I really enjoy commission paintings. Especially when it is a surprise! My friend Karla asked me to paint her dear friend’s horse Tommy as a surprise gift for Tommy’s owner Kriss. I made arrangements with the barn owner where Tommy lives and hoped that Kriss would not stop by while I was there. When I arrived the horses were finishing up breakfast and Tommy was busy chewing his hay. Most of the photos that I took had his mouth in odd chewing positions. I waited patientley until Tommy finally looked over at me as if to say, why are you still here? Photo taken, no chewing! We met last weekend at a local winery where Karla gave the painting to her friend Kriss. She loved her painting of her beloved horse! It was a very fun day.

I am so blessed to meet such sweet people through creating my artworks. Its like a resonance between us and the paintings are the conduit.

Over the past 10 years Araceli and her daughter have visited me at Open Studios. We always have such a nice exchange whenever I see them. Thank you to Araceli and her daughter Kristin for acquiring these three paintings and making them a part of their home.
It makes my heart so happy!!

Hello friends! I stopped by the R. Blitzer Gallery yesterday in Santa Cruz. What a wonderful show! A collaboration with The Visual Arts Network. The gallery is open Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 PM or by appointment. Stop by if you can! The show will be on display through the end of March 2021. Masks are required . (I took mine off for the photo)

I recently finished this commission painting for a dear friend of her sister’s dogs, Spot and Oreo. These darling dogs were so much fun to paint. They have such engaging personalities and distinct characters. I really must admit, I love painting commission paintings of the animals that we love so much. It is a calling that brings so much joy to all involved!

This painting has great sentimental meaning to me. I painted this painting of this mighty Buffalo after visiting Yellowstone Park. We were driving one morning in Yellowstone when suddenly a herd of Bison came out of a wooded area and began trotting towards our car. We stopped and gasped as 70 or so bison, males, females and calves, came trotting down the road and trotted by our car. We couldn’t believe the power and size of these beautiful animals. I could have reached out the window and touched them. Seeing all of these horns coming towards us, hearing the weight of their hooves on the pavement, our car shaking in response, and the low guttural sound that the bulls make. It was a memory that I will never forget! Then this story came to me via a friend…Buffalo Chasing the Storm
As the story goes…’when a storm comes a cow will see the storm and run from it, causing the storm to chase it and the cow being in the storm a long time. But the mighty buffalo will face the storm and walk right into it, causing it to go through it much more quickly.’ A metaphor for life. We are served best by facing the storm and challenges that come to us, like the mighty buffalo.

Welcome to my YouTube channel, Janet Ferraro Art Studio. I will be sharing speed painting and drawing videos, demos and helpful art techniques and tips to improve your artistic process. Fun and insightful, the artistic journey is a wonderful process to explore. Thank you for joining me on YouTube.com and my channel, Janet Ferraro Art Studio.

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This painting is a commission in oil that I recently painted for my friend JoAnn. ‘Bobby’ was a playful and humorous boy whom she adopted from the Police Dept. when he was retired. He served as a police horse for most of his life and she was delighted to bring him home to join her herd. She told me how loving he was and funny too. He would grab the grooming brush in his mouth and trot around the corral waving it in the air! I wish I had met him before he crossed the rainbow bridge a few months ago. I know how she misses him. I truly loved painting him!

I have been enjoying having my hands in clay again. These Angelic horses will be joining my herd of paintings and drawings for my upcoming Open Studios Art Tour 2019 show in October. The show information is on my exhibition page here on my website. I am adding more underglazes and glaze before they go back into the kiln.

This painting is really meaningful to me. It honors a magnificent Arabian stallion that was truly a prince. My cousin bred Arabians for show and sale and she was truly passionate about the Arabian breed. Her Prince was like her soul mate. She had other stallions but we all knew Prince was her favorite. He was amazing, beautiful and so patient. Anyone from 4 year olds to beginner riders were safe with him. He just knew how to take care of everyone around him. I am so grateful to have known this beautiful boy. He was a true Prince.