Robyn Millar

Javino is a Coffee & Wine Bar located in the area of Discovery Ridge in Calgary Alberta.

It is a warm and comfortable atmosphere, where they serve food, wine, coffee, and baked goods. I even noticed last time I was in that they had some gluten free treats as well!

picture of Javino that I took with my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app

They hold wine tastings and other events throughout the year, have a patio in the summer, music trivia nights, and live music performances including local favourites FreeDog.

And all year round they feature artwork by various artists throughout the space, adding to the cozy ambiance. Since early 2009 I’ve had artwork on display annually with Javino. Here is an example from last summer:

Javino Coffee and Wine Bar

Panoramic shot of ‘Autumn Tree Silhouette’ set and ‘Summer Leaves’ diptych, on display at Javino in 2011

For more information on Javino, or to book a private event, visit their website. If you’d like to pop in to check them out, they are located at 902 -10 Discovery Ridge Hill S.W.

Javino Banner

my ‘Jaffray Sky’ triptych painting shown on Javino’s website banner 🙂

This will be my fourth year in a row donating a Pet Portrait certificate to the Chefs for UNICEF Gala fundraiser.

UNICEF Canada raises a great amount of funds for the less fortunate every year, and at this year’s 20^th annual Calgary event their goal is to raise over $700,000 towards safe drinking water for children around the world!

Attendees of this formal gala will experience an elegant evening of socializing, special entertainment, fine dining, guest speakers, and a wide variety of auction items to bid on.

The winning bidder of my Pet Portrait certificate is able to redeem it for one 8”x10” hand painted acrylic on canvas of their favourite pet (can be a dog, cat, horse, bird, bunny, or any other unique animal they may have. 🙂 ).

‘Bird on Glass’ was the result of a gift certificate redemption in 2009. Big thanks again to the winning bidder!

Other available auction item examples include: trips, golf packages, spa certificates, jewellery, original paintings, and much more.

This year’s Chefs for Unicef gala is happening on September 29^th 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Calgary (700 Centre Street SE). For more information about the event, or if you would like to make a donation, please visit their web page.

Calgary based rock ‘n roll band THE LIONS collaborated with me on multiple album artwork projects over the years, with their September 24th 2011 release “Iconoclastic” utilizing a custom piece I painted specifically for them… Starting with a promotional band photo I drew on colours from the shot and incorporated them into my own abstract vision while listening to the album.

band members of The Lions – photo taken by David Austin

They also requested a couple of sketches to layer in: one of an old fashioned style film camera, and one of a welcoming brick pub, as their double album contains one disc called “Pub Songs & Sing-a-longs” and one disc named “Motion Picture Soundtrack”.

Sketch of old fashioned movie camera and brick pub

Justin (bass player for The Lions) then combined my painting and sketches and added text to transform them into the final digital artwork for the double album. Was super cool how it came together!

finished album artwork

Since my blog is relatively new, I thought it would be fitting to post this entry today on the anniversary of the album’s release. Funny thing is I still listen to it at least once a week! That’s some timeless rock n roll right there! Well done The Lions 🙂

If you’d like to take a listen, check out http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thelions1 or search them in iTunes.

outside covers, inner sleeve, and discs

Are you on the facebook bandwagon? It seems that almost everyone these days is on there (even my adorable grandma!), whether it be here and there to see what friends & family are up to, or more advanced fb-goers who get minute by minute updates on news, celebrities, and whatever else you can think of!

Did you know that I have a Page on facebook for my artwork? It’s located at: www.facebook.com/ArtByRobynMillar

I do love updating my new website don’t get me wrong, but chances still are that I’ll update my facebook Page first lol! So please log in and click “Like” at the top of my Art by Robyn Millar Page to get the most up to date information, pictures, and events.

If you see a photo or post that you like, please don’t hesitate to click the “like” button or comment on it. This is greatly appreciated because when people do this it opens the door to a network of other people who might not have been exposed to my artwork before. “Sharing” a post does the same type of thing, if you “share” a photo that you like from my art Page then your friends are able to see it as well, again expanding my audience reach.

As an independent artist, referrals really do mean a lot! So this whole new crazy world of social networking is an excellent tool for spreading the word! So if you like what you see, please remember to share the fb love 🙂

For those new-ish to the facebook game, here are some examples:

example of where you can click “like” on a photo

example of where you can write comments

Thanks so much & happy facebook-ing!

Are you considering ordering a Pet Portrait painting? Here are some helpful tips, and considerations for the best possible painting results…

To get the ball rolling, here is the typical order process in a nutshell:

1. Pick out your favourite photo that you have of your pet.
2. Email the photo, along with what size you want it painted, to art@robynmillar.com
3. You will then receive a quote.
4. If you’d like to place the order, a 50% deposit is given.
5. I paint up a storm!
6. Once the painting is ready, the remaining 50% deposit is given.
7. It’s all yours, yay!

