"Buddy" (oil on linen; 12" x 9") sold

sold

"Buddy" is for Melanie, who commissioned the painting for her mother.  Buddy, a poodle, turned four this month and was lucky enough to get his own cake!  He loves to play.  He can run, jump, and roughhouse all day and night if you let him.  During the freezing winters in Edmonton, Canada, Buddy likes letting off some energy by walking on the treadmill.  

Melanie's mom is a band teacher, and Buddy goes to school with her a few times a week to sit at her feet while she teaches a class.  He has a lot of personality and loves kids, his family and dog-cousins.  I might also add that Buddy has a fabulous sense of style! 

"Buffy" (oil on linen; 7" x 5") sold

sold

"Buffy" is for Heide.  Buffy was a Maltese-Shih Tzu mix.  Buffy was the constant companion of Heide's mother-in-law's.  She didn't really know that she was a dog.  She was the baby of the family and was treated as such.  She loved a warm lap and a tender pat.

Buffy loved playing fetch with cat toys and would chase balls around the yard.  She would sit for hours on her special spot on top of the couch where she could survey her yard and all squirrels that dared to enter.   Buffy passed away this year at the age of 16.

"AJ" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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"AJ" is for Caroline.  This gentle, beautiful dog belonged to her friend who was not able to keep him; since he is blind, she knew that no one else would take him.  Caroline lives in a 7,000-square-feet house, of which AJ has every square inch memorized.  He only runs into things if she moves a piece of furniture.  Caroline's husband has dementia and since they are both disabled in their own ways, they comfort each other.

"Lucy" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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"Lucy" is also for Kim.  Lucy is a 13-year-old Chocolate Lab.  she is afraid of the dark.  She is a loving, sweet, sensitive, people-pleaser.  Her favorite toy is a tennis ball.

"Millie" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

sold

"Millie" is for Kim.  Millie is a 7-year-old Pomapoo, which is a Pomeranian poodle mix.  She loves to snuggle.  Her favorite toy is a stuffed hedgehog called Pacie.  She loves her big sister Lucy, a lap dog, whose portrait is coming up!

"Ari" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

sold

"Ari" is the second commission by Lindsey.  Ari is a shy, sweet, 4-year-old Shiba Inu.  She has a pretty coloring and her eyes are rimmed in black marking, which makes her look like wearing black eyeliner.  "Ari" is for Lindsey's brother.

"Ernie and Miles" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

sold

"Ernie and Miles" is for Lindsey, who commissioned the double portrait of the two darling Havaneses for her parents.  Ernie on the left will be 8 years old next spring.  He loves to play ball and has funny, expressive eyebrows.  The 2-year-old Miles on the right is a bit bigger than Ernie.  He is playful and cuddly--a huge love bug.  Miles has large dark brown eyes (like a horse).  Speaking of eyes, I couldn't see these cute guys' eyes much at all!

"Jake" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

"Jake" is the second painting for Joel.  Jake is a Norwegian forest cat, which surprises Joel, because you would think that he would like the cold.  But Jake seems to like hanging out under the heater duct now that the furnace is on.  He is getting on in age and spends a great deal of time asleep, but is very awake when it is time to eat.  He thinks that his humans' meals are best accompanied by fur from his large fluffy tail!

"Lola" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

"Lola" is for Joel, who commissioned two portraits of his girlfriend's cats.  Lola, the Himalayan, is the vigilant guard cat and likes roaming around the house looking for squirrels and birds out the window.  She was born without a tail, but has a little nub that wiggles a lot.

When Joel first met her, she was shy, which was probably due to the fact that she was brought into a house in which the other cat, Jake, had preceded her for several years.  Now that they've moved into Joel's home, the two cats seem to be on more of an equal footing, and Lola is much more extroverted.  She even jumped on Joel's desk to help him pick which photos to send!

"Tinkerbell" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Tinkerbell" is for Dara.  Tinkerbell is a 7-year-old orange tabby domestic shorthair.  Dara adopted her as a kitten when she was in college and was dating her boy friend John. Tinkerbell blended into the family when they got married in 2010.  As Dara and her husband have no children, Tinkerbell is like their child.  She is energetic, loving, silly, and vocal. Everyone who meets her loves her instantly; she is not a typical cat that only wants affection on her terms, but is more like a puppy that constantly wants your attention and love.

She talks to John and Dara when they come home, she sits between us on the couch and sleeps between us in the bed!  Her "motor" purrs so loudly that you can hear her across a room.  They have nicknames for her, but "Pretty" is the one John uses the most.  Tinkerbell is a daddy's girl!

"Gunner" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Gunner" is for Carrie.  Gunner is a 11-year-old black Labrador retriever.  He was raised with his brother, who had passed away 2 years ago, way too early in life.  Gunner has lived at a lake all his life enjoying the water.  He loves fetching, car rides, and being loved by this family.  He has been battling a heart condition for the last 2 years, so he spends a lot of his time lounging on the couch.  

Gunner is the baby of the family and means the world to them, especially Carrie's mother.

