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

Boxer dog - Ch Sulez Blackmagic

Boxer - Ch Sulez Blackmagic

20" x 16" watercolour on Saunders Wateford NOT paper

Another head study, this time of a beautiful boxer bitch, Ch Sulez Blackmagic. Magic has won more awards than I have time to list! Needless to say she is the top winning brindle boxer in UK history. This another dog who I have painted that I  have had the pleasure of meeting. For those who wonder about the temperaments of show dogs, I would just like to let you know that this bitch on meeting me, tried to climb on my lap to kiss me. I would have let her but she was rather big and I was trying to paint at the same time! She was a real sweetheart but on this occasion she just had to make do with having a fuss made of her instead!

To commission a pet portrait please email me at info@azpaintings.com for more information or visit www.azpaintings.com

Cairn Terrier - Multi Champion Glenmore's Top Gun

Multi Ch Glenmore's Top Gun - Cairn Terrier

20" x 16" watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT paper

I thought that it might be nice to feature a head study for today's painting. This little terrier was bred and lives in Germany although he came to live in the UK for about a year while he was campaigned to his UK Champion title. This was one of the many dogs I have painted that I have had the pleasure to meet.

To commission a pet portrait please email me at info@azpaintings.com or visit my website www.azpaintings.com

Stretching Watercolor Paper - Step By Step

I've been asked several times if I could explain clearly how to stretch watercolour paper and so here are several photos showing my (reasonably foolproof) method of stretching 140lb Saunders Waterford NOT watercolour paper.

This is my board - it is made of ¼" plywood and I use each side alternately so that by warping slightly in different directions each time, it remains flat. By the way, the tape around the edges is just where I haven't bothered to remove it after I had cut out my previous painting - I generally leave it a few times before removing it all.

Here is my roll of gummed tape and the stips cut from it. Cut this tape before you handle your paper so that your hands are totally dry as you don't want any of the glue removed from it. Make sure to make them slightly longer than the edges of your paper.

I take my paper (I normally work on a half full sheet) and soak it in a clean bath (no traces of cleaners or other chemicals) for approximately 15 minutes. I've been known to forget it and leave it in there for more than an hour and I've never suffered adverse consequences!

Remove the paper from the bath with clean hands, holding it along one edge and let the excess water drip off. Take it to your board and lay it down.

With clean kitchen roll - just a couple of sheets - remove the excess water. Just lightly run your hand over the back of the kitchen roll - no heavy handedness.

Then just lighly run the kitchen roll down the edges of the paper.

 Now wet half of a piece of tape. The reason for leaving half of it dry is as it absorbs the water from your paper, if it is already wet, it becomes too wet and won't stick. Do just completely wet the very ends of the tape though as they will extend further than your paper and won't otherwise stick down.

 This photo shows one piece of tape stuck down. Run the back of your nail up and down it and you will see it start to adhere to your paper - do this until it is smooth.

And the final result ... a lovely taut, clean piece of paper just waiting to be painted on!  :)

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and if you have any questions, just leave a comment or email me at info@azpaintings.com

Ch Monalou Nelly Pledge - Bernese Mountain Dog Breed Record Holder

Bernese Mountain Dog - Ch Monalou Nelly Pledge
20" x 16" watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT watercolour paper

As I explained in my last post, I can't at the moment reveal the painting I am working on as it is to be a gift.

The painting I am showing today was also a gift to her owner, Michelle Gurney, from a group of her friends, as a celebration of the fact that this bitch is the all time Breed Record Holder in the UK. I think even those who don't know what a show quality Bernese Mountain Dog should look like, will be able to see what a beautiful bitch she is.

To commission a pet portrait please email me at info@azpaintings.com for more information 

or visit www.azpaintings.com

Dalmatians - Ch Sophtspot Sugar Daddy at Dvojica & Ch Dvojica Voodoo

Dalmatians - Ch Sophtspot Sugar Daddy at Dvojica & Ch Dvojica Voodoo

(watercolour on Saunders Waterford NOT paper) 

 

At the moment I am painting a commission which is a gift and therefore I can't share it here, so I thought instead that I would post a past commission of mine. 

The two Dalmatians above are owned by Mark Dunnachie, owner/breeder of Dvojica Dalmatians, and as well as being very successful show dogs are also much loved and spoilt family pets - which is of course what all Dalmatians should be. Both dogs have won extremely well and become UK Champions, with Ch Dvojica Voodoo - Magic as she is known to her friends - doing a phenomenal amount of winning and becoming the top winning Dalmatian in UK history (she is the one on the right as you look at the painting). It was a pleasure painting these two dogs and I know that Mark has been delighted with his painting :)

If you should wish to commission a portrait of your dog - or other pet - please email me at info@azpaintings.com for more information or visit www.azpaintings.com

Pug Beach

Pug Beach - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

As I am painting today, the sun in shining and the daffodils are finally blooming. We've had a very late spring this year and the weather has been cold and miserable. However, today - today is a day when summer doesn't seem too very far away, when days stretch out into evening and the sun doesn't set until late; when the scents of flowers fill the air and the world seems a perfect place.

