It's about time!

Okay then, here is that finished Luka portrait, in his frame (it took a while to finally get a hold of the photo of the framed portrait, but now that I have it, here it is!)

There's some glare and/or reflection from the glass (sorry about that), but he's finished. Maybe I'll donate him to an auction... we'll see...


"Goji" - another Cat portrait...

Also another portrait for you to see: This is Linell's cat "Goji" looking up at the skies above. Linell took the wonderful photo that served as the basis for this portrait - it just begged for me to do a pastel! So of course I had to do it. I haven't yet met Goji in person, but I'm sure he must be a wonderful cat, seeing how he was such a great poser for the photo. (Of course, I know from all her work that Linell is also a great photographer as well.)

Both of these portraits were entered in this year's Clark County Fair in Vancouver, Washington back in August, but alas, neither of them won any ribbons other than "Participant" (sigh), but my teacher, Fariha, won an award - yay! Congratulations Fariha! I learned a lot from you and you deserve lots of prizes and ribbons...

Jeannie's Dog -- Just about done...

I'd say I'm done with this doggie for now. Actually he's been sitting in his little car, done for quite a few weeks. I just haven't been back to this blog for a while, as you can probably tell. So time for posting to get it over and done with... Maybe I'll send him to my cousin for Christmas - won't she be surprised!!!

Jeannie's Dog Driving a Car!

Here is a pastel portrait (still in the works, almost finished) of my cousin Jeannie's dog in a toy car! It's from a photo my father took in California, way back when. I wonder how they got him in that little car, and wonder also whether he really drove it. (Actually I don't even know if it was a boy dog or a girl dog... hmm...) Anyway, I like the way the background is turning out. The coloring on the car still needs work, but I think it's coming along quite nicely.

Beep beep!

Luka (Prior to framing)

Okay, here's Luka, pretty much completed prior to framing. I hope to show you another one in his frame... I did add some more white to his coat, and some more shadowing as well, but don't have a photo of all that yet (sorry!).

If you happen to head towards the Clark County Fair this year, check him out! The Fair goes through August 16th I believe.

He should be in the Art section along with another cat "Whiskers" Whiskers Sees the Light is the title I gave to that portrait.

Lexi - Completed Portrait!

Here is Lexi - a rescue dog who had been living in a horse trailer her first two years when Bonnie saved her from her plight. She is now ten years old! I added a moon to the portrait, and some wisps of clouds. Such a beautiful dog. I hope I will get to see her in person some day...

Mug Shot - Bonnie's rescue dog...

Here's a portrait that I'm working on now... it's Bonnie's rescue dog. The photo was a little fuzzy, so a bit difficult to work from, but I think she's coming along. And if I saw her in person, I know I'd get her a lot better!!!
Anyway, that's it for now...

A little more work on Luka!

Okay, here's a little more work on my latest portrait - Luka!!!

He's coming along, but still has a way to go, as you can see from the actual photograph. What a pretty kitty! The next portrait I post will be what the FINISHED PRODUCT looks like - I promise!!!

Oh, by the way, I found a penny in the Post Office parking lot yesterday - is it a lucky one? You betcha - every penny I find is lucky that I found it!

And were you wondering what kind of camera I have? It's a Nikon CoolPix P2 (5.1 Megapixels with 3.5x Zoom), neither fancy no new, but does its job.

Ted E. Bear, Luka and more!

Okay, anyway, here's an updated portrait of Ted E. Bear (Teddy Bear) the furry black cat.

Also, here's the start of a portrait of Luka (his owners let me take my own photos of him when I dropped of his portrait, which, by the way, they were very happy with, I'm pleased to say!)

Will be listing more things on eBay soon -- mostly more Western Airlines
posters and the like, but a few eclectic things here and there.

Check out eBay listings under seller name Lani Sakai.

Ted E. Bear - Another cat portrait

And here's another portrait, done of a cat that is no longer with us. I only had one photograph to work from, and that photograph was pretty small, so it was hard to see details, especially his nose! Anyway, it's still a work in progress, but it is coming along.

Teddy aka Theodore aka Ted E. had beautiful yellow gold eyes according to his owner. They were the color of the flowers he was sitting next to in this pose, which is what she wanted to make sure was captured.

What do you think? Your opinions and comments are invited and welcome.

Lani Sakai Pastel Pet Portraits

4H Club Winning Cat - Luka Portrait

I love the way this portrait of Luka is turning out! He was apparently the winning cat at last year's Clark County Fair, and one of his prizes was a Pastel Pet Portrait by artist Lani Sakai - me! What do you think?

I still have to work on the background color a bit, but other than that, I think he's pretty much done.

According to his master, Luka likes to sit with one paw sticking out, so that's how he is in this portrait. Such a cute cat!

Cats & Dogs in Bamberg, Germany

I went to Bamberg, Germany for just under two weeks to learn how to better speak and understand German. (Und jetzt, spreche ich mehr als nur ein bisschen Deutsch - woo hoo!)


While there, I saw many dogs! People take their dogs with them when they go to restaurants, shopping in stores and walking. There are signs on some establishments that don't allow dogs (you know, kind of like the no smoking sign with a circle and a slash over the dog instead of the cigarette).


Cats? Well, they're a different story. I saw only one cat, laying on a post, relaxing in the afternoon sun. I went up to him to take his picture (slowly, of course), and he let me!

More on eBay - Check out the Decanters!

Okay. I'm not so used to this blogging thing. Anyway, check out these latest listings I have on eBay! Decanter - GOLD WOLF! Go to ebay, and check out listing #390053179907 plus a lot more! More Western Airlines posters too! There are two sets of Western Airlines coasters up for bid: one is a set of two DC-10 Coasters, and the other is a lot of 10 International Coasters. I especially like this lot of 5 Western Airlines Place Mats featuring Western's various aircraft. Very nice! OR, if you're more partial to US Airways, how about this lot of 9 US Airways Wine Glasses?

New Postings on eBay!

Six days left for these listings - very nice wooden nutcracker ornaments, including a Matador and a purple Soldier, a porcelain snow man and more. There's a REALLY cute set of two Hallmark ornaments from 1997 and 1999 - Mark Newman Raccoon & Rabbit Ornaments! Please be sure to check out my lanisakai eBay page for more of my listings on eBay including more pet portraits and Western Airlines memorabilia.


Plus, coming up, I'll be doing a pet portrait for last year's 4H winning cat owner in the upcoming weeks - he's a very pretty kitty named Luka! Congratulations to the winner and her pet.

Trying this Blogging thing again... PIF

Okay, here goes another try at blogging (now that I have only one day off before I have to go back to work again for 9 days!) I'm joining the Pay It Forward challenge! If you leave a comment on my blog, you can partake too!

This is how it works....

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Now I see...

I have to go all the way to the top (top right of the screen) to do a new blog posting. (I had been trying to do it on the upper right where it says "New Post" thing; just didn't go high enough!!!)

So maybe now I'll be updating this thing a little more often. We shall see...

Interested in any Western Airlines posters from bygone days? Check out lanisakai.com and bid if you see anything you like.