July 12, Molly the Reading Dog!

I gotta tell ya, this was one of those wonderful, serendipitous experiences that you SO appreciate!  I meant to paint Molly the Vizsla at Lake Hiawatha so that Molly and Connie (her owner) could come watch, but it was so humid and buggy and the marathon was on, and I thought it might be easier to go to Molly and Connie instead, so Connie agreed and invited me out to their "Estate" in Shakopee!  AND I was fed an amazing lunch after I finished painting Molly, and got to meet Franklin the sheltie as well, who is also a Reading Dog- here is the link to READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) and I am NOW all super excited about this and want to get Gus and Teddy trained into doing this!  When you click on the link, Molly is the top photo and Franklin is the bottom one!

And I learned to much about how the opportunities for dogs and their owners to work with others in a volunteer service situation, I am wanting to get started with my dogs!   All dogs need a job!  So do humans-  we feel so good when we are of use to someone!
Here is Molly's Library Dog story- with a little excerpt so you know why you should read it all!
""One day a boy in first grade came to read to Molly. His father whispered to Connie that his son was having trouble reading and that he did not like it too much. Then the boy proceeded to read three books to Molly!  This boy was pleased with his reading and did not stumble on words as he read aloud. Molly laid her head on his lap as he petted her and read. The boy said he would practice so he can read to Molly again! This is just one of numerous examples of how children enjoy reading to Molly and why Connie finds it so rewarding.

I had SUCH a great time!
Here's some photos Connie took of the process, and a link to more!

July 11, Buddy

Today's dog is surprisingly similar to last night's dog, probably some of the same wolf genes...  and those EYEBROWS!!!!!
This is Buddy!  Painted at the Black Dog Cafe this rainy morning, with a lovely audience!

And here is what Buddy's loving family has to say about him-  I LOVE this story!

Their poster read, "Please give our dog a home. He's Free!" A friendly little mutt danced around their feet, greeting everyone that entered the St Paul Farmers Market in Lowertown. This young family had fallen on hard times and the responsibility of a pet was too much. They were honest, explaining he'd bitten once and so a shelter would have to put him down. Buddy has been with DeAnne for 10 years now and he's never bitten anyone. He's a social butterfly with both dogs and people. He has a mane like a Carin terrier, body like a pug, snout like a chihuahua, a black wart on his nose and a wayward tooth. When folks ask, "What kind of dog is that"?, DeAnne says, "He's a Wart Hog Terrier"and they are always satisfied with the answer.

July 10, SALAAMA!!!!

Ha!!!! I DID it!  I painted this one TODAY!!! Whew~!  and I bet everyone is off-line now and going to bed and has no idea I've accomplished this incredible task, after four solid days of family fun and mosquitos and a stunning eight hour drive home with a rather patient and exhausted five year old watching Dora the explorer in the backseat... I know, I am rambling, but it is 9:30 and I've completed SALAAMA!  Who belongs to my sister, who lives in Miami and was along on this marvelous and fun-packed family trip and so who would have understood if I'd stalled out and crashed and not painted this dog today.

But I had to, because I said I would.
Salaama has the most marvelous long tufty eyebrows and ears, and last night we had another eyebrowy dog visiting who I may have to paint as well!  Or is is whom?  Dang, I'm tired.~
Here is Salaama!  I can't remember exactly what her name means.... maybe you know...
Oh and I am painting Buddy tomorrow at the Black Dog Cafe in Lowertown at 9 am!
Come watch!

8x8 acrylic on panel!  $160 click here to buy!

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July 9, Sandy!

Wow!  Sorry about the delay on this one!  I started it this morning but had a LOT of distractions and wasn't happy with it until now, and I still see some issues I have with it, so there will probably be a bit more done to it later...
Anyway, THIS is SANDY!

THIS is the redo-  I just couldn't live with the painting below!  Everything is just OFF!  So I repainted Sandy...  hope she likes it!

And this is by Sandy's owner... LOVE this story!

