THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED, PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON FOR A WINNER!
Just wait till you meet this artist. I can guarantee all you pet lovers are going to love her! Oh, and welcome to another edition of Feature You Friday! Hope you enjoy!
Meet Janie Wilkins, a Georgia Folk Artist.She has lived in the Atlanta area for 28 years which almost makes her a native!She works as a legal secretary in Midtown and shares her home with two rescue dogs, Ben the bearded collie mix and Buddy the boxer.
Janie, what inspires you to paint? My boys and their friends at the dog park are the inspiration for my paintings. We spend a lot of time at the dog park, yes, even in winter! I’m always open to meeting new friends myself – and, must love dogs! I am involved in a local dog rescue group, Canine Crusaders. (I bet she has to do a lot of pooper scoops, I love the middle of nowhere when I think about stuff like that.)
My friends tell me I’ve always struck them as artistic although I mostly displayed this by shopping and decorating my house. Until recently, I expressed myself in concrete – don’t laugh! The sheer physicality of working in concrete and creating something practical for the yard (needed with two large dogs) was my main goal. I started painting in November, 2008. I recently reorganized my living room and needed something to hang over Buddy’s favorite chair. So, I painted Buddy laying in his chair, with a smaller painting of Buddy laying in his chair in the painting – to hang over Buddy laying in his chair! I sent an e-mail around as a joke to my friends, and the orders for custom paintings started coming in! I’m completely self-taught. I haven’t even bought a book on painting! I just take a pencil to canvas using a photograph as a reference and start at the left ear and just draw the outline and fill in from there. I’m told that my paintings are humorous and capture the fun and whimsy of our pets. (all of her paintings do have a feeling of whimsy about them, that is one of the main things that made me fall in love with all of her stuff)
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on two paintings. One is Springtime at the Dog Park, capturing all the lovely greens and flowers at the dog park with disabled children playing with the dogs. This painting will be donated to an auction for Childspring International, which benefits disabled children around the world. Attached is the fall version of this painting, “Sunday at the Dog Park”. The second painting is a humorous one – Fuzzy Butts – dogs greeting another and “presenting”.
What are your goals?
My goals are simple ones – to bring joy and happiness to others by creating a portrait of their favorite pets. I can also paint a folk art “portrait” of the dog owners with their dogs.
Where can we find some of your work? My work is found on my website – www.PaintedPawsFolkArt.com and at www.artisticpaws23.etsy.com
Janie is offering to do an 11 X 14 custom portrait of one lucky readers dog. Please read all requirements before entering. Portrait will be of one dog only. Winner must have a valid US mailing address. Upon notification of winning the winner will then be responsible for getting all necessary information to Janie.
To Enter:
Visit www.PaintedPawsFolkArt.com or www.artisticpaws23.etsy.com
Leave a comment here at The Post-It Place telling what your favorite painting of Janie’s is so far and what 4-legged friend you would like a painting done of. Whether it be your best bud or as a gift for someone else.
All entries must be received by April 3rd at 5 PM EST
Want extra entries? Blog it, with a link back to here (leave link where it can be found). Subscribe. Place my button on your blog (leave link it can be found at). Stumble it (leave your ID in comment). Technorati it (leave your ID in comment). That is 5 extra entries that you can earn for a total of 6. All extra entries must be left in a separate comment.
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I love “Rick and Honda” the most, but I honestly really like them all. What a great idea!!! If I were to win the contest, I would most definitely have a picture of Charles Nelson Corgi (aka Charlie) done for my parents. My Jack Russell passed away in October and I was surprised when I went home for Christmas with my new best friend. My mother grew attached to this little bugger in the five days she had him before I got there. Understandable as he’s the best dog ever!!!
They’re all precious, but I love the piece called “Cody” the best:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19232336
If I’m lucky enough to win, I would LOVE a portrait of my sweet, crazy Golden Retriever Zeus!
Thank you!
My favorite is Stealth Trooper. I would love to have a portrait of my dog, Snoopy.
I like Boxer boy Buddy.
