Sporting Artisans Updates

New donations for clubs

2011-05-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sporting Artisans is now offering a donation of gift certificates to clubs for an original custom dog portrait by Chris Chantland. The painting is acrylic. The size is 16" x 20." The finished painting is shipped framed. The value of the painting is $1100, and the gift certificate is $550. The certificate can be raffled, auctioned, or simply given to a club member. Pictured above is an example - this painting is of Five Star General Patton. For more information, call 231-922-2292 or e-mail info@Sporting Artisans.com.

Black Lab Vodka Personalized Menu Sign

2010-12-06T09:18:00.000-08:00

Even if you aren't into Vodka, it' a cool looking menu sign that you can personalize with your company's name, your name or even your club logo, such as the one shown here with the Tallahassee Hunting Retriever Club. Contact Chris at 231-922-2292 or go here to order.

Good Brakes

2010-11-30T15:58:00.000-08:00

Click here to view more of this new beautiful bronze sculpture by Montana artist Liz Lewis.

Water Dog wine glasses from Zeppa

2010-09-21T05:49:00.001-07:00

As you gear up for Christmas, keep in mind the Zeppa Water Dog Crystal Stemware. Available in red or white wine goblets.

Zeppa Studios hand decorates incredibly pure, hard and clear crystal glass with their swimming "water dog". The resulting "water dog" glasses are highly resilient to dishwashers, chipping and breakage because of a new technology from Schott Zweisel that tempers the areas prone to breakage. (the rim, the junction of the bowl with the stem and the junction of the stem and foot)

The crystal's deep and brilliant luster will remind you of a diamond. The kiln fired swimming dog will make you smile.

The "red" wine goblets hold 24.7 oz of your favorite Claret, water or cocktails.

These "white" wine goblets hold 17.3 oz of white or red wines, water or whatever.

Tony's Gale

2010-04-26T14:49:00.001-07:00

I've gone to the National Bird Dog Championship several times, and have seen a couple champions run, so it is always a thrill to run across a work of art that ties into the National. This lithograph by Edmund Osthaus (1858 - 1928) was just placed on the web site. It features the 1898 National Champion, Tony's Gale. For more information, call anytime at 231-922-2292 or -mail info@SportingArtisans.com.

New Custom Cherry Gun Cabinet

2010-02-01T16:27:00.001-08:00

Celebrate your love of the second amendment with this custom cherry cabinet by Bruce Mrackek of Outfitter Furniture. Its features:

Constructed from #1 select Cherry hardwoods and domestic top grade veneer plywood

• Alligator embossed leather in doors and side panels

• Raised wood panel sides and back of upper display cabinet

• Full extension pullout drawers with ball bearing slides

• Drawers feature padded leather bottoms

• Solid back in base and upper display for security

• Solid Cherry leather lined barrel support

• Padded leather butt rest

• Beveled tempered glass for security

• Interior Xenon lighting with 3 way touch sensor

• Handmade Dentil Crown molding

• Cam locks keyed alike

• Base cabinet measures 43” W x 19” D x 24” H

• Upper Display measures 39” W x 12” D x 56” H

Speak to Me (My Michigan)

2009-10-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Jules Anna Jones is a wonderfully talented and great singer/songwriter from our home state of Michigan. I stumbled on her when looking at Jeff Daniels, and when I heard her CD, I knew she had to be on Sporting Artisans. With an unemployment rate now at 15.3%, Michigan is hurting, but you can't help but feel more optimistic when you hear her music. Click here to hear a portion of this song. Her full CD is also available.

Eukanuba to underwirte an original oil painting by Chris Chantland

2009-10-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Chris Chantland Eukanuba is underwriting this years' painting of the National Open Retriever Champion. What makes it different is that Eukanuba is the only company that is commissioning the painting of both handler/owner and winning dog of a major championship. The painting in oil is finished of Dave Rorem and last year's National Open Champion and will be unveiled at the National in November - and here. For more info about Eukanuba, go here:

Ah, October

2009-10-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

To celebrate October, here is a bronze scuplture of the bird you can't tame - the Sharp tailed Grouse. It's by new Sporting Artist Liz Lewis and comes in a limited edition of 25.

