Contentment by Anne Zoutsos

Contentment by Anne Zoutsos - 5.75" x 7" oil on hardboard/masonite

The miniature smooth dachshund featured in this painting is called Henry at home and Champion Pipers Mr Longfellow in ths showring and is top winning male in his breed this year. His owner, Anne Stark, has very generously made many of her photographs available for reference, so helping raise funds for dogs not as lucky and loved as Henry.

10% donation to DARE dachshund rescue

SOLD

Over My Shoulder by Anne Zoutsos

Over My Shoulder by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I love the look of fearlessness on the puppy's face in this painting as it peeps over the shoulder of its young master, safe in his arms. I hope you can almost feel the warmth of the puppy's breath on your neck as you view this painting!

As in several of my other paintings, the title is based on a song title - this one was by a UK band called Mike and the Mechanics. A nice song and sung live fantastically - and one which once you've heard it, you can't get it out of your head!

(Addendum - if you should wish to listen you can find it here http://www.goear.com/listen.php?v=e088309 - I'm whistling to it now!)

A 10% donation will be made to Old Dog Haven once this painting is sold, to help in their efforts to find forever homes for elderly dogs no longer - nor one suspects, ever- loved.

Thank you to all for helping animals in need.

SOLD



My thanks to AydinGrace for making the reference photo available under Creative Commons.

Their Lives In Our Hands

Their Lives in Our Hands - 5.75" x 7" oil on hardboard/masonite

The beagle puppy in this painting is helpless and vulnerable. It is being kept safe and secure in loving hands. Unfortunately there are dogs to whom hands signify cruelty and pain - a horrific thought. Thankfully, there are many people who give up their time, money and even peace of mind in order to help these dogs, having to sometimes go into terrible conditions to rescue them. Those of us who care for dogs can all do something to help, however small and if you're not in the market for a painting at the moment, perhaps you could spare a donation.

A 10% donation will be made to BONES Beagle rescue when 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

My thanks to Steve Pollock for the reference photo released under Creative Commons

All's Well That Ends Well

All's Well That Ends Well - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

Well, despite Angel sticking her nose into the heather where the bees were busy at work, they ignored her and she carried on her happy way.

With all the lovely weather we've been having here lately, both Angel and Hazel have been able to spend quite a lot of time in the garden sunbathing. They don't like lying on the grass however as they like being toasty warm, so always wag their tails when I ask if they would like their blankets spread out on the lawn for them - which I of course do for them.

I am sure that most who read this blog will share my incomprehension of the abusive treatment meted out to so many dogs - dogs whose only crime seems to be that of having been born.

10% will be donated to Save The Dalmatians 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.

Mind The Bees Angel!

Mind The Bees Angel! - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

The model for this painting is my own Angel and is based on a photograph I took of her in our garden recently. She was checking to see what all the bees were doing in the heather.

This painting is the first in a two part series.

10% will be donated to Save The Dalmatians to help Dalmatians who aren't loved as Angel is.

SOLD

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

Roman At Rest

10" x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

When I was approached by Anne Stark of the famous Pipers whippets and dachshunds with a request to paint her first Champion whippet dog, Roman, I was delighted but also rather daunted. The reason for this concern was that several of Anne's dogs have been superbly painted by other artists including to my certain knowledge, the extremely talented artists Mark Adams and Jeanne Illeyne. However, it was of course impossible not to want to paint such a beautiful dog and so I accepted the challenge to portray Roman in my own style. I hope I have managed to convey his expression of both alertness and sweetness - not always an easy combination, but for me the expression is really the crux of a detailed dog portrait - it has to be right.

If you take a look at Anne's website, you'll find it packed with photos of gorgeous dogs including of course the handsome Roman - it's well worth spending time there if you're a dog addict like me!

SOLD

Another Kiss by Anne Zoutsos

Another Kiss by Anne Zoutsos - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

I think that the love between children and their pets is a precious thing. The reason I decided to create this painting was because I feel that if the desperate situation in relation to unwanted dogs is to be altered, education is the only really viable solution. There must be many ways to introduce pet care into the school curriculum which would cost next to nothing to implement. Over the years I've noticed that even 'hardened' children very often relate very well to dogs and I think that a properly structured system of school visits by well behaved dogs together with interesting and thought provoking discussion could and would reduce uncaring dog ownership in the future. Well, my thoughts anyway.

