Wipe your Paws ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Wipe Your Paws," 8" square, commissioned pet portrait of a mixed breed dog, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may always come to me. You've seen Scrappy before - I painted him last week. My client loved the storytelling aspect of the first painting, and asked me to create a second piece highlighting Scrappy's happy face. I was very pleased to have an opportunity to paint this guy's wonderful expression! And by now you've hopefully noticed the new look to the blog I've been busy today - you'll also find facelifts on the newsletter and my website. Let me know what you think! And finally I've built a virtual gallery to showcase the "Happily Ever Afters" exhibition at Best Friends. All the paintings are for sale, with proceeds benefitting Best Friends. There are also photos of the installation on my Facebook page. Meanwhile, thanks as always for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Sniff ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Sniff," approximately 18" x 20", mixed media on Ampersand Gessobord depicting 16 canine noses. This paper painting (I'm stealing Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson's term again!) represents my entry in the 2010 AKC Eukanuba National Dog Championships poster competition.

I've been working on this piece for about a month now, maybe longer. The collage is made up of a variety of papers - palette liners, pages from books, tissue, artist paper, wrapping paper, foils, origami papers, lace paper, paper doilies, shopping bags - some of which I've tinted with acrylic paints. The pieces are primarily torn (some were cut with scissors) and pieced together in meticulous layers.

It's a time consuming process, but an incredibly fun one. The best part is the hunt for just the right snippet of paper to place in just the right place.

I've got additional details, including closeups of each snout, on Facebook. I invite you to step over there and leave me your comments.

Fingers crossed that this one makes the cut. It would be especially thrilling since my artwork was chosen for the 2007 World Championships - I don't know that any artist has done two posters for the same AKC event. It sure would be nice to earn that honor.

Inquiries about "Sniff," (and questions about booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Elin Pendleton - About Dogs and Heat, but Goats, too!

Working over an old painting can be very rewarding--if you know what you're doing! Remember while back I had a bonfire of a LOT of old paintings? Well, this one of the goat kid (upper image) was salvaged from that bonfire. It was going to be a gift for a friend of mine, but somehow looking at it ready to be packed up just bothered me... Here I was going to fry this turkey (ok, goatie) in the flames, and yet it was good enough to "gift" to my friend? No.
So I put it on the easel tonight, and worked it over. I knew that I wanted the colors to be more harmonious, and I wanted to see better relationships between the sunlight areas and the shadows. Now it is at the first stage, having covered up many of the garish colors that represented early endeavors with the Color System. Although not finished at this stage, I can see where its going and am more pleased with its evolution.

Tomorrow I will continue it and hopefully end up with a painting worthy of leaving my studio. But my friend will have to wait a while longer until it is dry enough to ship! It's a 12 x 12 oil.

On other news, the HEAT is ON. Record-breaking heat for September has been registered for yesterday and today, and is expected to continue tomorrow and through the week here in Riverside, California. Whew. Everybody but the goats are hunkering down in the basement studio where the inside temperature went up to 87 while the outdoor thermometer read 111 degrees at 5:30 pm. At almost nine p.m. it is still 95 out there. Talk about HOT DOGS!?!
Here's Niko (GROWING) and Willow comatose on the cool studio floor.Niko 's six months old today. What a monster.

You can order my newest Color System DVD HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

"Boxer" Colored Pencil Drawing by Charlotte Yealey

Colored Pencil
This is a new drawing I just completed of a boxer I photographed. You can find this image on cards, t-shirts, mugs and many more products in my Zazzle store at
www.zazzle.com/charlotteswebart

LABRADOR RETRIEVER ART BY SHEILA WEDEGIS

I loved painting this today. The paint just gooshed onto the panel. It was luscious!!!

This oil painting is 10" x 8" on acid free hard masonite board.  Proceeds will be going to help Lab rescue of Cincinnati. If you are interested in this yummy piece please go to:

http://www.savingalabaday.blogspot.com/

Sheila Wedegis, Palm Bay Florida

sophie@palm-spirit.com

http://http://www.labradorretrieverart.com/

Gally

"Gally," 8" square, Golden Open acrylics on panel, commissioned pet portrait of a Golden Retriever, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me.