When I first looked for a Pug I found a breeder that was earnestly contributing to the breed (Hill Country Pugs) and asked if they had older dogs available. They thought I would be a good fit for a 4 year old, recently retired brood bitch named Precious. When we met she ran across the room and jumped in my arms! Mutual adoration describes our relationship although she was really mad at me when, two months later, I brought home her 9 week old granddaughter Bug lol. My husband was ok with the Pugs but just couldn't handle the name Precious hahaha. We settled on Sandy, short for Sandbag. :) She is a sweet dog, loves children even though she was never around them until my grand kids came along. She's not the most obedient dog ever but her comic character wins every heart. We love our Sandy Girl.

July 8th, Bailey

Here is today's dog, Bailey!  We got here last night, all my family, camping in the wonderful cool damp woods of Northern Mn, trying to figure out how to put up a rented pop-up camper... you know how many opinions an entire group of people can have about how to do something...  we still managed to figure it out!  With only googled directions!  Yay!
And this is an adorable dog with excellent lighting!  Her story is below, along with a photo of me painting her at the damp picnic table~

 Bailey, a Rat Terrier/Chihuahua,  was relinquished to the Humane Society by his first owner before he was a year old.  His posting on Petfinder was up for months and months.  We had a Chihuahua who was getting fat and lazy because we didn't get out to exercise him, so we adopted Bailey as a companion dog.  

To say Bailey had issues would be mild.  He was terrified of men.  He had no idea how to interact with other dogs, and responded inappropriately to their normal social cues.  He was a Mini-Cujo-Terror Dog any time we took him out in public.  
Fast forward a few years, we moved to Phoenix and discovered Dog Agility.  Bailey, now 11, is an AKC Canine Good Citizen who loves agility.  This year he will be competing at the DOCNA Nationals. He was my entry dog into the world of dog training, and I've learned bunches about both dog behavior and people in my years as an assistant trainer.  

Our journey together as been a great experience for both of us!

Me painting at the picnic table with my damp family!

July 7, Annie

And here is Annie!  For Barbara's birthday!
I think she looks like a fascinating personality-  we'll get the story later from Barbara!  I had to do this one early as I am heading north for a few days...  I like to get my work done in the morning so anything else I get to do is icing on the cake!
Wahoo!

I LOVE that shiny, shiny coat!

July 6, Oban!

Today's lovely little spunky pup met me at the Citizen for breakfast this morning!  And despite it sprinkling and the waitress claiming that they don't serve out on the patio when it is raining, she did!  Yum!

This is my re-do of Oban!  I like it MUCH better!  What do you think?

this is the first version....

And here is what Oban's owner, Kathryn, says about him!

Oban is a little different from our other cairns, more laid back (well, just laid back "for a terrier"),  Also, he is the first cairn we have ever owned that tolerates other dogs.  He is really affectionate and he is a mama's boy all the way.

Oban's official AKC name is SnowedOn's Oban Scotch Whisky.  DH told me, before we ever got him, that our next cairn would be named "Oban," after the scotch -- of which he is an enthusiast -- and the seaport in western Scotland that we visited in 2012. Cairns are from that area of Scotland originally, and he thought Oban seemed an original and appropriately Scottish name. 

I was afraid I would call him Obe Wan Kenobe -- but I don't.  I call him Obs or Munch (short for "Munchkin") instead.  But I am threatening to call our next cairn Laphroaig, the name of yet another single malt scotch (really - just joking).

Oban is a smart and sweet little dog with a big personality and even bigger energy. I love him dearly.

July 5, Bailey!

And here is Bailey, who I painted while sitting in front of the Mayday Cafe!  Thank you Ramone for giving me your table, and thanks to Mike and Chuck who sat and chatted with me while I painted, and thank you to Amy W for being there because I don't see enough of you!
Shelley, here is your dog!

And I can't find what Shelley wrote about Bailey, but I know she is an older dog that was found in their neighborhood (Powderhorn, Minneapolis) and that there are already cats and a pug and kids in the household and that Bailey fit in really well and the family decided to keep her!