I’d get a portrait of my Bichon – Stewart
the shitzu is really cute
I like the “Stealth Trooper”Cat folk art on canvas board. I’d love one of my tiny terror…our family pet, Buster. Great contest. Thank you!:)
I like Fuzzy Butts. It would be of my Pug Boog!!! He would look great on a canvas!! Thanks
My favorite is Boxer boy Buddy’s close-up. My family had a 9-year-old Boxer who passed away this past November and she was such a loving doggie. The dog that I would like to have a portrait of would be my dog, Shane, who is a 10-year-old dachsund mix. I think he would look great as the subject of your next masterpiece!
Fuzzy Butts. I would like 1 of my 11 yr. old miniature pincher LadyBug
I like the one entitled Cody.
Of course, we’d have to have The Pudgy Princess’s portrait done!
I added you to my Technorati favs! (stormraven)
Cody is cute. I’d love a painting of my mother’s new puppy, Sir William “Cobb” O’Hurley
I like “Marley’s Brother” . Actually I love them all! I would love to have Janie Wilkins do a portrait of my dear sweet Cockapoo, Muffy. We just “lost” her after 15 years. …..Crying as I type this…..She was the BEST dog ever! My shadow, my friend, ……how do I make it through this….
I subscribed to your reader.
Fuzzy Butts is my favorite / tan chihuahua – Emmett
I love the fuzzy butts painting. If I won, i’d like to get our dog Sox’s portrait done. We live in the Atlanta area to, so it would be great to see her paint his portrait in person!
Maggie and Trooper
These paintings are so great! I particuarlly love Truckin’. but had a really hard time choosing. I’d definately get a painting done of my Miss Ruby Barkles, our Toy Fox Terrier, if I won. Thanks sooooo much for this awesome giveaway!
Awe~
What a cute shih tzu!
I have a tri-color (brown white gold) 3 yr old shih tzy who would be HONORED to get photographed!
Thanks for this chance!
I like “Marley’s brother”. I have a Sheltie who would love to have her portrait painted. Thanks for the great contest!
My husband finally broke down and got me the indoor dog I have always wanted for my 50th birthday. The problem is that Daisy loves him best! I would love a portrait of Daisy for Bill! This is the best giveaway ever! I like Fuzzy Butts too! Thanks!
My favorite is Sunday at the Park. I lvoe folk art and this is such a beautiful way to express art and have a memento for your pet. I have a CockerSpaniel that I would love Janie to paint. Thanks for this awesome giveaway.
I subscribed via google reader.
I like the Buddy the Boxer painting. He reminds me of my nephew’s boxer Marcus. I would love the have a painting of my two Basset Hounds, Homer and Marge!
I love Fuzzy Butts because it’s so fun! I also like Stelth Trooper Cat.
Murphy is my favorite so far. I would love a portrait of our sweet dog Hannah. She is going through chemo for lymphoma right now, so I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be with us.
“Sleepy Boy Buddy” is my favorite. I would love to have a painting done of my Shih Tsu Princeess.
I like the Fuzzy ButtsDog Folk Art painting and would have my beagle/shepherd mix painted
these are so cute! i’d love to have one made of my very funny looking chihuahua/italian greyhound mix. my favorites of the one’s she’s done so far is “Buddy and me” because my dog loves to snuggle like that!
You do great work! “Dog folk art painting Original Painting” is my favorite. I would love to get one done of our 130 lb. Warlock Doberman, Flambeaux.
Thanks for the nice giveaway.
I subscribe.
I like the Shih Tzu Dog Folk Art. My dog is a Shih Tzu named Caesar.
I love Marley’s Brother folk art. My dog is a black lab called Louie.
I like the Cody custom painting.
I like “Marley’s Brother” and, if I were lucky enough to win, I’d like a portrait of my black lab!
I like fuzzy butts. I would have my 6 border collies and one jack done!
I would love to have one made of my precious ragdoll cat. My favorite is her Maggie and Trooper
I would just LOVE to have a picture of my best buddies together, they are my little kiddies
this would be a great win
I like the fuzzy butts design. We have 4 cats, so I’d have to get the kids to pick which one to have made
I like the fuzzy butts design. I have a mom and baby set of black cats – bell and pepper. I would love art of them since they dont take very good photos
I like buddy and me. We have two kitties. I wonder if both of them could be in one picture. That’d be a dream
Janie painted one of her very first paintings for me of my beloved little Bichon-Poo, Alex. Alex was my constant companion for 13 years and she caught his beautiful little face exactly. I absolutely love it. I’m so proud to say that “I have a first Janie!”