Another painting commissioned as a holiday gift, this one from parents to daughter. Meet Marley, the Portuguese water dog who doesn't like the water. She will wade out up to her ankles, then prance back to shore, seemingly a bit confused. Here she is at her window seat overlooking the lake in which she'd prefer not to swim. Sweet Marley, named after the extremely talented musician- (but she's a she- not that it matters).
Tribute to beloved Australian Cattle Dog/German Shepherd dog, Wolfie- Seattle, WA
Tribute to Wolfie- The Wise Man Spring, 2003- October 26, 2015
Susan and Wolf
Wolf, reservation dog, found on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. He is a dog who wasn't meant to live- but then he did. He'd been abandoned and was found lying on his side, dying. Susan took him and gave him a chance at life, which turned out to be a very good one.
Wolf exuded dignity, confidence and calmness. He was steady, consistent, composed. He would look you straight in the eye and communicate his take on things, which was pretty much always, "no reason to get bent out of shape, everything is fine."
He was unruffled, even when there was chaotic activity around him. It was like he would watch and assess a situation, and then place himself in it as a calm, non-reactive presence, modeling for us how to live in this world of change.
When Susan and Wolf and my cranky Chihuahua, Pablo, and I would take walks together in a wooded area of Seattle where dogs often walk off leash, he would choose some giant fallen branch to carry along the path then drop it for me to sling a few feet so he could bring it back, with us wondering how in the world he could carry, in his mouth, something so massive. I started throwing his log choices over the ledge into the gulch just to make it require at least as much effort for him to retrieve as it was for me to hurl. As a young dog, he was tireless. His physical stature was impressive- strong, capable, in command, and gorgeous. He knew it. Sometimes large dogs would start to approach little Pablo and Wolf would place himself between Pablo and the intruder as if to say, "You gotta get by me first". He was Pablo's protector, even when Pablo would have a snappy outburst right in his face. Wolf never reprimanded Pablo, not once. He would just turn away and walk on as if nothing happened, and he would protect that pesky little pack member again the next time.
If I were to put words in Wolf's mouth they would be, even about his own death- "There is nothing serious going on here, all is well. I am still here. Now throw the log."
( I made greeting cards of this painting for Susan to use as holiday cards- on the inside she wrote:
"May you be blessed with peace, joy, and love. In other words, a bed, a book, and a dog."
Dog art greeting cards
I'm considering producing a line of greeting cards, all in the same style of flat color backgrounds, and using images from earlier paintings for the dogs combined with a sketch depicting a setting. Not sure if they should be captioned or just images, themed or not. Caption ideas?
Original dog painting goes home to Japan
Two daughters ordered a painting from me as a gift for their mother, a doctor who lives in Japan with her beloved pups. The daughters live in the US and had to carry the painting on the airplane, and had a little bit of difficulty with it, but the painting arrived safely and they sent me photos, and this note:
We had trouble figuring out how to transport the painting after finding out that they won't let me carry it on with me on the plane. So we bought a suitcase big enough to fit the painting and we fretted about the possible damage... but I bubbled wrapped it, wrapped in blanket and it worked out perfect!
She was completely baffled that we brought something so big and special! haha. She thought that painting captured the personalities spot on! It fits perfectly in her cozy small living room where she can enjoy it often.
This whole experience of creating a painting for our mother, working with you to make it reality was a true gift! Ema and I really enjoyed it!
I hope our path will cross again soon!
Thank you Nancy, will always remember your kindness!
Love, Meri & Ema
Bertie in Heaven- London, Englan
Bertie may no longer be in this physical form, but he's still very much with us. Two versions of Bertie.
Pilgrimage to Abiquiu, home of Georgia O'Keeffe
I finally made the journey to the home of Georgia O'Keeffe, after many years of unrealized intentions to do so. Wow, what a moving and beautiful experience. Photography was not permitted in or around her home, but I did photograph some of the surrounding landscape that she made so famous. Here I have placed photos of her paintings alongside photos of her home I found online, and with my photos of the landscape.
O'Keeffe grooming her Chows in the courtyard.
O'Keeffe's courtyard, where she was sitting when grooming the Chows. This would have been her view if she looked up.
The Pedernal mountain both as O'Keeffe painting and a photo I took.
Red rocks near Ghost Ranch, the dude ranch where she first stayed in the area before purchasing the home at Abiquiu (which took ten years of negociations!)
The view from her window of the road to her home in Abiquiu.
Ah, the skull.
Two profiles.
Me with Ghost Ranch in the distance.
Dog Rescue News article about dog art paintings by . . . me!
