Artist Kate Sumners Reveiws

This is a word cloud made from my Etsy shop reviews. The larger the word, the more frequently it appears in my feedback :)

It's Black Friday! Who feels like shopping? I've got some awesome deals on my websites today only.

First on Zazzle: All of your favorite breed artwork on sale. Get 50% off cards and stickers and 40% off mugs and more with coupon code ZAZBLKFRIDAY http://www.zazzle.com/endlesssumnersar
Discounts also available for clothing, accessories office products and more. Check it out today. 

And then today only on http://KateSumners.com get FREE SHIPPING on any artwork, any size, shipped anywhere in the world! Includes framed or not framed artwork prints of all types on all materials. This offer expires at midnight (New York time) on Friday, November 27th.   You don't need any special discount code.   Just place your order before the deadline, and shipping will be free! Happy shopping!

This year I'll have my pet portrait booth set up at Strut Your Mutt in Kanab Utah this Saturday 9/19/2015! Strut Your Mutt is a series of huge events - with a community dog walk, 5K run, and even a dog-themed festival - hosted by Best Friends Animal Society in cities across America.  People like me "strut” at the event to raise money either for Best Friends Animal Society or for a local animal welfare group. I'm on team Page Animal Adoption Agency to support our local Page, Arizona shelter. 

It’s a lot of fun, but here’s really why I’m participating. Every day, more than 9,000 pets are killed in America's shelters simply because they don't have homes. Each one could have been someone’s furry buddy, if given a proper chance. The money raised through Strut Your Mutt funds adoption programs, spay/neuter services and more.  

Best Friends and the Strut Your Mutt participating groups (collectively called the No More Homeless Pets Network) know these programs will save all of those homeless pets from being killed in shelters; they just need the help of people like you and me.  

And I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Can I count on your donation? It’s tax-deductible for you, and the great thing is each participating organization keeps all the money it raises (after transaction fees).

Together, we can Save Them All®.

Thank you for your support!

Throw on some comfy shoes, leash up your dog, and join us, once again, for Best Friends Animal Society's 3rd Annual Strut Your Mutt, presented by BOBS from Skechers, in Kanab. Best Friends staff, 

Who: Anyone with the swag to strut for homeless pets in Kanab or around the nation

What: A leisurely fundraising dog walk followed by a doggie-themed festival that includes pet contests, photos, doggie goodies, fun activities for you and your furry friend, food, refreshments and more

Where: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah

When: Saturday, September 19, 2015
Registration 11 AM; Walk 12:00 PM; Festival Ends 3 PM

Why: To raise money for your favorite local animal welfare group (any of Best Friends' local No More Homeless Pets Network partners) or for Best Friends Animal Society to help Save Them All®

Click here to sign up or make a donation:
Kate's Strut Your Mutt Page

"Who is Artist Kate Sumners?" Video

"Who is Artist Kate Sumners?" Video

Why I am a Pet Portrait Artist

Recently I received this beautiful email. With her permission, I wanted to share it with you. It is the reason I am a pet portrait artist. 

Charcoal drawing in very loving memory, Bruno the Greyhound

Dear Kate,  

My friend, Sophie commissioned a portrait of my greyhound Bruno, here in the UK, a few weeks ago. Sadly, my beautiful boy died last Tuesday. However, today, your parcel arrived. Ten minutes later, a second parcel arrived : Bruno's ashes. When I opened your parcel and Bruno's beautiful eyes stared back at me, more than they do in any photograph, I knew he had come home. Your portrait means more to me that his ashes, and is already a huge comfort to me. Such stunning artistry! I have already had several people asking for your details, after seeing the portrait on Facebook. 

Many many thanks for seeing beyond the photos and into Bruno's soul, then somehow capturing it on paper.

Very best wishes, 

Sally

Charcoal Pet Portrait Artist Kate Sumners

Here is a little Youtube video I made of some of the charcoal pet portraits I've done between 2011 and now with a brief intro from me and my dog Scout. Is your pet on there? Share it!

