Barry's Pups

 

Cute little guys!

How about that blue eye and brown eye! 

Have you ever known anyone with that?  I've known two.  One was one of my fourth grade students who I adored. The other was an assistant principal who taught me the positive power of a simple note of written encouragement.

Whenever I'm painting for someone, I like to make a little video of the process.  It's just fun to see how it comes together.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Red Fox Portrait

Another fox?

When I did the first version of this one, it was in my art sketchbook. 

I liked it so much that I wanted to put it on canvas.

The first one was done with watercolor, colored pencils, paint markers, and a little acrylic.

The second one was done mostly with acrylic. 

We occasionally see a red fox, but not often.  I've never had one in my yard or had one bother my chickens, so I'm a friend of the fox.  

When I was a very little girl, I had two invisible friends.  Their names were Foxy and Cool.  My mother once asked me to draw what they looked like. I drew a kind of figure 8 or hour glass shaped blob with eyes, a mouth, and a few hairs on their heads. She used that as a guide to sew them into pillow friends for me.  One was pink and the other was yellow.  

Funny... once they were real... they stopped coming around as invisible.

Thanks to Tamara LaPorte for the fox painting in Sketchbook Revival 2023.

Acrylic Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

[GIFT]

Riley & Steve

Good dog, Riley.

Good dog, Steve.

I wonder if these guys will recognize themselves when their dad gets this painting as a 40th birthday present.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas 

[SOLD]

Carley

She looks like she's big and fierce and in charge, doesn't she.  I think she might be one of those three things.  You can guess which?

Here's a peek into the process. Enjoy!

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Mae

This pretty little pup painting will be someone's Christmas surprise.

Sometimes it's fun to watch how a painting comes together. 

Enjoy this little video of the process.

Original Oil Painting on 10"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

 

Best Friends Forever

It's a special thing to reconnect with a dear friend, a kindred spirit!  What an unexpected pleasure to receive her message.  When she asked me if I'd do a painting for her, I said, "I'd love to!" before I ever even thought to ask what she had in mind.

She sent me the photo and told me, "Gus was there to greet her when she came home from the hospital, and she was at his side at the end."

Because we used to teach writing together, I knew she'd be willing to add her own words:

"This magical painting is an 8th grade graduation gift for my granddaughter, Lily, during the 2020 Pandemic. It had to be a special gift, and it surpassed expectations. Lily and Gus were together for 11 of her 13 years... keeping company through thick and thin. I knew that Helen knew me well enough to express that connection. She is a writer/artist who understands that creativity in any art form requires a process, a series of stages from drafting to revising, and finally the product. We nurtured our love of teaching writing together over 20 years ago! Turns out shared writing is a tie that binds friends forever! Helen, "thanks" is too small a word for helping to reignite not only our friendship but my love for the process! Truly serendipitous!" C.O. 

I do love an image that tells a story on canvas.  I think this one does.

I am using this painting as my submission to Inspiration Collaboration's inspiration image called Resting Place. It mentions the joy of finding things in unexpected places... a place where one can stop and rest... a place where something is put.  I decided this baby cradled against her best friend/dog fit the requirements just fine.

Sometimes our "resting place" is only complete with that special furry friend at our side.

Good dog, Gus. Good dog.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

First Snow

What do you suppose these two little ones were thinking as they looked out their window to see a blanket of white?

Aren't they sweet!

"First Snow" has been featured in several Etsy treasuries.  (A treasury is a collection of related art pieces or vintage items.)  What an honor to know that this little image has made people smile in so many different ways.
The curator of a Groundhog's Day treasury must have thought the little ones were looking for Mr. Groundhog, and I bet they were!  Click Groundhog... Please Come Out and Play Today.
There are two treasuries that celebrate dogs in Dog Days of Summer, and another Dog Days of Summer.
 Little Girls' World is a treasry about little girls and their best friends.
Another is also called First Snow.

[SOLD]
Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

"First Snow" can be purchased in several forms.
Contact me if you'd like to purchase this image as a giclee, a print, or note cards.