ScoutDog Studios

2008-07-14T07:42:00.003-06:00

Happy 1st Birthday Samson

Samson and his new monkey on his 1st birthday. Oh he is growing up so fast.

(One note on the status of the monkey ... in less than 24 hours he has managed to chew off one arm and one leg. He's still a silly puppy.)

Happy Birthday Little Moose!

2008-06-26T07:58:00.001-06:00

SCOUTDOG STUDIOS SUMMER SALE!

I'm excited to announce our Summer Sale.

To celebrate summer, ScoutDog Studios is cutting all prices of its current collection of original paintings by 50 percent. In addition to paintings, all mugs are $3 and t-shirts are $5.

Supplies are limited to head on over to the online store and start shopping.

SHOP OUR SUMMER SALE

2008-06-23T07:36:00.002-06:00

Remembering ScoutDog.

I can't believe that is has been a year since we lost Scout. We miss you Scout. And you will always be my inspiration and muse.

Enjoy a nice swim and chase some squirrels today!

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow
Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play
together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or
maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and
times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss
someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the
distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the
group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in
joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again
caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone
from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

2008-06-20T07:54:00.002-06:00

Take Your Dog To Work Day!

Even though everyday is Take your Dog to Work Day at ScoutDog Studios, Samson really doesn't look like he wants to work today.

2008-06-19T09:23:00.003-06:00

Get a Fork and Help our Neighbors.

The Golden and Rottie are ready to enjoy these yummy pancakes. And you can too.

If you live in the Denver area, stop by Snooze, a great restaurant where my sister Leigh works. Today Snooze is donating 10 percent of all net sales to support our Northern neighbors in Weld County who were the recent victims of a Tornado Disaster.

Come eat and help thy neighbor! (And say Hi! to Leigh.)

2008-06-11T08:59:00.003-06:00

Painted Puppy

I finally got around to painting a portrait of Samson to add to our pet art gallery in the living room. He joins Scout, Molly and Izzy to complete the collection.

(And if you would like to have a custom painting of your favorite pet, then check out the details here as well as more paintings in the arf gallery.)

2008-05-25T09:45:00.002-06:00

Doggy Paddle

We took Samson to Chatfield Reservoir for his first swim. It took a little time for him to figure it out but he was swimming and fetching like a pro by the end of the day.

2008-05-24T07:14:00.003-06:00

Surtex WrapUp ... Back from NYC

So I'm back from the show. I thought it will be fun to show off the booth. Surtex had too levels ... one was in the basement of the convention center and one was upstairs with high-ceilings and windows. I think that having the booth upstairs .. even though some said that was where the newbies were located ... made the long days easier to handle since we had lots of light and sunshine.

It was a great show. I made some great contacts and met some great people in the booths around me ... and whew... It's over!

Now it is all about the follow up with the contact that I made at the show. So if all goes well you could see ScoutDog on puzzles, stickers, bedding, and more.

Exciting!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend. I think ScoutDog Studios is going to take a few days off to recover from the trip to New York.

2008-05-15T07:53:00.002-06:00

New York here comes ScoutDog

So the day is almost here. Tomorrow I fly off to New York for the Surtex show (Booth 605). Have lots of new designs to show (see another seek peek above) and hopefully make some good licensing contacts.

My booth is suppose to arrive tomorrow and hopefully the boxes will make it to the booth by the time I get to the convention center Saturday morning to setup.

Keep your paws crossed for success at the show.

2008-05-05T07:33:00.003-06:00

Doggy Dreams

ScoutDog has high hopes of being the next Blue Dog. Oh puppy. This is just one of the daily illustrations featured at 365 Days of ScoutDog.

The story about the Blue Dog and George Rodrigue on CBS Sunday Morning was just the inspiration that I needed to make that final push in the last two weeks before Surtex in New York. Hope that some of the success of the Blue Dog can rub off on the ScoutDog.

2008-04-22T08:24:00.002-06:00

Countdown to New York City

So I'm in the final stretch of design and planning for the Surtex show in New York in May. It is getting down to the wire but I think I'm going to get everything done and am excited about the new designs. (You can have a sneak peek above.)

To help inspire and motivate me today, I have gone pink. I love my new pink doc marten boots. As they say ... go big or go home. You can never have too much pink.

2008-04-14T09:01:00.001-06:00

HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" aired an exposé on puppy mills that no doubt horrified everyone who watched.

Undercover footage showed dogs in filthy, overcrowded conditions, where they are confined for their entire lives, without human companionship or adequate veterinary care. These dogs are often killed once their reproductive capacity wanes.

The Humane Society of the United States has been investigating and fighting against puppy mills for decades. With your help, we can advance our fight to stop puppy mills and the tragic consequences of pet overpopulation. You've already shown your commitment to help stop puppy mills by signing our Stop Puppy Mills pledge.

Go to the website to learn more

2008-04-10T11:51:00.001-06:00

Mother's Day is May 11

ScoutDog Studios Pet Portraits and Stationery make the perfect gift for all of the moms in your life. Check out the details on ordering a painting and view our line of stationery.

Just email your photos, canvas size and colors or themes that you would like included in the painting ... and I'll create a whimsical, bright painting for you by Mother's Day. Check out some of my work at the online arf gallery.

SPECIAL OFFER: To make this an offer you can't refuse, if you place your order in the month of April you will also receive a set of 6 matching notecards and an 8x10 print of your painting for FREE. Just included the code MOMSDAY with your order.

ORDER A CUSTOM PAINTING

2008-03-29T08:56:00.003-06:00

Check it out. ScoutDog Studios Custom Stationery is featured in the April 2008 issue of 5280 Magazine. You can check out the stationery and order a set or two for you at the ScoutDog Studios Online Store.

