Art Book 2012

Currently we're in the planning stages for the 2012 Retired from Racing not from Life Art Book.  

The deadline for art is April 30, 2012.  There's lots of time to think about what you would like to submit & be creative! 

The project specs are as follows:

Copyright of your images remains with you.  Artwork will not be used in any way without your permission (a consent form will be sent to you by email).  

There is no cost to participate.  

You can submit up to two images of your own original artwork (one will be chosen for the book).  

With each submission, please include:

• your name - as you want it printed in the book, 
• your website, blog, facebook address (it is not mandatory that you have one of the previously mentioned) and 
• the title of your art.   

Art must be high resolution -  at least 300 dpi. 

What's new for 2012:

• electronic version of the book will be available in addition to the hard copy.

• the Blurb for Good program has been discontinued by the publisher, but payments will still be sent to OSU's Greyhound Health & Wellness Program.

• due to time constraints we will not be asking for the "story behind the picture" or bios.

• we will be accepting art work featuring Greyhounds or their Sighthound cousins.

2012 Art Book

We will be publishing the Retired from Racing not from Life Art Book again this year.

Details on how you can submit art will be available on January 31, 2012.

A Great Way to End the Year

Life with Dogs is hosting a Retired from Racing, not from Life Art Book Giveaway

How to Enter

Please visit the Giveaway section of Life with Dogs.  There will be three giveaway winners & each will receive a softcover copy of  Retired from Racing, not from Life by mail. As always, only those on the Life with Dogs e-mail list are eligible to enter. 

Winners, will receive e-mail notification from Life with Dogs.  Entries will be accepted through midnight January 1st.  This contest is open to readers worldwide.

Best of Luck & Happy New Year!

Like Me - A Holiday Give Away

From December 11th until December 17th, you have a chance to win a beautiful Northcoast Greyhounds Pendant and a Retired from Racing, not from Life Art Book combo.  

The 3.75" pendant features Northcoast's 8Ball in sterling silver, and a feather bead which ties in 

Kellie Oliphant-Burns' story behind her painting, Freedom which was chosen for our cover art.  

How do you enter the contest?  It's as simple as Liking us on Facebook.  If you've already joined our Facebook Page, refer a friend.  

The draw will take place on December 18th.

Isn't That Special?

Special Edition Retired from Racing, not from Life Art Book goes on sale tonight.

Available for a limited time only.

Use code BIGTEN at checkout and get $10.00 off.

Miss Nellie Auction

We're excited to say that we are taking part in the Miss Nellie Auction this year.

One of our Art Books has been donated and we're paying the shipping for the winning bidder.

The Miss Nellie Auction proceeds benefit the Greyhound Health & Wellness Program.

Grey't opportunity to support a wonderful cause, and dare we say it...start some Christmas shopping (please don't send us hate mail ;)  Lots of awesome goodies available for people and hounds.

The auction closes on October 31, 2011.  

100

Help us to reach a milestone!

Currently, our sales are stuck at 96 books.

Don't get us wrong, that's a lot of books sold in a little over a month.  Especially for a small, young group that has just started fundraising.

But our goal is a nice even 100.  That would mean OSUs Greyhound Health & Wellness Program will receive $500.00.

Greyhound Health & Wellness Program Brochure

Part of our mission at True North Greyhounds is not just to raise funds for the Greyhound Health & Wellness Program, we also advocate the importance of the Program.

So we thought that we would let you know that the Greyhound Health & Wellness Program has a new brochure.

It does a great job of summing up the valuable work that they do in the Greyhound community. You can find two versions of it on the News & Announcement section of their website.

Take a look when you get a chance.

Poster Dog (or Plan B)

OK.  So Plan A fell apart.  Our printers weren't able to have our promo items printed and shipped in time for all of the fall get togethers.  After a mini-heart attack, it's on to Plan B.  A DIY poster.  The version below shows Suzie Collins' Tripod Tranquility.  Tripod is an original art piece created especially for our Art Book Project.  Many of you might know Suzie from her decal and magnet shop, Skinny Hound Designs.  Suzie is also the creative mind behind the OSU Greyhound Health & Wellness Program's logo.

Several of the posters have been shipped out for Greyhounds Reach the Beach in Delaware (we'll get there some year - it's on the bucket list), and also for the GHWP.   

If you would like some for your next Greyhound get-together or to display at local businesses, let us know.  The flyers are 8.5" x 11" and available in two versions*:

• Suzie's Tripod or 
• Kellie's Oliphant-Burns' Freedom, which is on our Art Book cover.

Thanks again to these two talented ladies for allowing us to show off your creative genius!

*If you are a contributor to our project, we are also able to create a personalized version for you. 

