Fine Art Classes by Penny Stewart, aka The Crafty Lady

Penny Stewart has been a professional artist and crafter for over 25 years selling her paintings and decorative art in craft malls, consignment stores, art galleries, fairs and online. After displaying her painted furniture, art and crafts in "Crafty Lady Boutique" in San Gabriel, CA for over a year, Stewart purchased the store and became "The New Crafty Lady." She opened an online store a few months later, and after five years, closed the shop in real time but continues to sell on the internet.

Penny also does Face Painting, Commissioned Acrylic paintings including Pet Portraits and still finds time to paint items she finds at thrift shops and garage sales, including old hand saws and saw blades. She currently resides in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT
Penny's Pet Portraits by Penny Stewart
tabby paintings - tabby canvas prints - tabby prints - tabby framed prints - tabby greeting cards - tabby posters

My philosophy of life includes enjoying every moment and living in the now. Animals do that naturally. Creating art releases my soul and frees me from the daily humdrum of life. I think less and become present in the moment, merging with my subject on a higher level, sort of like when I do Tarot readings for humans, only with animals. They don't have to speak out loud, but I hear them. My interests vary considerably in all areas of life, especially in art. Subjects for paintings exist everywhere, and finding my niche has required some experimentation. Every time I painted an animal, people noticed and commented on the realism. I listened to my peers, my critics and my inner voice. "Paint animals!" One of my favorite sayings, which has always proven to be true in my life is, "Do what you love and the money will follow." I love to paint animals, and I need to eat, so that's where I began this journey.

Since deciding to paint pet portraits, I have been working with local animal rescues, shelters and non-profit organizations. I truly want to help, but with four dogs in my life right now, adoption is not an option. Instead, I use my art to raise money and awareness for the cause. My goal is to reveal the unique personality and individuality of each animal, hopefully expressing their thoughts at the time of the photo. People, including me, love to caption my paintings as if they can read the animal's mind.

Acrylic works well for me because it dries quickly. The wide range of vivid colors appeals to me and it allows me to create thick texture like oil, or, by adding water or special mediums, I get a smooth, easy flowing softness like watercolor. Since I tend to paint very fast, and often have several projects in the works at one time, I need the fast drying time. My original rendering of a subject probably takes 3 hours or less. Then I refine and fiddle around with it. Sometimes it's best if I quit before the second stage, but I never know that until after the fact. Every painting represents a learning experience for me. Each portrait, even if I only see a photograph of the animal, becomes a relationship to remember and draw on at a later time, pun intended.