I had started this painting some while ago but simply couldn't bring myself to finish it in the dark days of winter, but today I couldn't stop myself from finishing it!! I would like to be on this beach right now and maybe throw a stick into the ocean for the little pug to fetch - he seems to want to swim!

10% donation to Old Dog Haven once this painting is sold. If you have a moment, do visit their website and see all the wonderful things they do - and maybe I could twist your arm to make a small (or big of course!) donation to help them in their efforts.

Available at auction - click here to bid - no reserve!

SOLD

I have only just taken this painting off the easel and so it will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped

If you have any questions please email me at info@azpaintings.com or visit my website www.azpaintings.com

My thanks to Mary R Vogt at Morguefile for making the photograph of her pug available for use as reference.

Ready To Play

Ready To Play - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

This photograph was posted by Hank's owner, Rachel, a fellow artist on the boards at Wet Canvas. He is a beagle/terrier cross and was just so pretty - or I suppose I should say handsome - that I had to paint him!

Anne
info@azpaintings.com

My thanks to Rachel at Wet Canvas for providing the reference photograph

German Shepherd Dog commission in watercolour

Ch. Jasueter Silber Yacco - watercolour 20" x 16"

This is a commission I finished a few weeks ago and I thought you might like to see it; I would say a German Shepherd face and expression at its best - honest and true.  It is a watercolour painted on Saunders Waterford NOT paper - my favourite paper to use. My watercolour paints are Winsor and Newton as are my oils - quality paints in my opinion. I do feel that when you are painting it is foolish to use anything less than top quality materials. When you think of the enormous amount of hours it takes to create a painting such as this one, it seems crazy to use less than the best materials. It is the same with brushes. I never use anything other than sable brushes for my watercolours. I admit I have tried cheaper nylon mixes, but have never used them in an actual painting as I have found them useless - despite what all the advertisements would have you believe! 

I did take several photographs some while ago detailing the process of stretching watercolour paper as I know this poses a problem for quite a few people - nothing more irritating that having a lovely piece of watercolour paper buckling in all directions when a water wash is applied to it! I have filed the photos away somewhere and at the moment have no idea where! If there is a demand, I will hunt them out and show them here to try and help all you aspiring watercolourists! :)

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

This is another dog rescued by Eileen, the woman who rescued the dog in the painting "In A Dog's Eyes".

Indie was a puppy rescued from a the Metro Animal Services shelter in Louisville, KY, where Eileen says that most animals are euthanized. She was shy, stressed and scared. Another puppy in the kennel who looked just like Indie was adopted but returned to the shelter a few months later and was going to be euthanized. Eileen pleaded her case and got her out to an adoption event at Petsmart where she was adopted by a wonderful family.

   

Eileen herself adopted Indie and Indie is a sweet natured, happy girl now - full of fun and love.

The title of this painting, from the song of the same name, came to me while I was painting it and I feel it is particularly apt for all those dogs in shelters who are in danger of losing their lives while waiting for their own special family.

When this painting is sold, I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to an animal rescue charity. I haven't decided which one yet as I'm wondering whether a pitbull rescue might be appropriate as Indie is one of this breed and I know they have a difficult time finding homes in view of their reputation. I will let the purchaser know which charity will be the recipient and also post it here.  Following some research, I've decided the charity which will benefit from any donation from the sale of this painting will be Bad Rap Pitbull Rescue.

SOLD

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

For more information please email me at info@azpaintings.com or visit www.azpaintings.com

My thanks to outlier dogs at flickr for making this photo available for use as a reference

The Love Bug

 

The Love Bug - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

This painting was completed as part of the Daily Painters International Art Gallery February challenge where we were given 3 photos and were told to incorporate at least two of them into a finished painting. I decided to incorporate all three and they were - obviously the car!, the 'love' sign and some lego blocks (which can just be seen on the poster in my painting).

Perhaps you were on the road in the sixties, when love and flower power were in the air - if so, I hope this painting will take you back there for a while and revive some happy memories ...............

Once this painting is sold I will make a donation of 10% to Save the Dalmatians. I chose this charity on this occasion as I had originally planned to paint a Dalmatian with the features from two of the photos, but thought that for once it might be nice to paint something without a dog in it - not for long though as I'm painting a dog right now - well, not at the same time as I type of course!!

SOLD

Please email info@azpaintings.com to purchase

If you have any questions please email me at the above address or visit www.azpaintings.com

French Bulldog (Frenchie)

 

French Bulldog (Frenchie) - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I painted this little fellow as part of the February Dog Breed Project held by Wet Canvas - the site for artists. His photograph was kindly supplied by his owner Lori Zebiere, a fellow artist.

When this painting is sold, I will make a donation of 10% from the profits to Save The Dalmatians - and so it will be a breed apparently not originating in France, helping a breed said not to originate in Dalmatia!! :)

SOLD

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.

A Kiss From A Rose

 

A Kiss From A Rose - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

 Another revisit to a previous painting as I simply couldn't resist the idea of using this painting with a Dalmatian instead of Alaskan Malamute as previously featured. It is one of my favourite paintings and seemed to call out to be painted so near to St Valentine's Day.  I hope you all enjoy seeing it as much as I enjoyed painting it.

When this painting is sold, I will make a donation from the profits to Save the Dalmatians, a charity based in California, who have made some inspiring saves of this wonderful breed. May I suggest you visit their website to see some of what they do and perhaps with 'love in the air' at this time of year, you might feel able to make a donation to help them with their work.

 Donation of 10%  to Save the Dalmatians

Available at auction with no reserve - please click here to bid or view details

Background based on a photograph by Photos8.com

A Prettier Pug

A Prettier Pug - 6" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

This little pug is one I have painted previously and decided to revisit again. Previously I gave the donation to Old Dog Haven and will do once again when this painting is sold. Old Dog Haven specialise in finding forever homes for elderly dogs and this is the reason they are one of my favourite charities to support.

So often when people are looking for a dog, they understandably either want a puppy or young dog - so where does this leave the poor older dog, whose life has often been turned upside down and left them in confusion and misery? Well, frankly, it's a question I don't like to dwell upon too much. However, the wonderful people at Old Dog Haven have done something about it and I would recommend a visit to their site where you can see some of the dogs they have helped, and some still waiting for their special home - (just click on the name to go to their site). Please consider helping if you can.

I will be donating 10% of the profits from the sale of this painting to Old Dog Haven

SOLD

Any queries, please email me at info@azpaintings.com

My thanks to Mary Vogt for the reference photo

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

Golden Retrievers

Bear & Nita - 20" x 16" oil on hardboard/masonite

I am very pleased to share my latest commission with you all.  It has been a struggle to get an accurate photo of the colours showing correctly but I have finally got them quite near!

I was particularly honoured to receive this commission as it is from the amazingly talented wildlife photographer Lisa Husar of Team Husar Wildlife Photography and features her pet golden retrievers, Bear and Nita. I can highly recommend a visit to their website - the photos are really incredible, absolutely stunning. I have no idea how they manage to capture the images they do and if you're thinking about buying a photographic print, do visit their website as I am sure you will be as captivated as I have been.

If you would like to commission a similar painting please visit my main website: www.azpaintings.com/commissions.html for details of prices and sizes and how to order or of course you can email me at info@azpaintings.com

Beagle's Window

Beagle's Window - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

Having been very busy with commissions, I am now trying to get back to painting one or two small paintings a week.  I still have a few commissions to go, so it may be difficult to fit the little paintings in but I will try my best!

The beagle in this painting is one I have featured before, being one of two beagles owned and photographed by newandrew at flickr. I wanted to paint this picture as I like the 'double aspect' of the beagle's head - with it being able to be seen from two different angles at the same time. I intend to continue to explore the effects of light and reflections during this coming year as I am fascinated by them!

This painting is being sold with a donation of 10% from the profits to Old Dog Haven where they do such marvellous work with homeless senior dogs.

SOLD

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

Christmas Is Coming!

 

Christmas Is Coming! - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

If this painting seems rather familiar to some of you, it is because I only posted it on this blog fairly recently!

I am sure that the artists among you will understand how sometimes you complete a painting but it remains at the back of your mind as one you would like to make alterations to - well this was such a one. I felt that the face lacked a little definition before - not helped of course by the constant difficulty of getting a decent photograph.  In any event, I took the painting today and worked on the face quite a lot and then of course couldn't resist fiddling around with the background!

Anyway, here is the new version and I hope you like the alterations.

When this painting is sold, I will be making a 10% donation to Save the Dalmatians.

If you haven't visited their site yet, I would urge you to go along and have a look.

SOLD

German Shepherd Dog - Zac

Zac - Watercolour 20" x 16"

Here is one of my recent(ish) commissions.  I am told that the person for whom it was commissioned as a gift absolutely loved it - which I can assure you is very important for an artist :)

To commission a similar painting please email me at info@azpaintings.com

Merry Christmas

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my collectors and followers and all those who have supported my work over the past year, many of whom have become good friends.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a prosperous and fulfilling New Year and may all your pets be loved and cherished.

Anne

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

Back with a functioning computer

Just to let you all know that I am back with a fully functioning computer again and now have access to all correspondence and images. 

I apologise for the lack of new paintings - it's not that I haven't been painting, but I am busy with commissions and commissions take a great deal longer to complete than do my small oil paintings.

If I get permission from the owners, I will share some of the portraits with you.

I hope you're all better ahead with your Christmas preparations than I am!