Lucky me to have a black dog to paint!

July 4th! Victor! Happy Fourth of July!

And this is Victor!  I wanted to paint him on the Fourth of July because I loved his story!  He's such a great intent active happy fella!
And I've also made a video of me painting him this morning...  you'll get a glimpse of Max's head, Fatoush the cat, Gus and Teddy our dogs, and I use Queen's "Keep Yourself Alive" as the soundtrack...  click the link to see!

Here is Victor's story, by his loving, patient and understanding owner, Eve!

Vic’s foster name was Lucky which is fitting as he is a very lucky dog. This thin and sad looking puppy appeared on our block in the Victory neighborhood and kept the neighbors on the north end of the block awake at night with his howling. He was very skittish and would not let anyone get close to him. When we were finally able to capture him I took him in as a ‘foster’ for a rescue organization since he had no collar, tags or microchip but after a short period ended up adopting him. He was named Vic in honor of the neighborhood that helped him find a home. Two years later he is a happy active dog and we are both lucky that he chose to make our block his permanent home.

Okay!  It worked!

July 3, Griffon

This is Griffon!

And this is what his owner, Libby, says about him~

Griffon was described as a pug mix at a pet shop in Encino, CA.  Huh?  He was definitely a terrier type with rough fur, kind of like a small Airedale, with velvety droop ears...the best dog I ever had.  He was a good friend to seven other mixed-breed dogs that we adopted over the years while living in the woods of Oregon.  Griffon lived to be 16 years old. 

July 2, "Bonsai!"

I LOVE this dog!  This is one of those faces I just HAD to paint!  I mean, LOOK at him!!!!

8x8 acrylic on panel, $160 click here to purchase!

About Bonsai:

He is a 9.5 year old Lhasa Poo from Las Vegas who hates hot weather! He was on sale because he was the runt of the litter. He is a great swimmer. He will jump in to get any stick he sees. Once he spent nearly a half hour trying to drag a dead tree in from the lake (keep in mind he is only 16 pounds). Also, he might think he is a duck. He has very human like expressions. He will smile and show his teeth just like you and I. He is obsessed with wearing costumes. He was the pope for the month of October. He gets very excited about his costumes. The first command he learned was "nap time" and he can easily sleep in till noon on a Sunday.  Oh and he snores. He was named Bonsai because he was an absolutely crazy, insane puppy. Someone said he was like a kamikaze pilot and then we drove past a Bonsai tree. We took it as a sign. 

Thanks so much Erica!  Anyone remember the movie, "Buckaroo Bonsai"?

July 1st, DAISY! The FIRST DOG!

Yay!  Of course, we overslept this morning and I woke at 7:45 with a yelp of "I have to get to the Riverview by 8!" because this is my first dog of the 30 dogs and because I wanted to start off with a public painting!  And I was worried that I would have people sitting here waiting for me because they read about it!  And so I got here by 8, and have painted the lovely, sweet, squichy faced Daisy!  Wahoo!  And the skies look like they will be dropping some rain on us soon, so I am packing up to head in and may do some touching up of Daisy once I get home, but I am pretty happy with her!  Yay!  So tomorrow is Bonsai!  I love that name!  I need to get Bonsai's owner to send me a story!
Here is what I know of Daisy, who's owner is Dan the Accordian Player who happens to have a studio in the same building as Diamond's Coffee Shoppe over Northeast and I keep seeing him and Daisy and since that's where the 30 Dogs will all be hanging in August, I decided Daisy MUST be painted!  And here she is!

8x8 Acrylic on panel! 

June 30th, the OFFICIAL LIST and "Sunny Smile"!

Hi kids! YES it is time to post the LIST!!!!
Sorry it is so late in the day!  Man!  I went to get my Driver's License renewed this morning and that turned into an adventure! and of course I had to go through all the e-mails and facebook notes and photos I've gotten over the past few weeks and make the final selections!  If you feel you were missed on this list or you MEANT to commission your dog to be done and forgot, please let me know!  And we'll see what we can do!

