Category: News

  • I have my own gallery!!!

    I have my own gallery!!!

    Well it’s true, I finally have my very own gallery space. Unfortunately you can’t come in to see my work as it’s tiny, and located on a train set. I have had the honour of owning my own gallery for a while now, but just realized I never really shared this exciting news with everyone! So here it is! 

    Thank you to my father in law for my beautiful space, and note the picture on the right is the actual portrait I painted of his dog 🙂 He shrunk it to put it on the wall. How awesome is that?! Gotta go, looks like I’ve got a few customers waiting 😉

  • Hello Bailey!

    Hello Bailey!

    My latest customer ordered a portrait of Bailey to thank her man love for all his hard work on their new home. She gave him a portrait of his best friend 🙂 How thoughtful is that?! It just makes me think of how important gratitude is.  So thank you everyone, whether you’ve done something for me or not… hee hee.

    This is a great example of how you can use several photos to get the portrait you want. We opened the eyes and added Bailey’s other paw! And here’s Bailey sitting proudly in front of her portrait.

  • Penny’s Unveiling!!!

    So it happened…this years main event…the unveiling of Penny’s portrait! Hoards of anxious spectators and pugerazzis gathered ’round to witness the addition of Penny’s portrait to the wall of pugs, and it did not disappoint! Penny was very satisfied as she looked on in her glittery pink  tutu.

  • Sorry, you’ll have to wait…

    Sorry, you’ll have to wait…

    So normally after I finish a portrait, I get giddy, and post it everywhere for all to see! But this time I cannot. The reason being, one of my  repeat customers (who’s also a good friend) has decided that she must throw an unveiling party for her pug portrait! Ok it’s an unveiling party/ summer solstice party, but we know the most important part of the party 😉 So  you’ll have to sit tight (as Penny is, anxiously waiting for her portrait to be hung) and wait until after the party to see Penny’s new portrait, to be hung with her sister pugs.

  • Painting from real life..

    Painting from real life..

    One of the most common questions I get is “Do you paint pets from real life?” These photos are perfect examples of why I don’t/ can’t! In the end, Guinness did allow the paparazzi one decent shot…with the help of three wranglers of course!

  • Back to where it all began..

    Back to where it all began..

    This creative customer took the portrait he ordered for a friend, back to the original place where the photo for the portrait was taken. He lined it all up and everything! Pretty cool eh?!

  • Va Va Voom! I like what I see!

    Va Va Voom! I like what I see!

    Monty checked out his portrait, and he approves!!

  • The Holidays Are a Comin’!!!!

    The Holidays Are a Comin’!!!!

    Hope you all had a happy halloween, and now on to the holidays!! I’m currently working on 12 portraits for Christmas! However, if you’re interested in gifting a pet portrait you can still order a gift certificate! Here’s an example of what it will look like. Feel free to contact me with any questions at petportraits@taranarbonne.com

  • Woofstock 2013!

    Woofstock 2013! Yes it was a few weeks ago, but it’s better late than never! I headed down to St. Lawrence Market to hand out some of my pet portrait business cards and took in all the adorable and unusual pups. Dogs with dyed fur, dogs in strollers, dogs dressed like their owners, dogs going for a dip in the fountains, I was shocked I didn’t step in any faecal matter. I’m looking forward to Woofstock 2014!!

  • “Obama-fy” your pet portrait

    I sometimes get fun requests for some of the portraits that I’m commissioned to create.  These have included painting cats as historical figures, dogs in funny clothes and in this case below, a cat who could run for president.  Some time ago, I was asked to create a pet portrait for a cat named Mary Minou in the style of the Obama “Hope” poster (originally created by Shepard Fairey). Using the signature red, white and blue I transformed a photo of the cat into a posterized interpretation, including a monocle (for distinction).

    The result may one day (I’m hoping!)  end up in an episode of “Cribs”, as it belongs to Hollywood Actor Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder, End Of Days).

    This portrait is one of my all-time favourites and since creating it, I’ve had more requests to paint in this style.