"Rex" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Rex" is for Jennifer.  Rex is a hound dog mix that Jennifer and her husband got at a shelter, and is the nicest and calmest dog they have ever had.  He wants to be a lap dog, but he is just too hairy!  He is the neighborhood greeter.  Everyone and their dog has to say "hi" when they walk past our house.  People even go out of their way to walk by to say hello.  He barks his big hound dog bark when people come to Jennifer's house, because he just wants someone new to pet him.  Rex is the best buddy of her husband, who is going to get the painting for Christmas!

"Dinky and Yokie" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

"Dinky and Yokie" is for Sue, who commissioned the painting for her sister.  Yokie, on the right, was the most friendly chihuahua, always excited to see everybody and anybody who walked into the house.  Dinky, on the left, was more reserved and had to warm up to you, but they were both the sweetest little dogs.  Sue's sister is broken up about their passing.  I hope this portrait gives her some comfort.

"Dakota" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

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"Dakota" is for Joanne.  Dakota was a lab border collie mix.  She loved the water as much as the snow.  In the painting, she is frolicking and smiling in the waters of Cape Cod.  Dakota was the best buddy of Joanne's brother, who used to go kayaking together.  He misses her dearly.

"Kitty" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Kitty" is the third and last painting for Diane, who commissioned the portrait for her 82-year-old mother.  Kitty is a 7-year-old American shorthair tabby cat.  You can tell by the tip of her left ear, that has been snipped when she was fixed.  Even though Diane's mom says that she doesn't like the cat, when she can't find Kitty, she panics.  Kitty follows her around like a dog!

"Fisher" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Fisher" is the second painting for Diane.  Fisher is a two-year-old Dutch Shepherd, who is a search and rescue dog and is also a guard dog.  He has been in training for the last two years. He has a sweet temperament, as his sweet eyes show.  What a wonderful Christmas present it will be to the family of Diane's boss!

"Ellie" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Ellie" is for Diane who commissioned me to paint three pet portraits.  Thank you, Diane! "Ellie" is the first one.  Ellie is a huge, three-year-old husky who weighs 40 pounds, but thinks she is a five-pound dog.  She does everything Diane's daughter and son-in-law ask of her, except that she is an escape artist!

By the way, "Ellie" is the 25th custom portrait of the year.  I hope to do another 25 during the holiday season!

"Tucker" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Tucker" is for Jamie.  Tucker with absolutely gorgeous hair is a 7-year-old mixed breed of Irish Wolfhound.  He is a sweet and thoughtful dog.  He is full of energy, but obedient.  His eyes are the windows to his soul.  When he is excited, he makes a high-pitched whining sound that is rather endearing.  Tucker is Jamie's mother-in-law's dog and he loves her so very much!

"Zoe" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Zoe" is for Jennifer, who commissioned the painting for her mother.  Zoe is her mom's 10-year-old Goldendoodle.  The sweet Zoe is everything to her mom.  She absolutely loves tennis balls and playing catch.  She likes to "skin" them by taking off the yellow fuzz.  Indeed, she had one of those skinned tennis balls in her mouth in the reference photo, which I couldn't figure out, so I had to ask Jennifer about!

"Sam" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Sam" is for Susie and it's going to be the Christmas present for her mom.  Sam is a two-year-old miniature poodle.  He is an entertainer!  He loves to run like a little rocket, and also likes to play fetch and hide and seek.  Probably the most notable thing about him is those brown eyes, which are so warm and sweet.  Now that he is getting out of his puppy phase, he is quite a little snuggler.

Susie's mom's older poodle passed away a couple of months ago, so Sam is now the only dog in the house.  He has been a big pick-me-up for her parents.  Susie is confident that her mom will be thrilled to have his portrait, and so am I!

"Corridgan II" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

Here is the second portrait of Corrigan for Briana.  I hope my paintings give comfort to her family.

"Corrigan I" (oil on linen; 7" x 5") sold

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"Corrigan I" is for Briana.  Corrigan was 13 years old when he passed away earlier this year. He was Briana's sister's dog, who spent his last few years, living with Briana's parents in British Columbia.  "Corrigan I & II" are gifts for her mom and sister. 

Corrigan was rarely separated from his sister, Kia, since they were adopted together.  While Kia is still a mischievous dog, Corrigan was a gentle giant--really big and very sweet.  He was easily scared and wouldn't walk by something if it was new or different, including a road cone on his regular walk.  He loved cookies and would "speak" on command if he thought there was a treat to be had.  

"Dublin Liffey Bridge Nocturne" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

sold

The charming, cast-iron Liffey Bridge is probably the world's most famous footbridge.  It is a pedestrian bridge, built in 1816 over the Liffey River in Dublin, Ireland.  Also known as the Ha'penny Bridge, it is an iconic image of Dublin.  At night, it is even more charming!

The Collage of My October Paintings

The Collage of My October 2014 Paintings

Last month, I slackened a bit due to the ongoing eye trouble, painting only 15 paintings. What can I say?  I am only human.  Which is your favorite painting?