Scroll down for today's DOG painting and auction!

It is my intent and challenge to make sure I paint each dog on the day I have it listed and that's part of your fun of watching to make sure I do, though please forgive me if I do miss a day, though that hasn't happened yet... and to make sure you don't miss any, please subscribe to this blog if you haven't already!

Also, I would like to try painting in public, and so I am listing some of the dates with a time and a coffee shop or park that I intend to be at while I am painting so you can come and watch me!  If you have any ideas, let me know~  I'd like to support local businesses.. oo I have to do the Citizen Cafe too!  Hmmm....

AND if you ARE one of the lucky owners, please do check in with me with any questions!  I meant to send out a pre-list before now but wowbangers life sure gets in the way!
SO without further ado, 
HERE IS THE LIST!

1- Daisy- Dan the Accordian Player  8am Riverview Cafe!

2- Bonsai- Erica W

3- Griffon- Libby H 

4-  Victor- Eve S 

5- Bailey- Shelly C  7:30 am Mayday Cafe

6- Oban- Kathryn R

7- Annie- Barbara BK

8- Bailey- Jenn W

9- Sandy the Pug-  Susan B

10-Salaama- Kelli C  7:30 am Grand Marais Campground! In the pavilion with the hanging stove!

11- Buddy- Deanna P

12- Molly the Library Dog- Connie P -11 am Lake Hiawatha by the playground if weather permits!

13- Max- Cheryl H

14- Trixie! - Abbie K

15- Brody- Michael O-C  9 am Somewhere Northeast-ish...

16- Sadie- Dianne H  Plazza on the Mall, Nicollet and 13th Downtown MPLS!

17- Ringo- Nelli J

18- Ruby- Andrea S  11am at Psycho Suszies

19- Shiloh/ Matt- Jolene B

20- Morning Star- Rita and Don

21- Harley- Lori M

22- Mercury &/or Rusty- Brian F  9am Diamond's Coffee Shoppe

23- Zephyr- Ellen S

24-Josie- Toni C

25-Asha- Samantha B  

26- Lovely Luna- Jenn N

27- PG- Joyce M

28- Abby- Lynda F

29-Shiloh- Lorraine I

30-MYSTERY GUEST!   Plazza on the Mall, Nicollet and 13th, Downtown Mpls!

Hee!

6x6 acrylic on panel, click here to BID or BUY!  Auction starts at $35!

June 29, "Red Leash"

Hi all!  Here is a pretty little sorta practice pup to stoke you up!  I don't know her name-  took the photo back around 2009 at one of the first LOLA's at Fireroast Mountain, so if you are in South Minneapolis and recognize her, tell her owner and she can bid on it too!

I am pretty darn happy with this as a start, since I am having such a darn hard time with the people!!!!

6x6 acrylic on panel with UV varnish and hanging system, bid now for $35 or BUY for $75!

June 29, Max and Gus!

Alright, this is one I started at the Art Colony last week and I've been working on it.  I'll post another smaller for sale piece later today but just wanted to throw this one out there because I like it!

Though I am still working on both their faces... Gus looks a little cross-eyed, and Max has better skin tone than originally but still has a funny twist on his face.  It is amazing how looking at them smaller can really help see the issues!
I'll be posting the Official Final LIST tomorrow!!!!!  Wahoo!!!!

June 27th, "Second Street, Grand Marais"

Wow!
Internet connection was tricky up north this past week!  And yesterday was my birthday too, and we were driving for a lot of it~  so sorry!  No posts!
Now, this was painted this morning, with Maxie helping out and painting his own paintings of komodo dragons and mixing all my paints up so I had no yellow by the end, but he was making these glorious pinks and I then saw that the path through the woods was really pink too!
So here is the secret path in Grand Marais, Second street, becomes a footpath for a couple of blocks and it is the quickest way to get to the Art Colony from Lund's cabins where we were staying!

6x6 acrylic on panel, click here to bid starting at $35!

June 24th, THIS time, the turtle!

