Dog #2 - his favorite bowl

Beginning October 1st, SMAL (St Michaels Art League) will be hanging another exhibit in the gallery at our local library. We have 4-5 exhibits a year and try to make them interesting by using various themes. (Our last one was in July - "Red, White and Blue" - see blog of June 16, 2013)

This exhibit's theme is "Water, Water Everywhere." Yes, we live in an area where everyone is probably within 5 minutes of the Chesapeake Bay and/or one of its tributaries. There is indeed water, water everywhere! But, the suggestion in the exhibit write up was to be challenged by this theme and come up with some different ideas.  Suggestions were: someone jogging carrying a water bottle, a rainy day, children playing near a fountain or a dog lapping water from his favorite bowl.

Well, now that I knew I could paint a dog, this seemed the way to go - a dog drinking from his favorite bowl.

One of the art challenges I am working on is the combing of two (or more) pictures into one painting. It can be tricky to get the perspective, light and values correct so that it looks like it is really one picture - not several pasted toegther. I knew what I wanted to do for this dog painting . . .could it come together?

We all know what a dog's favorite bowl looks like, right? So, I am running around the house taking pictures of our toilets from many different angles - yes, and laughing at myself! Then I am looking at all the pictures on my computer and printing them out to see which ones will work with the dog picture. Don't you know I am also thinking, "What if I die right now before I have painted the picture and someone goes through my picture file and sees all those toilet pictures?"  Well, let's not go there!

My initial sketch wasn't right, but several sketches later I think I got it and began my painting.  A bit of tweaking here and there and voila . . .

"It's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere"   9x12 pastel   $150 SOLD

Yeah, I know, it's probably NOT a painting you want hanging over your mantle, but it's fun and silly. Be sure to read the title.  Let's face it, it's bathroom art. You could hang it over your commode!

There is a reception for this exhibit at the St Michaels Library on Thursday, October 3rd at 5:30pm. Come and see what all the artists have done with this theme!

Alley - My first animal pastel

When we first moved to the Eastern Shore, my husband bought a riding lawn mower and seemed to enjoy getting out there and cutting the grass.  Then there was a proliferation of bumper stickers that seemed to appear everywhere that said things like "I'd rather be sailing".  I think he took those literally and soon we had hired someone else to mow (and we even gave our mower away!).

We have had our current lawn care guy for quite a while now and have gotten to know his family - and his dogs. I always look forward to Jason dropping by with his truck - usually with beautiful golden retrievers in the back seat. The dogs are always well behaved and adorable.  I admit it, I have a soft spot for goldens - particularly Alley and River.

This past summer we were given the sad news that Alley had died.  She was 13 years old and had been Jason's companion since she was a pup. A week or so after her death I got a phone call from Kellee, Jason's wife, asking if I would paint a picture of Alley. She wanted to give it to Jason for his birthday. I was very flattered, but was a little hesitant since I had never painted a dog before. (I had done a watercolor of a niece of Jason's and Kellee knew about that painting.)

I told her that I would give it a try and we would see how it went.  She sent me some pictures that she had of Alley and I also had taken some for another project.  I studied the photos for awhile and began the project wondering how I was ever going to be able to do this.

After working on the painting for a couple of days, I was amazed (and continue to be amazed) at how it turned out. It was one of those challenges that totally surprised me. I love it!

I have waited to post about this until Jason had the painting in hand. I am told that it now hangs in his house.  So Happy Birthday, Jason. We all miss Alley.