Faux Pas

...in English, that's a plain old, "Oops!"


Despite our best efforts, we made a mistake in the Art Book.


Our sincere apologies to Jennifer Bachelor of Never Say Never Greyhounds.  The text for pictures of Travis & Riley was omitted.  Jennifer works hard as a trainer and we feel horrible that her talented hounds were not given the credit that they deserve.


We have released a 2nd Edition of the Retired from Racing, not from Life Art Book which includes the text for pictures Travis Tunnel and Riley Weaves.

The photo of Travis by In Motion Photos should have had the following text:

Travis became the #1 Greyhound in AKC Agility of all time.  Even 3 years after his passing, he still holds that title. 

The accompanying text for Riley's pic by In Motion Photos is as follows:

Riley competes in agility and obedience.  She is a rising star that shows a lot of promise.

Once again, our sincere apologies to Jennifer and her Greyhounds.

Layers, and Flattening, and CMYB. Oh My!

We're currently working on the promo item and press release for the Art Book.  And it's quickly turning into an Arrrrrrrrt Book.  Computers can be a wonderful addition to our world. In other instances, they can be so frustrating.  Photoshop is out to get us.

The draft for the promo was sent in yesterday.  The printer got back to me today with a list of requests.  We're kind of feeling like a greyhound with space aggression right now.  Fingers crossed.  Everything will be done in time for Dewey and all of the Autumn greyhound get-togethers.  

Wish us luck!  

Happy Sweet 16 Lilac!

The True North Greyhounds Pay It Forward Auction this month honours Lilac of Tales and Tails blog fame (http://talesandtails.com).  This special hound is 16 years young this month. As a birthday gift, we're offering a beautiful pendant from Northcoast Greyhounds.  This Boulder Opal pendant features their ever popular sleeping 8-Ball greyhound in sterling silver.  It measures 0.5" wide x 1.75" long.

The proceeds from the auction will go to Lilac for redistribution to her favourite charity.

The pendant is item #150661332090 on ebay.

GHWP Site Updated

The News & Announcements section of the Ohio State Greyhound Health & Wellness Program website has been updated to reflect the release of our book.

Visit their site by clicking here and have a peak!

Hot off the Press

The Art Book is Finally Ready!

What does the book look like?

The art book is 80 pages & features art & photographs from 50 contributors.
  
The finished size is 7"x7" in either soft or hard cover.

How can we order the book?

Click on the book preview on the top right.


How much will it cost?

Soft cover is $22.95 US


Hard cover (with dust jacket) is $35.95 US

Look What We've Got!

Neener.  Neener.

Our Fresh Eyes Editor picked up the draft today to have a look-see.  It's always good to have another person's opinion.  At this point, I'm being impossibly fussy about things that nobody else will care about.  I've also been involved with the project so long that I could be missing something obvious too.

Soon it will be ready.  I promise.

Never Too Busy

Many of our Contributors have a day job other than Artist or Photographer.

Some of our Contributors make a living by being an Artist or Photographer.

Each of them has a limited number of hours in the day.

All of them have taken the time out of their busy schedule to give back to the greyhound community.  

We acknowledge that they all have family, work & hobbies to balance, and a never ending stream of requests.

We can never express how grateful we are.

Thank you for participating in our Art Book Project.

Proof Copy is on its Way!

I got confirmation that the Art Book proof has been printed and shipped.  Cross your fingers & paws.  It should be here early next week.

Photo Finish

The proof copy has been ordered.  Yippee!

Now the waiting begins.  I'll have a path worn to the mailbox by the time that it arrives.

Over the next few days, each of the contributors will receive an email or two from me.

I'll be sending out a release form so that you can verify all of your info.

This is the last chance that we'll have to do this before the draft copy arrives and I make the final changes.


Is the book here yet?

The Homestretch

Yay!

We are rounding the bend.

The final text went in tonight.  This weekend, the final edit will be done and the proof copy will be ordered on Monday.  What does all of this mean?  The book will be ready to go on sale by the end of the month.  This is where you all come into play.

Get your keyboards warmed up.  We need to promote this thing!

All Dogs Go To Heaven

We are taking a break this week.  One of our hounds passed away this weekend, and it's a little difficult to concentrate.  This is the third grey we've lost in a little over a year.  Our remaining boy was diagnosed with bone cancer early this spring.  

Needless to say, the creativity level just isn't where it needs to be - the brain & heart are split between sadness over the hounds that are gone & worry over the one that is still with us.

The date to release the art book has been moved from August 15th to August 30th.

Nearly all of the photos are in.  Just waiting for some high res versions of a few.  Most of the text is complete as well.  

Hoping to have more updates for you early next week.

Give all of your hounds an extra hug from us!