Chelsea Dog Day 2024 - Live Portrait Pop Up at PAIGE
A round up of Chelsea Dog Day 2024 and things I remember from what was quite possibly the busiest day of my working life...
Third time's a charm!
After being invited back to help celebrate this incredibly dog-friendly neighbourhood for a third year running, I was blown away with how many four-legged and two-legged members of the community came out to celebrate. For an Autumn day, the weather could not have been more perfect. You genuinely could not move for Dogs!
Location, Location, Location...
Could I have dreamed a more perfect spot for myself than this? Right in Duke of York Square, with fabulous greenery, beautiful buildings, and a parade of dogs of all shapes and sizes as my view. Plus an enormous window to let in light, it was almost like working outside! It's most important that my Customers can watch their Portraits in action, but when passers-by are able to have a peek too, the more the merrier.
Something New
Each time I work with a Brand, I always like to take into consideration their general aesthetic and think about what a customer of that Brand would be interested in. For PAIGE, it was important that the artwork on offer was minimal and elegant, but with a contemporary twist. Opting for a black and white ink portrait as opposed to coloured gouache meant a more clean, classic feel, but rapid mark-making and playing with outlines gave a sketchy, fun finish. Ink and water can sometimes be tricky to work with (once the ink is down, there's no going back!) but the effects they create in real time are so fun to watch.
I developed this style especially for PAIGE, but it was so popular on the day and on my socials that I've permanently added it to my Commission Collection!
A5 'Pen + Ink' Custom Pet Portrait
For the Love of Dogs
Getting to meet my subjects in real life is the best part of the job, and I was so impressed with how well trained they were. Bruce the Cavapoo posed for photos and as always, George and Lulu were the sweetest model pups. One Toy Poodle named Reggie patiently sat on his owners lap and literally watched me paint his portrait - no pressure!
Seeing owners and their Dogs together is so lovely and hearing all the little quirks and habits that make their Pet unique is such a joy. I was very happy that so many of my customers were able to make it out and into the store - there's nothing like a full house on Pop-Up days!
Looking ahead
Planning and preparing for large-scale events like this with so much variety is a lot of work for the organisers, and I'm so grateful to them for supporting Illustrators and Small Business Owners like myself. I'm always looking to collaborate with new Brands and Retailers for Pet themed occasions, to bring a really unique and engaging activation to customers all year round. The feedback from people is incredibly positive, and live-painting definitely draws a lot of attention from passers-by! If you have a vision for a Pet Portrait installation and would like to discuss ideas, just get in touch via email or DM
Testimonials
"From the outset, the collaboration was seamless. Chloe’s communication with our marketing team was excellent, and the way she worked with us to develop the concept and fine-tune the details leading up to the event was invaluable. It was clear that she took the time to understand our brand and audience, which made the event feel perfectly aligned with our store's vibe.
On the day of the event, her set-up and display were nothing short of impressive. The space felt inviting and on-brand, with her illustrations taking center stage. Her professionalism shone through in every aspect, from setting up the event space to ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout the day.
Throughout the activation, her interactions with our staff and customers were engaging and personable. She created a warm, fun environment that made customers feel welcomed and excited about the event. Many customers were thrilled to get personalized dog portraits, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. It was clear they enjoyed the hands-on experience and loved seeing their pets brought to life in Chloe’s unique style.
Overall, the event was a huge success, and we received so many compliments on how fun and engaging it was. I have no doubt that future clients would benefit from working with Chloe, and I highly recommend her services to any brand looking for a creative and engaging activation. We look forward to working with Chloe again in the future!"
- Lindsey Owens, Marketing Director at PAIGE
