In doing my 3 most recent paintings, I had varying amounts of feedback. I never think of it as being a bad thing to get feedback, sometimes though it is difficult to find the perfect amount.  I always tell my clients that having a portrait done of their animal is a collaboration between them and me. Having a portrait painted of your animal, dog, cat, horse, whatever is a highly personal painting and if it is not done to your satisfaction, you will never be happy with it.  The painting I did of "Ivie" is a perfect example.

I started out by asking for a high resolution photo that really showed Ivie's personality. I received several that were nice but not really high resolution. The photo, the owner finally decided on was one that a professional had taken after Ivie was in a movie. My instructions were to use this photo and leave the rug out (oval rag rug on a wood floor). So I got it to where it was blocked in and I thought it looked good and sent off a progress photo. I was told no her fur is to close to the color of the wood floor maybe a dark grey floor. So I repainted the background putting in a grey slate floor, sent off a pic, no I hate slate floors.  So then she asked if I could paint a rug in, I said I would try but if this  wasn't acceptable I would put the painting in my inventory and come down and take photos for a new painting. Luckily she liked my rag rug. So I completed the painting, sent her a photo and she said she loved it, I then signed it and posted it on my website. The next day she called and told me the color of the dog was wrong, the photographer had used a flash that washed out her hair color and she hadn't noticed, she had more red and less blond in her hair, so once again I re-worked the painting, luckily 4th time was the charm.  Some animal portraitists charge for changes after one or two, I always feel that the owner has to be happy with the work so I don't.  

The next painting was of "Jet" a Portuguese Water Dog, in California. A friend had emailed and asked if I could get it done for Valentine's day for her husband, I told her I thought I could and off we went. She sent 3 photos, we discussed them and I mentioned if I just did a head shot it would be more dramatic, she agreed. I sent progress pics, and she said she liked them didn't mention any changes. When I got it finished she said what she could see of it she liked. I know it is crazy but as she was 1200 miles away and I was not sure what she would think when she saw it, I was getting that uh oh feeling. I packaged it up and sent it off and waited and didn't hear anything. My mind immediately went to oh no she doesn't like it. I texted and asked how it looked and she said her husband was home and she couldn't un-wrap it, a couple of days went by and I was getting worried texted again and she said it was packaged so well she didn't want to unwrap it and would give it to him as is for Valentine's day.  A few days after I heard back and they loved it, whew! 

So, last summer I bought a pair of Patagonia light weight hiking boots. They were not over the top price wise and they were in the sale rack at REI. They have hands down been the most comfortable hiking boots/shoes I have ever had. They felt like a glove on my feet when I first put them on. I have worn them almost constantly since I got them.

I was at the grocery store the other day and was talking to a clerk who mentioned she had heard that Patagonia was no longer making or selling shoes or boots, she then mentioned she was going online to find some more because they are so comfortable. Being the somewhat impressionable gal that I am, I got scared, that I wouldn't be able to find another pair of these, and I just love them, crazy I know but, so online I went. There was one pair left and it was in my size, it had to be Karma, but they were almost twice as much as the sale pair I got last summer, but they are Gortex lined, with Vibram soles and the last pair  available, and in my size, so after hemming and haaing for 2 days I actually mentioned it to my husband and he thought I was a bit nuts, (as usual)  but I was perusing the shoe posting tonite and didn't see them so I thought okay, sigh,  wasn't meant to be. I did browse thru their sneakers as I am in need of a pair of those and they were much cheaper than the boots. I found two pair that I liked and they were even comparable to outlet prices, as I was getting ready to order them, there were the boots, they were hiding and I didn't see them till almost too late.I

I am not a shoe nut really, no Jimmy Choos, no $500.00 shoes for me, honest! But I just ordered 3 pair of shoes, not a one with heels of any kind. I guess if this is a midlife crisis it's not so bad.