As a portrait artist, pricing drawings can be so subjective. Sometimes people are shocked at how little I charge. Other times, they wonder how I could charge so much when it "can't take me THAT long to draw or paint a portrait." I just found this anecdote on weddingportraitphotographer.com and had to share it.

 Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him. “It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.” 

 So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the woman his work of art. 

 “It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?” 

 “Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.

“B-b-but, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!” 

 To which Picasso responded, “Madame, it took me my entire life.” -Ellen Rohr

Strut Your Mutt in Kanab to Save Them All

Hello friends and portrait clients. I know you love your pet because you commissioned a portrait of them. Did you know that 30 years ago, more than 17 million homeless pets were dying each year in our nation's shelters? This isn't a hopeless problem, we have already made great strides. Now, that number has been reduced to around four million deaths annually.

 I'm privileged to live near Best Friends Animal Society, the largest no-kill shelter in the county and one of the pioneers in working towards reducing that number to ZERO. We can do this. This weekend in Kanab, UT there is a fantastic event called Strut Your Mutt . It is a leisurely dog walk with your best friend followed by a super fun pet themed festival. I've started an online fundraising page through Best Friends with my local Page Animal Adoption Agency, and I am asking my friends and pet portrait clients for help to support the event. If you can't make it to the event yourself, you can still make a difference by donating to the cause online, even if you can only afford to donate $5.

Please take a moment to check out the event page here: Kate's Strut Your Mutt Page

 If you can't attend or support this Strut Your Mutt, odds are excellent there is one near your home. Thanks for your time, and as always feel free to visit me at KateSumners.com to see my latest work or Etsy to commission a new piece.

Canyon Puppy Rescue

Puppy Abandoned at the Bottom of a Slot Canyon near Page, AZ

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/canyonpuppy

 Images like the top one are hard to look at, but this was the emaciated puppy that a canyoneer found at the bottom of a 350' slot canyon not far from my home in Page Arizona. How the puppy got there is a mystery. How the puppy got out is not a mystery but fascinating as well. When lone hiker Zak Anderegg found the pup, it was largely unresponsive due to extreme dehydration and malnutrition. How he got down there is anyone's guess. If he had been washed down or fallen in, it seems likely that he would have had broken bones. He did not, leading Zak to conclude that it was almost certainly a case of someone intentionally leaving it there to die. However it arrived, Zak decided he could not leave it there. Aware that the lab mix pup had only a slim chance at survival, he gave it what water he had, hiked out, got wet dog food and water, and returned. He left the dog with food and water and began planning his very difficult and dangerous rescue of the puppy.

The next day he returned with a pet carrier and repelled into the canyon to retrieve the nearly lifeless animal. This took a lot of effort and bravery on his part. He brought the puppy into Page where he left it in the capable hands of Dr. Roundtree and the staff at Page Animal Adoption Agency. There they worked round the clock to save the little dog, and that is where the above photo was taken. Incredibly, the puppy lived. Zak and his wife took him in, and he is now a grown, healthy family pet named Riley. The second picture above is, believe it or not, the same dog. He has flourished under the Anderegg's loving care. He attained minor fame and was featured on the Today Show, Ellen, and other media.

I first saw his story on Youtube.com. Zak shot video of the rescue, and has since written a book weaving the story of Riley's rescue in with his own struggles as a child who suffered at the hands of cruel bullies. When I saw the video, I was moved to tears at the pathetic condition of the puppy. There is a scene where Riley can't even lift his head or respond and I thought to myself, "If I found that puppy, would I have rescued it? Or would I have thought that it was very sad but beyond rescue?" I certainly wouldn't have had the technical skills to climb out of the canyon with a pet carrier strapped to my back.

