Brittany and Golden

Two acrylic paintings on 8 x 10 canvas panels, canvas on board. The Brittany, left was listed on eBay Monday evening and will be on for a week. Golden Retriever will go off today. Dogs come in different shapes and sizes, and an infinite variety of temperaments. I have heard the Retriever described as "every day a party and he is the guest of honor." I have met a few like that. The Brittany looks very serious, but I know them to be fun loving and joyful when the occasion calls for it.

For my small-dog-lover collectors, I haven't abandoned you, (being a small dog lover myself also.) It's just that I like doing those paintings on 5 x 7 panels, and my local art supply store no longer carries them. Have some ordered, so I should be painting the "toys" again, soon!

I can't help it, I love painting horses. To me they are one of the most beautifully designed creatures on this planet! No matter the breed, there is a grace about them that can put a ballet dancer to shame. (And I love ballet) All different in color, size, shape and temperament; yet in some fundamental way, all the same incredible animal. You have also probably heard me sing the praises of dogs, cats, and all sorts of wild life in this blog. And creatures are truly my first love.

But of course I realize that animals don't appeal to everyone. Last summer a man stopped by our table at a book signing, looked at one of my cards. and sneered, "So, you paint horses." I smiled and answered, "Yes, I paint a lot of things, if you are really interested, you can see my work on my website." I gave him the card, which he put in his pocket before he walked away. I am sure it went directly to the wastebasket. He was a local politician, someone in county government. You can bet he lost three votes that day -- the author of the book, the other illustrator and me.

I don't know who it is that decided what is an acceptable subject for art, and what is not, but somehow animals have received a bum rap. Not that it matters to me. Anything the Good Lord has taken the time to create is worthy of a painting as far as I am concerned. A flower, an animal, a mountain or the seashore, I have painted them all, and each has its own unique beauty. So no apologies here, and nothing but pity for the county supervisor.
Ooops...A comment from my friend Nita reminded me that I forgot to include details of the painting with this post. It is acrylic on stretched, wrapped, canvas, 12 x 12 x 3/4 inches. The painting continues on the sides of the canvas, all edges painted, so that it is ready to hang with or without a frame. It was listed for sale on EBay Monday evening.

Red Fox

Sold

This is an acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas, 12 x 12, and it was just listed on eBay. The red fox is one of my favorite animals to paint. I especially love painting them in the winter; the white snow makes a perfect background for that gorgeous red fur. They are amazing animals.
But then, to me all nature is amazing. And beautiful, and exciting, and other words that haven't yet been spoken. I could paint for several lifetimes and never even scratch the surface of this wonderful world. Of course to me there is no question that it was all created by intelligent design. Intelligent and complicated and breathtaking. When God was all finished creating, He looked at it and said, "It is good." Boy, is that an understatement!!!!

German Shepherd

It has been so long since I have blogged, that I had trouble getting into this site. But now that the Christmas season has come and gone, I can begin to work on all those New Year's Resolutions I made. Or should have made. One of them is to write a little more consistently. It was a crazy, busy season, but now things have begun to quiet down a little so perhaps it will be time to get back to the business of living.

I have managed to squeeze in a little time for painting this week. This is an 8 x 10 acrylic on canvas panel, a German Shepherd. In case you haven't noticed, I love dogs, all kinds of dogs. The only dogs I don't love are those I haven't had the opportunity to meet yet, and I know we will be friends when I do. Right now I have only two living with me, but if I sell lots of paintings maybe we can get a bigger place and I can have lots more. Just kidding... or maybe not.

Anyway, my family had two different German Shepherds at two different times on the farm where I grew up and they were completely opposite in temperament and attitude. One considered himself a serious guard dog whose job it was to protect us from every real and imagined threat on the planet. The second was one of those dogs who remain a big puppy all their lives. Everything is a game, and every person a friend. Neither of them will ever be forgotten, and I know that they are both waiting to great me on the Rainbow Bridge.