ATLANTA -- Monday was a huge night for metro Atlanta theater, as the winners of the 2012 Suzi Bass Awards were announced at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in DeKalb County.

Some of the area's most talented actors, directors and techies walked away with Suzis, which are among the top honors for Atlanta theater productions.

RELATED | 2012 Suzi Award nominees announced

The award for Outstanding Production of a Musical went to the Actor's Express staging of Spring Awakening, while Theatrical Outfit's Red won Outstanding Production of a Play.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- "I've done everything from sales to marketing, accounting," said Emily Griffith. But one day nine years ago, long after most people have chosen their life's path, Griffith found a new one.

"I was early in my 40's, and I had no idea I knew how to paint," she said.

Turns out Griffith was a natural, and even though she calls a first painting of her dog primitive, it's still better than most people could ever do.

"The more you paint, the more your eye gets trained," she said humbly.

Almost 1,000 paintings later, Griffith is a renowned painter -- of pets.

"That's what I'm known for is capturing the dog's personality," she said.

Especially when that dog is the dawg -- Ugga. Griffith has painted Uggas 7, 8 and 9.

She also painted actress Tori Spelling's dog, who died.

And she's painted hundreds of not so famous pets, no less adored by their owners.

Atlanta resident and New York Times Best selling author, Emily Giffin stopped by our Get Connected Studios to talk about her new book, "Where We Belong", how and why she writes and more! Find out what she hates!  Meet Emily at her book signing in Buckhead July 27th. Get details at www.emilygiffin.com/calendar.php