I knew what technical skill I did have, and that was the ability to draw. I used the internet to track down the owners, who live in Salt Lake City, UT and emailed them my offer to give them a portrait of Riley as he appears today. I was honored to use my time and talent to give them a gift as a thank you for what they did. What made this rescue particularly touching was the effort Zak spent to save the puppy, who looked as if it was almost certainly going to die despite his daring and very difficult rescue repel. My hope is that this gift captures Riley’s happy, resilient spirit and will bring them joy for years to come. They deserve a lot of joy for their generous, compassionate act. More information about the daring rescue and book are available at http://www.rescuingrileysavingmyself.com/

"Riley" Charcoal Drawing by Kate Sumners

 

 

http://katesumners.com

Me in my studio holding the portrait of the rescued canyon puppy

Black Lab Speed Drawing flip book

Artist Kate Sumners draws a Black Labrador Retriever in Charcoal. Prints available at http://KateSumners.com Commissions accepted at http://ESArt.Etsy.com

A big thank you to Diane M. for her support of the PAAA. She won a pet portrait of her PAAA rescue lab Bandit at Page Hospital's silent auction with all proceeds going to support the animals! Here's a time lapse video of me drawing his portrait.

Pastel Pet Portraits by Kate Sumners Video

Pastel Pet Portraits by Kate Sumners youtube video.

Can Artists Make Money Online?

Does art really sell online? Many new artists are hesitant to use the internet as a tool for their business. While caution is warranted and theft of art is a real danger, it is vital to my career. Today I looked back at sales of my artwork in the last couple of months. Since April, I have sold my artwork to clients in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia and many states including IL, AZ, NE, NY, CT, WA, PA, FL, RI, KY, CO, NC, MN, NV and HI. Most of these wonderful clients I could never have met if it weren't for the internet and my online shops. Great websites for artists to set up shop include Etsy, Zazzle and Fine Art America. And tackling international shipping and exchange rates is made easy by these websites. The answer is yes, the internet is a good place to make money as an artist. It, like everything worth doing, takes time, research and work. It is not easy money, but neither is traveling to art shows and galleries. If you are considering selling your art online, give it a try.

TV Commercial

So I've entered a contest, the winners get their photo on a national TV commercial for FineArtAmerica. Would you vote for me at the link below?

national tv photo contest 

Now Featured on Amazon

My canvas artwork is now available on Amazon.com! Just search my name Kate Sumners. The artwork there is filed in the category "Home and Kitchen". I'm adding more all of the time.

Kate on Amazon

They currently offer only canvas artwork, so if you are looking for something framed or on acrylic, metal, or paper your best bet is still http://KateSumners.com. 

Portrait Print and Reproduction FAQ

Will you sell prints of my pet portrait?

KateSumners.com

Yes, I do generally offer fine art prints of commissioned work I do of pets and animals. I have polled some of my clients, asking how they would feel if I sold prints of the artwork they commissioned of their pets. For the most part, reactions have ranged from fine with it to super excited that their pet will be ‘famous’! They also like the idea of a safe, easy place to order greeting cards of their artwork or extra prints in different sizes and on different materials.

In case you are wondering, copyright laws generally give the artist the copyright on their own work even if the original is sold unless otherwise negotiated. For the last few years just to be clear, I have been posting the notice on my listings that I retain full reproduction copyright on all of my work. But please, if you are unhappy that I may be offering your pet’s image for resale on prints or greeting cards, let me know. Making you happy is my top concern. Email me at or give me a call and we can negotiate you retaining the copyright on your commission. Many people like to have me sell prints of their pet portrait, because it increases the exposure and value of the original.

Commissions

Will you sell prints of my child or adult portrait?

No. My clients are much more sensitive to privacy concerns when it comes to themselves or their children so I do not sell art prints of human portraits that were commissioned. I may however use your portrait as a sample of my work in my portfolios or online. If you are uncomfortable with this, just let me know. If on the other hand you would like me to offer art prints and greeting cards of your child’s portrait to increase the exposure and value of the original, I am happy to oblige.  

KateSumners.com

Finding me online just got a lot easier! I'm now at KateSumners.com.

No more long confusing website addresses. If you can remember my name, you can remember my website. Just don't forget it's SumNers not Summers. Take a look!

