Sam

Sam
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
private collection

Show Update...

8" x 10"
sold

Remember the show I was going to have in September? Well, it's been pushed back awhile because of "life stuff". I'm still working on the show, but I've had some other emergencies come up that need my attention. It's still going to happen, just not when I thought it would.

Here is a portrait that I did in the beginning of the year.

Tug

Tug
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
sold to a collector in NC

I have been working away on the show in September and have come up with a theme. I call it Kingdom of the Animal… here is the poster so far and although it may change, you get the idea. It's been so much fun working on these paintings…. I'll send more about the dates when they are confirmed.

Coming in September 2015!

Sid

Sid
8" x 10
oil on canvas
Sold

Barn Owl

Barn Owl
8" x 10" x 3/4"
oil on thick panel
view in my shop

I had a lot of fun with the drips and color on this one.
These animals are so intense looking.

Anjou Pear

"Anjou Pear"
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
view in my shop

Bluejay of Happiness

Bluejay of Happiness
10" x 8"x 3/4" (sides)
oil on heavy panel
view in my store

I wanted my first painting of 2015 to reflect how I hoped the year would be. Originally I thought of painting a bluebird, but I didn't feel the energy of a bluebird translated what I wanted to convey. I have always loved bluejays and their strong, proud, joyful energy. They are incredibly intelligent and very misunderstood. (on a side note: I have recorded about 12 different calls they make, all unique and expressive - the "squeaking gate" sound being my favorite) My mother told me once that when she was in labor with me, she listened to a bluejay outside the window making all of it's calls… maybe I heard them too.

So this year I hope to go in with strength and embrace joy in all things, choosing to recognize the joys and hold them in me.

Happy New Year to all of you - I have a good feeling about this one :)

The Jester

Sold to a collector in New York

The Jester

8" x 10"

I hope everyone had a great holiday! 

Here is one of the commissions that was a gift that is now safe to post. 

Portraits and Holiday Sale!

Dexter

8"x 10"

oil on canvas

sold

Lately, I have been busy, busy trying to keep up with holiday portraits. In the last few months I would say I've painted about 60 portraits and I still have more which is so exciting!

I was really happy with this portrait of Dexter. It wasn't a very good photo which I guess allowed me to improvise. I liked it so much, I wanted to keep it and it's not even my dog! But, I had to send it out yesterday because someone is getting a very special present this year  :)

I also wanted to let you know I have a 30% off sale going on in my shop - here's the link:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ClairHartmannFineArt?section_id=12496014&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1

PAINT MY DOG Series #30

Nash
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
Sold

A little about Nash…

"Nash is just a 1 1/2 year old Boykin Spaniel who is very goofy: loves any body of water; has 2 girlfriends (Sammi and Sundae) that he plays with and admires himself daily in my floor length mirror!"

PAINT MY DOG! Series #33

Scarlett

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

"Bridgett Rowley adopted Scarlett O'Hara, a Maltese/ShihTzu mix, two years ago from a puppy mill bust in Brunswick County. Her life began in an outdoor cage where she and her littermates endured harsh sun and rain, unprotected. She lived there for six months, never once walking on grass or interacting with humans, save for sporadic feedings. 

"When I met Scarlett, you could see it in her eyes — her soul was broken. She'd been neglected and ignored and she didn't know how to act around people. With rescues like her, you have to be patient." 

And Bridgett was taking her time to get Scarlett accustomed to being petted (cuddling took a little longer — a year, to be exact — but now Bridgett reports that Scarlett is both a cuddler and bed sleeper) and introducing her to the world. Raised in a cage, Scarlett knew nothing beyond its walls: She'd never walked on grass, chased a squirrel or seen a tree. 

Scarlett still holds a few habits left over from her early days — she devours her food as quickly as possible, and at times she's shy — but her new life is a breeze. She has every toy in the world, but her favorite is an old sock (of course). She sleeps with Bridgett. She has her own wardrobe. She goes on long walks. And now there's life dancing in her little brown eyes."

