My neighbor and I went to the local beach last week to do some shell collecting. As we sat at one of the picnic tables sorting through our precious “finds”, I noticed a woman sitting on a log also collecting little treasures. I quickly captured the moment as a graphite pencil drawing. Can you smell the ocean or hear the waves?
I’ve been having so much fun creating things on Zazzle, I think I’m becoming addicted! I’ve decided to open a new store dedicated to pet lovers! You’ll find tons of products featuring my pet paintings, everything from t-shirts to magnets to mousepads. It’s a hoot! Please check it out for yourself and even let me know what you’d like to see there. What breeds of dogs? Or maybe horses? Cats? Birds? You name it, I bet I can create it. Here’s the link to the new store…. http://www.zazzle.com/zannypetz
I’ve been adding new pet-lover products at my Zazzle store this morning. Here’s an acrylic painting I did of a basset hound puppy that I made into a t-shirt design. It’s too much fun and quite addicitive. Please check out my store at www.zazzle.com/zannypetz and BUY SOMETHING so I can keep this website! 
Here’s a graphite pencil drawing design inspired by my neighbor’s little pug, Hannah. She’s the silliest little dog ever and we laugh at her antics every day. I love her. I’m wondering if this might make a good t-shirt design. Any comments? What do you think?
Yup, I made this zebra myself. Named him Zachary. He has traveled to art shows with me for years and is a great attention-getter! Folks see him from blocks away and HAVE to come and check it out!
I figure I should let you all know that I make these incredible wood cut-outs of animals, including pets! They’re made out of a special, very fine particle board, handpainted by me, varnished (so they’re somewhat weather proofed), and make fantastically unusual gifts! If you’d like to order one of your pet (or your parents, friends, grandparents, or for your vendor booth, etc.) just email me at artsesue@hotmail.com.
There's a Zebra in my Living Room
Awhile ago, I did a graphite pencil drawing of a lounging polar bear and liked the image so much, I was forced to do an acrylic painting of that drawing. Although you can’t tell from this image, the polar bear’s fur in the painting is actually textured, and the foreground and background are irridescent and reflective, just like real snow. The original painting is 20″ x 30″ on finished edge canvas and is available for sale at: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/lounging-polar-bear-suzanne-schaefer.html
Lounging Polar Bear
This is a graphite pencil drawing of Sidney, the donkey who is the mascot at my friend’s animal sanctuary in Colorado. He’s very friendly and greets all the volunteers with that funny braying he does to say “hello”. Such a character. He also happens to be best buds with Chico, the long-horn steer, who shares the pasture with him. I did a drawing of the two of them earlier and it’s posted in archives under farm animals if you’d like to see it.
Sidney, the Donkey Mascot
Here’s a graphite pencil drawing of an Arabian mare and her foal out for their morning romp across the pasture. It won’t be long now and baby will be separated from his/her mom, but for this day, they share the joy of running free together.
Morning Romp
I know this blog is all about graphite pencil drawing, and yet… I’m very excited about my new Zazzle store. And besides, I haven’t really drawn anything new since my little dog died. Instead I’ve been focused on Zanny Rants. Zanny is a computer generated character I came up with for one of my other blogs, http://www.zannyrants.com, thinking the images would just be used to accompany whatever the subject for the day happened to be. However, I’ve had so many requests for the images, they are now available over at http://www.zazzle.com/zannyrants* on ALL KINDS of things. Mousepads, magnets, aprons. Eventually I’ll included greeting cards and t-shirts and mugs, and, and, and…. there’s so much more. It’s an amazing place. I do hope you’ll check out all my art available there, even some of the graphite pencil drawings you’ll find at this blog. For now, here’s a small sampling of snarky, outspoken Zanny. Enjoy! (And yes, I will get back to drawing soon.)
Zanny Rants
I know I posted this graphite pencil drawing awhile back, but… this posting is in honor of Keebler Alf’s life. He died on Friday, and I guess I’m still in shock and grieving. Oh sure, he was just a mutt, and he was 18 years old, but was in what I thought was excellent health. I did a corresponding gouache (opaque watercolor) painting from the same photo I used for the graphite pencil drawing. I miss the little guy.
In honor of Keebler Alf
