New Landscape and Horse Art...

I recently went to the Aiken Steeplechase and took TONS of pictures - suffice it to say I was in hog heaven! Here's a little slice of life from that day - they do soundness checks to make sure the horses' legs and feet are sound - no gimpies allowed on the track! This is a small little painting, 6x6 inches and is available on my website

This is Lake Murray in Lexington, SC where I grew up. It's also home to what was once the world's longest earthen dam. You can see it in the painting in the background. I spent many happy summers on this lake! This is a 'sweet little nothings' painting weighing in at 3.5" x 5". The original is available on my website.

I almost forgot - the winners of the last photo contest are..


Congratulations Stacy and Christine! If you would like to enter the next contest, which will start in about two weeks, upload your photos to my facebook group.

New Landscape Forest Painting and story about Karin

Thank you to my friend Karin, who graciously lets me use her amazing pictures.

Thanks to Karin, I always have great things to paint, besides the gorgeous pics I get from my Facebook fans. I met Karin when I discovered her darling pictures of her kitties on webshots.com. I emailed her to ask permission to use her pictures, and we struck up a friendship. She lives in Switzerland and speaks five languages! I'm obsessed with travel, so of course, I was very impressed. Pluse, I've always wanted to see the Swiss Alps. When I told her I wanted to come visit her in Switzerland, she suggested we take a trip to Costa Rica instead. May be a little impulsive, but hey, I'm an artist! Two summers after that I finally got to meet her kitties in Zurich, Switzerland, that I've painted so many times. We also visited Rome and Florence. The kitties were still the highlight of the trip ; )


Here is a picture of her kitty holding me down...

I still can't believe I was there. But I was, here's proof...

and I WILL be back!

But, back to my painting...
I'm going to put this in McKissick Museum's annual gala fundraiser. I've been working on it for months, but I think it's finally done. Here's how it'll look framed...

Detail

Thank you, Karin, for adding so much to my life!

Your donations helped!

Thank you so much for donating to my students (I'm also a school social worker). Your donations helped buy a newly homeless family much needed necessities. If you would like to donate, click on the donate button in the upper right corner of this blog. For every $5 you donate, I'll enter your name in a drawing for a free painting. Once we get to $500, I'll complete the drawing and work with the winner on what they would like painted!

Photo Contest - Vote for Rachel's next painting!

Vote to determine what will be my next painting! If you would like to enter your photo in my photo contest, enter on my www.rachelsstudio.com group on Facebook . If your photo wins you'll get a free print of the finished painting and first dibs at the original. Please keep in mind I can't paint copywrighted material, and if you enter your photo, you are giving me permission to use your image to paint. This poll will end next weekend, so get your votes in!!

What should Rachel's next painting be?

• Three Dogs
  

• Kitty in Tree
  

• Two Appleheads
  

• Tabby
  

• Orange Eyes
  

• Sheep Dog
  

• Chihuahua
  

• Two Siamese
  

• Boxer
  

• Curious Dog
  

View Results
Create a Blog Poll

Paws for Charity

I'm participating in Paws for Charity again this year...


The Paws For Charity Art Book Project is a unique fundraiser that celebrates our love of pets, and raises funds for a human cause.

The 2010 Art Book is a compilation of artwork and photography of dogs and cats submitted by 65 artists and photographers in 7 countries.
All funds raised from the sale of these books are donated to The Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, a registered charity with programs in over 50 countries. This charity also carries the Humane Charity Seal of Approval.

Details about Paws For Charity are available on the blog: http://www.pawsforcharity.blogspot.com

Tshirts, greeting cards, and wall calendars are also for sale with all proceeds donated to breast cancer charity.

New Yellow Labrador Retriever Painting

Thank you so much to Jen C on Facebook for giving me permission to paint her gorgeous dog. I've been wanting to paint a yellow lab forever, and I finally found the perfect picture! I've got serious spring fever so you'll notice this painting has a lot of the greens and yellows of freshly sprung leaves and grass.

Click on the picture if you'd like a print!

Siberian Husky Watercolor Painting Art

I just finished this painting of a winner from my Facebook photo contest. This is a Siberian Husky. Isn't she gorgeous? Prints are available on www.rachelsstudio.com!

German Shiloh Shepherd dog watercolor art painting done!

This is the latest painting I finished from my Facebook photo contest. Click on the picture if you'd like to purchase a print and support an artist : )

We have a winner...

This is a painting I just finished. The print is available on my website and Etsy. Lynne has first dibs at the original!

Congratulations Maria Elena! I will paint this and give her a free print. If you'd like to enter my photo contest, enter here!

Thank you for your donations!

To those of you who donated for my kiddos, your $ has helped buy a girl dance shoes, send a girl on a band trip, and helped a senior get driver's ed!!! Looks like I may be helping someone pay for their SAT test next week. I just met this student today and he's amazing - I think his grammar is better than mine! If you would like to donate, you can go to the upper right corner of this blog and use the paypal button. For every $5 you donate, I'll put your name in a drawing. Once it reaches $500, I'll paint a picture of the winner's choice for them.

New Photo Contest!

My cat people made a good showing this time, but there are a few irresistible pooches too : ) Have fun voting!

What will www.rachelsstudio.com paint next?

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

View Results
Create a Blog Poll

If you want to participate in the next contest, join either my Yahoo or Facebook group and upload up to five of your best pictures. The winner gets a print of their finished painting and first dibs at the original.

Congratulations to Dr. H for his purchase of my "Gervais Street Bridge" Watercolor painting

This is a watercolor painting of "Gervais Street Bridge" in Columbia, SC. I hope it is enjoyed in its new home - congratulations Dr. H!

Finished a watercolor portrait...

I just finished this painting for a patron who donated $100 to my "Christmas for needy families" drive...

My art is featured on the cover of JAVMA!!

I was dumbstruck and humbled when I got the email saying my work was to be featured on the February 2010 cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It's been so fun to hear from vets across the country and to meet new people through this opportunity! Thank you sooooooooooooo much to the wonderful people at JAVMA : )

"Byron" - Missed, but never forgotten

"Byron"

I just finished this painting and it's taken me a bit longer to finish this; I wanted to get it perfect, as it has special significance. This is the late Byron kitty. His owner shared with me how special he was to her and is deeply missed. It was an honor for me to paint this for her, and I hope it brings a lot of comfort and good memories.

New Art by Rachel - Watercolor Cat Painting

One of my goals for 2010 is to paint with more color, more looseness, and more light! So I'm doing some studies of this particular kitty to practice. More to come...

Click on the painting to see it on Etsy - One picture will take you to the print, and the other will take you to the original.