Dalmatians (The Night Before Christmas)

The Night Before Christmas - 10" x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

Here is The Night Before Christmas; I have enjoyed this painting and I hope you like seeing it.

A lot of people consider my paintings to be rather emotional - in a good way! I think this painting fits into that category and I know that many have put different interpretations on it and I love to hear people's different views. As for me, what do I see in it? Well, I'm not sure I should say and wonder if that would spoil everyone's enjoyment? Perhaps for now I should keep silent and see what others think.

SOLD

Once sold, I will be donating 10% of the profits to Dalmatian Rescue of Puget Sound.

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

My thanks to Suzi Wahl for allowing me use the photo of her dogs as reference.

Dalmatians - The Night Before Christmas (WIP)

The Night Before Christmas (WIP) - 10" x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

As those of you who read my blog will know, after a hard day's work of painting portrait commissions, I like to relax in the evening by painting! This is my present painting - very much a work in progress at the moment and of course I can only work on it in the evenings. 

When the painting is finished it will be offered for sale and once sold I will make a donation from the profits to Dalmatian Rescue of Puget Sound. I have been very impressed indeed with this rescue and in fact all the Dalmatian rescues along the West Coast of the USA that I know of seem to co-ordinate very well in rescuing the, what appears to me, inordinately large number of abandoned Dalmatians. I hope you'll take the time to visit their site - although if you do, you'll probably get hopping mad as I do seeing the attitude so many people have towards their pets.  I must point out that the Dalmatians in this painting are much loved pets and belong to the photographer, Suzi Wahl who kindly gave me permission to use her photograph as reference for my painting.

Christmas is now very definitely in the air and as the Dogs Trust in the UK say - A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas!! (I would also like to add that the Dogs Trust never destroy a healthy dog - hooray!)

If you have any enquiries, please email me at info@azpaintings.com

Christmas card - Dalmatian

Baby It's Cold Outside - Christmas cards 

As I can't post my present paintings as that is what they are - sorry for the pun; they are commissioned as Christmas presents - I will be posting a sample of Christmas cards instead and I hope they will get you in a Christmassy mood and maybe even spur you to getting your shopping done early this year. In this, I would say don't follow my example as I can every year be seen flying around the shops at the last possible moment but even so, enjoying the lovely decorations, Christmas music and hustle and bustle (actually I love it!)

If you want any further information (about paintings not shopping!!) please email me at info@azpaintings.com

Brown Burmese Cats

Feebee and Coco - 12" x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

Sold commission

I almost want to say, no - don't faint - it's not a dog painting! Well I hope you enjoy this change of subject as much as I did. 

I'm not sure if I've mentioned the cat I owned as a child; he was a beautiful ginger and white and not once in all his life did he ever scratch me. He would knead his paws with pleasure when sitting on my lap but always made sure his claws were sheathed before they touched my skin. I cannot to this day talk about him without starting to cry and I will never own another cat. However, it's a pleasure for me being able to paint cats as then, like the dogs (and other animals) I paint, while I am working on them, for that time, they are mine! I suppose no-one other than the owner will ever know an animal as closely as an artist painting them. Thinking about it, I imagine that for an artist our brushes almost become an extension of our hands and when we paint, it is as if we are touching the animals. Ah, well, I think maybe I'd better stop talking before everyone decides  I am definitely a little odd!

To commission a portrait of your pet please email me at info@azpaintings.com - or indeed if you have any questions re painting.

Cocker Spaniel painting

Sh Ch Lujesa Happy Too - 20" x 16" watercolour

Yes, another Cocker Spaniel (okay for my American friends, English Cocker Spaniel). This painting was a gift and so I could not show it at the time it was painted. These dogs have such sweet and appealing faces it's hard to remember sometimes that they are energetic and talented gundogs. Over the years, I have met very many of these dogs and have found them to be as affectionate as their sweet faces would imply! If you are an artist contemplating painting one of this breed, I can only say to make sure you get their meltingly sweet expressions just right!

I hope you enjoy viewing this painting as much as I enjoyed painting it. If you would like to commission a painting of your pet, please email me at info@azpaintings.com