Pop art puppy paintings are taking over the Dog Lovers Show! This year me and my pop art puppies were on show to the dog lovers of Melbourne and we had the best time. Here’s a wrap up of this amazing event including all the highlights and puppy dogs.
Set Up
My beautiful display upstairs at the show, I couldn’t be more pleased with the result. This is truely my heart and soul, up for all to see on a 3m wall – lots of colour and puppies and fairy lights!
I’m always grateful when the vision I have in my head is brought to life and even better when the result makes people smile. It’s the same feeling when I complete a pet portrait – very proud of the result and can’t wait to give it away to it’s owner so it makes them happy each time they look at it. Except for my display I’m showing it off to the dog lovers of Melbourne.
It was a long day, starting early at 9am. My mum helped me in the morning hanging paintings, she kept me very organised and my display started to come to life. As we did the set up last year everything ran rather smoothly (aside from a mid-day blutac shortage) but we must have learned a thing or two because the rest came together easily.
There are lots more artists at the show this year, which is great to see – I’m sharing the artists wall with some very talented individuals. It’s wonderful that the show supports pet portraiture as the more dogs and art in the world the better!
Day 1
We’re on Show! Day 1 of the Dog Lovers Show kicked off with some fun. I met so many gorgeous dogs and everyone was delighted with my colourful pop art!
We got to the show early to make sure everything was in order for the day. As dogs and dog lovers started making their way upstairs I was delighted when Tiki the Chow Chow and her mum El dropped by for a visit. Tiki is mother of @scar_the_chow and I’ll be creating a portrait of Tiki later this year too!
Instapooch @davethebeagle made himself very comfortable on his throne at my display and we were all seeing double as Dave has his very own pop art portrait up on my wall. Dave’s dropping past each day so be sure to catch him (and don’t forget to bring chicken!)
I’m in the best spot as a parade of dogs come past all the time as we are right near the adoption zone and breed clubs. Brie the Bull Arab and Mack the 6 month old Afghan Hound stopped by for a look at my art, then I found super cool @bangaz_dachshund and Moose hanging out at pat a pooch area.
I saw my friends at Greyhound Safety Net and went over to meet their hounds. A very friendly Greyhound named Amy decided she loved me so much that she would sit on me. Of course I didn’t mind and we took a selfie together.
Back at my display it’s lovely to listen to people’s compliments upon discovering me for the first time, I’m really glad my art makes people stop and smile. @the_adventures_of_jago stopped by to have a sit in the pop art throne – don’t tell Dave haha! Lovely to see you Jago!
We had a great view of the doga (dog yoga) demo from my vantage point upstairs over the main stage and then I went for another wander around the show and bumped into @dobiejax then saw @frankieandvelvetlove on the Instapooch stage. Both these pups will be appearing at my display over the weekend too! Then after chatting with the team from Pet Haus – we raced upstairs to catch up with superstar @squidthegriff and I scored a cuddle with him too.
More people and dogs came to my display including Pablo the Xoloitzcuintli, the smallest baby chihuahua Candis and Holly the Labrador.
Then day 1 was all over – we packed up our haul of treats and freebies for Finn & Budd and headed home to rest up for a big weekend ahead.
Day 2
Day 2 of the Dog Lovers Show and a huge Saturday crowd of dog lovers descended upon the Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne. Upstairs at my pop art display we had @davethebeagle back on his throne and today he brought along his friend – gorgeous fluffy cloud pup @hamishthespitz who had some cool tricks to swap for treats. Dave was quite content to sit on his cushion and accept all the chicken he could get his paws on.
More pups stopped by today to say hello. @scar_the_chow posed magnificently with his pop art portrait, I showed @bangaz_dachshund my beautiful doxie art and @dobiejax hung out for a while next to my pop art portrait of @khaleesi_thedobe – two gorgeous Doberman pups and insta friends together at the show.
Definitely a busy day on my pop art display, we got lots of entries to my show competition and sold a few of my new dog breed Illustration greeting cards. Getting a great response to the new drawings – I just need to get more breeds done! But the show was great inspiration showcasing many dog breeds, plus I’ve been taking votes on everyones favourite pups.
Many of my past and future clients were at the show today and it was lovely to see everyone. We had some great conversations about dogs I’ve painted and also dogs who are booked in for a portrait in the coming months! I adore hearing about your pups as I get to know them so well in the portrait process, thank you everyone so much for the updates.
When the show closed for the day, we went down to the exhibitors night where we could mingle over some drinks with all the exhibitors. It’s such a great event to catch up with friends in the industry and meet new friends too. Plus I met Bret the Lowchen pup from @wyntervalelowchen who amazed us with some of his tricks and Unicorn fur colouring.
Thanks for another amazing day at the show! Back home to bed and ready for the last day of the show.
Day 3
Day 3 – the final day of the Dog Lovers Show Melbourne. I arrived at the show to find the crowd waiting bigger than the day before! The weekend goes by so fast but I definitely made the most of today and had many more memorable experiences.
After quick visit with @trigger_trouble and the awesome Pet Haus crew on the way in, I arrived at my display to find Penny the most gorgeous chihuahua pup. The morning flew by and I was delighted to see more of my clients who have commissioned a portrait and met many new friends who stopped to admire my colourful puppy art.
The beautiful Molly the greyhound came to visit on her way to Greyhound Rescue Vic stand. I’ve previously painted Molly’s portrait so it was amazing to meet her in real life. Such a gentle hound and it was wonderful to catch up with her lovely mum and dad.
I was right in the middle of the action all day. We stopped traffic when the one and only instapooch @frankieandvelvetlove dropped by to take up the pop art throne, right under his very own pop art painting. He got lots of pats from everyone and we had heaps of fun posing for photos.
It wasn’t long until @davethebeagle arrived too get his share of pats and treats – a double dose of instapooch superstars! Somehow we coordinated a photo of all of us, it was so special to have these amazing pups on my display. Love these pups so much, thanks to their amazing mums for making the show so special.
In the final hours, I went for a walk to visit Molly, who was sleeping soundly after a big day and I stopped by the Chow Chow Club Vic to deliver @scar_the_chow’s mum his majestic pop art mug! Then it was all over. My parents helped to pack up the display and we headed home with my pop art pups, amazing memories of the weekend and lots of new art to create!
What a weekend! A huge thank you to everyone who made The Dog Lovers Show possible.
Thank you to those who booked in for custom artworks over the show – I’m still taking bookings so please send me a message or fill out the booking form on my website and I’ll get back to you with a quote.