Sorry-  not great internet up here, go figure!  This is the turtle I meant to share with that last post, and since I missed yesterday I figured what the heck?  I can post twice today!
This is one of the red-ear sliders from the Mn Zoo~  a bit trickier pose than I'd anticipated....

6x6 acrylic on panel, 

starting bid of $25, click here to get in on the auction! OR to buy right NOW at $65!

And this is Teddy again.  Dang that fluff!  WHY, oh why did we get a beige, fluffy dog instead of a nice shiny tight skinned black one that would be SO much more fun to paint?!?!  Ack.  I see SO many problems with this painting.  It may get gessoed over today.

June 24th, "'Nother Terrapin"

I was absolutely exhausted yesterday.  I've been painting a lot, it's true, and trying to push my understanding of the human mystery...  so frustrating and kinda fun too!  I am also planning on teaching a class up here next summer, at the Art Colony, which has been one of those personal dreams of mine... ain't that funny!
So I've been struggling with humans, Max mostly, and here is him with Fatouch- and another one I'm working on of Max and Duane looking at Frank's little stream at his and Monica's house in Key Largo two years ago when Maxie was still in diapers!

June 22, Teddy Fluff

I have been really pushing myself these past couple days... being in Grand Marais seems to do that.  I want to figure out how to paint people, and I want to push myself to become a better painter, and I know it comes down to practice and experimenting and being willing to be a newbie at something.  You can never know it all.  Anyone who says they're an expert is lying.  You can be extremely knowledgeable about something and even have a degree (or a PHD) in it but it is impossible to know everything about it especially in a subject as personal and fraught with emotion as art.
And I like to paint dogs.  I think I know how to paint dogs.  But I have a really hard time painting my own damn dog.
Here's Teddy.

6x6 acrylic on panel, auction here, starting bids at $25~

My other really hard subject is my muse of a son.  He's just too damn adorable.  So I have to paint him.  What am I suppose to do?

I have to admit I like this one.

June 21, "Duluth Terrapin"

So we stopped at the Duluth Aquarium on our way up yesterday because I wanted to see the otters, but I don't think it's the best place to see them unfortunately...  however there are some other pretty darn cool creatures there!  I am up in Grand Marais at the Art Colony painting with Liz Sivertson and am looking through my images for inspiration. Tricky.  I painted a couple otters today, starting with this turtle and a Max.  I really do want to get better at people.  We are tricky subjects...  Max took this photo of himself with my i-phone on the ride up-  I was letting him play some games on it because he'd been mostly good and this series of selfies was a little surprise for me!  Ain't he sweet?  So the perspective is a bit scewed but I like the gaze... I'll try more later, with a blue/green ground.  And it is funny how the beginning of a class can still set me on edge and make me feel like I don't know what I'm doing, which I suppose is the point in trying to learn... make yourself a little bit uncomfortable and you'll step out of your habits...
Anyway, a turtle~

6x6 acrylic on panel, auction starts at $25, click here to bid!

Maxie Selfie 1

June 19th, "Catalpa Sky"

Yup, I sure love my catalpa!  I just love saying the word "catalpa"....  try it yourself!  And the flowers and the pods, and those big heart shaped leaves..
We had a catalpa next to our driveway when I was a kid, with a huge trunk.  My brothers and I would draw up plans for our underground cavern hideout that would start with a hidden door in the trunk of that massive tree.  Never got further than the plans, but boy did we spend some happy hours planning!

6x6 acrylic on panel, click here to start a bid for auction!  Starting at $35!

June 18th, "The Catalpa Breeze"

I wanted to paint something GREEN today, seeing as it is so BLOOMIN' GREEN here in Minnesota!  We've had such great rain and some good thunderstorms (which I define as that low distance rumbling and some flashes of lightning but nothing TOO loud and close and scary...) and this is from my Mother's Day Catalpa tree that Duane and Max planted for me last year, blowing around this morning.  I LOVE catalpas and was asking for one for a long time-  Duane doesn't want the backyard to be too shady because he loves growing our veg out here, but I want the shade to keep the house cooler...
See how much he loves ME?