Gally's angling to get another cookie. Doesn't she look starved? We'd better find her something to eat, and fast, before she faints from low blood sugar.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Welsh Springer Spaniel Pastel Portrait

A beautiful Welsh Springer Spaniel who arrived at my Studio for his portrait photography session. He approached things cautiously at first but when he saw the goats? Well, he lost all interest in anything but them!

This talented young dog is on his way to his championship but prefers the Agility training competition that he and his owner go to.

This cameo pastel is a charming 9 x 12 size and created by M Theresa Brown on PastelMat by applying the containers of pastel with sponges. I Love the "watercolor" effect! These are very popular as gifts :-)

The Portraits: www.MTheresaBrown.com
The Paintings: www.sfilarsky.com 
The Team:    www.OnRoadArtists.com
The Career: www.ArtCareerExperts.com

Borzoi Painting by Dawn Secord

This Borzoi commission is recently completed. There is a very special story behind the painting of two people meeting inter-continentally (USA and Norway) because of their dogs.
The dogs, all Borzoi, have allowed these wonderful people to connect in a way that just brings tears to my ears. The woman, middle aged, met the man, a senior, and immediately had a connection that reminded her of her father.

The man, a senior, has a new "family" member who loves him and extends a long distance friendship of compassion and interaction. It seems, too often, we forget about relationships with people.

It has been said when people are asked what they would have done differently with their lives they would have spent more time with their loved ones. The greatest gift we can give is of our time and in this story the people involved are giving each other their time. And....it all started with their love of dogs.

Dawn Secord, Artist

website: http://www.dawnsecord.com/

blog: http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

commission information: http://www.dawnsecord.com/commissioninformation.html

cafepress store: http://www.cafepress.com/dawnsecord

Simon and Sadie ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Simon and Sadie," 9" x 12", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord commissioned pet portrait of two rescued Beagles, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me.

Simon and Sadie are the latest of a long and happy line of rescues that my clients have welcomed into their family. They are also the most recent portraits I've created for one of my favoritest collectors, a husband and wife who moved into the home of a prior client. After receiving several of my mailings, they contacted me, and the fun began! I've painted multiple times for them and as gifts for family members, but my fondest memory stems from a painting I did of a shelter dog here in my home town.

It was one of the earliest Dog a Day pieces. I painted a beagle portrait inspired by a sweet little one I met at my local shelter. As is my custom, I pledged proceeds from the sale of the beagle's portrait to go back to the shelter. But Simon and Sadie's mom took it one step further - she emailed asking for the tag number of this little dog - they were not in a position to adopt, but wanted to sponsor the little guy until a new home was found.

THIS is why I love my collectors so much. Your generosity of spirit goes beyond inspiring - it is life changing.

And Simon and Sadie are so lucky to have found such a fantastic new family!!

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Gifts of the Season by Carol Chretien

Gifts of the Season

10x10

oil on canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

This painting features Oscar the little dachshund Muse who is the pet of my friend

Pam, a wonderful rescue volunteer.

Pam has helped numerous New England rescues, and regional ones as well, with rehoming beagles and doxies, fostering and finding the right families for some wonderful dogs.

The painting above is suggestive of my favorite seasons of the year, Autumn into Winter.

The Light and Sparkle found in the little doxie's eyes gives a clue to his spirit.

This painting is available for sale with 25% going to help

100.00

COAST TO COAST DACHSHUND RESCUE

http://www.c2cdr.org

They are having an event on Cape Cod Sept 25th.

check their site for details if you are in the New England area!

I am donating a custom portrait to help with fundraising.

