July 30, Vanjie!

And here is another sweet faced pug!

This is my friend Jay's puppy, and I'm so happy to paint a pug for our last dog! Our pug Bunny is such a joyous clown, which is exactly what we need right now, and I'm sure Miss Vanjie is the same!

Jay says her name is Vanjie, named after a sensational drag queen named Miss Vanjie. 

Thank you for taking the time to read through all these stories and see all these loved dogs~ I hope this inspires you to see your beloved ones in a new way!

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 29, Lucy!

This dog belonged to my parents' neighbors across the street, Marybeth and Jeff. They've been keeping an eye on my mom who would hate it if I told you how old she is, but I will tell you that I appreciate the neighbors keeping an eye on her in her gardens and on her yard and her garage door...  it's just comforting to know that there are people closer to her that know what's going on!

SO this is for them! And Marybeth says that Lucy was happiest if she was touching them~

Sweet!

8x10 acrylic on wood

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7-28 Leopold~

Yes, this is yet another face that I found absolutely irresistible~ I'm sure you can see why!

And here's Barbara's story about Leo!

Cute!  Little Leopold was born and raised in a puppy mill as a breeder. His estimated age when rescued 6 yrs old. After spending a short time being fostered by some wonderful friends he came to live with me in 2013. He is somewhere around age 14 now and is the King of our house hold! He is a very sweet boy and loves everyone.

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 27, Max the Wonder Dog!

And this is MAX!  A wonderful young shiny black lab! Isn't he great?  here's what Anita wrote about him!

Max is my Covid companion.  All of our lives have changed because of Covid, and Max’s life has changed, too.  Now 10 months old, Max started life going to puppy training, visiting family, meeting lots of people and dogs on walks, playing with dogs in the park.  He loved it all. Now, with social distancing, Max watches dogs and people from across the street on walks.  We are isolated at home, with few visitors, so Max has fewer opportunities to play with other people and dogs.  But Max is still my wonderful companion, still finding joy in everyday life, enjoying the garden and neighborhood in different ways, and providing an example of making the most of every day!  Max came into my life at the perfect time.

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 26th, Arwyn and Ricky

These two are another pair (dang!  I've painted more than 30 dogs already with all the double dogs this year!) that I really couldn't resist!  I mean just look at those faces~

And here is what Sandy wrote about them~

"Ricky is the Yorkshire terrier, and Arwyn is the mix- Chi-Poo-Pin. They are best pals and are very bonded.  I got Arwyn at the humane society when I went looking for a cat. I couldn't have dogs in my condo at the time so she lived her first year with my daughter. Arwyn is very sweet and loves giving people kisses.

Ricky is shy and is my right hand guy.  I think he would be lost without Arwyn. He is very sweet and loves to snuggle on my lap or anywhere near me and Arwyn."

I'd love to snuggle with these two!

6x12 acrylic on wood

$309

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July 25, Taz!

Here's another lovely black dog, with a lovely story by Heidi!

We adopted 7 year old Taz in January 2020 from Doberman Rescue Minnesota. We were told he was a casualty of a tough divorce, and that he'd been left outside in a cage in the MN winters, where he almost starved to death. He was with his foster family for almost a year, and apparently he was passed over for adoption because he was too big. (He weighed a whopping 105 when we got him - foster love!) He has visible scars on his paws and legs, but he is incredibly sweet and affectionate, and great with little kids. Given his rough start, we were really grateful that he adjusted to his new home so quickly...and now we have an 85 pound lap dog!

8x8 acrylic on wood

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7-24 Vincent and Bristow!

Okay, this one took me a bit longer to do, again. Funny how I keep talking about wanting to just paint the head because I know I can get that done in a day, and then I spend the whole day working on a double full body portrait like this one! But sheesh!  Could you resist these two?

Here's what Jeremy has to say about this pair~

We intended to get a single dog but when we arrived at the breeders we couldn’t decide between them and had to have them both. They are 13 years old this year and have rarely been apart for their entire lives. Swimming and rolling in the sand are their favorite activities. 