 Painted on a magenta ground, 6x6 acrylic on panel, auction starts at $35, click here to bid!

June 17, Rosie

Good morning!
I have been struggling for the last two hours to paint a 6x6 painting of my son, and I can't get the expression right, and I have to go and take care of other art-business associated things (collecting art from the end of an exhibition) darn it so I can't keep struggling and I am NOT going to post the crappy thing until I've figured it out and succeeded so just forget about THAT, but here is a lovely commission I am delighted to share with you~  Rosie!

Sold!

June 16th, "Satisfaction"

So, yesterday we had a great Father's Day Brunch at our house, and after the brunch Max received the Chima Lego set he'd been being good and keeping track of his behavior for over a week in anticipation of getting-  wow what a clunky sentence but I'm not sure how else to say it!
Anyway, while two adult men helped him put it together for two hours, he was nothing but a face of complete contentment.  We are lucky that he is usually like this~!  pretty easily satisfied!

Maybe it looks like he got jelly on his cheek...
6x6 acrylic on panel, bid for the auction starting at $25!  Click HERE!

June 15th, Happy Father's Day!

Duane is actually IN the photo I used for this painting, but I wanted to try focussing just on Max...  I am working on people, looking at those skin tones... dang!  SO much is going on is a FACE!  Why do I have such a hard time with people, and find dogs and cats to be such a joy?!
This is painted on pink... may try painting on blue instead to get those skin tones to pop...

Whadaya think?
6x6 acrylic on panel, up for auction!  Starting at $25~  click here to BID!

June 14, "Honey Moon Tree"

I started painting these "Negative Space Tree" a number of years ago, I think after seeing Timouth's trees up in Grand Marais...  scroll down on his blog link there to see some of his work!  I have two of his trees hanging in our house.  It was the way he paints the sky around the trees that I love!  And Liz Siverstson does this too!  AND I have a few of HER paintings TOO!  AND she has one of MINE!!!  AND I am going up to Grand Marais next week to take a class from her again!  Wahoo!!!!  I'm not sure if she realizes this yet or not....  but it will be a gas!
Anyway, this is a little tree I did yesterday as a Demo on how to paint a Negative Space Tree, and everyone loves painting these so much I think I'll offer some Sat afternoon or maybe even Friday evening classes (wine included!) just on painting these!

And you can try to get this one on this auction!  Starting bids at $25!  or buy outright for $95!

6x8 original acrylic on panel-

CLICK HERE to BID or BUY!!!

good luck!

June 13, "Mug O Love"

The last day of our Painting Lessons Class!  And I am giving a demo on how to post to my blog, so that's what this is!  I will add that you CAN also bid on this one if you'd like to!
I heard that today is the full moon, and it is known as the Honey Moon because it is on a Friday the 13th...  so Happy Honey Moon!

This is a 6x6 acrylic on panel, click here to bid for $25!  Or to buy for $75!

June 12, "Minnehaha, June 2014"

So, Tuesday we went for lunch at Sea Salt by Minnehaha Falls after Painting Lessons class and I took photos of the falls so I could do a painting demo on how to pull up a photo and crop it and then use it as the focus of a painting~
SO here is the painting!

And I rather like it!  Pretty darn fun!

It is an 8x10 acrylic on panel, for $160~  click here to purchase!

June 11, "Nectarine"

...and I can tell ya, I ate this one as soon as I was finished painting it and it was as JUICY as it looks!  I dripped juice all over the studio floor and got it all over my paintbrushes!  Good mornings work at the studio!  This was a lesson in how to create a new color for every stroke-  trying to keep your brush work thoughtful and your colors more conscious!

6x6 acrylic on panel, this is another auction!  Click here to BID $25!

And this is another demo for class, looking at skin tone~  lotsa colors in there!

