Papillon Fringes

Papillon Fringes - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

This painting came about as the result of a challenge on Daily Painters International Art Gallery of which I am a member. The challenge was to create a painting connected with 'fringes' so I painted a dog with fringed ears!! The papillon is so named as it is the French word for butterfly which the head and ears of this breed are thought to resemble - and I rather think they do.

When you look at the little dog's face in my painting it is hard to believe that he is a rescue dog. He was rescued from a puppy mill after living his first six years in a cage. He never new kindness, cleanliness, walking or a soft bed. His world was very small and dark, but it has slowly got bigger and brighter. He is now a well loved and happy dog. The reference photo for this painting was taken by his owner RichMurphy at Flickr who has given him his new life.

I will be donating 10% of the profits from the sale of this painting to Noah's Bark pet rescue

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days and as the auction is for 7 days, this should work out just fine

For more information email me at info@azpaintings.com

Border Collie - Play!

Border Collie - Play! - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

Another summery painting! As I look out into my garden - or yard as my American friends will insist on calling it :) - the view is stunning at this time of year. The blossom on the plum tree is over but the tree is now in full leaf. The pear tree (a wall trained tree) still has some blossom left but the old Bramley apple tree is magnificent, covered in pink blossom as is the ornamental cherry - beautiful and the wall trained apple too! Add some flowering shrubs into the mix, together with some spring flowers and the result is just superb - even the sun has made an appearance! No wonder then that I am enjoying painting 'summer' paintings.

Once this painting is sold the donation of 10% from the profits will be going to Noah's Bark pet rescue

SOLD

If you would like any further information please email me at info@azpaintings.com

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

My thanks to kate.gardiner at Flickr for providing the reference photograph

Back In Black

Back In Black - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

There is no doubt to my mind that, just as in humans, there are some dogs who are more photogenic than others. I have used the dog featured today in a previous painting - A Black Dog. His owner MarilynJane at Flickr has kindly allowed his photo to be used as reference and it has been a pleasure to paint this grand fellow once more.

Once sold I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to Noah's Bark whose work is probably best followed on their facebook page  

SOLD

For further information please email me at info@azpaintings.com

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

Black Labrador

Black Labrador - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

It's been a while since I painted a black labrador and so here is one - no champion this time, just a dog with a lovely face and expression.

When this painting is sold I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to Noah's Bark to help them in their efforts at finding homes for unwanted dogs. Probably the best place to see what they do is their facebook page here - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Noahs-Bark-Animal-Rescue/139298188002?ref=ts

This painting is offered at auction with no reserve! please click here to bid (or just to see details)

On request this was changed to buy it now

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before shipping but since the auction is a 7 day listing, this should work out just about right!!

for more information please email me at info@azpaintings.com 

or visit my website - www.azpaintings.com

My thanks to bacondog at Flickr for kindly making the reference photo available

In A Dog's Eyes

In A Dog's Eyes - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I don't understand how one can look into the eyes of a dog such as this and not reach out to help it - here is this dog's story.

Rex was on the euthanasia list at the Metro Louisville Animal Shelter, just because he's mainly black and not the kind of dog who gets adopted quickly. A woman called Eileen, who has rescued many dogs, became attached to him, and when he started getting very stressed in the shelter environment and it looked like he was in danger of euthanasia again, she championed him. That decision led to a confrontation with the animal care manager that resulted in Eileen adopting Rex herself and then finding him a wonderful home in Connecticut and making the 14 hour drive with him to take him to his new home.

Rex is doing great in his new home, where he lives with a work-at-home dad, mum who works and goes to school, a boy in first grade, and another dog, a Corgi named Baron. He's living the good life now - all thanks to one woman's determination.

A 10% donation will be made to Noah's Bark pet rescue once this painting is sold

SOLD

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

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

With thanks to outlier dogs at flickr for the reference photograph and information

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

 

Don't Go Breaking My Heart - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

When I started this painting, I had St Valentine's Day in mind (although this painting won't be dry in time for it to be a gift on that day). Then as I was painting, the title slipped into my mind - and the song has been in my head ever since! It occurred to me that the title of this painting not only relates to a human relationship, but it also says it all regarding the feelings we dog owners have towards our dogs when they become old and frail and we wish we could hang on to them forever.......................

Once sold a donation of 10% will be made to Noah's Bark pet rescue

SOLD

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

My thanks to Josh Pesavento for making the reference photo available through Creative Commons.

Honesty - (yellow Labrador dog)

 

Honesty - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I am at a loss to understand how anyone could ever look into the eyes of a dog and be anything other than caring and kind to it. If the eyes are the windows to our souls, then dogs must have magnificent souls indeed.

