Cody, Commissioned

Imagine my excitement when a long-time friend who’s conveniently also a talented artist branched her craft to include custom pet portraits; Erin of Erin Makes Stuff has always taken on custom portrait illustrations (my favorites have a really lively saturated quality that seems to capture the subjects personality in a charming way), but her new pet illustrations appealed to me on a new level. Considering that I’ve swooned over her work before (here and here), it should come as no surprise that I commissioned her to interpret my own furry friend, Cody.

She finished the print and delivered it last week, my meticulously drawn pup in marker and water color. Squeal, it’s so pretty. So overflowing with detail. And it’s right on. That’s him. That’s not any Berner, that’s our Codeman, curious eyes, pose, and all.

I dropped the 9″x12″ print behind a mat that I bevel cut to size (using my much-loved mat cutter). The IKEA Ribba frame that I intended to use came with its own mat, but it was a bit too small to display that print within, and for some reason I could make photo mats all day long; it’s a rewarding feeling, and the tool itself has paid for itself. I should work at JoAnn’s, right?

I digress. Clearly, Cody likes it too.

If Cody art isn’t becoming a subtle theme around this place, I don’t know what is. Pete and Julia made me the one on the left, and it’s sat on our mantle for the whole last year.

P.S. If you’re curious, the commissioned illustration was $60. I wasn’t given the print for free, nor did Erin suggest that I write about it.

P.P.S. On an unrelated note, I explored painting techniques from my own home in yesterday’s post on DIY Network, because there’s nothing like painting a room in the summertime with the windows wide open. Check them out for yourself.