June 10, "Backyard Visitor"

Ha!  Recognize that pointy little nose?  Those bright little button eyes?  Those naked pink fingers?!?!  Yes, this little bugger was hanging out in our backyard this winter quite a bit, maybe living in our compost heap.  At least bunking in the gap between ours and the neighbors' garages at the least!
Do you see a spark of intelligence in there?  It didn't run away when approached... I don't think they have the greatest eyesight...  but I didn't want the dogs to mess with it regardless!

The fur was a bit tricky to render... but I'll still offer him up for auction!  Maybe you have some love in your heart for a possum!
6x6 original acrylic on panel, $25 starting bid!  Click here to bid!

June 9, "Small Blue Mug"

I started a week-long Painting Lessons today, and this is my little demo painting of a sweet little blue mug on our round wood side table...
It is always fun to go back to painting from life after painting animals and landscapes from photos!

I'll put this one up on auction too!  Starting bid at $25!  Snag this mug for your morning dose of ART!
Click here to bid!

June 8, "Two Harbor's Dog"

And the boys all just went to the park at Lake Hiawatha, so I could PAINT!  This is the lovely dog at that wonderful house/shop on the scenic route up to Two Harbors from Duluth, B.E. Nelison isn't it?  I love his work!  But I can't find him on google... I wanted to set up a link~
Anyway, this is his dog, and she was beautiful and shiny and he said he'd just had her down in the lake and that's why her coat is so glossy.  I love painting black dogs!  Look at that shine!
Wahoo!
Oh and I've added a page to this blog about the 30 Dogs in 30 Days Project!

And I thought perhaps I'd try offering this one as an auction~  so 6x6 acrylic on panel, auction starts at $25!  Click here to BID!

June 7, "Gus Straight on"

What a great morning to sit around and paint, though that never lasts as long as I'd like...
This is Gus, Max's favorite dog, who doesn't seem to mind a five year old draped across him like a cape...  Max was putting my necklaces on Gus this morning at 6:30 while I was trying to stay asleep.  WHY does he have to wake up earlier on the weekend when I can actually sleep in til seven?

I do love Gus' gaze in this piece-  those eyes really speak of distances and warmth and affection... to me anyway.  I don't know what you see!

And he's available now!  And YOU can get in on the 30 Dogs in 30 Days of July  by sending me a photo of your dog!
6x6 acrylic on panel, $75~  click here to PURCHASE!

June 4, "Shadowed Glance"

Yes, I know I am kind of all over the place right now-  I have a bunch of toads I want to paint and some tortoises and our new dog Teddy who isn't so new anymore and I haven't painted her even ONCE!  That's gotta be some kinda spiritual deficiency there…
This dog is gorgeous, and I believe I stole the photo from my cousin Alexis' Facebook page so maybe she can identify it if she is reading this…  I honestly am not sure how far these blog posts are read so maybe just maybe I am testing the internet world to see how much people know and how fast word can travel…
At any rate, the "30 Dogs in 30 Days" July 2014 Project will be commencing in less than a month and I am looking for photos of dogs to paint for this!  I suppose I better make a page on this blog with more info… great idea Kat!  So send me your dog photos, folks!  I'll look through all the submissions and select the ones I love the best to paint-  if you want to commission YOUR photo, then I will paint it for sure but may have some discussions with you if I need a better shot!  I will be painting all the dogs on 8x8 panels unless you want a 10x10 or a 12x12 but no bigger because I need to be able to complete it in a day!  Usually I paint in the morning…

So that's why I had to paint this dog today-  I've been wanting to paint her for a while (not actually sure of the gender…) and this was one of those joys of being able to get it done!!!

Thanks for allowing me to be better and better at what I love to do!

This is an original 6x6 acrylic on panel with a hanging system on back, for $75-  click here to buy!

June 3, "New Legs"

Hey all!  I am BACK!  Wow!  I had a great time in DC with the 6th graders, though I got sick and was left at the hotel to sleep most of Friday, despite my wanting to keep moving… sometimes it is better to give in to sleep…
SO here is another lamb from Dee and Adam's farm!  Maybe Dee will chime in on this one and let us know her name too!

6x6 acrylic on panel, ready to hang, $75!  Click here to ! purchase