"SADIE - NELLIE'S SISTER"

Sadie is a 6 year kid Labrador/greyhound mutt we adopted from the humane society around 5 years ago. At the time we had a miniature dachshund and Sadie quickly became the submissive one in the relationship, despite her 40lb advantage! Sadie loves playing fetch (although she has not mastered bringing the ball back...) and loves running up and down our dock. She is a HUGE lap dog (we don't think she knows her size) and readily climbs into your lap to take a nap. Her favorite treat is lettuce and she runs from bed (usually my bed) to the kitchen whenever she hears salads being made!

The dogs are considered family members and very spoiled! 

They are very loved!!

So - I couldn't decide which pose I liked better so I painted 2. The client(boy does that sound important)

chose the first portrait. I still like them both. I love to paint and I'm so lucky I get to do what I love!

Thanks for following! 

"NELLIE"

Nellie's owner says:

Our miniature dachshund passed away last summer, which led to us adopting Nellie from the humane society last fall. She is a pomeranian and papillon mix around 2 years old. She wasn't potty trained when we first brought her home, but the gate we bought to keep her in the kitchen did not work, as she effortlessly jumps over it. She has been nicknamed Houdini, as she can also jump over our backyard fence, onto beds, and onto the bathroom counter. Sadie cries with joy whenever a stranger comes to the house, hoping to be pet. Nellie is definitely the more ferocious guard dog, as she barks at almost anything foreign- including large dogs and strangers!

"TILLY"

"SNARKY" LITTLE GIRL - BIG HEART - TAKE CHARGE - LOVER

"SCRUFFY"

SMART - BEST FRIEND - LOVED TO HIKE - LOYAL

Scruffy - I hope I got it right - what a sweety!

"ELSIE"

ELSIE SURVIVED HURRICANE KATRINA

She had a fear of running out of food to eat - pretty sweet

She was rescued and found her forever home - Elsie changed their lives forever. 

OK so why 2 portraits.

Well I've painted Elsie at least 5 times - the paintings have all been wiped away and these are the 2 that survived for various artistic reasons. I could not make up my mind and make a clear choice on which photo worked the best - on occasion I have to try it different ways before I'm satisfied. I love the way both of these turned out - the Elsie lovers will have to choose which one works for them.  

Keep in mind that I make decisions based on composition and design - I may have conveyed that a particular photo may work and find out it doesn't - I make the decision to change it based on a gut reaction. 

PAINTINGS TAKE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO DRY - THEN A DAY TO VARNISH!

Next in line - SCRUFFY - TILLY & HERBIE

THANKS

"KENAI"

SUPER SWEET

This lucky dog has found his forever home - after he fell off a truck at 8 weeks old and got run over. His owner never noticed and didn't stop. Kenai was at the vet for a month! 

The stories coming in for this portrait project are important reminders to celebrate these wonderful animals and their forever homes. 

Thanks for letting me be a part of this great experience.

"FECK WISHES EVERYONE A FECKING FUN FOURTH"

LOOKIN' SO GOOD 

BUT 

 MISUNDERSTOOD!

"KAIA"

INDEPENDENT - LOVABLE

"JACK"

CONFIDENT, PROTECTOR, SWEETY

This is a true - straight back german shepherd. What a treat to meet such a beautiful dog.

"SHILOH"

LOYAL, FRIENDLY & FUN LOVING!

"POUDE"

Here's a portrait for the fund raiser. I had a heck of a time working with the photo - it took me till today to figure out why. Poude was standing on all fours which made it difficult to differentiate between the body and the head especially since he's mostly black. I had to pretend he was sitting and try to imagine his shape - don't know if I even came close. So if you are ordering a portrait think about the pose and how it translates into a painting. If not satisfied I'll give it another go. It's all practice.  Thanks!

DON'T MESS WITH ME"

I had to have a kitty sample. Here she is! Thanks for following.