Confidential collaboration

I’ve wanted to do an art trade for a while now. I put the idea out into the universe via this here blog, and just hoped the opportunity would soon present itself.

Well, it did. Twice! First, my friend Nicole contacted a slew of her creative friends about doing an art trade. As soon as I heard from her, I jumped at the chance. Nicole is a printmaker, painter, and tattoo artist. I received four prints from her in the mail, and will soon be sending her four of my own prints. How fun! And it’s a good way to, in her words, “dump creative refuse,” which is exactly what I need to do right now as I’m in the throes of the MERGE OF STUFF that happens when you get married.

Then, another art trade opportunity presented itself sort of unexpectedly. I contacted a pet portrait artist whose work I really admire about commissioning a portrait of Rosie. The portrait will be a birthday or Christmas present for my husband Kevin. I was fully prepared to pay for the portrait, but to my delight the artist told me that she really likes my work and would love to do a pet portrait trade. WOO HOO! My wish came true!

This particular artist is quite accomplished, so I’m very flattered and totally excited. She is awesome. Her style is such that she can create a portrait that really celebrates the activities we like to do with Rosie, which will mean a lot to Kevin. I’m keeping the identity of the artist confidential until I give Kevin the gift. He knows that I’ll be doing a trade (I couldn’t keep that from him, as he will be witness to me painting a portrait of her dogs and I’m a horrible fibber), and that the end result is a gift for him, but I don’t want him to know who the artist is. I think he’ll really be surprised when he receives the portrait.

Thank you, Nicole and Mystery Artist! I am so happy to collaborate with and support fellow artist chicks.If anyone else has the time and inclination to do an art trade, just give me a holler. I’m always game.

FOR FUN: If you think you know the Mystery Artist’s identity based on what I’ve disclosed, take a guess. If you’re right, I’ll send you some arty goodness in the mail.