I’ve just finished updating my portfolio with projects from October through the end of the year! (insert embarrassed, blush face here) .. I know, I know – but better late than never!!

All client and guest comments are welcome! I’ve included all of the portraits from my year long portrait giveaway, senior portrait sessions, family portraits – twitter background designs, site/blog designs and even an illustration you may not have seen yet!

Have a browse through my 2009 Collection and let me know what you think!!

Happy New Year!!!

Just a note to let you all know that I’ve just added 14 (FOURTEEN!!!) projects to my portfolio! You can view them all here: Leanne’s Portfolio

…and by all means, if you’ve got a project included in my portfolio, feel free to leave a comment! All of my weekly portrait giveaways, blog designs and paintings are present and accounted for.

Happy browsing!

Pete is already on his way home – this is the scanned image of the completed painting. Such a cute pug, a lot of fun to paint! I’ll be reorganizing my studio soon, my new bamboo blinds are in!! I’m excited to paint in there again after I put up the blinds and move things around.

Meanwhile, I have a german shepherd pencil portrait commission that I’ve already begun and will share upon completion.

Purchase a custom portrait in my Shop!

I had quite the giddy little girl surprise yesterday when I opened my mailbox – I received the July issue of DogWorld Magazine. I wasn’t expecting this issue until – well, July. So I was pretty surprised to see it and cannot TELL you how quickly I opened up to the inside cover contents:

Now, this is where the squealing like a little girl part came in. Those of you who know my work know exactly why already, those of you who don’t? Click here, then come back and have another look. If any of you would like to reminisce, you could go back to my blog archives and have a walk down memory lane, and see how Katie’s portrait came to life in my studio.

When I was asked to display artwork in DogWorld Magazine, I was absolutely ecstatic. I had to submit work for consideration, first, and then the editorial team would approve the final artwork selected for this issue. Katie was an obvious choice, she’s a gorgeous purebred Lab. I quickly provided everything they requested and it wasn’t long before her portrait was issued their stamp of approval. So much so, in fact, that they gave her a full page:

From start to finish, Katie’s portrait is “all me”. What’s different about this piece from my other portraits is that I also did the photo shoot with Katie. I selected this composition from my own photography – so it is exactly how I envisioned her from start to finish. Getting down on the floor with her and hanging out with her, seeing how she behaved around her mom, this conveys her spirit in a portrait perfect way, from first hand knowledge and experience.

The greatest part about this opportunity is that it is who it is. Dog lovers, those who have those special connections with their dogs, trainers, aficionados – these are the eyes that will pick up this magazine and see this portrait, so this is such an insane honor. Really. I can’t even wrap my brain around how flattered and overwhelming it is.

Other artists work included in the “Gallery of Dogs” spread include Michael Pfleghaar, Louise Peterson, Nicholas Moss, Paul Boddum, Marjorie Pesek, Lori Alexander and Hilda Spain-Owen.

If you’re in the pet store or Borders or wherever there’s a great big magazine rack – pick up the July (2008) issue of Dog World.

Keep reading to view a few close up scans of the painting!

I have tossed around the idea of painting on webcam again, especially since I’m working on so many portraits at the moment. I’ll definitely let you know if I decide to do that and give you a link so you can pop in and watch me painting live in my studio.

Yesterday I decided to just snap photos of Claire’s portrait as I progressed and show you all of the stages I go through during a drawing session. If you’re looking for a tutorial on how to draw a portrait, I’m not sure that I am a very good teacher – but if you pick up more on visual cues, you’ll be good to go.

My supplies are very simple – an Ebony extra smooth drawing pencil, a set of Kimberly drawing pencils (a nice variety of hard and soft leads for shading and defined lines), a white block eraser, a kneaded eraser, sharpener, acid free archival drawing paper and a sock, so you don’t get yourself too messy during the process.

I started out measuring and marking the size, 4″ x 6″ on my pad, and worked in the line drawing:

I’ve added a detail shot of Emily’s face below, so keep on reading. For anyone interested in having your own custom portrait done, you can view my custom portrait packages here in my shop. You can quick-order by selecting a size and checking out through Paypal right here.

I’ve added a few zoomed-in detail shots of the completed portrait below, so keep on reading. Also, a few of you have contacted me about having your own custom portrait done, and I’ve made up some custom portrait packages in my shop to make the ordering process easier. You can have a look at the available sizes here. :woof: