Artist writes a Basset Hound book, shooting photos for artwork

This is a little off topic, but since I am an artist member of the Canine Art Guild, I would like to post a little brag on another related topic. My first book, Basset Hound, Your Happy Healthy Pet has been released just this week by Howell Book House, a division of Wiley Publishing. Read more about it on my own blog, Everything Pets. 

Several of my dog photos were used in the book. While not strictly a professional photographer, I have taken so many photos as reference material for my art over the years, that I have had several published in various books. When shooting reference photos, I never worry about the backgrounds, so a lot of my photos are unusable for a book, but occasionally I get a lucky shot. 

It may seem obvious, but I know I paint a much better picture if I have excellent photos to work from. A photographer recently gave me access to her photo library, and I just love being able to see the detail so well. I like to take my own photos, but when a client is across the United States, that just isn't possible. The painting here of an Australian Shepherd is my most recent, done from my photographer friend's reference material. This work is for sale. Contact me if you are interested. It is an 8 x 10, double matted and framed to 11 x 14.

I hope you will check out the book-- even if you don't have a Basset Hound! And visit my web site to see more of my art, writing, and web site design.

"Close to Home" is in the "Helping Paws Exhibition 2008", by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Christmas is around the corner and we are all going to start our Christmas shopping, our hunt for gifts, special gifts. If you are anything like me any good idea for that special gift is warmly welcomed.

The Canine Art Guilds' "Helping Paws exhibition 2008" is a wonderful stop for finding that extra special gift for the dog and art lover.

A definate must see.

Follow this link and have a peek, there is a grand selection of art depicting a variety of wonderful canine breeds rendered in all forms of media. The icing on the cake: all artists are pledging a percentage of their sales from this show in support of animal welfare efforts - a lovely way of making a dog in needs' Christmas that wee bit merrier!

Below: one example of graphite art for sale.

"Close to Home"

by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

20x20 cm, Graphite & Charcoal on Paper.

200 Euros (20% donate to The DCGR)

Million thank - yous for looking.

Art - The Gift of Giving to a Dog Lover - a Magical Experience

Something magical happens each time I paint a pet's portrait. It was no different with this painting of Licorice.


I experienced such pleasure in getting to know Licorice and in painting him.
I had first met Licorice running through the hallway to greet me. He is a vivacious dog of 12 yrs. This black yorkshire terrier / poodle mix has a huge heart and in spite of his small size, his energy is that of a young dog. I made a mental note of those saturated, vibrant colors that are reflected in the owner's love for modern american southwest art and knew that I would incorporate those expressive colors of turquoise, purple, rusty orange and brilliant yellows in my painting.

While painting , I couldn't help but feel Licorice's strong upbeat personality, so tangible... almost as if he was in the room with me. Such a moving experience that it brought tears to my eyes. It was in that second that I remembered why I love to paint animals. Their spirit and their unique personality really speak to me; and to be able to transfer this moment into something tangible is a miracle. To pass this on to a pet's owner is a gift to me.

One of the greatest satisfactions that an artist can have is seeing the utter joy in a client. It was no different when I delivered the portrait to my client. After unwrapping Licorice's portrait, his owner jumped up and down in delight. As an artist, I can't tell you just how much that means to me, for it is an experience that truly lasts forever.
An added bonus, was when I had helped to hang Licorice's portrait only to discover that the room had been painted recently AND that this new colour of was exactly the same as one of the background colours in the portrait. It couldn't have been a better match.

Now that I have finished this portrait it is back to the studio to start on some commissioned drawings, all to be gifts ready in time for Christmas.
It is not to late to order a gift for the dog lover in your family. I use the most dependable shippers that can get your gift to your friend or loved one in time for Christmas.

Nina Otulakowski
The Canvas Dog Studio
http://www.theCanvasDog.com

Yellow Labs in Pastel by M Theresa Brown

Who doesn't love a Labrador? Yellow, Black or Chocolate, these easy going family favorites live up to their goofy reputation! Such was the case with Sawyer and Fred who delighted in having me create their portraits in pastel. OK. Maybe it was the ham biscuit but I know for a fact that their owner was thrilled!

www.MTheresaBrown.com

American Staffordshire Terrier by Dawn Secord

This American Staffordshire Terrier is known as "Brody" by his friends and in the show ring as BIS BISS CH Fraja NE Gold Ticket. He was a Best in Show dog at the tender age of 2 years old.

