Wednesday 23 September 2009

Reappearing Followers

Well I woke up this morning to find all your smiling faces back - hooray - nice to see you all again! 

Disappearing Followers

This is a note to my followers.

When I go to my dashboard, it tells me that I have 14 followers - hello all!  Unfortunately when I click on the link it is blank, just as it is on my page. 

I am sorry - I don't know the reason for it but on googling to try and find out why such a thing should happen, I found that it seems a very common problem.  I hope that it will maybe sort itself out but meanwhile I am thinking of switching over to Wordpress so we will have to see what happens.

If you can leave any comments, please do so :)

Monday 21 September 2009

Shadow And Reflection Of A Jack Russell Terrier

Shadow And Reflection Of A Jack Russell Terrier - 7" x 5" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

More fun with shadows and reflections! Well, it is such a lovely sunny day here in Surrey, that it seemed only right that I should create a lovely sunny painting and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.

10% donation to Old Dog Haven - once sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped


Painting inspired by a photograph by Adventures of Pam & Frank at flickr

Saturday 19 September 2009

GoD And DoG

This is an addendum to yesterday's post - and something new I am trying ie to put the actual video here. It is called GoD And DoG by WJ Francisco.

I'm sorry if you get this emailed to you several times (hopefully not) but it took a while to get the video the right size - not overlapping everywhere!

Enjoy :)

Friday 18 September 2009

A short YouTube video

If you've got 2 minutes to spare you might want to watch this little video - it is extremely sweet but if you're like me, you'd better have your hanky ready! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Life Is An Adventure by Anne Zoutsos

Life Is An Adventure by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I think one of the nastier things in life is to wake up filled with fear. I expect most of us have experienced this at one time or another in our lives but we hope it isn't a daily occurrence. For some, both people and animals, it is.

On the other hand, one of the happier experiences in life, is to wake filled with excitement for the forthcoming day. Perhaps for many jaded adults this isn't very often the case, but for children and dogs, it seems their natural attitude to life. I think this painting expresses the feeling that life is an adventure, waiting to be explored.

10% donation to Old Dog Haven once this painting is sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

This painting is based on a lovely photograph posted by jared on flikr

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Poodle Reflections by Anne Zoutsos

Poodle Reflections by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I'm having fun again with dark areas and reflections - I just LOVE painting them!

A 10% donation will be made to Old Dog Haven once this painting is sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

The dog in this painting is based on a photograph posted by greg westfall at flikr.

Sunday 13 September 2009

Happy Birthday Angel

Happy Birthday Angel - 3 today!!

Angel has had a lovely day - here she is with her birthday toy - a soft, plush plane which makes an 'engine' noise when pressed (it still works at the moment but I'm not sure for how long!!)

Happy Birthday our sweet girl.

Out Of The Dark by Anne Zoutsos


Out Of The Dark by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I am a coward. I have tried not to be, but I am.

I cannot face the suffering endured by so many dogs and so I leave it to others to pick up the pieces. I can't even read of the traumas which the little innocents suffer. I am of course far from proud of this but have had to come to terms with the reality of my situation.

I can paint. Not everyone will like what or how I paint, but I know that there are quite a lot who do. This is my way therefore to try and do what little I can to ease the lives of animals whose existence is made so very hard and sad by the actions of my fellow humans. I am very grateful to my collectors who have done a great deal to help with the necessary finances to aid workers 'on the ground'.

I quote below what has been said of the puppy featured in today's painting -

"Annabelle - Female of a litter of pups found wandering with mange so bad they had no fur. When taken to the vet, we found out she has a heart defect. She then contracted parvo in which she had to stay at the vet for a few days - but is now healthy!"

What a start to life! (please scroll down to see more about her)

The title of this painting reflects what I hope for this little girl - that she will come out of the dark into the light of a happy life.

When sold, a 10% donation from the profits of this painting will be made to BAMA Bully Rescue - perhaps meanwhile you could pop over there and make a quick donation?

SOLD

ADDENDUM: BAMA Bully Rescue has written this about the puppy in this painting: "Annabelle is the little dog that steals everyone's heart as soon as they meet her or hear her story.

She is recovering well, but still has a ways to go before she is 100%. In the time being, she is being spoiled and loved on by her foster family :)"

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

The painting is based on a photograph supplied by BAMA Bully Rescue

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Border Collie in Surrey, England


Border Collie in Surrey, England - 7" x 5" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

Following my painting of a saluki on St. Martha's Hill in Surrey, I have now painted a Border Collie. However, this dog isn't gazing over the misty hills between Scotland and England, but is instead looking towards the South Downs which are near the south coast of England. The previous painting was painted from the viewpoint of looking towards the south east from the hill; this one although painted from almost the same place, is looking towards the south west. The area is perhaps not surprisingly designated as an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" - although I think the dogs really enjoy the smells and freedom to run and play rather than the views but it's nice for their owners to enjoy. The church of St. Martha's, which stands just to the back of the collie in this painting, dates back to around the twelfth century.

10% donation to Old Dog Haven who do so much to help elderly dogs in need

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

The dog was partly inspired by aurorasoul at Flikr

Sunday 6 September 2009

Aye Chihuahua! by Anne Zoutsos

Aye Chihuahua! by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

This is definitely a case of - little dog, large personality! Although so small in stature, these little dogs will usually take on the role of family protector and carry out their responsibilities with due care and attention. However as I have said previously, they are not toys nor babies, but small dogs with the same needs as their larger brothers and sisters. They don't need carrying everywhere, nor do they want continual dressing up in 'cute' wear. If you own one of these little dogs, make sure that they are able to enjoy the normal life of a dog, with interesting walks and mental stimulation.

10% donation to Old Dog Haven once sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before shipping

My thanks to apdk at flikr for the original photo on which this painting was based

Thursday 3 September 2009

Saluki In Surrey, England


Saluki In Surrey, England - 5" x 7" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

In this painting, I have painted a saluki and placed it on a hill called St. Martha's Hill which is near where I live in Surrey, England. There is a very old church on top of this hill and the only normal access there is by foot or horse or pushbike. There are wide ranging views from this hill and in this painting the hills in the far distance, are the South Downs. St. Martha's is on the North Downs. There are lots of fabulous dog walks all around here and this is one of our favourites - actually we have quite a lot of favourites! - and our dogs love running off leash through the trees and bracken. The North Downs way is a long-distance footpath of about 155 miles but we haven't walked that far!

10% donation to STOLA once sold

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped


Tuesday 1 September 2009

Mine, All Mine by Anne Zoutsos


Mine, All Mine by Anne Zoutsos - 7.25" x 7.25" oil on hardboard/masonite

Whilst this painting is independent in its own right, it is also the second in a series of two - although I may make it a trilogy at some stage in the future. The first of the paintings is Hey!! and depicts Angel with her toy and now this painting reveals what she was so keen on looking at. It's always the same, she wants what her mother has - and usually gets it as Hazel spoils her (like most mothers spoil their children!) We do try however to make sure that Hazel doesn't give up everything to her daughter as of course we want her to be happy too.

Once sold a donation of 10% will be made to Save The Dalmatians, to help Dalmatians whose owners definitely haven't been caring.

SOLD