The New 2nd Amendment Buckle

2009-09-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

Introducing the new 2nd Amendment pewter buckle from The art of Lou De Paolis. This jewelry-grade buckle and be purchased by itself, or you can get a custom Royden strap with it - only available this way at SportingArtisans.com. Click here to order.

Family photos

2009-09-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ken Bedenbaugh for these great photos. Liked 'em so much, I put them on the home page.

Yellow Lab with Pheasant

2009-08-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

This is a watecolor study of a photograph by Jerome Robinson. Jerome took it for the cover of a book, and I loved it so much that I painted it for practice. This was painted 20 years ago, and is rare in the fact that I make it a point to never "copy" a photo unless it's just for practice and the photographer gives me permission. This is one of three I've done like this in 20 years, and is more of a testament to Jerome's eye than my technical ability, but it gets a lot of rave reviews, so hence I finally am putting it on the site.

New painting by Chris Chantland - work in progress.

2009-07-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest image taken of a new watercolor of a lab doing a swim by by Chris Chantland. More images of the work in progress can be seen at chrischantland.blogspot.com

Customize It

2009-07-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I started Sporting Artisans was to be able to customize many of the products on the web site. Take a look at the "Customize It" section under the "Special Interest" area. The two products in it are just a start. You can have any of your own personal images of dogs, family members - whatever - along with your own copy - designed and placed on the shirt. And coming soon are more products that I can customize through Sporting Artisans. To get started, call Chris at 231-922-2292 anytime or e-mail info@SportingArtisans.com.

Free Ground shipping on all Colonel Littleton products

2009-06-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Colonel Littleton. Of course, the products are among the best and I consider them works of art, and Colonel Littleton and all the great folks there exhibit the finest qualities of southern hospitality. Free ground shipping on all Colonel Littleton products continues through July.

2009-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

I can’t do enough justice or write enough accolades about my friend Margo’s wonderful life. All I can write is a bit about my own personal experience.

I had been coming to Thomasville, GA for several years and always wanted to make it a point to go tour Pebble Hill Plantation. I didn't know much about it, but heard that the place was pretty impressive.

I also wanted to get back into painting; something I gave up for about 10 years and only dabbled in it. In the back of my mind I thought that I'd do one of my first new paintings for my friend Sallie Sullivan, as a thank you for allowing me to stay and visit her at her Borderline Plantation. I painted her lab Beast, and mailed it to Sallie, and Beast became the first of many paintings that I would subsequently complete over the next eight years.

Shortly after painting Beast, I decided to carry a bunch of photos of some of my paintings done several years before, just to sort of make it my coming out party so to speak - and it was at a dinner party that I showed off the photos of my paintings to the hosts Rebecca and Jack Allen, and then to Margo Bindhardt.

I didn't know Margo very well then, I just knew I liked her a lot. I knew immediately and instinctively that she was a super-nice lady, and if you saw her without a smile or a gleam in her eye, it would be extremely rare. She was the only person I knew who had a smile in her eye whenever she seldom frowned.

I had been to her home a few times, but it was at Jack and Rebecca's home that I decided to show off my paintings to Margo - knowing that she had a lot to do with the prestigious Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival. I thought to myself that maybe I could get an "in" in someway - or at the very least a little attention should I decide to formally apply for the show.

The Plantation Arts Festival was the brainchild of Margo and Bob Crozer, and to get invited to the show meant you exhibited with some of the best wildlife artists in the country.

Margo looked at my photos and simply said, "You're in."

Thus launched my new career from dog food salesman to commissioned portrait artist and owner of Sporting Artisans.

At a party just before my first festival, I was formally introduced to the ‘art collecting’ world by Margo's husband Klaus. Klaus is a character and a favorite because he always makes it a point to stand up and speak during desert - entertaining the group with some long drawn out story with an ultimate moral that left you scratching your head and laughing at the same time. On this evening, Klaus introduced himself as my new "agent." Klaus then proceeded to illustrate to the group my talents and that he would be getting future royalties from my artwork in years to come. This was all funny but also a big deal to me. I just had the Chairman's husband laud my work in front of very respected and accomplished people. I was also endeared to Klaus, and from then on, whenever talking to Margo, I would tell her to tell my agent hello and that I would be sending him the money.