A donation of 10% of the profits from the sale of this painting will be made to Noah's Bark Pet Rescue

SOLD

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


My thanks to Marvin Kuo at Flickr for making his photo available under creative commons.

Reflections Of A Westie

Reflections Of A Westie - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

The reference photo of this little Westie was again supplied by Anne Stark, breeder of Pipers Whippets and Dachshunds.  I generally try not to paint 'cute' dog paintings and I hope this one doesn't fall into that category; however, as she has such a very pretty face, I fear I may have!

When this painting is sold I will be making a 10% donation to Noah's Bark rescue organisation from the profits to help give some less fortunate dogs a chance at a decent life, which in my opinion, should be the right of any dog born into an affluent country, but which sadly is so very far from the current situation.

SOLD

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

Lacy - (a West Highland White Terrier 'Westie')

Lacy - (a West Highland White Terrier 'Westie') - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I apologize for the lack of posts recently but life has contrived to get in the way of my ability to complete any small paintings! I expect you can understand when I tell you that we have had our house carpeted throughout (well almost) and have had relatives visiting, not to mention decorating the house for Christmas - which has still got to be finished. Additionally, I have been completing commissions - one or two of which I will be posting on this blog. My next commission is one I started some while ago but which has had to be put to one side as it quite a large painting for me, and I need to have an adequate number of hours to properly get 'into' the painting without interruption. I am looking forward to getting back to it - in fact I am feeling very impatient to get going with it again!

Meanwhile, I have just slipped a small oil painting in amongst the mix.  This one features a West Highland White Terrier and the reference photo was once again supplied by the very successful breeder of  the Pipers whippets and miniature dachshunds, Anne Stark.

West Highland White Terriers not surprisingly originated in the Highlands of Scotland and were working terriers. They were required to follow fox, otter and badger over and under hard, rocky ground. For this work they had to be game, hardy, agile and sure-footed, able to spring from rock to rock.

My advice to anyone thinking to purchase a puppy, is to go to a reputable breeder (well you should always do that anyway) as they can have a tendency to skin problems. In fact if only everyone wanting to buy a puppy would go to a reputable breeder, the horrendous puppy farms would then cease to exist.

A 10% donation from the sale of this painting will be going to Noah's Bark. As Christmas is very near now, do you think you could make a special present this year and give a donation, however small?

SOLD

Please note that this painting is straight off the easel and will need several days to dry before it can be shipped and therefore WILL NOT be ready for Christmas.

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

Christmas card - Black Beauty

Christmas card from the original oil painting - Black Beauty

The donation from this card will be going to Noah's Bark who do a really fantastic job. 

The reference photo for the painting was taken by Meneer Zjeroen and the lab shown was found on a site selling used goods and animals!!!!!!!!!! Now a beloved pet of the photographer.

The card can be seen and purchased here http://azpaintings.com/xmas.html#16

Please email me at info@azpaintings.com if you have any questions.

Through The Eyes Of A Dog

Through The Eyes Of A Dog - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

This young dog was a stray - hard to believe of such a beautiful pup.  Now he is happy and safe in a loving home. Perhaps it is just as well dogs can't speak; I wonder what tales he would tell of the things he has seen  - and then I know I would rather not hear them.

When this painting is sold, a donation of 10% will be made to Noah's Bark. 

SOLD

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

My thanks to JDurham at Morguefile for the reference photograph

(With Love) From Me To You

The title of this painting is taken this time from the famous song by the incredible Beatles. I particularly like the version used by the well known UK department store, John Lewis, for their Christmas advertising. On a deeper level though, I feel that the sentiments voiced are those that our dogs would say if only they could speak. I hope that this painting, with the dog bringing a rose, conveys the gift of love that our dogs freely give those of us who are lucky enough to have been blessed with a dog of our very own.

Another perfect Valentine's Day gift!

10% of the profits will be donated to Noah's Bark Pet Rescue

SOLD

With thanks to photo8.com for the reference photograph

Kiss From A Rose

Kiss From A Rose - oil on hardboard/masonite 6" x 7"

The title of this painting is taken from the beautiful song of the same name, written and sung by Seal and which I have listened to quite a lot while working. I hope that the painting conveys a feeling a peace and love.

I suppose it would make a perfect Valentine's Day gift although I hadn't actually considered this while painting it!

The follow up to this painting will be published on Wednesday.

10% of the profits will be donated to Noah's Bark Pet Rescue

SOLD

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

With thanks to photo8.com for the reference photograph.