- from the July issue of SALT Magazine

Note: Please don't buy pets from puppy mills or from pet stores that use puppy mills…

for more information go here…

http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/puppy-mills/puppy-mill-faq

Sea Pearl

Sea Pearl
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
framed in a Victorian-Style Frame
purchase

As you know, I love dressing my dogs up in paintings. This is Frida as the Dread Pirate Pearl. I thought it appropriate to finish this painting for Halloween.

Happy Halloween everybody!

PAINT MY DOG! Series #27

"Indy"
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
sold

Indy's story: 

"The photo I sent you was of her first day in our household. She is a standard poodle, named Indy (short for Indiana...my home state. Her mother was named Montana.) Indy looks sweet and she is very affectionate, but she is also a very rowdy tomboy. She loves to go to the park and run as fast as she can...which is faster than any other dog she's met so far. She loves her toys...carefully distributes them around the rug in our family room, and takes her big ball upstairs and pushes it down the stairs so she can chase it. And she's developed a close relationship with the squirrels in our backyard...they get close enough to the ground to chatter at her, and she runs around like a maniac."

PAINT MY DOG! #21

Lexi
8" x 10"
oil on canvas

Lexi's story…
"Here is Lexi, returning from a day over on Masonboro Island.  This once stray/ lost puppy was found this past Valentine's Day and put in foster care.  She joined our family this past May and has warmed our hearts.  She is a Terrier Mix and sometimes a Terror, she likes to thieve anything she can get her hands on.  I think that might stem from being lost and hungry and having to hunt for food.  She loves car and boat rides, feeling the wind in her hair.  She is playful and loving.  She already had her first modeling debut in Salt magazine. She was the Model in the ad  for Uptown Market.  However she came to us, we can't imagine our family without her.  She is our Sexy Lexi!  Who apparently looks a lot like Benji!"

www.petportraitsbyclair.com

PAINT MY DOG! Series #20

"Ethel"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

sold

"Ethel, my sweet girl and her story... Ethel was adopted into our home from a local shelter outside of Memphis, TN. She was a mere 8 weeks old when she came home with me and her canine sister, Lucy. Yes, Lucy & Ethel! To say the least, that pair emulated their namesakes. Whatever shenanigans Lucy would get started, Ethel was most assuredly right alongside! For seven years these two were the best of friends, and the best companions for me. 

Ethel, even at nine years old, possess a childlike curiosity for the world around her. In her younger days that inquisitiveness found her in the vet's office several times. She learned the lesson after the fourth spider bite to her face. Between vertigo and vertebrae issues, I have watched this precious dog overcome each one with nary a whine or whimper.

Don't let her size fool you! Ethel may be small but inside that little body is a huge heart. She glances at you with pure compassion, which sometimes it feels greater than that I receive from humans. She has a sense of humor too! She is witty without words, it's as if she has a sense of discernment and knows when I need a laugh. 

In making two moves within the last year (Memphis to DC and DC to Chicago) she has been quite the trooper. Her ability to seamlessly acclimate to each new environment, her constant curiosity, and willingness to tag along wherever I go... She makes my life full beyond words!!"

petportraitsbyclair.com

PAINT MY DOG! #18

Bandaid
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
www.petportraitsbyclair.com


Shortly after Bandaid's passing, Alene wrote this for her beloved best friend…

"My Bandaid

The last night of your life was the hardest of mine. It was a slow, but natural death. I prayed all night for God to take you, to end your pain, to give you what I couldn't. I begged you to forgive me for not giving you peace days before.

I wanted so badly for you to live..Maybe it was the last lesson you were to teach me. I'm sure I'll never be the same. It has taken me two months to write this because I'm sure no words will be good enough to explain to the world what you meant to me.

You were my protection, unconditional love and loyalty. I slept at night, knowing you were watching over me. When I needed someone to love me unconditionally, you did. When life was just more than I could handle, you licked my face and made me handle it.

You always had my back. I am who I am today because you came into my life.

As I write this and try to come up with the right words, one song keeps playing in my head and has for the last two months, even the night you were dying. The Dance, by Garth Brooks. And the line, I could have missed the pain, but I would've had to miss the dance.

Bandaid, I would've spent that night a hundred times over (as hard as it was) to have the dance we shared. What an awesome dance we shared. :) I only hope you feel the same way.

