Art Every Day Month 2011

I've wanted to participate in a 365 type-project but there's no guarantee that I'll stick to it. I saw AEDM and remembered how sorry I've been in previous years to have 'missed out.'

I know I'll be enjoying my camera again soon, now that I've finally moved. The settling in part is taking longer than expected though...

I can't actually believe I'm here *pinch* Living in the country again. With my horse munching grass in the barn, my dogs sleeping on the couch. This is country living :)

So, to kick off a rather rushed start to Art Every Day Month 2011... this is Velvette in the gorgeous afternoon light. The sun was setting when my Lab plonked herself down and smiled when I mentioned the 'S' word (SWIM) - one of her favourite things.

Riding a giraffe

I've discovered a great horsey community over at Neigh-Bours, a cool EQUINE social networking site for us horse-mad types. I've also set up a li'l blog over there. Honestly, you'd be forgiven for thinking I am a serial blogger, but that really isn't the case. Yesterday was interesting for this reason. While you're taking a look around the site, keep an eye open for one of my PetPawtrait Giveaways. Sign up as a member, and start blogging, we all think our horses are quirky, so share their eccentricities with other horse lovers. It's a great community. Go look.

Time spent in the company of canines...

Is always time well spent.

I was asked by a portrait client to take some photos of her new puppy Emma and while I was at it, to give her some advice on integrating the newbie with long-time resident Bambi. Even though Emma had been in residence for 3 months, Bambi still didn't look like she was happy with the snappy li'l space invader.

Emma is incredibly busy, which can be expected for someone so small and so young. Being a miniature Dachshund, her tiny size makes her a hazard, she gets under your feet when you try walking anywhere and it appears that she is driving poor Bambi nuts. Her typical puppy behaviour includes biting with razor sharp teeth, jumping up incessantly and running around at top speed until I wanted to take her batteries out!

I spent about ten minutes TTouching her little wriggly body. She experienced mouth work for the first time and we fashioned a body wrap for her out of a Build-A-Bear T-shirt. She gave a couple of yawns and then settled between my knees on my lap, giving me a chance to finish my tea and show her mom how to do the simple TTouches. During the photo shoot she climbed into my lap and refused to go to her mom when called. It's always interesting to see how a body responds to this gentle work. She was more relaxed and much calmer after only a short time!

This is the favourite part of a day, when I gett to photograph one of my favourite subjects, do a bit of healing and connect with like-minded animal lovers!

Ready to pounce

This is a pic of my 6yr old Lab, Velvette. She’s exhibiting her “Ready-To-Pounce” pose. It would have been a better photo if I hadn’t chopped her right paw off. You try holding the ball in one hand, camera in the other, and try mimicking some stricken, exotic animal (= intense facial expression) - and then press the shutter!