Coastal Crab Watercolor

"Coastal Crab"

30" x 23"

Watercolor on Arches
purchase

First Gardenia 2013

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

Well, lately I have been having quite a "painters block". Not really wanting to paint and kind of sad about it. This has happened before and it's actually a good thing even through it doesn't feel like it. I believe when this happens my brain is sorting everything out I've learned to move to a new level which I'm quite excited about. I always feel a lot of fear in these times because I feel like I've "lost it" and it won't come back, but it always does which is a nice surprise.

I try to paint a gardenia every year when they bloom. They remind me of my grandmother. She introduced me to coffee and custard. She took me to church and liked to watch Billy Graham crusades really loud on her tiny TV. She liked to read the paper to me and would keep me up with her snoring. She wore red Estee Lauder lipstick and rhinestone glasses. She was stubborn and tough and I loved her very much. 

Blue Heron

"Blue Heron

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

purchase

Well, I'm back from my little vacation and wanted to paint something other than a dog. This is from a photo that Guy took at Arlie Gardens. 

Also, here are some watercolors I did from my trip to the Outer Banks. Most of them were done on the ferry ride from Ocrakoke to Hatteras. I was just having way too much fun to stop and do more paintings. The ferry ride is 2.5 hours long so I was kind of forced to stop for a little while. 

I really like these simple watercolors. 

Looking forward to blueberry picking today for the first time. 

SO glad summer is here. 

Shackleford Banks II

purchase

Ocracoke

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Open Water from the Ferry

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Shackleford Banks

purchase

Ocracoke Lighthousepurchase

The Daily Dog - Thirty

"Eli"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

Well, I have come to a close on my little project of 30 dogs for 30 days and great timing because we leave for a short vacation tomorrow starting out on Shackleford Island where wild horse roam. I'm so excited and hope to get lots of great photos to do paintings from. Really been wanting to paint some horses after being inspired by Kathleen Coy's painting of the two horses which is amazing if you haven't seen it. By the way, she really rules when it comes to dog paintings.

I thought it was appropriate to end it with an adoptable dog, Eli. He is available at Saving Grace and 35% of the proceeds of this sale will go to Saving Grace shelter. He looks like a really great find and super lovable. If any one does decide to adopt him, let me know because it would be an awesome story and this painting goes to you as a gift. 

It's been fun and now I feel ready to get on some big paintings for my show in February!

See ya!

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!

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 Seven

"Jewel"

8" x 10" 

oil on canvas

The Daily Dog - Twenty Six

 

"Jip"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

I knew Jip in his younger days - he used to be all black, but now he has turned to gray. He belongs to a dear friend of mine that was sort of a second mother to me when I was growing up. She asked me to paint him as a memorial even though he's still kicking around and I was more than happy too. 

It was interesting to paint this because he is all gray, but there are subtleties of purples, yellows and blues as well - it's rather pretty and quite a challenge. 

I hope I did him justice. 

The Daily Dog - Twenty Five

10" x 8"

Oil on canvas

This is Brei Brei

She belongs to Dawn Estrin and her husband and she (and he) makes the most beautiful jewelry.  

You can see her work in Artful Home which is where I first fell in love with her style - by the way, I am a big fan of Artful home catalog, If you don't get it, I highly recommend if you are an art lover. 

Not sure how we came about being long distance friends, but I have done a few portraits for her and have some of her wonderful creations. 

Last year we worked out a deal and now she is using my artwork in her jewelry! 

(The bottom pendant is a painting I did awhile back)

You can see more of her work at her site here:

Bijou Graphique

They also do custom jewelry creations.

Only 5 more to go and I've reached my goal of 30 dogs for 30 days!!

The Daily Dog - Twenty Four

"Frida Wrap"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

Even though Frida and Chumley look alike, they are quite different in a lot of ways. One big difference is Frida loves to be wrapped up in blankets, sometimes completely covered up and she will stay like this for hours if undisturbed. Chumley hates to be covered up, even a little bit. If you do, he will tolerate for a few minutes then get up and move to a new location with less annoying accommodations.

