"THE LAST LAUGH"

KEEGAN GETS IT!

OK so I'm finished - with my brush in hand - painting like a mad woman - one painting at a time - lying awake at night wondering if it's good enough - painting 60 portraits - yes 60 - counting all the ones that got erased  - started over - redone - and redone again! With Marilyn's help - I raised 3000.00 for the RCHS.

Thanks to Marilyn for coordinating donors, keeping me on track and getting this thing off the ground running. She kept me going when things got weird and tough!

I owe many thanks to people like Nancy. Nancy commented on every portrait - everyday - religiously - no matter how busy she was - or where she was - keeping me going with her thoughts - I really couldn't have finished without this incredible, thought provoking, daily support! 

My great followers, friends and family(all 5 of you) also made a huge impact on my performance and dedication to this project. I was ready to quit more than once but was prodded to keep it together. These portraits probably look like they took minutes to create but that couldn't be further from the truth. They are 25 years in the making. 

Have a great weekend - thanks for following and thanks for supporting the RCHS!

"CODY"

SWEET - SOULFUL - PEACEFUL - KIND - CALM - UNASSUMING

Cody is a dog that we got when he was elderly. We don’t know too much about him except that his old owners took him to the vet to be euthanized and the vet said they don’t do convenience euthanasia and so he was surrendered to the vet who then took him to the shelter. He did terribly at the shelter, wailed and was very nervous all the time. I couldn’t bear it so I brought him home.

We fostered him, and though we fell in love, we thought 4 dogs was too much, so when someone wanted to adopt him we thought it was best for Cody. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. After a year, she didn’t really want him anymore and so we took him back and have decided that he will live the rest of his life with us. He is still very nervous. Has separation issues and follows me around quite a bit.

Cody is soulful and peaceful (when he isn’t nervous). He shuffles along on the walks and is starting to come out of his shell. He seems likes to try new things. When I cut up veggies, I give some to whoever is interested and he has become very interested! He loves food! So far, he likes avocado, carrots, and watermelon! He still spits out bananas and apples?? He is very sweet and has started coming up and resting his head in our laps wanting to have his head rubbed (that’s new) and he flinches a lot less now when we touch him.

We haven’t had him very long, so we don’t know him very well, but we love him and want him to know that he is safe and loved. We look forward to the day he is secure because right now he is still insecure.

Being insecure does not, however, stop him from being a great guard dog (Cody and Farrah alert us to everything happening at the end of our driveway!) He is kind, calm, unassuming and brings peace to the pack. Cody is a HUGE dreamer. His legs go crazy when he sleeps – I always wonder if he is chasing or being chased! I hope they are good dreams.

"FARRAH"

FIERCELY LOYAL

Story told by her family 

So Farrah is our little peanut! Unlike Keegan, she pranced right into the house, looked around and said, “yup, this’ll work!” That is until my husband got home and she was like, “wait a minute, I didn’t know he came with the deal!” She immediately trusted me, it took my husband a little longer, but then the little booger defected! She loves her daddy! And her food! She was 4 pounds when we got her, now she is 10 pounds!

Bob calls Farrah her little angel. She is fiercely loyal. He has been sick (long story) going on a year now and Farrah has been by his side every waking moment. She is tough as nails, survived being lost in a snow storm in January for three days before we adopted her (some people just shouldn’t be allowed to have dogs)!! She has no idea she is a Chihuahua, she’s certain she is a husky, until it’s 20 below out then she knows she’s something other than a husky! Bosses Keegan around. Guard dog extraordinaire. Yet, she’s a total snuggler and has love to give a million times her size (to us). She has learned to love kids, is ok with women but after all these years is still very leery of men; that relationship must be earned with any man that walks through our door. She is smart, sassy, incredibly sweet and a has provided us more comfort than we knew imaginable from a dog.

"KEEGAN"

Keegan is my boy. He sleeps next to me and we have a special/strong bond that I don’t know how to describe. When we adopted him he bit me, was aggressive towards me and honestly he scared me. It was so bad that we tried re-homing him. But I cried every day he was gone so we took him back. Long story short, we worked through it, with the help of a trainer. Took him a full year to turn the corner, but when he finally did he was like a new dog. After a year of not trusting us he let us in 100%  and now he is a total lover boy.