Thank you Dog Rescue News! What a nice surprise. "Only a genuine dog lover could portray dogs the way Nancy Schutt does. Colorful, playful and humorous, her paintings convey so much of the uniqueness and personality of each dog featured. I love color and I love expressionist style paintings that are not exact replicas. Nancy’s work makes me smile and connect with each dog . . . (more)
Scans of dog art, the way to go to document a portfolio- Bellevue, WA
I have been taking my paintings to Bellevue Fine Art Reproduction for the past few years so that I can document my work in the highest quality possible on earth. Thank you BFAR! The images are awesome! I just had to offer to the world my appreciation for the fine work done by Scott, Tomoko, Redd, Syd, Amanda & JJ the dog.
Come to think of it, I think JJ needs a portrait. She asks every time I come by. But this is William, lover of kongs and all things fun, and a fine scan indeed.
German Shepherd with bluebirds and butterflies- Zeus in Puyallup, WA
This is Zeus, who posed for me for a painting of another German Shepherd. I didn't have adequate photos of the original dog from which to create a portrait and the dog had died, so I had to recruit a local "look-alike" as a model. The client rejected this painting so I started another one and continued working on her portrait until I achieved something she liked. But I kept this painting of Zeus, since I liked the portrayal. I wasn't sure what to do with it. It is years later now from when I first painted this Shepherd, but I recently felt inspired to finish it. I changed the background and placed this large and rather fearsome-looking animal in a girly lavender background of butterflies and bluebirds. I like the contrast and the implications. Zeus is a sweetheart of a dog.
Tribute to Phil
I painted this portrait of Phil, Celia, Izzy, and Justus the cat, in 2010. Phil passed last Saturday. I like to use the present tense when someone passes, as I think they are still with us even though they are no longer in physical form. Phil is one of those people who brings to mind words that describe the best qualities of humans- he spills over with compassion, kindness, gentleness, generosity. He spent most of his life advocating for the most vulnerable in our society, in our world. He came to dog-love late in life, with Izzy being his first. He was smitten! and continues to have dogs as a central part of his life.
Izzy and Justus crossed the bridge ahead of Phil, and I'm pretty sure, they were there on Saturday greeting him as he joined them. Celia is doing ok.
A funny little story about this painting: Phil and Celia brought the painting back to my studio a few weeks after taking it home. They noticed a problem which they wanted corrected, and which I remedied. However, I had already had the painting photographed so Celia is still missing her sock in this version.
Steps in the development of a painting- dog art, Seattle, WA
There are many steps in the creation of a painting, beginning with the initial on-site interview with the dogs and people (if at all possible, it's the best first step! to actually meet the dogs on their home turf and have a face to face with all parties). I sketch and photograph the dogs in their environment, and take notes during the interview about the particular personalities of the animals in order to better know how to portray them being most themselves. Then I create a digital painting in order to determine the basic composition. I email images of the digital painting to the client, who then makes suggestions and requests for changes. This process repeats itself until both the client and I are satisfied with the digital painting, which then becomes the model for the actual physical painting.
Then I start painting in the studio. It usually takes several email reviews of the work in progress by the client before we arrive at a final piece. Here are the many versions of Sucia and Ivy.
Decorate with Dogs- Veterinarary Clinic, New York
I received an order for five prints on canvas to decorate the waiting room of a veterinary clinic in New York. He said he'd been looking for dog art for three years, and when he found me he knew he found the art he'd been seeking. He chose the images he wanted and sent a photo of the waiting room with the three benches. I sketched the benches against the yellow wall and experimented with varying sizes of prints on the wall using the paintings he was interested in, and suggested that maybe he would consider three large canvas dog prints rather than five smaller.He settled upon the last image, three large canvas prints of dogs, and one cat.
T shirt for lovers of Pit Bull dogs
Front and back of a T shirt design I created for those who love the bully dogs, or any dogs really, or dog drawings, or shirts. Available at Dog Lover Art
No bad dogs, only bad garbage can lids.
Deliberating whether to go with simple line drawings, monochromatic drawings, or full color for the T shirt designs. Opinions are extremely welcome. This is one of the bad dogs. We all have it in us.
Laid back weekend at home of dog artist- Seattle, WA
Rainy lazy days with my niece, Taylor, who spent Saturday lovin' up with the Chihuahua.
If there's a dog in it, is it still art? Presentation on "kitsch", Seattle, WA
I finally edited the video of a presentation I did last year as a "Pecha Kucha", a style of presentation where each presenter is given 6 minutes to show 20 slides for 20 seconds each. The presenter has no control of the slideshow. It was tricky! The topic was "Kitsch- Bad Art Gone Good", link below to youtube vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=557plP37R24
Enjoying Palm Beach, FL.- beach dog
Feeling sorry for the people of the north. It's 3 degrees in Chicago, 79 in Palm Beach.
Looking forward to the New Year- from a dog point of view
Contemplating the coming year.May your horizon be calm, expansive, and warm, with your dreams on their way to you.
Merry Christmas! a day late, but joyful nonetheless! Just ask a Jack.
Pablo is Master of the Studio- art dog in Seattle, WA
- My Chihuahua, Pablo, rules the studio, and the Universe. I obey, and so does pretty much everyone else.