11x14 acrylic on wood

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July 23, Maggie!

Those eyes, again~ Usually for these projects I paint head portraits, but some photos just require to be painted!

I wasn't sure about that background, because Maggie is actually sitting on a zigzag patterned black and white rug, but I didn't want to get caught up in that.  First I painted the rug blue, but that was too close to her shiny spots, so I shifted it to magenta. I'm liking it!

And here's what Becky says about Maggie!

Maggie Mae has been the perfect addition to the Anderson household! She is a miniature Australian Shepherd, enjoys multiple walks a day, and excels in obedience training! No matter what the day brings Maggie has been our daily dose of Joy♥️

8x10 acrylic on wood

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July 22 Tate and Hillary!

It isn't often that I see a photo of two dogs that works together really well. Often, one dog or the other will be looking off in another direction or will have shut eyes or something.

THIS is a great photo!

And here's what Beth says about these two!

I definitely want these sweeties captured by you. 
The one on the left is Tate. He is a rescue. I got him when he was about 9 months. He was super shy. Now he’s kind of a knuckle head but oh so love able.
Hillary is the Diva.  She’s the queen and she bosses Tate around.  And she loves him too. 
They are both almost 4 years old. 

9x12 acrylic on wood

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July 21 Scout for Laurie!

And today's sweet pup is Scout~ such a cute face!  And here's his story from Laurie~

Scout is a rescue dog - a foster fail!  A mix of yorkie and jack russell,  he was found walking a country road in South Dakota with his traveling buddy Scamp.  Scamp found a home right away.  I took Scout  to foster.   We tried for months to find a good match for him.   He had many admirers and met a good number of people who thought he might be the one for them.    But there was always something.  He was too tiny.   He didn't like being handled.    He growled at a 5 year old boy who tried to grab him.   He was not playful enough with Carlton the Cairn.    After the 4th or 5th failed meet and greet, I took Scout back to the car and called Howard.  He knew why I was calling and just said "yes."   Scout and I sang all the way home.  Scout's been with us since 2010. 

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 20, Maggie and Charlie!

So I ended up doing another two dogs today!  This is Maggie and Charlie who live together and love one another and are just so beautiful!

I have a dog to nominate for this coming month's Pupzapalooza! My sister’s dog Maggie is a little skittish, but devoted to her. She’s a cattle dog, and ain’t she a beaut? 
 And here is Charlie, the other cattle dog, who belongs to my sister Lisa. He looks very happy in these pics. He’s a big goof.

Maggie!  8x8 acrylic on wood

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Charlie! 8x8 acrylic on wood

Spoken for!

July 19 Harvey AND Hudson!

This one took a bit longer because it's a bit bigger, but I just couldn't resist this photo of these two! Those smiles are so big! Okay, Harvey's is huge and Hudson's is a little smaller....

18x36 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

usually would be $1296,

BUT right now it's only

$700!

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July 18, Tulley~

It's hard to believe it's possible to have this many beautiful dogs in the world, but dang!  Tulley's face is one that appears recognizable, like maybe you know this dog from somewhere, and then BANG it is SO definitely this ONE SPECIFIC TULLEY.
What a great name!
Here's what Tanya sent me about Tulley~
Hi Kat!

I wanted to give you a funny little anecdote about Tulley.. Tulley was very sweet but also quite mischievous!

One evening we were preparing dinner, she hopped up and grabbed the loaf of French bread and headed for the dog door. It took her two tries to realize if she turned she could escape with her plunder! 😂❤️

8x8 acrylic on wood

Spoken For!

July 17, Phyllis~

Sometimes you get a photo that is just so intriguing, you HAVE to paint it!  Here's one of those-
and I was lucky enough to get to go paint by Minnehaha creek this morning, so I'm a little late with this one today. It's a fun challenge to try to paint what's in front of you- a little trick to get your eyes and your mind and your hand to separate a bit- to look and translate that directly into the color you stroke onto the panel~
Ah~
So, here is Phyllis!