About a year later, I finally was able to tour Pebble Hill. I bought my ticket, got into line and was ushered around the mansion. In the stable, there is a room that shows off the history, photos and family tree of Pebble Hill's former owner Pansy Poe. As I waited for the tour to begin, I noticed that most of the people I knew in Thomasville were in that tree, including Sallie and Margo. Later, as I was taking the tour, in the foyer, I spotted Klaus and Margo giving a private tour to someone, and it was then that I figured Margo had a lot more to do with Pebble Hill than I ever realized.

In fact, Margo basically "ran" Pebble Hill. She was a favorite of Pansy Poe, which is not at all hard to understand, and in one of the rooms is a painting of Margo over a fireplace. But what caught my eye was a small black and white photo showing Margo in what I believe was her "coming out" party on the steps in the foyer with her mother Louise Humphrey. That photo – probably taken in the early 1960's made me just wish that I could have experienced a little of what it must have been like in the glorious golden days of plantation life in the south. But mostly, I was excited about seeing Margo at that age, realizing age had not diminished her beauty one bit.

Three years later, I would find myself actually living in Thomasville, GA. My wife Lori and the kids were to come down later. So I needed a place to live. Knowing that Pebble Hill occasionally had cabins or houses on the grounds for rent, I asked Margo if anything was available. The two-room house at the gate would be too small, but Margo was not deterred. Margo then ordered the abandoned overflow cottage (5 bedrooms, three fireplaces) situated about 200 feet from the main house to be totally renovated for our eventual occupancy. Margo told me, "Your kids will love it here. In fact, below the main house the basement is quite long, and I'll open it so your kids can ride their bikes down there."

Pebble Hill is immaculately kept spotless and perfect for tours, wedding parties, hunts and festivals. The main house is full of priceless treasures, and the grounds feature mazes, walkways, and even a private cemetery where Pansy and her relatives are buried. We would be living in a fish bowl, but the view from the porch would be of an enclosed brick garden, all our yard work would be taken care of, and the place was safe because you had to enter through a guarded gate to get to the grounds.

It was to turn out to be too good to be true, and circumstances did not allow our family to move into the overflow cottage. She was not at all upset when I told her we couldn’t move in after so much work had been done to the cottage. She was as gracious and concerned about my welfare as ever.

I am forever grateful for Margo's generosity. I was able to spend more time with her over the next several months, but she was to develop ovarian cancer which was a blow to all the artists, all who knew her, and of course myself. Margo though, was a fighter, She launched into an attack on the illness and we all believed she'd win, though the odds were against her. Margo was from a line of Irish immigrants who made it big because they were fighters.

Today I got word that Margo lost her battle. Last November, at a party, I walked by her and didn't recognize her at first - she was wearing a turban and was more frail than usual. But still smiling. After dinner, I gave her two t-shirts featuring the painting I did of "her girls" and then gave her a hug. The hug was a long one and I didn't let go until she let go. I knew I would not see her again after the show ended.

I am grateful and thankful for getting to be a small part of Margo’s great and wonderful life. It will forever for me be an honor and a pleasure to spend time with such a fine, refined lady.

I am sure I can speak for the artists at the Plantation Arts festival and say that she was the heart, soul and mind of it, and when she wasn’t there, we noticed it. We talked about it. Where’s Margo? How is she doing? When will she be back? We knew that she was the driving force, but we also all loved her because she was the smiling, generous, beautiful, and wonderful Margo Bindhardt.

I will not remember how frail Margo was. I will only remember the drop dead beautiful 67-year old woman and young drop-dead beautiful blond girl standing on the steps at Pebble Hill in the early 60’s. What a time that must have been.

And what a lady she was.

When is a cabinet not just a cabinet?

2009-05-08T16:23:00.001-07:00

When it's a work of art. One of the great things about carrying so many diverse kinds of sporting art is that one only needs to use the imagination to see how something might apply to a certain element in the home.

Julie Bender is a very accomplished pyrographer, but don't think that her work is only confined to a framed image on the wall. Her work can be assimilated into any kind of woodwork in the home, like the cabinets shown here. And even better, you can commission a portrait or wildlife scene - or anything - that specifically works for your decor.

