Little Cocker Spaniel

Beautiful, Beautiful Brown Eyes.

by Della Burgus

The title of this painting is from a very old song. The big, expressive, brown eyes of this little Spaniel can speak volumes and totally melt my heart. I seldom see a little dog that I don't just long to cuddle or a larger dog that I can resist petting.

I have come to realize that God speaks to us through almost everything in life, and animals are no exception. In fact, I believe they are among His most willing messengers. "Love" is the lesson He wants most for us to learn, and that seems to be something they all know a lot about. Look into those eyes, and that is what you see: unconditional love. If this little creature understands it so well, why is it so hard for us humans to understand - us, with our "superior" brain power, our sophistication, our "evolutionary development"? Why is it that we continue to gossip, shift blame, hold grudges, and just generally treat each other badly? We all need to take a lesson from our long-suffering pets, who love us no matter what stupid thing we did this time, who never find fault, never put us down, never try to show us up. They just keep on loving, keep on believing, keep on wanting the best for us. That is what love is all about.

Pastel on Wallis Sanded Paper
Image size 8 x 10
Mounted on foam core board
Matted and ready to frame.

To purchase, or if there are questions email the artist
Email Della

Available through
Art Helping Animals

20% will be donated to
Old Dog Haven

Equine Art Horses White Arabian Horse Out of the Shadows

Out of the Shadows

Those of you who have been following my work for a while know that I love painting horses, and that white horses hold a special fascination for me. There is some sort of spiritual connection that is beyond my understanding. To me the horse is a metaphor for life, and if I can't quite explain it, that is because I am not sure I understand it. "Out of the Shadows" is particularly metaphoric, because that describes the events of my life over the last twelve months. It has been a year of grief and loss, of rapid change and upheaval, of long hours of introspection and self-discovery.

Many years ago I learned the futility of asking, "Why?" "Why me?" "Why now?" Whatever answers may exist are so far beyond my experience that I would never understand, even if God were to show me His master plan. No, the question I have learned to ask is "What now?" - Where do I go from here? What road do I take? And, most important, if I am not who I used to be, or if I have never been who I thought I was, who am I?

Yet, even in the darkest shadows, there is always a glimmer of light. Sometimes just a tiny glimmer, just the thinnest little shaft of light coming through the crack somewhere. But it is enough. You can see the light hitting the horse's face, highlighting individual hairs in its mane. That light is hope for tomorrow. The hope that we can all get up and get moving one more day, and find ourselves one day closer to the Light.

Out of the Shadows is a pastel on Canson Paper, 10.5 x 13. It is matted and ready for you to frame. $85 includes shipping within the US. 20% of the sale will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue. It has not yet been listed on Ebay.

For information or to purchase email me:
Email Della

What is sweeter than a sleeping baby?

Pure Gold

There is an old saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie." Ah, but what of puppies? Can anyone resist a sleeping puppy? Don't you just want to rub its little ears, scratch its head or maybe tickle its nose? It may not be such a good idea. You will probably wake the little darling and then he/she will want to play, roll over for a good tummy rub, or have a tug of war. Maybe even decide it's time to go outside, or else not and then you will be really unhappy. So you better leave this sleeping puppy to dream the wonderful, joy-filled dreams of puppyhood. But maybe, just one little tickle...

This little puppy has been blessed with a home and a person who loves her, but many dogs, cats, horses, and other animals are not so fortunate. It is my desire to use my art to speak for animals who have no voice. I am a member of Art Helping Animals, a fellowship of professional artists who donate a portion of our sales to animal charities. To date, our organization has raised over $60,000 to help the animals.

20% of the sale of this pastel painting will be donated to Old Dog Haven. Please click the link below to learn more about this wonderful network of animal lovers with a special heart for senior dogs.

Pure Gold

by Della Burgus

Pastel on Sennelier Pastel Card,
Image Size 9 x 8
Matted, mounted on foam core board,
Ready to frame

$75

Shipping included

20% will be donated to
Old Dog Haven.

To purchase, or for comments or questions, email the artist
Email Della

Spring is here - or is it?

Has it stopped snowing yet? I mean, really, for good? Or at least until next fall? Is it really over, the long, hard winter that won't allow you to even stick your nose out of the door without it being bitten off by frost? Or is it just hiding, lying in wait until we all get comfortable with the sunshine and green grass, ready to hit us again with one last blast of icy storms. It seems to be over, but I am not taking anything for granted...

One of the great joys of spring is planting flowers. Spring is later here in Iowa than almost everywhere else in the world, but at last the annuals are ready to be planted. So I stopped by the garden center today just to see what was available, and came home with all this. Most of them will be planted by the sign in front of the studio. This year, because it was a long, cold winter, and a whole year of sadness and loss, I felt the need for color in my gray life, so the flowers will be bright and splashy with no particular color scheme.



This is the location where they will be planted. Pathetic, isn't it? Sort of like a neglected pet. But that is what happens during a long Midwest winter. In a day or two, if this rain ever lets up for a little while, I will show you how good it can look.

In the meantime, Happy Spring!

Equine Art New Little Chestnut Arabian Colt

There is something irresistible about new colts gazing at the world in awe and wonder. Everything is new and exciting to them and they can hardly wait to begin to explore, to run, to dance across the meadows, chasing butterflies, bees, the wind. We were all "new colts" once. I hope you haven't lost that sense of wonder - if you have, please try to find it again. Everyone should be as happy as this new little colt.

One way to find that joy again is by helping someone else, and no one needs our help any more than abused, abandoned and neglected animals. I hope to use my art to speak for those who have no voice of their own. As a member of Art Helping Animals I donate a portion of my sales to various animal charities. To date, our organization has raised over $60,000 to help the animals.

20% of the sale of "Little Red" will be donated to True Blue Animal Rescue.

"Little Red"
by Della Burgus

Pastel, Image size: 8 x 11
Mounted on foam core, with a double mat
Ready to frame

Check out the listing on
EBay

Or to purchase. or if you have any questions, email the artist
Email Della

Cavalier King Charles

(Sorry, this painting is no longer available., but I promise to paint another CKC soon)

I love all dogs and over the years have painted many different breeds, as well as mixed breeds. I have come to believe that all dog people are certain that their favorite breed is the very best. And I am sure they are all right about that. Because they are all the best.

One of the breeds that commands the most loyalty from its people is the Cavalier King Charles. And the reasons are obvious - the regal appearance, the large, loving eyes and the gentle manner, combined with a happy disposition and friendly spirit. Their fur is soft and silky, and I defy anyone to resist petting them. Usually they don't mind.

This particular painting was sold this week, but I will paint others, because they are fun and challenging to do, and because I get lots of requests for them. As with all of my paintings, a portion of the sale is donated to an animal charity. For the CKC paintings, the charity is Old Dog Haven, a wonderful organization with a heart for senior dogs. Last week I received an email from Judith at ODH, telling me that their newest Cavalier, who is blind and suffers from heart disease, delivered two puppies just ten days after moving in. She is a wonderful mom.

If you don't know about Old Dog Haven, please check out their website.
And also the website of Art Helping Animals, a group of professional artists who donate a portion of their sales to animal charities. I am a proud member of this group which has raised over $60,000 for animal charities.

Old Dog Haven

Art Helping Animals

Oh, by the way, I share my life with a Toy Poodle and a Border Collie - and they are ALSO the best dogs in the world. Because all dogs are...