Retail paradise

In paradise - A new retailer for my art. St. Johnimals is new luxury pet boutique on St. John, US Virgin Islands.

The location is Wharfside Village. The phone number is 340-777-9488. E-mail info@StJohnimals.com. If you're in the area, stop be and see their great boutique. Beautiful store in a beautiful place.

I visited St.John in the mid 90's A friend of mine, Rick Felishmann, is a sail boat captain and we (four couples) rented this boat and sailed between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Great fun.

Would delivering prints personally be a tax write-off?

My latest commission "Casa di Scout" is back from the photographer. I'll let Scout's mom (she commissioned the painting) say it all.

"Ken --- OH MY GOD!!!! Thank you so much!!! I can't believe how you captured Scout (especially her face)! This painting goes above and beyond my expectations!! You are truly an amazing, gifted and very talented artist!! I feel very honored to have this painting hang in our house!! I can't say thank you enough!!! The attention to detail is great! (The funny thing is she actually does get a lot of food stuck on her face!) Hahahaha."

Elizabeth Tucker

Casa di Scout and Chihuahua Cantina

New Commission underway. Casa di Scout - Pizzeria.

Here's what Scout's mom says about her. This also points to the direction I'm taking in the painting.

A little about our doghter (daughter) Scout:
Scout loves to be at eye level! Especially if we are having a conversation or on the computer. She has to sit and look at you at eye level. She loves treats!! Scout is not a great eater, but put 3 different type of treats on the floor in front of her and she will sniff each one about 2/3 times and then decide which one to take. We don't give her human food, but when the pizza guy shows up she goes crazy. She loves pizza! Scout loves humans hates/dislikes dogs. It just seems that she couldn't be bothered by them.

Scout is a Shih Tzu. It will be my second Shih Tzu painting.

Also here is my first Chihuahua Small Pet Painting.

My Mixed Nuts commission is done.

Here is what the mom of Sophie and Marco had to say about the painting.

"We really really really love this! It is so great and has totally captured their personality ("Heeeeyyyy Sophie, let's use THIS container!") They are bananas. We love how you included Sophie's black markings on the front of her legs...we call those her shin guards, lord knows she needs them! Marco too, all the colors on his head and the faint black spots, and his eye color. Thanks so much!"

I can set back and enjoy this for about ten minutes and its off to the next painting, also a commission. The pup is a Shih Tzu named Scout.

I also finished a new Wheaten Dog of The Day.

I'm working on a commission of two crazy Australian Shepherds. The product tie in is MIXED NUTS and I've finished the logo part of the painting. The dogs' names are Sophie and Marco.

My great custom from Sydney, Australia Sally Watkins got a new Pug puppy and named it Pugsly and she had me do a custom print for Pugsly. So much fun.

A commissioned painting is wonderful. They're timeless and the make grand statements, but they are a little expensive for most people. These custom prints are a fantastic art product. For relatively little money, someone can have a personal unique piece of art. The next step up is a custom small painting.

I've seen some of the new fall line of handbags by ProjectArt with my images on them. They've done a great job. Great look and feel to them. Nice quality for the price. A few weeks ago I sent them art for their spring line. Included is a horse image. I used to paint horses a lot, but this will be my first as advertising style art.

This painting and print series is a departure from what I usually do. It's the first image I've done that contains a non-food product as part of an advertising theme.

It was done at the request of one of my licensing partners who is developing products for bathrooms. A few more non-food product pantings will follow.

My Wheaten painting is back from the photographer. The painting, prints and custom prints are available on my web-site http://www.kenbailey.com.

The is was a fun painting to do. I'm excited about the product, Irish Soda Bread, sometime known as Wheaten Bread. This bread and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are from Northern Ireland originally. The dog and the bread were of the peasants. Nobility didn't tend to have this breed.

I also love the profile of these guys. And now I'm realizing I'm painting most of my dogs lately in profile because dog profiles and noses are fun and interesting.

The painting is going to be used by my licensing partner ProjectArt LLC for handbags and shoes.

I've made this bread before. It is easy and real good. It doesn't use yeast so there is no worrying about the rise.

Coming in a few days a new Poodle painting and print series

White Poodle

I'm very soon going to be starting a White Poodle painting at the request of two of my licensing partners. These licensing partners produce products ranging from purses and shoes sold at fine boutiques to broadly distributed art products such as metal signs.

The painting will be a White Poodle advertising French Lavender Soap. The size is 48" x 36" and the background is primarily going to be a coral color.

I bring this up because at this time, the title lettering will be POODLE BRAND - FRENCH LAVENDER SOAP. If you or you know someone who would be interested in being part of this project, I can paint it with your dog's name in the title line. For example if your dog's name is Genny, then the painting would read "GENNY'S BRAND - FRENCH LAVENDER SOAP". The products, however, would say "POODLE BRAND".

But if you have a white poodle, it can be the model and he or she would be on the products.

You will also receive several limited edition prints of the original painting with your dog's name.

I know this might be a little confusing, but if you're interested, contact me soon with any questions. 206-448-7340. I need to start this painting right away and it will be on a first come basis.

Best wishes,

Ken

CAFE CAIRN - New Dog of The Day

This is my most recent "Dog of The Day" - CAFE CAIRN. It measures 14 x 11 and is an original acrylic painting.

Project Art Licensing

It's exciting when something that you started working on about nine months ago finally comes to fruition.

Last June I was contacted by the principals of a new company named Project Art and they wanted to license my images for purses, handbags, shoes and similar products. The two company owners are long time veterans of this industry.

I'm very interested in licensing, but never considered these product types for my work. They convinced me it would work and we began the process.

i didn't want to mention this on my blog or web-site because projects such as this can end for many reasons and getting the actual product in the stores takes quite a while. Mock-ups need to be made, the company needs to secure enough sales to justify production and then finally production and placement for retailer's spring lines. Many products take this long or evan longer to develop and merchandise.

Last week, I finally got to see these photos of product in the store and within a few days, I'll receive some live samples. - I can't wait. The store in this photo, Robert's Fine Shoes, is located in Palm Desert, California, a very nice location. What I'm humbled by is that many of these retailers are carrying high end lines, such as Donald Pliner, Judith Leiber, Taryn Rose, Stuart Weitzman, Bruno Magi and Cole Han.

These products with my images on them are available in several dozen store across the country and while not a huge number, I'm assured that it's pretty good for a new look and with a new company, particularly in the current economy. Let's hope demand swells and more and more stores pick-up this line.

A current listing of stores will be listed here soon.

One note. At any one time only a handful of my images will be used for these products.

New painting and print series. White Dog Cupccakes. To see the options go to http://www.kenbailey.com

Facebook Fan Page

I've started a new facebook fan page. I'd love to see your pets, get comments and suggestions and even see photos of my art in your home. Go ti facebook and then search ken bailey art

New Cat of The Day Painting - Black Cat Cup Cakes. To see more, go to http://www.kenbailey.com

Bella - A custom Print. I am having fun with these custom prints. Very personal and now I know there is a little Westie out there named Bella.

New Custom Print

New Retail outlet

New retail outlet - Fifi & Fidos Pet Boutique 555 E Basse Rd #111 San Antonio TX - 210-822-2525 http://www.fifiandfidos.com