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
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.
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.
Happy Turkey Day! The dogs would like that . . .
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.
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.
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.
Studio in the setting sun- backyard, Seattle, WA
Studio in the setting sun. Looks tilted but that's the camera. A hummingbird is visiting too. A small backyard green space can be a such a refuge for urban wildlife, and me. I've seen peregrine falcons, doves, all kinds of finches, warblers, cedar waxwings, and racoons. This is in the middle of a big city, on a standard lot. Creating green space matters. We all need it. Strikes me as odd to say "creating" it, since green space was here way before we were.
Theo- big ole furry dog, loved by all- Seattle, WA
Theo- or "The Sheriff" as he is affectionately known at the dog park. The big guy would take it upon himself to break up any fights at the park, as peaceful coexistence is his dogma. Theo got cancer over five years ago and went through a very expensive treatment involving 3 surgeries. His human companion told him "now you owe me five years!" Theo has given that and more, and is still going, even though the cancer returned two more times. He is an admirable fellow, for many reasons. Calm, joyful, and loved by many, this painting was a gift to Theo's human companion from an admirer from the dog park.
Who Let the Dogs Out? Snohomish, WA
Five dogs, all rescues, share a peaceful home in Snohomish, WA.From left to right, Allie- who is certain she is alpha to the world, Pearl- the equanimous Buddha, and watcher of all creatures in trees, Lou-the real pack leader; tolerant of all and friend to all, Ruthie- the gentle one, but can be sneaky and crafty, and Gussy- the Diva, who knows she is the prettiest. This may have been the most fun I've ever had painting!
Big Splash by a Big Dog- LEAP!
It's that time of year!
A painting of a life must include the dog. Seattle, WA and the Utah desert.
A portrait of Woofie and Ron, a painting of a life. Every image in this painting is representative of experiences from their life together- moving towards the desert from Seattle, the rattlesnake that nearly took Woofie's life, the magical ability of Ron to transform his life through courage and self investigation, the jay that teaches fearlessness, the cairn guiding the route, the yellow and black guitar shape representing Ron's creative accomplishments. The tree is the bodhi tree, under which we all may sit. Ron knows enough to actually do it. The box represents the unknown gifts that we receive when we are seeking.
Coastal Canine magazine likes my dog art! Santa Cruz, CA
Coastal Canine magazine recently did an extensive interview with me for their summer issue. The magazine serves the central CA coast (dog lovers of course), and exactly the people I'd like to include in my client base! I surely would not be averse to a trip to Carmel to meet some new clients! Full article in an upcoming post when the magazine comes out.