To see more of her work, click here.

"Brace of Quail" by William Henry Machen

2009-04-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

This painting "Brace of Quail" is featured in the Sporting Artisans ad in the May/June issue of Sporting Classics. It is framed and was painted about 1890. For more details and information about the piece, call 231-922-2292 or email Chris at info@SportingArtisans.com. Click here to see it on the web site.

William Henry Machen (1832-1911) was a Dutch-born painter who emigrated to the US in 1947 and settled in Michigan and Ohio. He is regarded as one of Ohio's most prolific artists and excelled in landscapes, historical scenes, portraits and still life, like this piece offered here.

Introducing new National Retriever Club and National Amateur Retriever Club licensed products

2009-04-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

Colonel Littleton is one of my favorite artisans. Located in Tennessee, they are the epitome of southern hospitality and I love working with them. Of course, their products are the best in quality and craftsmanship. For those of you who compete in AKC field trials, I am proud to announce that you can get Colonel Littleton journals, portfolios, pocket books, wallets, checkbook covers and more with the embossed National Club logos.

Keep in mind that clubs can get a discount for these items if they want to give them as judges gifts.

Click here to see one of the products.

Jack

2009-03-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's always sad when one of my subjects passes on. Jack was a great Lab and gave me one of the best expressions ever. Here is his best friend's tribute:

AFC Morningside’s Smackwater Jack, MH 3xMNQ

“Jack”

October 12, 1994 – March 20, 2009

Jack was my student, my teacher, and my friend.

He was a competitor, a flyer hound, and a companion.

There was never a bird he did not want

Whether it was in the field or on the kitchen counter.

It was an honor to stand next to him at the line or lay next to him in bed.

Because of him I have gone places I never dreamed of, made friends that will last a life time, and had my soul touched by a truly remarkable animal.

Jack, you remain in our hearts forever

May all of your retrieves be marks

May all of your marks be flyers

We will miss you “Gentlemen Jack”

Until you are at our side again

Valarie and Christina

Ducks Unlimited T-Shirt Clearance

2009-03-16T15:25:00.001-07:00

The famous lab's face that launched a thousand products will soon be going out of stock. Patton t-shirts, featuring the original painting of the 2003 National Field Champion by artist Chris Chantland is now being reduced to $12 per t-shirt. Other t-shirts: "Frankly My Dear," " Home Away From Home," "Settling in," and "All Bite No Bark" are also on sale. Also, there is an $8.50 shipping and handling charge - no matter how many t-shirts you order. Click here to go the Ducks Unlimited t-shirts.

Artists For Lyn

2009-02-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

Artist Paula Waterman started a blog to help generate funds that would offset fellow artist Lyn St. Clair's treatments for breast cancer. Quite a few artists have joined in helping Lyn, and you can go to the blog to see an the work. If you are considering an original work, I encourage you to purchase a painting through the blog to help Lyn. Paula writes:

"As many of you know, our friend and amazing painter Lyn St. Clair has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She will be undergoing surgery in mid-December and then will go on to a course of chemotherapy. At this time her doctors feel she has an excellent prognosis; chemo is being recommended quite simply because she is a young patient and so this approach is believed the most wise.
Like so many artists Lyn is without health insurance. She is painting but the bills are going to be piling up as medical bills do, and so we are launching an on-line gallery to assist Lyn in her efforts to fund her medical care during this time.

The way it works is simple: The artwork posted on this site is available for sale through the artist who created it. All participating artists are pledging to donate a percentage of proceeds from any sales of these artworks. The percentage will vary with the art and artist but that percentage will be posted. The list of works will change constantly as things are sold, or added, so Please check back frequently! Please send your friends to see this site!"

Click here to go to artistsforlyn.blogspot.com

Judges Gifts and Discounts To Clubs

2009-02-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Coming soon to the web site will be a section for clubs to be able to purchase art and merchandise from Sporting Artisans for judges gifts and trophies. These items will be offered at special discounts - especially items that are ordered in quantity.

You can also call directly in the meantime to get this benefit. In some cases, Sporting Artisans will be able to donate an item or two for a raffle.

Call 231-922-2292.