For now we have to try and ease the difficult lives so many dogs and other pets suffer. A 10% donation from this painting when sold will be made to Malibu Pet Companions.

SOLD

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

My thanks to BdwayDiva1 for releasing the reference photograph under Creative Commons

Happy Birthday Hazel

10 today!

On a personal note - my Hazel was 10 today and had a lovely birthday :)

Swim! by Anne Zoutsos

Swim! by Anne Zoutsos - 5.75" x 7" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

Having seen this photograph in the Wet Canvas dog breed project thread, I took the opportunity of painting a picture depicting a labrador doing what most like doing best - other than eating of course! - and that is swimming. Most labradors adore swimming and being natural retrievers, love swimming after sticks thrown by their owners. This labrador is instead retrieving a 'dummy' as used in gundog training.

There are, I am sad to say, far too many dogs whose lives are not filled with fun and happiness - far from it and it is up to we owners of loved dogs to spread that love a little further afield. Perhaps you have a space in your home for a new member of the family, or maybe you could foster a dog in need until a permanent home can be found. If not, perhaps a small donation could be spared?

10% from the sale of this painting will be donated to Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay. 

I will be painting a Dalmatian painting very soon to try and help some more.

SOLD

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

My thanks to K Taylor-Green for the reference photograph

Little Dog by Anne Zoutsos

Little Dog by Anne Zoutsos - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

I think that probably one of the worst things that can happen to any breed is for it to become popular. When this happens, the breed suffers from the effects of indescriminate breeding by those with no care or knowledge and who have no interest in the puppies they breed other than to try and make money out of them. These innocent puppies end up in homes where they are not loved or cared for and are discarded when they become a 'nuisance'. The puppies' poor mothers are nothing more than breeding machines to be got rid of when they wear out. Sadly little Chihuahuas have become a 'fashion accessory' for some people and therefore of interest to the puppy farmers.

If you own one of these tiny dogs, please bear in mind that they are not babies, nor are they toys. They are little dogs and need the things that all dogs need - rules and boundaries, exercise (yes even these little dogs need to be taken out for walks for mental stimulation as much as the physical challenge), proper food and love.

The dog being cuddled in this painting was rescued and is now safe and loved.

10% donation when this painting is sold is Old Dog Haven who do so much to help senior dogs in need.

SOLD

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

My thanks to Ed Bierman for making the reference photo available through Creative Commons.

Bliss by Anne Zoutsos

Bliss by Anne Zoutsos - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

I was drawn to create this painting by the expression of pure bliss on the dog's face while sharing a moment of affection with its owner. Dogs ask for so little to make them happy - sufficient food and water, shelter, exercise and affection and not really much more. This makes it even more incredible that so many dogs' owners cannot be bothered to meet these basic needs. Fortunately there are people willing to help rescue and rehome these dogs and it behoves we other dog owners to do our bit to support them.

10% donation to TBAR - True Blue Animal Rescue when 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

My thanks to Jimmie Perkins for the reference photo released under the Creative Commons

Mellow Yellow by Anne Zoutsos

Mellow Yellow by Anne Zoutsos - 6" x 6"oil on hardboard/masonite

I don't suppose it will be a surprise to the slightly older viewer that this painting's title comes from the song written and performed by Donovan - which I really like and always makes me think of summer.

I love the look of the sunshine which almost seems to be sparkling on the yellow labrador's coat who looks out with confidence from honest eyes. I hope those who look at this painting will have their spirits raised and maybe even be able to feel the heat of the sun which is shining on the cosy dog.

10% donation to TBAR - True Blue Animal Rescue (I couldn't even read the stories of the dogs awaiting adoption and didn't get as far as looking at other animals needing homes)

Please, if you live in the area, consider offering a loving, permanent home to one of these needy animals - or if you live further afield, perhaps you could afford to make a donation.

SOLD

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

With thanks to jarapet for making the reference photo available under Creative Commons