The Chase

The Chase
36x12"
oil on canvas
view in my shop

Purple Haze

Purple Haze
18" x 24"
oil on canvas
view in my shop

Jeopardy Portrait

Jeopardy
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
private collection

This is a portrait from the Christmas commissions.

I just received this photo from Edward Dare Gallery in Charleston of their front window
-  I'm so proud to be a part of this great gallery - here is their website...
http://www.edwarddare.com/

Bear

Bear
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
private collection


More Christmas commissions.

PAINT MY DOG series #3

"Shala"
8" x 10"
private collection

Slowly getting through the holiday portraits - I have 5 paintings on my easel right now!

If you are interested in a portrait go to:
www.petportraitsbyclair.com

PAINT MY DOG #2

PAINT MY DOG #2
8" x 10"
private collection

After an awesome vacation in Florida, I have resumed holiday commissions.

This is the second in the PAINT MY DOG series 2015. I started this before my vacation and finished it today.  I still have #1 on my easel and should be done with it tomorrow.

PAINT MY DOG! Portrait Special!!

Last year I had a very successful PAINT MY DOG! Special.
This year I'm doing it again -

The first 10 people I get photos from, I'll paint - If you would like to purchase the portrait it's $195.00 plus shipping.

Spots will fill up fast - so start getting your photos together!

Squirrel Watch

"Squirrel Watch"
16" x 20"
oil on canvas

This is the second painting in the Gretel series. 

I visited my sister and Gretel last year and absolutely fell in love with this dog. It took awhile (after a lot of chicken treats) for her to accept me as ok, but after that we were buds and I was able to take about a hundred photos of her. 

From a painters perspective, she is a stunning model, perfect color for my palette, flowing lines, great profile... it helps that I am a freak about dachshunds... just don't tell my terriers :)

Geisha Wendy

Geisha Wendy

16" x 20"

oil on canvas

sold to a collector in Texas

 

Kat and dog sleeping with Kat and Dog (the painting)

A photographer I know had posted a photo of his wife sleeping with their dog Jaeger on Facebook - It was a photo he took with his phone and the quality wasn't great, but all I saw was an awesome subject to paint. So I decided to paint it really big for a show I was doing. Needless to say, it never made it to the show. Once he saw it, he said he just had to have it. He told me he and his wife were moving to Chicago and he wanted this painting hanging in their new apartment when his wife arrived for the first time. He said it was quite a surprise with a few tears shed.

Love it when that happens.

Nash

Nash
8" x 10"
sold

Tucker

8" x 10"
oil on canvas
Sold

Ok, back to reality… still have a few portraits left to do :)

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! #25

"Madison"
10" x 8"
oil on canvas

RESERVED PURCHASE

Madison's Story…

"I got Madison (named after the Madison Scouts of Drum Corps International) in 1999 when my roommate and best friend very suddenly moved back to her hometown. I had no TV or living room furniture, but decided a dog would be my next big purchase.

As a severe asthmatic, I did a lot of research on dogs that don’t shed and made a few appointments to see the various breeds.  At my first “go-see,” a tiny – and very vocal – black puppy peed on me, and I knew she was mine.  I had nothing to carry her home in, no food, and no doggie supplies…but she was mine. I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Fifteen years later, she is still mine.  We picked up her brother – an ornery cat named Sid Vicious – along the way, and we make a peculiar team.  But it works for us.  She has been by my side through everything – a move to Washington, D.C. (and back home two years later), countless trips to the beach and Nana’s house on Sundays, and the illness and death of my father.  She was the first grandchild, and even with four “real” grandkids now, she acts as if she still comes first.

She is a quirky animal – she won’t step on doormats, and cries when you say the word “yay.” Her hearing is going, she can’t jump onto the bed anymore, and she is covered in “old-lady warts.”  But at fifteen, she is healthy, extremely active and alert, and still plays like a puppy.  My hope is that she sticks with me for a few more good years…I can’t imagine my world without my Maddy girl.
Thank you so much for doing this, Clair!  It will mean so much to me to have this at her old age!  I know I don't have long with her, so this is so special."

PAINT MY DOG! Series #24

Bodhi
8" x 10"
oil on canvas

Bodhi's story:
"Bodhi is our little man in a dog suit. He came to us after our last love, and rescue, Ziggy, lost a long and hard battle with liver cancer. I knew that I wanted a healthy puppy with a long life span. I did a lot of research and found that Tibetan Terriers fit the bill. Bodhi is now 10 and owns our hearts. I can't imagine loving a dog more than I love him! He is a character and comedian and adores his cat brothers."

www.petportraitsbyclair.com

PAINT MY DOG! #17

"Liam"
10" x 8"
oil on canvas


Liam's story…
"We brought Liam home as an 8 week old pup this past May. 3 months later and 65lbs heavier he is becoming quiet the character. He's just what we all needed. After losing our 4 dogs over this past year it had left a huge hole in all our hearts not too mention an emptiness in the house that was unbearable. We were missing Lilly curled up next to us with her long naps. Chubby little Sid with his constant wagging tail. Harvey's soft curly coat talking to you with his big brown eyes and Mr Quinn. My big beautiful sensitive boy. So loyal and always right by my side. I swear he knew everything I was thinking. Losing them all so sudden was heartbreaking. 'Never again' I said. the pain is just too great. Well I lasted 2 months. The hole in my heart was too big. I was actually getting depressed. It was time for a new Best friend. We found Liam. Living with his 8 brothers and sisters just a couple of hours away. We decided to 'Just take a peek' But as soon as I held him I knew he was coming home. Liam with his crazy spots and black and pink nose. His goofy personality and always somebody's shoe hanging from his mouth is just what the Dr ordered. Literally. "

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! #22

"Zephie"
10" x 8"
oil on canvas

Zephie's story..

"Unsuspectingly, I walked in to a neighbors garage to see a litter of English Springer Spaniels; it was a dark time in my life as my marriage had disintegrated unexpectedly and I was facing an uncertain future as a former stay at home mom with as a friend said "no marketable skills." (You gotta love friends!) A small liver and white bundle of cuteness wandered over, the neighbor commented she was the only of the litter yet to be sold, and well, I guess she needed me and I needed her. My teenaged boys donned her Ledy Zeppelin of Hillside - I shortened it to Zephie. A true velcro springer, Zephie literally saved me - hours of walking the energetic Springer was therapeutic, her unfettered joy at the very sight of me, and her enthusiastic personality buoyed the spirits of both me and my boys. My groomer, describes her as "the person at the end of the party with a lampshade on her head." To me, she is the purest joy, constant friend, love of my life - Zephie!"

Note: some paintings are completed out of order in this series - I have 2 or three in the works that aren't ready to be completed. So if you haven't seen your painting, not to worry :)

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 !