Friday night I attended the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) annual awards dinner. I was there to root for my many friends in the design community, particularly Gus Hinojosa and his team at Hinojosa Architecture & Interiors. They won top prize in the Design Excellence Award Institutional and Educational Category for the new SPCA of Texas facility. From first-hand experience, I can tell you it’s a beautiful building with an interior design that invites people and animals.
Hinojosa Architecture & Interiors | Dallas, Texas
Winner of 2012 IIDA Design Excellence Award
SCPA of Texas | Dallas
This building and the good works done at the SPCA and Dallas Animal Services (both on N. Westmoreland Road off I-30) inspired me to adopt (rescue) two kittens last week from the shelter. Here are the new furry additions to my home. Welcome “Midnight” and “Reuben.”
“Midnight” | The black short-haired cat is a very lively spirit. He thinks my house is an Indy 500 race track.
“Reuben” | Ruddy short-haired cat. With a more reserved personality, Reuben hid in a clothes closet for two days.
And, there was another animal-related activity this week. My website was revised to include examples of the animal paintings I have done over the years. Click here for the new gallery tab.
Many of these paintings were commissioned.
The English Bulldog, “Lola,” was a surprise gift from a husband to his wife to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. And, “Lily,” a St. Bernard, was a “just because I love you gift” from another husband to his wife.
English Bulldog “Lola” | acrylic on panel | 24” x 13-1/2” Private commission | Tampa, Florida
Artist: Meg Fitzpatrick
St. Bernard “Lily” | acrylic on canvas | 20” x 24”
Private commission | Sarasota, Florida
Artist: Meg Fitzpatrick
After I had finished another St. Bernard portrait, commissioned by a Massachusetts couple, I painted “Doggie Day Care” (see below) for the fun of it. The owners told me where they boarded their dog during the day while they were at work. The place took only Black Labs, Bernese Mountain Dogs and St. Bernards. Intrigued with camera in-hand, I visited the daycare center. The source image for the painting below is a small section of one photo, tightly cropped because I liked the composition and how the dogs formed a carnival conga line and smiled at me.
“Doggie Day Care” | acrylic on canvas | 44” x 44”
Available (price on request)
Artist: Meg Fitzpatrick
Until next week, enjoy your animals, families, friends and the Olympics Closing Ceremony tonight.
Meg
megfitzpatrick 
Midnight and Reuben are beautiful (and very photogenic) and will no doubt inspire even more paintings. Midnight looks like a relative of our wonderful black cat, Wizard. Enjoy! Stephanie
Meg, I love your new kitties!!! How sweet!!! I’m partial to the orange tabby. . . reminds me of my “Rosie” before she went to pet heaven. And you know that I’m excited that you brought forth the animal paintings! Great job!!
YOU are so talented and obviously a great Mom to your new family additions!
Meg, congratulations on your new additions to your family! I enjoyed seeing
their pictures and learning about their personalities. I scrolled down looking for the Chihuly post and was struck by the size and quality of the entire body of work. Wow! I appreciate the contribution you have made to my life, expanding my horizons in bite-size, digestible chunks. It
is amazing when I see it all together. Thank you, Meg!
Thanks Connie…glad your daughters and you are finding local art happenings that interest you.