Akira

"Akira"

6"x 9"

acrylic on wrapped canvas

Not For Sale

I have been wanting to do this painting for a long time as a gift to Mark.

I had my stroke in Oct, 2010,  when my good friend, Mark Heimann,owner of the Lost Mountain Clayworks, sent me a Kanji (oriental calligraphy) lantern that says "Perseverance" and a little shot glass that says "Courage" that he made.

 "Everyone needs a little shot of courage," says Mark.

Here is Mark's story about Akira:

           "7 & ½ years ago, Becki decided she wanted a dog. Since we had about ten goats then, she wanted a livestock guarding or a herding dog. I was watching the litter and Becki’s decision-making, a long-haired puppy trundled over to me, sat down, and looked me right in the eye. Well, I was completely done in, captured, no doubt chosen by her, and she was coming home with us. 

She had to grow into her ears….

Her name morphed from Keira (from the beautiful Keira Knightley) to Akira (Kurosawa?) somehow – but we do call her Kira (“Keera”) for short.

Anyway Akira has been my constant companion ever since July of 2006. From art festival to pirate festival, beach to river to forest.

She is a natural born guard dog, perhaps prone to bark a little too much…..

And a total love."

Thank you so much Mark! :)

Listening to while I paint:

Podcast: "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!" hosted by Peter Sagal

                   America's Test Kitchen hosted by Christopher Kimball

Music: my iPod