The Daily Dog - Three

"Pixel"

8" X 10"

Oil on canvas

This is Pixel. 

Frida met her at the dog park a few weeks ago and had a fantastic time chasing each other around with incredible matched energy levels. I fell in love with Pixel and wanted to take her home with me, but her human would not agree this was a good idea, so we took a photo home. 

Frida and Pixel's playtime will be featured in another much larger painting down the road. 

The Daily Dog - Two

"The Daily Dog - Two"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

25% of this sales goes to 

http://www.allbreedrescuevt.com/

The Daily Dog - One

"The Maple Kind??"

The Daily Dog #1

8" x 10"

oil on canvas
25% of the sale goes to
http://www.fortheluvofpaws.org/

Since I have a show coming up in February I decided that I need to paint more dogs!  - so I am starting a project called The Daily Dog where I paint a dog a day for 30 days, maybe more. 

The rules are...

- Paint a dog a day

- Keep it under 2 hours

- I get the weekends off which is Sunday and Monday for me

- If I get a migraine, I get a free pass

I'm telling you all of this because I need accountability or I'll slack and it's easier for me to slack because of all the other stuff going on (gallery). Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll let you know how it's going by posting every day. 

On another note, this dog reminded me of the bacon dog... if you have not see the video, view it here... I find it absolutely hilarious! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw

Awards and Rewards!!

I am happy to tell you that my painting "To Have and To Hold" won the People's Choice Award and the Zia Bird Award in the Wilmington Art Association's Spring Show at the Azalea Festival! 

I couldn't be more thrilled!!

I guess you could say this is how I feel right now. 

White Azaleas

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

New Paintings up for Auction!

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Paintings up for Auction

These paintings are currently at auction...

Plums

oil on canvas

go to auction

Spider Wort

oil on canvas

go to auction

3 day auction

Chrome Lighter

oil on panel

go to auction

3 day auction

Waiting...

"Waiting"

23" x32"

oil on canvas
purchase

I'm starting to work on some big paintings for a show next year, Feb. 2014. I have a few now and hope to have about 12 large works and a lot of small pieces. Not sure how I'm going to achieve this with my new schedule running the gallery, but I'm hoping for the best.

I found this image on an old lost and found poster. It said "Have you seen Snoopy?" I thought he was adorable with his big head and tiny legs. I'm hoping he was found, but I guess I'll never know. 

I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend!

I have put another painting up for auction. See all auctions here:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/inde/m.html?item=130880618061&ViewItem=&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

New Painting on Ebay

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

see auction

I have decided to put some of my paintings up for auction. I'm going to add a new one everyday as they are finished and give buyers the chance to buy them for reduced prices before they are added to my store at a regular price.

This painting is up for auction now. See auction here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130877853790

Don't forget I'm having an art show this Friday - hope you can join me!

"Tumbles" by Clair Hartmann

"Tumbles"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

I did a commission painting in a previous post of Bella. 

Bella past last year and this was Bella's best friend, Tumbles. 

Here is a comment from the client...

"Oh, this painting is just wonderful!!! I was so delighted when I first saw it. Both pieces of artwork surpass and go beyond anything that I could ever image. You have an amazing gift and I am so thankful that you were able to share it with us. Both of these portraits of Bella & Tumbles mean so much to us and will be in a special place in our home for years to come. The detail you provided is just so breathtaking...the brush strokes, multi-toned colors used to show the depth and highlights and color of his fur, his nose and muzzle are just so realistic....and his eye's display his calm, intellectual, and loving soul. Once again, I can't thank you enough for creating both of these precious pet portraits."

I am having a show at the gallery this Friday from 5:00 - 8:00pm

Hope you can make it!

www.sungalleryandgifts.com

Bella

"Bella"

8" x 10

oil on panel

I wanted to share this from the customer... this is why I paint pets... 

"It is simply beautiful...it is more than I ever imagined it would be. I started crying as soon as I saw it. You've captured Bella beautifully, her eyes display so much...and the detail, even down to the wisps of her hair. It is more than perfect...this painting will be held dear to my heart. I can't thank you enough. I also appreciate how quickly you created Bella's portrait. This painting is just wonderful!"

Maggie

"Maggie"

oil on canvas

This post is in honor of Maggie. 

She past away April 11 last year. 

This portrait was purchased in an All Breed Rescue auction to help give another dog a new life. 

As I painted this, I thought about all the smiles and laughter Maggie probably brought to her family and how loved she must have been. There are so many dogs out there that have the same qualities possibly sitting in some cage some where waiting for a chance. Please, the next time your thinking of a new (fur) family member, check out the rescue places in your area. There are some really great pups (and kitties) out there that are waiting for someone just like you. 

http://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/

Charolais Cow

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

Winter Heron

6" x 8"

oil on panel

purchase

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

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?

A New Leash on Life (study)

A New Leash on Life

12" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

purchase

I plan on painting this on a much bigger canvas, but wanted to do a smaller version first. 

This is from one on the first photos taken of our dog, Frida. She had just gotten a new purple leash as a gift from Guy's daughter. A few days before she had escaped death at the pound and we were waiting for a ferry that was taking us on a vacation to the beach. Needless to say, we all had wonderful, bonding time and are SO grateful to have her in our lives - 

I think she is too.

Avocado Still Life

"Avocado Still Life"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas panel

purchase

Sheep

12" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

purchase

Winter

"Winter"

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

Halo

"Halo"

oil on canvas panel

purchase

Mary Frances

12" x 12"

oil on panel

sold to a collector

Cain and Able

Cain and Able

14" x 18

Sold to a collector in Florida

"Friend from Above" and Other Great News!

Friend from Above

7" x 5"

oil on panel
purchase

I'm so excited to tell you I am featured in an article in Wrightsville Beach Magazine called "When Dogs and Art Collide".

(Frida and Chumley were so well behaved for the photos shoot)

TP

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

Martin

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

Sold to a collector in New Jersey

Pistachio

Pistachio

4" x 7"

oil on panel

purchase

Old Baldy

Old Baldy

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

In case you didn't know, Old Baldy is the name of the lighthouse on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.

Oyster Shell

Oyster Shell

10" x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

If you haven't noticed, I LOVE painting oyster shells! 

Wren in the Rain

Wren in the Rain

8" x 10

oil on canvas

purchase

Dockside

Dockside

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

Kingfisher

"Kingfisher"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

purchase

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

purchase

Actually, this is Mexican Hot Chocolate - been craving it lately... guess cold weather will do that. 

For the past week I have been chillin' at the lake house with Guy and the dogs. It's been a wonderfully relaxed week with lots of painting, playing, visiting, reconnecting, celebrating and eating. 

Tomorrow we drive back and get back to the real world. 

Here is a great site about using art to make a big difference... thought you might like it... I did...

http://anactofdog.org/An_Act_of_Dog/Home.html

Eat Me

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

purchase

2013

"2013"

oil on panel

5" x 5"

purchase

Hoping everyone has good fortune in the new year!