First and foremost, Keegan is a survivor and a forgiver. He is very friendly and super playful. He loves to be a part of whatever action there is and is always close by, so as to not miss anything and feel included. He is very curious and somewhat mischievous. He’s and a big talker like some huskies are and says I love you. He finds much comfort in his routine. He acts tough, but he’s really kind of a big baby. He is very handsome, but has no idea. He “works” hard when asked and aims to please. ……He’s my big “baby” boy.

"VINO"

SMART - ATHLETIC 

At times Vino has a Type A personality when doing arena work. Loves activities such as jumping etc.  He is an easy going guy on trail rides. Vino loves people and attention - his favorite thing is having his face rubbed or petted. He will fall asleep while my granddaughter pets and rubs his head. 

OK - I admit this is a different type of portrait but it seemed fitting for the subject and his demeanor. 

I loved painting something a little different and hope Vino likes what how I portrayed him in the arena. I love this little painting.

"YOU SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY??!!!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

'ROSEMARY"

MY BELOVED  DOG - SUPER SWEET - VERY LOVABLE

Rosemary works at the OM Gallery Store, downtown Steamboat Springs - if you want to meet her she's there wed - sun 1 to 5. I can't believe how soft she is and what a sweety too.  She's the perfect store greeter!

Thanks for following.

"COOPER"

NO DESCRIPTION NECESSARY

"GRETA"

PRETTY - PRETTY PRINCESS WHO LOVES DIRT!

Greta is strikingly beautiful. She is fiercely independent, totally alpha and the leader of our pack. She is very loyal to her humans and her pack. She is strong & brave yet super sweet & very sensitive. She is highly intelligent, confident and...”polite.” One time I had her tied up where I was having lunch and someone asked if she was my dog, when I said yes, he said, "she's the most polite dog I have ever met!"

"ECKO"

SPIRITED

Here's a new size for dog portraits - it's 16" X 10" -  and will come framed since it's such an odd size. This size is perfect for standing - regal style dog poses. I took pictures of Ecko a couple of weeks ago and thought she would make a great sample painting. Ecko will be on display for the month of September at Creekside Cafe - more on that later!

Thanks for following!

"MAX"

WISE - DEVOTED - LOYAL - REGAL - PATIENT

He was always the peacemaker in any dog situation. Definitely the patriarch.

"ZOE"

BEST FRIEND

"ADORABLE"

POUDRE - TOO SWEET!

Here's the final painting of Poudre. I can''t tell you how many pics I took of Poude - but I finally got what I was looking for - and here's the painting that I am happy to show. I never thought it would happen for this special dog.

Thanks for following.

"BRECK"

INTERESTED 

I was taking pictures of Yogi Bear and Breck kept posing for me. He seemed to be interested in all the happenings. I can't tell you how excited I was to paint a white dog. It was liberating. 

Thanks for following! 

"YOGI BEAR"

SWEETEST SOUL EVER - KIND - LOVING - PLAYFUL

I'm so glad I met Yogi Bear. His owner told me that his eyes were a piercing amber color - I have never seen eyes that round and that bright - I worked on Yogi's eyes for 2 days - no kidding! I hope I got it somewhat close. What a great dog.

Also wanted to inform everyone my internet was out hence no blog. Sorry but that's technology for ya!

Hope all is well with everyone. Thanks for following. 

"BRENNA"

HUMAN 

"LUCY"

SWEETY - NEVER STOPS SMILING - FUN LOVING

"PATCHES TOO!"

ANOTHER ONE 

"PATCHES"

SPECIAL KITTY

"PIPER"

RED WAS HER COLOR - HIKING HER  PASSION

Piper's story by Lindsay - She was my only friend and companion when I moved to Colorado. 

She loved hiking with me. We called her Piper, Piper the Red, red worm as she'd wriggle

about in the dirt every time she'd get out of the water.

I have rubies in my wedding band for her.