White Christmas - Bad Doggy in Snow

This is what Christmas morning looked like! While I took some gorgeous landscape photos, I decided to post the ones that made me laugh. This is Izzy. And, as you can see, it's never a dull moment with her around! She is my latest acquisition from the local shelter (Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society - the one I donate to each year for their art auction fundraiser). Izzy is the pup that I brought home when I went to OLHS to photograph some of their residents for the donation portrait. Today, when going through the many snow photos, the bad doggy common theme running through these snapshots caught my eye. It is very typical of Izzy's personality and noticeable lack of training on my part! Maybe I will get to that next year. In the meantime, I am enjoying her spontaneity and total lack of discipline. If you can get past laughing at the dog, the scenery is beautiful! Generally, when taking photos of doggies running and playing you get just a few ears-up shots. Not true with Izzy, they are more common than not. In the last shot, she is looking at me like: what are you laughing at?

Dog & Horse Group Portrait - Collection of Animals

I love painting these group portraits. They are a collection of animals that belong or have belonged to one person or family. The finished size is 20 x 8 1/2. I tend to prefer non-standard sizes. Anyway, Merriam-Webster defines group as 1) two or more figures forming a complete unit in a composition or 2) a number of individuals assembled to together having some unifying relationship. Both definitions fit the way I feel about this piece. Interestingly, the 2 horses are the ones that I rescued a while back. [They have since been adopted into a forever home (YAY)]. When I first rescued them, I needed a place to park them for a while to have a vet determine whether they had any communicable disease before putting them with my horses. So, I found a "foster" home just up the road from me, as they say. This "foster" family thoroughly enjoyed them and ended up keeping them until they were adopted. I was honored to paint this group belonging to the family that so generously provided a home for these horses in such desperate need.

Saint Bernard Watercolor Painting

Have you ever met such an adorable face? This is Beau (Beauregard) (July 29, 1996-July 27, 2010). When I was asked to paint Beau, I was given an entire photo album filled with loving memories. The most evident fact was that Beau was truly a member of this family. Seems he was loved by all including a big white spotted flop-eared rabbit. This is another Christmas present.

My Early Morning Gang

This is the view from my front porch. These guys watch until they see me walk outside. They are waiting for their morning feed. They are beautiful to watch and make every day more interesting. They will be in this exact spot every morning and also every evening.

End of the Day in December (Mississippi Sunset)

Dog Watercolor Painting Labrador Retriever

One more holiday commission finished! I have two more to do for a total of 5 in about 2 weeks. I have learned never underestimate the time it takes to paint a black dog (or cat). I find that black is the hardest color to work with. I generally do an underpainting of blue then followed by a dark sepia. I use very little black and then only in the darkest areas. If you look hard, you can see some blue and the sepia.

Meet Tigger. This is a commission for a friend of mine who said, "There is something magical about Tigger. No matter what's going on, a few minutes talking to him makes everything better." Indeed, my friend doesn't know that this painting has been commissioned as a Christmas gift for her.

Some of us get into Christmas...

This is my niece's dog. I'm quite sure it wasn't the pooch's idea to don the hat. Guess it runs in the family!

...and some don't

I have many Christmas commissions! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I so enjoy painting these canine family members during the holiday season. Above is Archie (another Wildrose Kennel pup). He was totally more interested in the imminent afternoon hunt. However, I did manage to get a good photo or two.

In the top photo, he is watching the hunters get their gear ready. In the bottom photo, Archie, realizing he is stuck with the girls for a minute, patiently watches the preparations for the afternoon hunt. I just love his pensive expression here.