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.

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

Jack Russell Terrier T shirt- Dog Lover Art!

Back to the blog after a few weeks absence- with some T shirt designs. I've created about 20 images for T shirts, starting with a Jack, of course, always first in line!

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.

Goodbye Florida! Sunny, a golden retriever in a tropical paradise

Saying goodbye to Florida today after a good long stay here with my Dad. Sunny, actually a Hawaii dog, lives in the Pacific version of Florida, so she is representing the tropics today.

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.

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.
• 

Happy Turkey Day! The dogs would like that . . .

Dog Art in New York City- Buddy in Central Park

Another painting I did years ago with New York City as a backdrop. This time it's the other huge landmark, Central Park, which provides the setting, and was a favorite spot for Buddy. Buddy's person said that at the time, take-out Chinese food and Cokes were the picnic items, and Buddy NEVER tried to get into the fare. He was only interested in the ball. The photo is a panorama shot I took last week when i was in NYC walking through Central Park. It highlights the use of artistic license in the painting!

  

New York, New York- my dog in the city

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to NYC. Stayed where I stayed at a friend's loft twenty years ago, two blocks from the Hudson in lower Manhattan. Twenty years ago I painted my dog, Shake Sugaree, sitting near the river in front of a long distance view of the Statue of Liberty. Same view twenty years later.

Digital dog art- Ivy and Sucia at home in Seattle

Ivy and Sucia, a digital painting created on the iPad, soon to be an actual painting. Ivy, the black adolescent, is a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Yellow Lab mix from South Africa. Sucia is a Catahouia Hound rescue dog from New Orleans. Quite the duo. No one comes into this house without their permission. This painting was ordered as a wedding present but without enough time to create the actual painting before the big day. Since I can create a painting on the iPad in a couple of days, a print of the beloved pair was presented as the wedding gift with the painting to come later. Now time to get out to the studio and turn this into something made with brushes and canvas and paint that comes in jars.

Chihuahua runs free in the arboretum- photoshoot with Julie Austin

My feisty Chihuahua Pablo at his photoshoot yesterday, doing one of the things he does best- posing. Always ready for his close up.Lively and lovely session in the gorgeous fall colors at the arboretum with talented, energetic, animal-lovin photographer Julie Austin Photography There will come a time when I don't have Pablo in the flesh and blood, but I will always have his spirit in my heart, and in these photos.

 

Dog Art Wedding Gift- Portland, Ore.

Tis the season of weddings! Opening the gift of a print on canvas of Arlo, a digital painting created on the iPad.Congratulations to Jocelyn, Colin, and Arlo on your marriage! All three of you.

Greyhound rescue dogs- digital painting created on the iPad

Fuzzy and Time, greyhounds who spent their early years at the track are retired. Now they are "40mph couch potatoes"- either bolting or lounging. Their human companion and greyhound rescue advocate, Robin, says about greyhounds, "they are like potato chips . . . you can't have just one." She says that they are sweet, loving, calm, and funny. I want to hear why they are funny.Digital painting created on the iPad.

Little Daisy- long, loving life.

Another beloved dog has passed. Little Daisy was sweetness embodied: joyful, loving, and so treasured. What a gift they are, these beings who come to teach us what unconditional love is.From Daisy's human companion: "Our sweet Little Daisy peacefully departed this world in the arms of her family earlier in the evening. She was the light of our lives and will be missed more than words can say." I will miss you too, Little Daisy, furry bright flower.

Tribute to Angus, the most spiritually evolved dog I ever met.

Another great soul has passed. I received this note yesterday from the human companion of Angus:"Angus was the sweetest dog I ever knew and one of the rare genuinely good people to grace this earth."

Angus was one of those zen-like dogs who seemed to be kind in every cell. He possessed equanimity and grace. Except for squirrels. Maybe for them too, as I don't believe he ever caught one. He did keep us safe from them however, when we took a walk at Lincoln Park years ago. Angus was a sweetheart of a dog. I painted a second painting of Angus for myself, of him napping, and it hangs over my desk. He keeps me company always. I like that.

Chacho- tribute to a magnificent dog.

I posted this painting of Chacho on facebook two days ago, and this morning I received an email from Chacho's human companion, telling me that Chacho departed from this world yesterday. I had no idea that Chacho was preparing to move on. I just have to post Chacho again, this time as a tribute to his gallant life. When I was painting him, I kept thinking of him as heroic- bigger than life, with his giant enthusiasm for play, for work, for people, for life. Here are the words I received this morning, which could not better describe this truly wonderful dog:

"We had to let our wonderful, beloved Chacho go yesterday. I can't stop crying and he is worth every tear. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect dog. He was the happiest person I've ever met, always the jester and comedian reminding us not to take ourselves so seriously. He made us laugh every day and he made the most of everything we did together. After more than fourteen years, that was a lot. He was joyful, kind, exuberant, a prankster, and a thief. He was ornery enough to make it interesting. He was demanding and communicative with his looks and chortles and, of course, no one who knew him will forget that smile. He loved like the big-hearted Chessie that he was, literally grinding himself into us with affection. He was game for everything and he drained every ounce from the cup until there was nothing left. And he gave all of himself to us. I am grateful. May his soul be tied in the knot of life." LS

May we meet again, Chacho.

Have a ball! Golden Retriever shows us how. Denver to Durango, Colorado.

Back to Seattle from a trip in the unbelievably gorgeous San Juan mountains in Colorado with my dad, sis, and niece. Had a ball!This is one of my first dog paintings, of my sister's Golden Retriever, Zeb, named after Zebulon Pike, explorer for whom Pike's Peak in Colorado is named. We didn't visit Pike's Peak, but other peaks which I think were impressive, remote, and beautiful. Zeb is no longer of this world, unless he has reincarnated in some other form. He was a very good dog- gentle, spirited, a ball freak and a bit goofy. We still miss him.