COMMON QUESTIONS:

1… “What if I can’t decide on which reference photo I want to use.”

– Please feel free to email multiple photos and I’d be happy to help suggest which would translate best to a Pet Portrait painting.

2… “What if I’m not sure what size I’d like painted?”

– If you have a size range in mind, feel free to let me know and I can provide a quote range. Otherwise, if you have a specific budget in mind, you are welcome to let me know and I can suggest sizing options that way too.

3… “I prefer good ol fashioned phone technology vs emailing, is that ok?”

– Yes that’s totally cool. Please indicate in your initial email if you prefer a call back instead if emailing is not your cup of tea. Phoning is fun too!

4… “How can I get payment to you?”

– To keep things flexible, there are a few different possibilities: e-mail money transfer, certified cheque, cash, or PayPal (for Visa or MasterCard use). If you have questions about any of these methods, feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

5… “How long is the order time?”

– Generally 4-6 weeks. However, since there is an influx during the Christmas season, please budget for 6-8 weeks just to be sure. Or if you require it on a rush (eg: a birthday gift), it may be possible depending on my order schedule. Don’t fret though, order time is always confirmed prior to taking the initial deposit, and you will always get your painting on time, no ifs ands or buts!

6… “Do I get a receipt?”

– Yes you may, it can be printed or emailed.

7… “How do I get my painting in my hot little hands?”

– If you live in Calgary, we can coordinate a pick up or drop off situation. If you live outside of Calgary, it can be shipped no problem.

TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS:

• The higher the resolution of reference photo the better! If the photo is in a small format, it isn’t as detailed as a larger format photo. The more detail the reference photo has, the more detailed and accurate the painting can be! An optimum picture size would be 1MB or larger (but smaller may work as well, again feel free to email me).

• If there is something in the photo you would like altered just let me know and I can confirm if it’s possible (eg: omitting a collar, fixing red eye, etc)
  

  example of collar removal (also demonstrates solid colour background)

• The background of the pet portrait will be removed and made into a solid colour. If you have a specific colour you would like for the background please let me know at the time of ordering. If you have no preference or can’t decide, I’m more than happy to select the most complimentary colour to your pet.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

• The edges of the canvas are painted black, unless specified otherwise.
  

  example of black edges

• If you would like the background of the painting left in (vs doing a solid colour), this is possible at an additional charge (quotes available upon request).
  

  example of detailed background (vs usual solid colour)

• Please note that deposits given on orders are non-refundable.
• Don’t live in Calgary? No problem! Pet Portrait paintings can be shipped anywhere! But please note that artwork pricing does not include shipping costs (shipping costs can be quoted by request).
• Gift Certificates are available if you would like to give a Pet Portrait painting as a gift but don’t have access to your friend or family member’s pet photos!

SO ALL IN ALL:

If you have questions or would like additional information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch as I’d be happy to help! Thanks so much for reading! Take care.

To view Pet Portrait examples, click here.

I’m always so touched when people have me paint Pet Portraits for them to give as gifts to their friends & family… but when I was approached this May to paint a dog portrait for a client to give to her fiancé as a wedding gift I felt truly honoured!

When she contacted me she let me know that their beloved Nanook had passed away a week prior… I almost cried! So I thought “Ok this is going to be the most sentimental gift I’ve ever painted for anyone! Pressure is on… bring it on!” I was so excited to paint this for her.

Completed ‘Nanook’ painting, 10″x10″, acrylic on canvas

About a week later, I got an email from a fellow asking if I could paint a Pet Portrait for his fiancé to give to her for their wedding… so of course my first thought was “uh oh!…. wait… no, it can’t be (what are the odds???)” and once they each emailed me the pet pictures it confirmed that it wasn’t a husband and wife to be giving portraits to each other lol. PHEW (not that wouldn’t have been cool, but that would have been a super crazy coincidence and potentially a little awkward! haha).

When he contacted me he let me know that his fiancé’s three puppies mean more to her than anything and he would love for me to paint all three on one canvas. To date I had only painted one subject per canvas, so I was super excited to take this project on! He emailed me a bunch of super cute puppy photos, some group shots, some individual, and then this magical gem appeared:

reference photo used for ‘Lexxy, Sky, & Bailey’ multiple pet portrait painting

What are the odds of three little bundles of adorable energy posing so nicely together? It screamed PAINT ME! So I proposed we paint this picture (vs combining three individual pictures and frankensteining them together), we picked a background colour, and away we went! Here is a fun photo reel of the progress as it came together (which I hadn’t documented before, so was cool to try out! Lots of firsts here lol):

sequence of progress pictures showing ‘Lexxy, Sky, & Bailey’ coming together

Both clients got married this July, and I couldn’t wait to post pictures and tell a little bit about their portraits! I was sooo happy to help with these sentimental gifts for them to give their fiancés, congrats again to the lovely newlyweds!

