Artisan Market at the Gallery this Sunday Celebrating Craft Week!

Remember the Artisan Market that was rained out?
Well, it's rescheduled for this Sunday!

Come by see all the great artisans in the parking lot, get a hot dog at the TROLLY STOP cart, visit with the CANINES FOR SERVICE dogs and drop in the gallery to see me and the dogART - it'll be a fun day!

The Daily Dog - Twenty Nine

"Dakota"

8" x 10

Oil on canvas

A few years ago a friend asked me to paint Buster, the family dog, for his wife's birthday. Last Christmas his wife asked me to paint her parent's dog that had suddenly passed as a gift to them. 

Sadly, sweet Buster passed away earlier this year and although the husband was concerned it was way to early for another dog, the wife started scanning the shelters. From the moment she saw Dakota, she knew she was the one! 

You can read the full story here and see pictures if you scroll to the bottom of the blog...

http://stylegirljessjames.com/style-girl-fashion-fix/fashion-fix-rachel-zoe-for-the-day-celeb-styling-new-puppy-cfw-highlights/

I wanted to paint Dakota because first off she is ADORABLE. Secondly, she is a rescue and I'm so happy that she has found a wonderful loving home and they are a great match.

Fortunately for sweet Dakota (and them) they were looking in rescue shelters  - there are so many wonderful dogs and cats out there that are needing good homes right now just waiting for the opportunity to make you happy.  

Here is where they found Dakota:

http://www.savinggracenc.org/

"Buster"

Officially rescued!

Wilmington Alley

"Wilmington Alley"

12" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

purchase

I took this photo a few months ago and have wanted to paint a wilmington alley for awhile. I love the way everything is so dirty and wet on the street and the sunlight cutting into the buildings at the top. It truly is a metaphoric painting... light at the end of the tunnel? transformation? a new life?

Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach

4" x 7"

oil on panel

purchase

Ever since I arrived in Wilmington, I have wanted to paint one of these lifeguard stations. I just love the design and they way they look against the summery backdrop. 

"Thinking About Shrimp"

"Thinking About Shrimp"

7" x 5"

oil on panel

purchase

First of all, I apologize for the numerous posts on this. Seems like lately nothing is working the way it's supposed to or maybe I'm not working the way I'm supposed to. Anyway, for whatever reasons, I think I figured out the problem. 

There is this great place here in Wilmington called Mott's Channel Seafood and going there to get seafood is an experience in itself. It's right over the water with lots of sea life, seagulls and pelicans eagerly waiting for a meal to be tossed out by the fisher-people.  I usually take my Chumley with me because he loves watching fish. He's obsessed with it. We'll walk down to the dock after picking out our meal for the night, Guy will shoot some photos and I'll just enjoy the fresh air and scenes while Chumley scans the water for activity.  Sometimes a wayward dolphin will pop out nearby which sends Chumley into an absolute frenzy. It's really funny to watch. 

Shore Leave

40" x 30"

oil on fabric on canvas

purchase

Don't forget my show is coming up next Friday!

Click here for more info:

www.clairhartmann.com

"Faithful" October 28th, 2011

"Faithful: A Series of Dog Paintings", by artist Clair Hartmann will open at the WHQR gallery October 28th. Included in the show are  portraits from her popular Wilmington based "Downtown Dogs" series, a premiere showing of her new body of work, "Lost Dogs", and a sampling of beloved canine companions ranging from whimsical, classical to contemporary. 

Guitarist Rick Toby will provide a musical backdrop with smooth sounds of the deep south Delta Blues, and the Adopt-An-Angel rescue group will be there with some furry friends in need of a loving home who would just love to meet you! So please join us for an evening to celebrate and support the Arts... WHQR...and our faithful canine companions. Who knows? You may meet the love of your life!

Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them,
Filling an emptiness we don't even know we have.
                         
~ Thom Jones

PRESS RELEASE