That night could not have been easy for you. I pray you will forgive me for it. I tried to be with you to the end, but at times I couldn't bare to watch nature take you. I would have gladly taken your pain, even as painful as that night was, and as much as my mind dwells on it.

I remember the good nights and the good times, and my arms around your furry neck and your sweet kisses. For that, I have to thank you for the dance.. the night you died (the last hour), you and God gave me a gift (even though I hated God many times that night).

I am grateful for that last gift. It gives me hope we will meet again. My sweet Bandaid, I can't wait to see you.

RIP my sweet, sweet Bandaid. September 2000-November 25, 2011. I love you always."

Ivan the Terrier

Ivan the Terrier

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

framed in and antique style frame

view this painting in my store

I have wanted to paint Chumley as Napoleon ever since we found him... I guess since he's so small, but has such a large presence to me.

Unfortunately for commissions and my 25 dogs list, I've been struggling with painting ever since I got back from my vacation… painters block….  I wanted to do something not serious and fun and this is the painting that came out.

PAINT MY DOG - Dexter

"Dexter"
8" x 10"
oil on canvas

Really had fun with this one!

This is Dexter's story….
"Dexter is our 4 year old English Bulldog..he has that perpetually, sad look, but uses it to fool us into spoiling him with love and affection. He lives up to his reputation as an affectionate, loyal, companion, who not only loves us, but other dogs and children.

His secret talents are his ability to not only skateboard, but skim board in the ocean, as well as being a great swimmer, rather Unusual for his breed....needless to say, he has our hearts..
He is a character!"

PAINT MY DOG - ZeeZee

"ZeeZee"
8" x10"
oil on canvas

I love the look of this dog.
Lately, I've been watching the series HELL ON WHEELS which is set in the old west when the railroad was being built. As I was painting her, I thought she looked like she could be one to the characters. 

She just has that look. 

Classic.


Here is Zee Zee's story:
"ZeeZee is a rescue, she became my pal at 12 weeks old when I was grieving about the loss of my husband and dog within a week of each other.

My daughter and I drove to get her in Mt Airy where she had been kept at a Veterinarians Office. They did not give us any history.

They called her Zig Zag, but I thought that sounded like rolling papers…….. she became ZeeZee, which is so much easier to say.

ZeeZee has a mind of her own . Two years ago she jumped the fence and was on the run for 9 days. Thanks to many friends and fliers we found her safe and were joyfully reunited."



Part cattle dog and part terrier, ZeeZee, keeps me throwing the ball and sweeping up hair !

"Kizzy" Commission

"Kizzy"
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
sold

The name Kizzy came from Roots, she was the daughter of Kunta Kinte.

I wanted to share the clients email… this painting was originally going to be a surprise...

"Oh, gosh Clair. Wow. It's perfect. Really, it's beautiful and we love it. Yes, I'm afraid the cat's out of the bag because when I saw this last night, I started crying and couldn't seem to pull it together. Ranald, of course, wanted to know what was wrong, and I was too emotional to make anything up! So, I showed him, and we both started to cry, and we're both thrilled with it. Thank you."

Here is Kizzy's story:

We adopted our beautiful girl out of Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue when she was 18 months old. She had had a tough time as a puppy, so she didn't trust many people, but the three of us loved each other right away. She was an amazing athlete, a tremendous hunter, and the best guard dog we've ever seen. She had a regal, queenly bearing, and she loved to sit in the sunshine for hours.

This was her memorial:

It is with a heavy heart and a spirit filled with gratitude that we let you know that our dear Kizzy passed over the Rainbow Bridge last night, completing this part of her journey, and she is now on her next adventure. She had her quirks, but we loved her, and she loved us back with ferocity. We continue to feel her so close by, making sure we are OK, as she always has. The last couple of days, the three of us talked a lot about our walks on the beach, at the park, and chasing her leash at UNCW. The way the squirrels ran for cover whenever she went into the backyard, and how much she loved being pet on the belly - but only by us, her people she could trust. How she got the top marks in obedience class, but woe be it to the person who dared to ring our doorbell! She was beautiful, proud, and fiercely loyal. If you would think of her today and send an ear scratch her way, we would love that. Mindy and Ranald

Don't forget about the show tomorrow night!

I'll have all the recent paintings up!