^^^

email me to purchase this painting above:

carolchretien@aol

***

Halloween's Coming . . .Sheltie Vampire

It's never too soon to get ready for the fun of Halloween. These past few years, part of the fun for me has been in doing small Halloween themed paintings of my animals, usually in costume. I once had a Sheltie and a Terrier who loved to get dressed up and go out Trick or Treating to approved homes (family or close friends only), but most of our more recent Shelties just humour me. Our Tri Sheltie loves his costumes and the photo ops, but does not care to go out for treats. He is the model for SHELTIE VAMPIRE. Just look at his face - he's having a wonderful time in his Vampire fangs and elegant cape. Our Sheltie/Eskie cross is the only one who really embraces the tradition at the moment, and she is in my painting ESKIE WITCH.
These Halloween paintings are done in watercolor, and are usually 5 x 7. They are all available as cards . . . very suitable if someone you know has a late October birthday!

Heather Anderson Sheltie Hollow
www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

Good paintings from Great photos

I am pleased with the way this little guy turned out.

            11x14 Acrylic on Canvas $275.00

I asked my FB fan page to help me select a wonderful dog photo for a very important painting.
Each year the Canine Guild has a art show in October where each member teams up with a rescue and sells a painting with some or all of the proceeds to go to that particular rescue.

I try to support as many rescues as I can, and so many of them have my web page listed
on their web page. So, I decided to open this up as a form of contest. People were asked
to provide a great dog photo for my painting. I have received 170 great photos.
The next step was  to have everyone pick a favorite and indicate with a code "PTD" paint this dog.
I will enter it in the Canine Art show and try to sell it for a good price.
The winner will choose the rescue of their choice for my 50% donation, and they will be sent a free print of the completed painting.

This has been very fun and quite exciting seeing all the wonderful pictures added to my wall.
I have such supportive fans. 

These are the photos we voted on

Over 170 dogs were sent to my page for voting. We had so much fun. People were very supportive of each other and some made new friends. Sharing the photos and the love of animals made everyone who viewed this event so happy. The voting was quite close. And even though we were only allowed one vote, with so many wonderful pictures, it was almost impossible to vote for just one. The voting lasted for a few days. The viewers choice was a little Yorkie. I have painted him, and he will be displayed at the Canine Guild Art Show, in October. He is listed for sale on my Fine Art America web page. 50% of the sale will be donated to the rescue of the owners choice. And she will receive a free print for her participation.

"Sadie Has A Ball!" a new watecolor by Molly Poole

"Sadie Has a Ball!" 14"x11" watercolor and casein on 140lb HP Fabriano watercolor paper.
I just completed this commission piece for a client. His Golden Retriever is is his best buddy and we chose to capture Sadie's likeness doing what she loves most... the beach, swimming and a ball.


You can see more of my original work and commissions by visiting granitedog.com .

Mixed Breed Rescue Dogs!

Penny is a mixed breed rescue dog who is fortunate indeed to be rescued from the local shelter and into the arms of her loving owner!

This 9 x 12 cameo pastel portrait was created by M Theresa Brown on Pastel Mat using Pan Pastels. There's almost a watercolor feel to it!

The journey from the actual portrait to the steps in between to make it to this page always seems to dull the vividness of the actual colors but enjoy! The owner was delighted with her portrait-one of four that I created for her last week!

M Theresa Brown

Fine art Portraits of people, places and animals!

Trooper

This is my latest commission..."Trooper", he is a pastel on Wallis paper.  Trooper's portrait was a surprise birthday gift from a very thoughtful husband and the present was a huge success.  Portraits of our beloved pets really are the gift that keeps on giving!  If you think you might be interested in giving such a gift or even the recipient of one, you can visit my website at  www.judebatesart.com or learn about my process at judebates.blogspot.com  As always, thank you for looking and allowing me to share my work with you...

Yours in paint,
 Jude Bates

Fall Is In The Air...

"UNDER THE AUTUMN MOON"

original oil

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

(this painting sold from my WHAT's ON THE EASEL blog before I could list it)
It celebrates my favorite season in a whimsical story about two friends who are out under the moonlight on the local farm.

Baxter and Oscar were my Muses and the rest is just imagination.

