Beloved Springer Spaniel, painting created twenty years ago- Seattle, WA

Quoting a fb post by clients whose dog, Emma, I painted 20 years ago. Today is Emma's birthday."Today was the 25th anniversary of our dear EmmaDog's birth. We will always adore this painting of her you did for us, Nancy Schutt! You titled it "The Chosen One". And she was. A shout-out to ALL of you who helped take care of our paralyzed Springer Spaniel back in the day. It certainly took a village. Thank you ESPECIALLY to the 10 people who allowed us to go on vacation from time to time: we will never forget your dedication."   Stephanie

Happy Birthday Emma!

View fullsize

Original painting by Seattle dog artist Nancy Schutt

Big dog relaxing in front of her portrait- Snohomish, WA

Allie, lucky rescue dog, at home with her family portrait.

Painted portrait arrives and is on the wall! (Jack Russell terrier and kitty cat)

From the happy family who lives with Casey Jones and Mr. Poppers and received the painting that I shipped to them last week."Dear Nancy We unpacked the picture and hung it in our kitchen. We truly love it. You have captured our special pets perfectly. It is a true treasure. We cannot thank you enough for this marvelous tribute to our furry friends. Again many thanks!"

Two Golden Retrievers, digital sketch created on the iPad

Meet Jodi and Moose, sisters for brothers. The family got Jodi and Moose as pups so each son could have their own dog. They would like a studio painting of the, now quite large, sister dogs. I start a studio painting with an iPad sketch of the proposed painting. It's not meant to be a finished painting for printing on canvas, but rather a mock up for a studio painting created with brushes and paint on canvas. I do create digital paintings for printing on canvas, but they have more detail and a more finished look to them. With this painting, that will happen in the studio.

Back home in Seattle

Good to be back home in Seattle!This is Audrey contemplating the classic Seattle scene.

Beagle Belle, Penny the sort-of-Lab, and Pepper the cat- Miami, FL

Progression of a digital painting created on the iPad, of Belle (Beagle) and Penny (variety pack) with Pepper the cat (who doesn't like to leave the house) at home in Miami. The progression shows how much a painting can change as it is developed, and it's not done yet! Client feedback is helping to determine where the painting goes, and I'm waiting now for further suggestions and preferences to determine the next step in the painting. I will post the final version when we get there.  

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.

Seeger on the Hudson- New York dog goes digital

Seeger, New York dog,  goes from digital painting to T shirt.  

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)

http://www.rescuedognews.com/dog-artist-nancy-schutt/

Pablo does Wyoming- Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole and Dubois by Chihuahua

 Two weeks at my favorite place on the planet, with Pabby, who doesn't like it there very much as there are wild animals and stickery things. But he's a champ! and braves rivers and mountains and the scent of wolf, moose, and grizzly bear!

     

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.

Dog Dreams of Summer- Doxie, bunnies, and squirrels

A painting that's been revised a zillion times, I think it finally found it's home.

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.

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

Evolution of a Painting- Dog Art, Seattle, WA

In the effort to make a painting "more better", sometimes I look back on what I was trying to improve and think maybe I should have let it be. But unless I reach the knowing place with it, where nothing is prodding me for change, I have to keep going. This is a painting about the giddiness of a dog that knows it is loved, and the serenity that comes from loving. Painting 1 got concept, painting 2 got the sky, but it's painting 3 that captured the emotion of both subjects. Now, the sky is beckoning. I like the contrast of the churning, threatening clouds in painting 2 but the soft embracing sky of painting 3 fits the mood.

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.

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.