please let me know. I do this for you...and I want to make sure I have what you all want! Shoot me an email and let me know your ideas.

However, I keep saying I'm going to start "tonight", but then I just get too tired. I guess that's what happens when you're pregnant and chasing a toddler around huh? But unless something prevents me from doing it - I AM STARTING ANOTHER PORTRAIT TONIGHT!

 

I recently celebrated my 32 birthday, and my wonderful parents gave me a gift that I think will be very useful in my work as an artist. I was given my first rapidograph. This thing is awesome and if I wasn't so exhausted at the moment, I would be using it every second.

You know those pen and ink drawings you see that have the precise lines - like the ones you see in the cityscapes or buildings? This is the kind of pen that is used to create that neat and detailed look.

Ultimately, I want my pen and ink drawings to be cleaner and more detailed and precise. This is the first step to making my work better.

On another note, summer is ending and although Christmas is just 4 months away, get your orders in now for your portraits. These make amazing gifts for family members and friends. Remember, the earlier you place your order, the quicker you will receive it!

Shoot me an email or give me a call with any questions. Visit my contact page for information on how to send photos and the guidelines for you to send them to me. Also, be sure to check out my pricing page for pricing information.

is your little one growing up too fast? Make time stand still with a customized portrait. Portraits are great keepsake items and look great on any wall in your home.

Just email me a few of your favorite photos of your little one(s) and let's talk. Visit my contact page for more information on how to submit photos.

Portraits also make great gifts. So don't wait! Contact me today. And remember, next Friday, July 30th is the end of my current "Giving" campaign. So if you want a portion of your purchase to be donated to either Children Hospital of Pittsburgh or Animal Friends, purchase a portrait! Its for a good cause....

One of my favorite portraits to draw is pet portraits. Maybe its my soft spot for animals. I don't know. But I love the outcome. I mean, here you have this companion for so long. A companion that greets you everyday with the same excitement. A companion that knows no hate, only love - for you. I would want to find a way to always remember them.

If you have a pet that you'd like to remember, think about a portrait. Let me know if you're interested. Check out a few of the examples I have in my Pen and Ink gallery.

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Over the past two days, I have seen a huge increase of visitors to my site! More and more of you are looking at my artwork and my pricing. Its exciting.

Please feel free to give me feedback on my website. What do you think would make the site better? What would you like to see?

Thank you for getting the word out. Please keep it going!

I’m looking for feedback on what you would like to see that will make Pittsburgh shine through my artwork. Please visit my guestbook page and send me your thoughts or post a comment.

 

I've realized that when you start a website, getting the word out can be hard. Up to this point my site has done really well. But I want more visitors. So, to all of those who know me or just generally like my website and work, pass the word along. The more people out there that know about what I do the better.

Also, I'm looking for suggestions from all of you. What do you think will make my site better? What are you looking for but aren't finding? What should I change. Customer feedback is very important to me, so please let me know by posting your comments below.

Thanks everyone for your help! Its much appreciated!

I've just returned from a wonderful trip to Florida. And as always, the palm trees, sunshine and water seemed to consume my mind. Still is. It is so inspiring just to watch and take it all in. Its the perfect environment to just be creative. Maybe its just the Florida air.

Now that I'm back here in Pittsburgh and still waiting to see the sun or summer arrive for that matter, I've gained a renewed sense of possibility, of positivity. Anything is possible and everything will turn out just fine. Good huh?

Needless to say, I've become inspired and all I want to do at this very moment is paint. I have a few portraits in mind.  If you have any portrait ideas, let me know, I'm always looking.  

Painting makes me feel good. It's a process, a long one, but I love it. Maybe this trip to florida is what I needed. Its a given I wish I was there at this very second enjoying the palm trees, the insanely hot weather and the pool. But I can be there in my mind. And that's what will inspire me to create.