When his owners approached me to paint him I was thrilled. At that time he was about a year old. We waited a little bit for him to grow up and what a handsome boy he has become. It is amazing the muscle tone and body mass he had added during that time frame.

While his painting was in process I was in San Francisco at a dog show hurrying to the show ring with one of our Irish Setters in tow as I passed Brody and his handler. I said to my husband, "That is the dog I'm painting" - my husband responded, "Are you sure?" Without question I replied, "Absolutely!"

Thank you to his owners for the fabulous photo reference material they supplied and for the honor of painting him.To see a larger image of Brody - please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/.

Thank you for visiting my art and have a great day!

Dawn Secord, Artist
website: http://www.dawnsecord.com/

blog: Enjoying the Journey: http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

POOL PARTY

This past summer, I was asked to do a very challenging commission. My client wanted a painting with 7 Golden Retrievers in it for a Presentation Gift. All the dogs were owned by the person who was going to receive the painting.
I decided to go with Coloured Pencil for this one. Each dog was to be an individual mini portrait so there was no attempt to place them all in proportion to one another, but I needed something to pull the whole painting together. As so many of the photos of the dogs showed them playing in and around the pool, it was a natural anchor for my painting. Many photos were used in this piece, several of each dog, and I hoped that I had made each one an individual.
POOL PARTY was presented late last month, and now I am free to present it on my website and blog. The recipient loved the painting, and to my delight, effortlessly picked out each one of her dogs. Happy faces all around!

Heather Anderson

www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

"Anton", Rhodesian Ridgeback graphite drawing by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

"Anton"

Pencil on Paper

21x26 cm.

A week with Anton  has come to an end, sadly, he was great company. A handsome fellow.

Above is the finished portrait.

The steps I took to get there can be viewed on my blog Black on Grey on White

You are very welcome to come over and have an inside look into the creation of one of my commissioned pet portraits.

Hope to welcome you there.  

All the best,

Sheona

"Dazzle," 6" square, Paws with a Cause service dog portrait, acrylic on board, from the renowned Painting a Dog a Day project, $249 to the first buyer. As with many of the Dog-a-Day paintings, proceeds are donated to animal advocacy and service dog programs. In the case of Dazzle's painting, a donation will be made to the service dog group Paws with a Cause. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

Paws with a Cause is a national group dedicated to providing assistance dogs for people with disabilities. They also provide a lifetime of support, fostering independance. I took this from their mission statement - read more for yourself at http://www.pawswithacause.org/.

In the beginning of the Painting a Dog a Day project I met UKON, a Paws service dog. Shortly after that, I got to paint Madison and Sirius, and the list goes on and on. Each Paws dog I meet is uniquely special, and to personally witness the bond they share with their person is humbling. To be able to support the efforts of Paws with a Cause through my painting sales is phenomenal.

I met Dazzle last winter at the Detroit Kennel Club dog show. She was all too eager to make a new friend, but her mind was on work the whole time as well. Dazzle helps her person do just about everything, although I've been warned that she doesn't sort laundry that well.

Feel free to share Dazzle's painting with your friends and family, and stop by to visit the daily pet portraits at www.paintingadogaday.blogspot.com - tomorrow I've got a dear little chihuahua in the works!
Kimberly Kelly Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.turtledovedesigns.com

Santa's Helper - By Catherin McMillan

"Santa's Helper"

by

Catherin McMillan

10" x 14" pastel on canson pastel paper

$250.00 free postage

10% donated to Turtle Ridge Wildlife Centre

email Catherin

catherin@animalarthouse.com

pay pal available

"Noble" Another Art Award

"Noble", a charcoal painting of a gorgeous German Shepherd Dog is another piece that I have entered in the Helping Paws exhibition. I am pleased to announce that this artwork was also awarded a second place in the "Drawing - Any Subject" category at last weeks Kelmscott Show (first place went to a drawing of a house). One of my oil paintings was awarded first place in the Animals category at the same show, but it features a primate not a canine!

"Noble" is available to purchase by Paypal through my dog paintings blog for $350.00AU - due to the low aussie dollar this is approximately $230.00US (unframed) including shipping.

10% of your investment in this artwork will be donated to the Animal Protection Society of Western Australia.


To view more of Michelle's art and photography please visit her website and dog paintings blog.