8x8 acrylic on wood

$224

click here~

July 16, Skye!

Today's dog is another one with an incredible smile! So irresistible!
Here's what Laurie says about Skye~

Skye was rescued by RAGOM from a commercial breeder 2 years ago. She used to live in a barn, have puppies, and probably ate food right off the ground. Now she is a house dog who eats from a Dansk bowl, and sleeps on a couch or bed (her choice). She is loved by her forever family and smiles lot.

 In rescue, Skye’s foster dad introduced her to peanut butter toast. To this day, nothing excites her more than hearing the toaster click into action to prepare her favorite morning treat. Skye is sweet, beautiful, funny, smart, loving—and very loved. 

The toaster is a Magic Machine, not unlike the grill. 

8x8 acrylic on wood

spoken for!

July 15, Shiloh and the Ball

Got up a bit earlier today to get going on this one! And I had to re-set the eyes once or twice- it is really important to get them in the right place or it just doesn't feel like the same animal. That's where portraits are different from a painting of a dog. I want to make sure I'm getting the actual dog and not just any dog. I want it to look like YOUR dog!
So this is Shiloh!
I had to paint the entire dog and the ball too~ it was just so necessary to the composition.
And here's what Karyl wrote about her!

Shiloh is a rescue pup from Kentucky — she found her forever home with us six years ago. She loves the summer months because she can eat the zinnias in my garden, which are apparently delicious! We can tell Shiloh loves us and we love having her in our pack!

8x10 acrylic on wood

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July 14, Emmet

Here's another one of those ones with such a fantastic gaze! When a dog looks at you like this, you can FEEL the being-looked-at!
Here is what Kimberly says of her Emmet~

I adopted this handsome pup from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue in Nashville TN. He’s a Black Lab/ Golden Retriever mix, with a bit of mystery thrown in. (Pyr? Black bear?)  Emmett is a true gentle giant. He’s 100 pounds of love: loyal companion, goofball, wanna-be lap dog, and bed hog. He’s also a good watchdog – keeps me safe from chipmunks, squirrels, and deliveries (but would happily let a burglar in if they brought food). I feel so lucky to have him!

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 13 Aimee

I do love short-haired shiny coated dogs, don't you? Catching those little gleaming bits in paint is a joy-
This is Aimee, and here's what her owner Jill says about her!

As a German Shorthaired Pointer, Aimee was born to hunt.  For her first two years it was pheasants in Minnesota.  Then she moved to Northern California where she now runs through the Sierra Nevada mountains hunting butterflies, lizards and chipmunks.   It's different, but she is still a hunter dog.. and oh such joy!!!

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 12, Lou!

There's something about a dog's smiling face, with that relaxed mouth and direct gaze that makes me feel the world is all okay.
This is Lou!

Lou belongs to Lindsey & Isaiah Love.

And, he’s a true Love, too.

Tender, gentle, sensitive, loyal, wise, regal.

Lou loves jumping in the lake.

He loves going to Canada when his family fishes.

He loves hearing the word “walk” so much that 

now it needs to be spelled out.

He loves Grandma.

He loves the stuffed polar bear she gave him.

He loves french fries. 

He lives in fear of Bernice, the family cat.

Lou is a K-9 Mpls rescue.

He was found abandoned in Jasper, Alabama. 

8x8 acrylic on wood

$224

Click HERE!

July 11, Ruby Dee with Dandelion Crown

This one was so fun to paint! Dang- those eyes- I'm enjoying just looking at it sitting here in front of me-  that Ruby must have been an incredible creature! Her owner  has this to say about Ruby~

"I lost my heart to Ruby Dee the moment I met her, but over the years it became clear we may have just been the same person in 2 different bodies. Every pet is unique and beloved in so many ways, but in a lifetime one or two come along that are so perfectly fitted to be yours it seems like proof of a benevolent universe. Ruby Dee greeted each morning with a pure joy that inspired me."