Coming soon - more customization

2009-01-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

I am putting a lot of new artists and artisans into Sporting Artisans, so the entry to the blogs has been sparse lately. But now that the holidays are over - actually I am not going to be politically correct - now that Christmas is over with only 339 shopping days to go to the next one - I am happy to report that the entries to the blogs will be more frequent and more artists and artisans will be uploaded to the site soon.

Also coming soon will be a way for you to customize quite a bit of merchandise with your own images. The Patton t-shirts have always been popular, but soon you'll be able to get t-shirts and other apparel made through Sporting Artisans with your own pictures of your own dog, or kids - and sometimes the dogs and kids - are one in the same. The picture of Cooper is just a hint of what's coming - made from one of my own paintings.

Tomorrow's new artist: Melanie Fein - take a look at her etchings on the site - they are amazing.

"God's Smile"

2008-12-17T11:07:00.001-08:00

I am not much into forwarding e-mails, but received this from a friend and it's worth republishing.

The dog that launched a thousand products

2008-12-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

You could say that the 2003 National Champion Patton helped launch the Sporting Artisans web site. I moved back home two years ago, and found that I was getting quite a few orders for Patton t-shirts. I thought to myself, "Self, why not offer more products that can be customized or commissioned?" I then decided to branch out from there - got a few artists to join the site- and here's where we are today - 50 artists and growing.

This month introduces the new Patton mug. This is the same painting that Ducks Unlimited used for the t-shirts and is the painting given to Patton's owner Deb Bredeson for Patton's 2003 National Open Championship win.

You can click here to see the details.

This year, hats off to a team effort at the Plantation Arts Festival

2008-10-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Four artists who grace the pages of the Sporting Artisans web site will be featured at this year's Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival in Thomasville, GA, November 21- 23.

These four artists make up two unique teams: Cindy Lewis and Mark Holland - two of the nation's leading wood sculptors, and Wes and Rachelle Siegrist, two of the nation's premier miniature painters.

Cindy Lewis and Mark Holland's intricate wood sculptures of birds and flowers are lifelike - made all the more so because the pieces come to life as a result of their expeditions into the field. In fact, their mobility allows Cindy and Mark to create each piece in the field. A fine example of a piece features at Sporting Artisans is "Two Jewels," an original wood sculpture of a Carolina Wren and Hibiscus.

Wes and Rachelle Siegrist are a husband and wife team that started painting together in 1990. Seeing is believing, and you have to see the intricate detail and superb use of color an composition evident in paintings that measure 3 - 4 inches in length and height. Most of their subjects are wildlife, like this painting, "Cactus Camoflauge," now available at Sporting Artisans.

This year marks the thirteenth of the prestigious Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival, held every year at the Cultural Center in Thomasville, GA. Some of the country's best artists and artisans are featured here, and a myriad of supporting events, such as dog demonstrations and live animal encounters make it a perfect outing for the family and a perfect buying opportunity of all the latest works of art. For more information go to PWAF.org.

New Mugshots™ coming to Sporting Artisans

2008-10-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've been creating paintings that focus pretty closely on a dog's head or face if you will - to get the expression in the eyes and the character behind them. And each dog has a distinct personality. Getting that right is the best part of doing the painting. Those expressions can often be hilarious, as in the case of Vet, aka "Moonpie" in the "Up Yours" mug soon to debut in about a week. The lab looking skyward in the other mug is my supermodel Libby, who is a Master Hunter and lives on a plantation in south Georgia. I think I've done at least four paintings of Libby so far.

The mugs come from Mug World, and they are considered among the best. The mugs are stout, heavy and are 15 oz. Sporting Artisans will also carry many more of their line of sporting-scene mugs. The mugs will retail at $11.95 each.

If you want to see more of these "mug shots" you can click here to see my original paintings at Chris Chantland.com.

Getting started on a lighter note

2008-10-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Sporting Artisans blog. Here you will find all the latest news, events, new works of art, destinations and anything else that is directly related to the Sporting Artisans web site and the artists who grace the web site. But given the fact that this is election season and I am new to this sort of thing, I thought you might like to see this clip of one of the candidates - a year or so before the election got into high gear. Be sure to watch the whole clip - it's worth it.