To view my whole Pet Portrait portfolio, visit http://robynmillar.com/portfolio/pet-portraits/

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for an animal lover? An original hand-painted acrylic on canvas pet painting is the perfect fit!

Recently I was approached by two separate clients to paint Pet Portraits as wedding gifts, which was such an honour of course, and it got me thinking of the wide variety of occasions that I have painted Pet Portraits for people over the years…

This is the gift wrap that ‘Puppy Stanley’ was given in for a wedding gift in 2010.

Here are some examples of occasions:

• Birthday gift
• Christmas gift
• Anniversary gift
• Housewarming gift
• Wedding gift from fiancé
• Wedding gift to friend
• Mother’s day gift
• Cheer up gift
• Memento of aging pet
• Memento of past pet
• Décor for animal lover’s home
• Display for fundraiser auctions
• Fundraiser gift certificate redemption
• Welcome gift for new animal addition to family
• Gift for someone that can’t stand being away from their pets while they’re out of town

‘Kato’ was painted for a mother’s day gift in 2009.

‘Bird on Glass’ was painted for the winning bidder from 2009’s Chefs for Unicef fundraiser gala, which I had donated a Pet Portrait Gift Certificate.

‘Nero’ was brand new to his happy home during the Christmas 2010 season, and his mom couldn’t wait to get a portrait of him painted, so she gave it to her husband for xmas!

‘Charlie Pose’ was given as a birthday gift to Charlie’s mom in 2011, lucky lady 🙂

‘Atticus’ was painted as a gift from mother to son & daughter-in-law for their anniversary in 2012.

I’m always so flattered when people ask me to paint them such a special memento whether it’s for themselves or a gift for their loved one. Dog and cat lovers care a great deal for their furry little companions, and it always touches my heart when I get to see their faces light up when they open it for the first time or hear stories about when the gifts were given!

For more information on Pet Portraits, please visit my ‘Pet Portrait Portfolio Page‘, or feel free to email me directly from my ‘Contact Page‘ 🙂

Updated March 30th 2016: 
I am sad to report that Cherry Four recently closed its doors 🙁
Also, I have discontinued my ‘Circle Art Series’ of paintings (listed in this blog post), which used to be shown at the store.

If you are searching for unique children’s décor or fun gift ideas for kids, then look no further than Cherry Four Junior Home in Calgary, AB. Everything from furniture to bedding – they have all the tools you’d need to create the coolest kids room on the block!

Young America myHaven Bunk Bed with Custom Bedding

pink & green display at Cherry Four, with one of my 8″x8″ Circle Art sets hung on the wall

Since 2008 I’ve had the opportunity to display and sell my ‘Circle Art’ paintings through Cherry Four. This series features cheerfully coloured minamilist style paintings with white background and edges, and a textured coloured circle with a ring around it in the center. These fun circle pieces bring a pop of colour to any space (not just restricted to children’s rooms of course!), and can be colour-coordinated to match any décor.

Serena and Lily Bedding with Cherry Four Custom Bedding

My favourite bedding grouping on display at Cherry Four, black/grey/white/green – fun & sophisticated

In addition to home décor and artwork, Cherry Four also sells fun toys, clothes, seasonal gifts, and more… if you have a little one of your own, nieces & nephews, grandkids, friends with babies etc – be sure to pop in and take a look around! They are located at 1111 Kensington Rd NW.

Random Light / Yarn Ball Fixture display

custom set of four ‘Circle Art’ pieces on permanent display at Cherry Four Junior Home

For more ‘Circle Art‘ pics and info visit my ‘Circle Art‘ Portfolio Page.

For year number 3 now I will be donating a Pet Portrait gift certificate to the Cochrane & Area Humane Society’s annual Saving Lives – Changing Lives gala. This year it is on June 2^nd 2012, and will feature live acoustic music by Gord Bamford.

Every year the CAHS raises money through their various fundraising efforts, including silent and live auctions as featured in this upcoming gala. Proceeds help animals in need, and last year’s gala alone raised over $40,000!

my Pet Portrait display for the fundraiser auction

If you would like to attend and take in some country music, great food, cocktails, and of course help raise funds for cute disadvantaged animals, tickets are $125 each and the event is being held at the Bragg Creek Center.

For more information about the Cochrane & Area Humane Society and all the great things they’re doing, or for information on how to donate, check out their website at www.cochranehumane.ca