10x10 acrylic on wood

spoken for~

July 10, Jasper for Jodi!

My cousin lives in Seattle with her family, and we've been lucky enough to get to travel to visit frequently. I love that she and her family love dogs just as much as my family, and when we were kids I loved her family dogs as much as mine.
So this is Jasper!

8x8 acrylic on wood

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July 9th, Lila!

This is Lila, she is a sweet dog that my friend Lucy gets to dog sit for occasionally, and because Lucy loves her, she wanted me to paint her for her. So here is Lila!

12x12 acrylic on wood

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7-8 Boss!

This one is for Valerie, my newest sister-in-law!  What an amazing head this sweet beastie has- and he was SO much fun to paint!  another one of those "noses-in-the-camera-lens" shots~ and such a fun angle with such a great look in his eye, and really wonderful negative spaces all around!

9x12 acrylic on wood

$351

click here~

7-7 Lucy!

I love the name Lucy! Such great personalities seem to go with it, including those 4 legged versions!  And the added plus is that THIS Lucy is a beautiful shiny black dog! I LOOOVE painting black dogs!  Have I mentioned that before?
Here's what Grace says about her!
"Lucy (my black dog) is five years old and loves to be with her people, especially her human kids."

8x8 acrylic on wood

$224 including tax and shipping!

click here~

7-6 Becky's Sweet Dog!

This is my cousin Becky's dog, and I know there's lots of photos out there of the close up dog's nose variety, but I loved the eyes on this one too!
So big and brown, and open, and trusting, and in the NOW that we all need.
Yup.
Need some dog energy most of these days!

8x8 acrylic on wood

$224 inc tax! Free Shipping!

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7-5 Moxie~

This is one of those faces that just makes you smile when you look at it. Aren't these the kindest eyes?
This is Moxie~
And this is what her owners wrote about her~

Moxie loved her people - including her family’s friends and neighbors. Affectionate and devoted, she brought comfort, joy and love to all who knew her. We no longer feel her sleeping at our feet, but she will live forever in our hearts.

8x8 acrylic on wood

spoken for~

7-4 Peabody!

I love this one!  Peabody seems to be a rather All-American Dog to me, hanging on the beach, waiting eagerly and attentively for you to throw that ball into the lake for the hundredth time, please!
I'm hoping you are able to have some fun by some water today, especially if you are in Minnesota where it is pretty darn hot and muggy.  We'll be spending time in our little backyard pool today for sure, and maybe in the sprinkler too!
Happy Fourth of July!  May you have a safe and healthy one, and all your family too!
XOXO

10x10 acrylic on wood

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7-3 Monkey!

So we never meant to fall in love with a pug, but we have our own Bunny, and our friends have a sweet pug named Pig, and as my son Max says, this is the 3rd Animal Pug, Monkey!  Isn't she the cutest?!
I'm really pleased with the reflections in her eyes, and the green...

8x8 acrylic on wood

$224

click here!

7-2 Mojo~

My friend Julie sent me some photos of her brother's dog, Mojo and she has some sweet things to say about Mo!
"She is so gentle and loving, loyal beyond belief, and she keeps his heart full of hope and purpose.

If you could paint the one where she's riding in the boat with my brother that would be heavenly, since that is my dad's old boat and it is the place where my brother is his happiest, especially if Mo is fishin' with him.
Mojo waits and watches and is always wherever Brian is."

8x10 acrylic on canvas

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7/1 Eloise is the first dog!

I could NOT resist this one!  And I don'f often paint white dogs so I thought this would be a good challenge-
Isn't she cute?!
And here is what Mary, her owner, says about her~
Eloise came to us on June 28, 2019 at 22 weeks.  This photo was taken by my sister that first night. We were still sad from losing our 14 year old golden doodle, Lulu, only a month previous when we found Eloise.  She is the sweetest puppy! We couldn't love her more and she has healed our broken hearts. 

8x8 acrylic on wood

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