As I was painting this the power went out, so a lot of the coloring was instinctual which I really liked, but what I didn't like was that right eye and some of the nose seemed a little long - I may revisit this one again.

The Daily Dog - Twenty Three

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

So happy summer is here again!

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 - Twenty One

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

This is Frida after a day of Pups Play & Stay. She loves this place more than anything and will howl if she can't go. 

Dog Park Day

24" x 24" Diptych

oil on canvas

This is a friend that Frida met at the dog dark a few weeks ago named Pixel. I painted Pixel's portrait as part of The Daily Dog series. Frida and Pixel had a fine day of chasing each other around, kicking up dust, smelling trees and establishing dominance. 

Rocket Dog

48" x 24"

oil on canvas

I am so impressed with the obsessive drive of competitive - athletic dogs, so when I heard there was going to be a dock jumping competition here, I knew I had to go. I photographed this dog last weekend and knew it would be perfect! The large ring on his collar was just the icing on the cake - I felt it gave him a "carousel" feel, which to me is just magic!

I wanted to paint a jumping dog for a few years now and this is exactly what I saw in my mind's eye. I just love the way this painting looks - it came together way too quickly and I tried to slow down the painting just to savor every moment.

The Daily Dog - Twenty

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

This scene takes place every morning and night. After Chumley eats, he watches Frida eat and I watch Chumley watch Frida eat. I have to watch him because if Frida hesitates for a second, he will take this as a signal she is done and charge in like a bullet in flight to help her out with the remaining kibble. 

He's so helpful.

The Daily Dog - Nineteen

"Cinnamon"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

35% of the proceeds go to 

animal rescue

I found Cinnamon's photo on a rescue site and can't remember which one at the moment, but really does it matter? There are thousands of dogs just like Cinnamon that need a home. If you are thinking about getting a pet, make the shelter your first stop.

I was drawn to Cinnamon's photo because of the obvious sadness in her eyes and it made me think about if we had not picked up Chumley off the highway that day and he had ended up in a kill shelter somewhere and what if no one had gotten picked him? And Chumley is an awesome dog! I hate to think about it. People think these dogs are the rejects and they are not - There are so many that just get lost or haven't found their right match and just need someone to love and protect them. 

Maybe it'll be you?

The Daily Dog - Eighteen

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

This is Hannah. 

I saw this photo of her of her awhile back on a facebook friend's page...

I thought it was one of the funniest photos I had seen, but I also connected to it because sometimes I feel like this with life. That I'm being pulled along with no choices, but I do have choices and some of them are tough. I am at a point in my life where I have to make some tough choices in order to take care of myself. 

One of my most favorite quotes from my really smart sister is "don't just do something, sit there".... what it means to me is sometimes you can't control life, you need to sit with it awhile and the answers will become apparent. 

When I saw the photo of Hannah on the blue blanket, I just had to paint it. I have never met her, but she seems like a really cool dog. 

The Daily Dog - Seventeen

"Joe"

8"x10"

oil on canvas

This is Joe. 

He is one of the most loyal dogs I've ever met. He belongs to Sara and she is fiercely loyal to Joe. He follows her everywhere and she takes care of him throughout all the ailments old age brings. At night he sleeps with his head on her chest. He likes to bark at birds and loves to eat. He will chase a ball as long as you throw it and believes this is the most fun game in the world. 

"Sara Bird"

48" x 48"

This is a painting I did of Sara a few years ago. It sits on the wall in our living room - it is one of my favorite paintings.

The Daily Dog - Sixteen

"Chumley and the Fish"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

Chumley is obsessed with fish. 

When he spots someone fishing on the beach, he shakes with excitiment and charges over to the unsuspecting fisher-person, sits down and watches - This is his spectator sport. 

So, it is expected that his most favorite pastime is watching the koi at the Arboretum - he shakes with excitement as they all clammer up to him hoping that he has brought fish food. I'm sure he must be amazed that they have his undivided attention and at how easy it would be to just pluck one out  - lucky for them he's afraid of the water.