Soldier/Dogs

Soldier/Dogs

11"x 14"

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I finished a commission for a client who has a lot of veterans come work for him. He offers them jobs because they have a hard time finding them elsewhere. My client shared some amazing stories with me, and I was surprised and touched to learn about the importance of the relationship between dog and soldier:
   "One of the key themes my guys tell me coming home is that dogs helped get them through the war. These guys credit the dogs with saving their lives. I never would have guessed that to be the case, but it was. I never realized it until someone came into my office and commented that there were dogs with all of my boys in the pictures I had on my desk." 

Listening to while I paint:

Audio-books: "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Read by the author.

Podcasts:
              "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!" hosted by Peter Sagal
               Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin
               Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner
               The Splendid Table by Lynne Rosetto Kasper
               Artist Helping Artist by Leslie Saeta
Music: my iPod

                 

After The Beach

After The Beach

8"x 10"

acrylic

SOLD

A recent commission painting I did for a client and quote from her:

           "Julep is my brown-eyed rescue, age 1-ish. Julep's little bestie and partner in naughtiness is Chance Jones, whose guardian is my best friend Suzy Jones. He is 2-ish.

Both dogs are the happiest dogs in the world. They love playing in all the beautiful trails and beaches of the San Francisco and Marin County and their very favorite is wrestling 'til someone yelps. Julep has brought me more joy than I can measure. I'm looking for a new house with a big fat yard so I can go back to SPCA and get her a friend to play with every day!"

Listening to while I paint:

Audio Books: "Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy" , by John Le Carre', narrated by                                  Michael Jayston

Podcasts: The Alton Browncast hosted by Alton Brown 

                 Social Media Marketing hosted by Michael Stelzner

                 Off Camera With Sam Jones , hosted by Sam Jones

Music: my iPod

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

"A Friend In Need"

36"x 48"

(my terrible picture!)

Original, "A Friend In Need"

by, C.M. Coolidge

commissioned in 1903

My client said, "Could you paint MY dogs playing poker"? 

"Sure!", I said.

I got a variety of, umm, "good" shots....like this one:

"Pepper" the one in the front left.

Okay.....

I did A LOT of research. I found this site which has dogs driving cars! Really!

I downloaded pictures of poker chips, berets, french cigarette holder, pipes, cigars, dogs, etc ........ whew!

They loved it! :)

Finding Paintings In Random Photos

I find that I am always taking my camera with me, wherever I go, looking for inspiration. Sometimes I just take random pictures as I am passing by, especially if there is interesting light, shadows, colors, or shapes that catch my eye. I am always excited to get back to my studio, download the pictures and revisit the images I took, often not knowing what I will find...as in the above photo.


It wasn't until I started looking closer and cropping that I found the beautiful light and shadow play, the wonderful color palette and the peaceful image of someone enjoying tea on a lovely afternoon with a close companion! AND THEN it wasn't until after I started painting that I noticed the person sitting in the shadows, on the ground petting the dog!

10"x 10"
acrylic on canvas
Available at Paradise Perks

Jack

8"x 8"
acrylic on masonite
sold

One of my favorite artist's, Karin Jurick, has decided to have a weekly challenge of painting a photo that she posts on her new website, Different Strokes From Different Folks, on blogspot.
This first photo is of her dear and recently departed friend and companion, Jack.
I encourage you to visit www.KarinJurick.blogspot.com to see her wonderful work!

Click on image for larger view.

Here's Herbie!

8"x8"
acrylic on masonite

sold

I was communicating via email with a very nice lady from Brand Innovators and saw a picture of her dog Herbie at the bottom of her email.......I couldn't resist and asked if I could paint him!

Click on image for larger view.

Doggies Go To Market

8"x8"
acrylic on masonite

The sun FINALLY came out so I went to the Beaverton and Cedar Mill Farmers' Markets and spent a lovely Saturday morning enjoying the sunshine, listening to music, watching people and lots of happy doggies!

Click on image for a larger view.