EMMA helps the Seeing Eye

EMMA is back helping me paint and pack--it has been a slow summer which is okay since I hurt m back and right knee and have been having trouble ambulating--also got a new kitten, OLIVER, who will be a subject of my blog in time--EMMA s busy training him--LOL !!! The portrait of this Seeing Eye black lab was done for a gentleman in N.H. who won the bid for my work on the Seeing Eye auction site. It was a joy to paint him. I hope to send KORVIN on his way up North by the end of this week--KORVIN was trained at the SEEING EYE in Morristown , NJ--a town or two over from where I live and paint. I have always been enthused watching the dogs train on the streets of Morristown.

Pitbull vs kitten - Offbeat

Pitbull vs kitten - Offbeat

EMMA needs a new friend--painting again

I just wrote a blog and blogger said I had the wrong url--???? EMMA has made me her surrogate cat since DINO's death-- She is taking a greater role in my painting of the black lab for the gentleman who won the bid at the Seeing Eye auction. I used a crackle medium for the background so he could feel the outline of his dog. I will post again when the portrait is complete---must get another boy kitty for EMMA to dominate.

GOODBYE MY HEART

I have made mention of EMMA in most of my blogs as she is interested in painting, packing and computing--DINO, by contrast would rather play and purr. He died at age 8 on Friday, May 27 from lymphatic cancer. He had a tumor on one os lungs and fluid throughout his 9 lb. body. To DINO everything amazing and scary---from kittenhood until the day before he died he was the epitome of sweetness and gentleness ( just do not be a creepy crawly )--He was always wide eyed ---If he wanted attention he would mew not MEOW....a simple tap on an arm was a signal to pet him so he could plop down in supreme delight. He is missed so much. The kitchen is a particularly vacant place as he would spend countless hours watching the chipmunks cavot across my back deck...I would like to believe that GUNTHER and HOPE greeted him as he ran over The Rainbow Bridge---They were2 of his pals who enjoyed his playfulness and gentility. Farewell my DINO !!!!

SLEEPING ON THE JOB

EMMA did not even pretend to help with this pen and ink portrayal of 3 dogs---she is not into detail work--give her paint or boxes and she is in her groove. This drawing was requested on a Wed. and was to be delivered to the Westminster Hotel in Livingston on Saturday morning--I managed to fill the order---pen and ink takes longer than painting and is unforgiving--now EMMA can move over and let me doze but not on my computer---She has no respect for such a fine machine.

Shifting eyes

I had a dog slate portrait request --The client wanted the dog looking at them instead of off in the distance. I was able to achieve this my readjusting the highlights in the eyes--it shifted the dog's gaze to the observer--DINO got into the painting mode yhough he lacks the intensity and attention span that are EMMA's MO.

Losing a pet--Painting a loss

So many of my pet portraits are of deceased pets who were loved almost as much as the love they gave--you can see the devotion in their eyes which I most always emphasize. I , myself, have experienced pet loss, the latest loss was of my HOPE. She was a beautiful pussy cat whi in her 4 short years gave so much love. The little dog in this shelf sitter portrait lived for 14 years. Her mother wnated a wood shelf sitter so she could move it easily from place to place--unfortunately no leash is needed. The pictures of my Hope include her last photo the day before she died. My HOPE is also honored by EMMA who always manages to express herself.

Back to Painting

She, EMMA, is back in painting mode---She tires easily or maybe the subject matter bores her. Doxies are not high on her list of favorite dogs, at least not this one--I understand her feelings as the photo that was sent was a bit fuzzy--It is important that photos of pets to be personalized be clear and sharp--we do the best we can. She got a bit frazzled while trying to sharpen the picture on my computer--note the hair on her head standing up !!!!!

EMMA finally gets involved

It took a Boxer Rescue mailbox to get EMMA back in the grove even though DINO took over the packing--This mailbox was shopped to Indiana. It portrays 3 color variations--brindle, fawn and white. Two of the dogs have uncropped ears and one has the cropped ears--EMMA needed a talking to . She did take a coffee break and played on the computer but her artistic soul began to re-emerge.