2008-03-21T09:22:00.002-06:00

New Painting Collection and Addiction

I finished a painting of a Giraffe that will be part of a new collection featuring paintings that are all done on 12x36 inch canvases.

Also I've found a new addition ... Twitter. Yes, I know ... pretty sad ... but fun. You can follow me here.

Have a great weekend.

2008-03-13T10:03:00.002-06:00

ScoutDog Studios Home Studio Tour 2.0

Last weekend we finally had time to get over to the old studio ... load up the Uhaul ... and move everything to the new home studio. And yesterday I finished the organization. So today you can check out the new studio and take the ScoutDog Studios Home Studio Tour 2.0.

You can check out the photo slide show on Flickr or check out a video below (sorry so dark).

2008-03-10T09:56:00.002-06:00

Samson's a Cover Model

Check out the handsome Samson on the cover of the Spring 2008 issue of The Colorado Dog Magazine.

2008-03-04T11:24:00.002-07:00

NEW PAINTINGS, INSPIRATION

It always amazes me how quickly time flies ... I can't believe that there is only about 2 months until the Surtex show. And there is still a lot to do ... but to help me relax a bit and not freak out, I took some time to step back and paint to get some inspiration.

Both paintings are 24x36 ... one features the Fat Cat and Turtle ... the other features the Bear and Snail. They just make me smile with the bright colors and silly characters. Hopefully this will be the inspiration that I need to kick my creativity into high gear.

For additional inspiration, I've been enjoying the Hip Tranquil Chic Podcast where she interviews the always inspiring SARK.

2008-02-19T11:43:00.002-07:00

NOT MUCH TO REPORT ... JUST WORKING AWAY

So I'm still planning and researching the business plan redo ... there is just so much information out there. I probably just need to turn away from the computer and dive into what I have already collected. So that is what I will try to do today.

And I have been trying to work on designs for surface art for the Surtex show. You can check out one of my design layouts above. My goal for today is to finalize the designs I need to create for the show as well as develop a timeline.

Hopefully by posting this it will keep me honest. I can only hope.

2008-02-13T11:56:00.002-07:00

WATCH ME PAINT

Here is the newest custom painting that I just completed. It features two labs, Frankie and Jimmy, and the iguana Izze. This is my first iguana.

Also I took photos as I painted and you can see the painting come to life.

2008-02-12T11:53:00.001-07:00

LITTLE MOOSE IS GROWING UP

So our little Samson is growing up. Today I dropped him off for his first day at doggy daycare at CampBowWow Boulder. He didn't seem to even notice that I left. I guess he is getting to be a big dog now.

The fun part is though that I can watch him on the webcam all day ... you can see a screenshot of him above. He seems to be having fun and hopefully it will wear him out.

I'm sure that many of you have been watching some of the Westminster Dog Show. It is so much fun. And I learned today that they are also having a auction of dog art at ... maybe some ScoutDog Studios art will make it to this auction. (I can always dream.)

2008-02-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

HAPPY SATURDAY

For just a little fun on this Saturday, check out the 365 Days of ScoutDog Illustration for February 9th. Who's saving who? Hang in there kitty. The Coonhound is here to save you.

The week was a whirlwind, and just trying to get organized. The studio is just piles of papers with ideas doodled on them for designs, products .... Now the hard part for me ... I have to narrow it down and focus so that I can be ready by the show in May.

Learning to say NO! is very hard for me when I'm so excited about all of the new ideas that I have swirling around in my head.

2008-02-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

INFORMATION OVERLOAD

I spent most of yesterday researching and trying to create a list of the categories of designs that I will need to create for the Surtex show. I started out by checking out the other exhibitors at Surtex to see what themes are included in their portfolios.

And all I can say is that there is a lot of competition out there. So I'm going to have to really work at creating a unique collection so that I can stand out in the big crowd of artists. I'm just trying to not freak out and get overwhelmed with the task ... often when I feel this way it ends up paralyzing me and I don't end up getting anything done.

I know I just need to take it one step at a time and I'll get there. I think the first step is to create the design sheets and product mockups using my ScoutDog Studios illustrations. That way I will have those ready by May. Then once those are done and if I have time, I can add additional styles for the JennyBen Illustration side of the business.

Sounds like a plan and I better get busy.

2008-02-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

TODAY THE ROAD TO SURTEX BEGINS

The check is in the mail. I've officially decided to exhibit at Surtex 2008 in May in the big New York City. I'll be in booth 605 in the Galleria and River Pavilion on Level 4.

In addition to the signature ScoutDog Studios designs, I've decided that I want to expand in to other styles to hopefully make my art more appealing to companies to license my designs. I also want to do more illustration in 2008 and beyond so this will require pushing myself into other styles as well.

In order to explore other styles, I've decided to launch another brand so that I can keep moving forward with ScoutDog Studios and not confuse it by adding other styles. The new brand will be JennyBen Illustration. I will be working on new designs that will launch at the Surtex show. I will be developing a website and probably a blog. To start most of these designs with the goal of licensing them but down the road I might also manufacture my own products as well.

So this is just another step in making my business goals, dreams come through in 2008. And that means I better get to work!

2008-02-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

DON'T HATE ME BECAUSE I'M HANDSOME

Here is just a quick sneak peek at our little supermodel Samson. He did a great job at the photo shoot for the Spring 2008 cover of The Colorado Dog Magazine.

The cover is still top secret but will be out in March so stay tuned.

Oh and he is also featured on today's illustration at 365 Days of ScoutDog.