Christmas Is Coming!

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

I don't think it will surprise those who know me that at Christmas time we hang stockings on the mantlepiece for our dogs!  Admittedly we don't leave them alone overnight with the dogs.........  In the painting here, Angel looks as though she is deciding what to put on her list for Father Christmas.  This particular stocking is one of my favourites - surprise, surprise! It is gorgeous and soft and Angel always wants to play with it, but as with a couple of other special Christmas Dalmatians, she is only allowed a gentle play under close supervision.

Look carefully at the top of the mantlepiece and see if you can 'spot' anything there.

This painting comes as a reminder that Christmas is rapidly approaching - especially for artists like myself for whom it is the busiest time of year, so if you are thinking about commissioning a painting, it will have to be soon!

My new website is nearly ready, so do check it out often as there will be a selection of prints and cards available to purchase.

SOLD

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

Reflections On The Peke Of Perfection

Reflections On The Peke Of Perfection - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

It's been difficult to find time for my 'daily' paintings lately owing to commissions and the fact that I'm updating my website.  However, I decided I had to make time to paint this sweet little expression and then have fun with the reflection and the title of the painting!  I hope you enjoy it.

When sold a donation of 10% will be made to Old Dog Haven from the profits

SOLD

Based on a photograph by Blackangel - http://www.flickr.com/photos/photo_blackangel/

German Shepherd portrait by Anne Zoutsos

Aspects  of Love at Jasueter- watercolour 16" x 20"

I expect some of you may wonder where I am when I am not posting any new paintings; well I'm painting commissioned works - that's right - I never stop painting!

Here is one which was sent off last week and I'm of course very happy that the owner is thrilled with it - well more than happy, I'm thrilled too :)  My paintings are my 'babies' and I only want them going to homes where they will be loved as much as I have loved creating them.

Sophie, featured above, was a much loved pet who also became a champion and foundation for the successful Jasueter German Shepherd Dogs and whose passing has left a great gap.

The Watcher In The Sun (Jack Russell Terrier)

The Watcher In The Sun (Jack Russell Terrier) - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I think this painting gives a feeling of peace but not a sleepy sort of quiet but a watchful waiting for the return of a beloved owner.  I know that when I have been out for several hours without my dogs (not a frequent occurrence), when I get home, far from being rested, they are very tired. I know that they are not noisy when I am out so must presume that they are like the dog in this painting, patiently waiting and watching for my return.

What then of dogs who wait and whose owners never return?  I hate to think what they must go through.

When this painting is sold, a 10% donation from the profits will be made to Old Dog Haven whose website is well worth a visit.

SOLD

(as usual it hasn't been possible to get a totally accurate photo of the colours and tones in the painting but it is as accurate as I can get it!)


Based on the photograph by *etoile at Flickr

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 :)

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

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 :)

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Beagle Reflections by Anne Zoutsos

Beagle Reflections by Anne Zoutsos - 7" x 6" oil on hardboard/masonite

This painting follows on my theme of shadows and reflections both in the material and in the emotional sense.

A donation of 10% will be made to Bones Beagle Rescue once this painting is sold

SOLD

Thank you for looking

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

Inspiration taken from a photograph by newandrew at Flikr

Hey!! by Anne Zoutsos

Hey!! by Anne Zoutsos - 7.25" x 7.25" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

I had decided not to paint any more Dalmatian pictures until my "Dalmatian week" which I am planning to hold shortly. This plan was changed when I read that Save The Dalmatians are in real need of donations as theirs have been considerably reduced lately. Hopefully this painting and the following one will help in a tiny way with their resources.

The Dalmatian in this painting is my Angel with her octopus toy; however, she has 'spotted' something!

A note - this toy was put away for some time as both Angel and her mother Hazel were very unhappy when it was first given to them. It is one of those toys which when pressed make a noise which continues for some time. Normally, both Angel and Hazel adore these toys, but this one had a human voice and this totally worried them! However, with much persuasion that it was okay to play and bite it, it has now been adopted with much enthusiasm - maybe too much..........

10% donation to Save The Dalmatians when sold - if you don't want to purchase a painting, please visit their website and if you can possibly spare it, make a donation to help them save members of this sweet breed of dog.

SOLD

A Quiet Place by Anne Zoutsos

A Quiet Place - 7" x 5" (approx) oil on hardboard/masonite

There is no doubt that I do enjoy 'messing around' with light and shade in my paintings and it's something I am going to try and explore in different ways. I also very often enjoy portraying a sense of calm and peace in my paintings. I once read that fulfilment isn't brought about by being 'happy' but by being contented and I think that maybe when this is related to dogs, it is very true indeed. Although of course we want dogs to be happy, this can be very transitory - when for instance a visitor arrives at a rescue centre. Security and contentedness is what we should be striving for, for them - dogs in need of rescue and our own beloved pets.

Once sold a donation of 10% will be made to TBAR - True Blue Animal Rescue

SOLD

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

Based on a reference photograph made available at Wet Canvas

In The Purple by Anne Zoutsos

In The Purple - 10" x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

The model for this painting is a royally bred champion owned by a fellow artist who has very generously made photos of her available as a basis for reference. I think it is fitting that this much loved girl will be able to help raise funds for salukis in need.

10% donation to STOLA - saluki rescue

SOLD

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

Toy Poodle portrait in watercolour

Toy Poodle - Kimalia Midnight Merriment at Carihuela (watercolour)

I thought it might be of interest to show a very recently completed commission of a toy poodle. Her name was Jasmine and she sadly passed away a few months ago and although her owners have Jasmine's descendants, nothing can replace the little girl herself.

I don't often post commissions on my blog as many owners like to keep their paintings private but Jasmine's owners have very kindly allowed me to show her portrait.

I think it may be of interest to any budding artists out there to note that despite this dog being totally black, I have taken great care to show a wide variety of tones in the painting to give it form and texture.

My son's wedding

Alex and Jess - 8 March 2009

For those who have noticed that I have been even more distracted than usual, the reason for this is shown above. My son Alexander was married to his fiancee Jess on Saturday. I am very grateful that my beloved son has found such a lovely girl as his bride and we wish them much happiness for their future.

Whippet In Black by Anne Zoutsos

Whippet In Black by Anne Zoutsos - 8" x 10" oil on hardboard/masonite

I'm still having fun with light and shade and I really like the atmosphere created with the 'lost and found' edges on this whippet. The whippet whose official title is Champion Pipers Will Power, is one of Anne Stark's of the Pipers whippets and dachshunds and this painting is based on a photograph she sent to me.

Not for sale

Reservoir Dog by Anne Zoutsos

Reservoir Dog by Anne Zoutsos - 10" x 8" oil on hardboard/masonite

More fun with lighting - this time shadows - and with the name of the painting!

10% donation to Old Dog Haven (I'm hoping to be able to make another donation to this charity helping senior dogs in need). These dogs are so often overlooked in favour of young, lively, attractive dogs and yet some of these oldies can still give their younger cousins a run for their money. Those of us who own dogs know that as they age, they become more and more attuned to humans and it must be almost unbearable for some of these oldies when they find themselves homeless, sometimes through illhealth or death or just as often it seems, callousness. If you don't wish to buy a painting, could you consider making a direct donation? If so, click here and you will be taken to their website where you will see how you can make a donation.

SOLD

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

Partly based on a photograph by paulaloe at Flickr