A New Blog from Me.

I am trying to generate some funding to help my cat, know as The Dude, get a radiation treatment to cure his hyperthyroidism.

Way back when he was first diagnosed I featured his good looks in this blog. And now I am hoping to use social networking to finance the one time treatment that will allow him to have his own life... and I can have mine!

In the hundred plus degree days we have in Arizona, there is very little opportunity to find work as I used to. With a healthy, normal CAT cat, who can be alone a few days at a time, I am going to be able to go to art fairs around the country and at the very least, go up to cooler north country for fairs and festivals!

If you take a look at my new blog: http://mycatthedude.blogspot.com/

You will see a button below that links you to a fund raising site.

The beauty is that my budget can't handle the full amount. Neither can most of my friends... but a lot of friends can donate a very little bit and it will help!

My once portly 18 pound Dude is looking a bit gaunt:

If you want to help, just follow the blog and send it to your friends! I am going to paint a few more portraits of him and every donor that sends their snail mail to me will get a thank you card of the boy and a hand written note... not that THAT is a prize!

Thank you all

100!!!!!!!

I am so happy! Today I have 100 followers...

Of course I am not painting a dog a day. I have a few other things in the go, so I am slacking!

With some luck (any commissions out there?) I am working to get a few more furry faces for you all. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support.

(a sample of the new stuff and a self portrait)

Always at your service!

dj*

Dakota's Project - The beginning.

I have been asked to help illustrate a charity publication. The little author has written a great little book on aging pets and their challenges. I am going to donate the work for illustrator's credit so it is going slow, between gigs.

This is my favorite picture so far. There are plenty more to come.

Bella Can Do No Wrong

This is a gag gift for a client's client. The "Perfect" pet is a spoiled brat to everyone but daddy who loves her.....

The Johnson Dogs

We put in a suggestion of the beautiful yard they call home and a little tail that Dexter needed to wag!
Finished size is 24 x 29" wrapped with a two inch side. I will try to photograph it in its home when installed.

Darling Dexter

This little boy is a very gentle soul. Must weigh all of 6 pounds! Right up front in the picture, he is a little vignette of sweet.

Isabella, the sweetie

This poodle mix... Maltese, Bichon...terrier? Not sure but she is a girl with a huge soul. Amid the ruckus of four roommates she just cheerfully chases a ball, and loves life!

Roxy, the noisy one!

She is a bouncing barking bundle of puppy nerves, but very beautiful when sitting still!
I worked hardest on this fur of all the others put together.

Next: Daisy

This is the same wonderful old gal I did as a mini mini round vignette earlier. She is the oldest and I always love when people let me MEET my model! Older dogs, when ill, tend to get the attention of owners who always wanted a portrait, but by the time the call me, I just HATE it when they turn into Memorials before I get done...

The Johnson Dogs... Scooter

I am near completing a large portrait of five dogs and thought you all might like to see the progress of the whole piece.
It is watercolor on canvas. I do the diamond dogs on canvas, but this is the largest piece so far.
This is the first dog, a great little Scottie named Scooter!

I will post them all one a day and so I should be finished by then!!!
dj*

Best In Show...

I feel like it is WESTMINSTER!
I was awarded the BEST IN SHOW for the Arizona Art Alliance celebration of 250 Years of Veterinarian Medicine with the AZ Vet. Assn. this evening.
My piece from THIS POST won and the art from Dec. 22 will be part of a set of greeting cards produced as a fund raising event from this show.
I am pretty stoked!
dj*

Veterinary Medicine is 250 years old!

And three of my pieces are accepted into the celebration at the Scottsdale Pavilion's Arizona Art Alliance Gallery from March 3 - April 5. We are having a nice little opening on the 5th with goodies and schmoozing. If you love art or animals, be sure to stop in and say hello.

The pieces are in my blog... below on the 18th (fresh off the easel)

and on Dec. 22.

And a real oldie but cute:

All the info is here online!

A vignette for a clent

I am doing a bigger piece for a new client and while we are planning, she asked for a 2.5" circle for a favorite frame....
SMALL but mighty!

Back Office

My entry to a show about veterinary medicine....

Zoe

This was the donation to the Friends of Animal Care and Control Hero's Dinner. Cute little Cairn:

First real commission of 2011

I met this lovely girl at my storage unit!

Arizona Art Alliance Demonstration Today

This is one of those progress shots.
I had to man the show at our gallery in Scottsdale, so I brought a nice little image from a recent Giant Schnauzer rescue event.


Now that the holidays have actually arrived, it is time to get set for the pictures YOU really want for yourselves....

This will be posted when I finish it. I will have prints available on FineArtAmerica.com

Another Memorial

One of my donation pieces... a little too late.
(HINT TO PEOPLE: Get the painting when you think of it. Enjoy your art AND your best friend so you don't cry when you get the painting...)
It has been an emotional season for me and too many of my pieces are memorials. Makes me very sad. BUT the good news is that the art is always of happy times.

Michelle

I was up too late, too much coffee and finished this before going to bed. One last memorial for a (hope we can make it in time) Christmas gift for a mom.

A Schnauzer and its Human.

A double portrait from my local Giant Rescue group event on Sunday.