Sleeping In

Sleeping In
7x5"
oil on panel
available

White Koi

White Koi
8x10"
oil on canvas
view in my shop

This is my first painting of 2017.

I decided on Chumley because he is my most favorite subject to paint and this is his favorite thing to do - see the fish at the Arboretum. I ask him "do you want to go see the fish?" and he knows exactly what's coming. If I let him, he would stay all day and stare at the koi. When we leave he digs his feet in and pulls on the leash with his teeth to stay. I practically have to drag him out (really sad).

Any way, I'm hoping for the New Year you get to do all of your most favorite things.

Happy New Year Everybody!

The Daily Dog - Twenty Eight

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

This is Chumley looking out through his new dog door. I use the term "dog door" loosely because it really is just a hole cut into the door. He is deciding if it is safe and how exactly to get on the other side of this new hole. I helped him figure it out with an apple and now he hops through it effortlessly like a rabbit. 

In an effort to keep having to let him out all the time and for him to be more independent, I also taught him how to open the studio door into the carport, so he can jump through the new hole in the door and out to the yard. You can see a short video clip here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu9NsHP99bI&list=UU3jjRSkniQ8lmV92R7GOjXQ

Here a video of Chumley hopping like a rabbit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_-pxCI0zEw&list=UU3jjRSkniQ8lmV92R7GOjXQ

The Daily Dog - Twenty Two

"Roly Poly"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

This is Chumley. 

He is the best dog in the whole world.... 

just sayin'.

The Daily Dog - Ten

"Squirrel!"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

This is what Frida looks like when a squirrel is encroaching on her turf. 

Or a bird. 

Chumley goes for fish, lizards and roaches and Frida goes for birds and squirrels. 

So, I guess were covered in case we are faced with harmless, small creatures.

There is an awesome book coming out called "My Dog: The Paradox". It is a web comic now, but eventually will be a real book and I'll be first inline to get one. It is one of the funniest (and true) descriptions of a dog. 

Here is the link:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/dog_paradox

Listening

12" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

purchase

Most mornings I get up early to paint when the house is quiet and their are no distractions. After I feed Chumley and Frida, I'm off to paint something new.

After they eat, it's nap time and then when the house starts waking up, they listen...  this is the second favorite time of the day because the prospect of more food is imminent. They listen to every
little noise, they look and wait. It's really funny to watch - they are a constant source of entertainment. 

I have really great news... I am featured in Modern Dog Magazine this issue. I found out last night when I received a request for a large commission after they had seeing my work in the magazine. 

http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/clair-hartmann/36282

Winter

"Winter"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

"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. 

"Crevice" by Clair Hartmann

7" x 5"

oil on panel

purchase

"Safe Harbour" by Clair Hartmann

7" x 5"

oil on wood panel

Sold to a collector in Connecticut 

CLAIR HARTMANN, ARTIST

Wilmington, NC