A donation from the sale went to help

CASCADE BEAGLE RESCUE (east) to help their good work.

***

In a recent post here I listed

WAIT, LOVE, PRAY...FOR A HOME

for sale with a portion of the sale benefiting

DALMATIAN RESCUE TAMPA BAY

but to celebrate their very dedicated work and to contribute to their

annual

DALLOWEEN Event Oct 23rd this year

I have offered the painting for a 100% donation of all proceeds

with all the details here:

http://www.carolchretien.blogspot.com/2010/09/latte-life-announcement.html

***

art helping animals, one animal at a time!

thanks for viewing my work

Carol Chretien

Deuce ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Deuce," 8" x 10", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, pet portrait of a German Shorthaired Pointer, private collection. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me.

Every year my town elects a new Doggie Mayor. During the course of their term they have serious duties to fulfill like escorting all the parades. And today I had the pleasure of meeting our newest Mayor, Deuce. He did a little duck patrolling down by the park, swam in the creek, and trolled through the woods. Every so often he'd turn and share the goofiest smile with us before he continued checking things out.

And like I have for every prior Doggie Mayor, I've painted an official portrait. So, from a casual meeting at Paint Creek earlier today, here is Deuce, all decked out and ready to perform his Mayoral duties. I think his popularity ratings will continue to rise as he does great things for Lake Orion.

Starting with the Halloween Parade next moth!

(Don't forget to bid on my ebay auctions that end tonite - watercolor sketches from my time at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary -THANKS!)

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

LABRADOR RETRIEVER ARTIST SHEILA WEDEGIS "RED COUCH, BLACK LAB"

One morning Sophie was on her favorite couch. The light hitting it was just beautiful and I needed to paint her.  I chose to have her paw be the focal point of the piece. Isn't that what we usually see when we are laying with them?

This oil painting is 8" x 10" x 1" and proceeds from the sale of this piece will be going to help Labrador and Friends in San Diego, Ca.  To take this beauty home please go to;

http://www.savingalabaday.blogspot.com/2010/09/labrador-retriever-art-red-couch-black.html

For commission information please contact me at;

sophie@palm-spirit.com

Sheila M. Wedegis Palm Bay, Florida

http://www.labradorretrieverart.com/

http://www.savingalabaday.blogspot.com/

http://sheilawedegis.blogspot.com/

Prints available

LABRADOR RETRIEVER ARTIST SHEILA WEDEGIS "THE WATCHER"

This is Blue Kitty Kitty our sweet cat.  He sits above the Labs on our pool enclosure and watches!  This piece is oil on stretched canvas 10" x 8" x 1". Proceeds from the sale will go to Lab Rescue, Oklahoma.

See..even Blue wants to help save Labs! To give this sweet painting a new home please go to;

http://savingalabaday.blogspot.com/2010/09/labrador-retriever-art-sophies-friend.html

Commissions may come to me at;

sophie@palm-spirit.com

See more work at

http://www.sheilawedegis.blogspot.com/

http://www.labradorretrieverart.com/

and for fun tee's and things

http://www.zazzle.com/swedegisart*

Intuitive Oil Paintings

The beauty of commissioned art is that it is personal. "Custom made" is a phrase used over and over but when applied to a commissioned art piece, the painting truly becomes a part of the history, likes and desires of the client!

This large 30 x 40 oil portrait is the second that I have created for this client. Her family is indeed her beautiful animals and on a very personal note, the Golden Retriever on her far left was her beloved Bailey who passed several years ago. Originally I was going to include Bailey in the distant background but as I progressed work on the oil, the painting seemed to call for a more definitive view of the old dog. Sometimes, as an artist, that is how I work...I go with an intuitive feeling! I did not consult the client. I have discovered over many years of portraiture that envisioning a change is difficult for most clients. Part of the artist mystique and its progress is to anticipate the unveiling of a painting-not see it all laid out beforehand in Photoshop! Was she pleased? Oh my yes! Intuitive painting is what it's all about!

M Theresa Brown

The Portraits: www.MTheresaBrown.com