Tabby in Profile

I've been really enjoying working with Fine Art America. One of my best sellers on my new website there is my charcoal tabby drawing. Take a look with the link above. Tons of great artwork for the cat lover on FAA!

<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/cat/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">cat art</a>

<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/golden+retriever/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">golden retriever art</a>

Colorado River Painting Project

My Watercolors

Lately I've been feeling a little creative itch to create something new and different. To scratch the itch I am going to focus on painting some non-commissioned artwork this month. I have decided to paint what I know: the Colorado River and other beautiful features of the dramatic landscape around my home.

There is something about the rich warm colors of the sandstone next to the cold green water and blue sky that really get my juices flowing! The sandstone around here is crimson, vermillion, orange, salmon, peach, pink, and gold all swirled together with dark desert varnish. As much as I love and will continue to accept portrait commissions, doing something new is refreshing. I recently read an article that pointed out that only ever painting on commission is a huge creativity killer. Although I do enjoy commissions, I must admit it is liberating to paint whatever I feel like painting. And right now I feel like painting home.

Painting Navajo Sandstone

Painting Can Be Dangerous

I got started yesterday and it feels great to do landscapes again. Except for this, I actually got this blister painting! That's a first. I must be excited.

Watch for a new series of Colorado River paintings soon on my website!

<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/colorado+river/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">colorado river art</a>

Cyber Monday: Large for the price of small!

My Cyber Monday sale is on! Get a large portrait for the price of a small one by entering coupon code CyberMonday12 at my Etsy store. That's 18% off an 11x14 matted to 16x20 for child or pet portraits.

Custom Charcoal Portraits

Pastel: Painting or Drawing?

Concert deans le Jardin by Kate Sumners

What does the word "painting" mean to you? What's the difference between a painting and a drawing? Is pastel artwork a drawing or a painting? And will pastel artwork be only suitable color-wise for a baby shower? There seems to  be a lot of misconceptions about pastel artwork, so I've done a little research and here's what I have found.
  

Why the Confusion?

Well, the English language is a tricky thing.

The word "pastel" can mean:

• a noun, for an artwork whose medium is pastels
• a verb, meaning to produce an artwork with pastels
• an adjective, meaning pale in color

That last definition explains why when many people hear "pastel" they think baby shower colors. The pastel color palette is NOT what defines the pastel art medium. 

The art medium is what we are discussing here, and it is artwork of any color made from a pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media; they can include light, dark and mid tones. Pastel artwork can be vibrant, dark and dramatic. It can be anything the artist makes of it. Pastels are a unique medium in that the colors are mixed on the paper or board by overlaying or blending, rather than on a palette.

What is Pastel Artwork, Painting or Drawing?

Pastel paints are usually in the form of a stick or even a pencil made of pigment. This gives rise to a second misconception about whether it creates paintings or drawings. In the minds of many, "paint" equals wet and "drawing" equals dry. Pastels are usually dry, so does this make the artwork an artist makes from them a drawing? 

 

So What is Pastel Artwork, Drawing or Painting?

Short answer: it may be either! Here is one of the best explanations I have found about what the difference between a drawing and a painting is, from author Eric Hebborn (and it has nothing to do with dry vs. wet)

"In a drawing the contours of shapes or forms are made with a line, whereas in a painting contours are created by the meeting of two or more areas of different tone or color."

 

In other words, when fully covered with pastel, the work is called a pastel painting; when not, a pastel sketch or drawing. 

Pastel Painting

As a portrait artist I have often had to resort to asking my clients whether they prefer a black and white or color portrait just to avoid using the word pastel because so few people understand the medium, and I think that's a real shame. 

Pastel is a fantastic medium and also is one of the oldest media out there. It was loved by Leonardo da Vinci, Manet, Gaugin, Degas, and many others. It is formed using almost pure pigment which leaves a brilliance of color not found in other mediums. The result is visually stunning and very textural and diverse. Whether drawing or painting, pastel artwork is not to be missed!