I love dogs, and this year I have been working on some doggie images. Here are a few..this one is of Sammy, my friend Jennie's Westie....
It is done with chalk pastel on Ingres paper, - I like the dry, chalky , matt, feeling of working in this medium. It can be dusty and messy to work with , but all this is forgiven, as these pastels are so easy to transport.
"Boxer puppy", acrylic on canvas
30cms x 20cms
Sometimes, a painting paints itself without much effort from the artist , and this is what happened here , - I was surprised to see this wee dog looking back at me. Some times this happens me when i work with animals.
This is a mixed media work on canvas of Pucci, a much adored 2 year old lab. Not a great photo. This work is on a large canvas ( A1) size , and is worked up using acrylic, pastel and inks.
Above is "Valentine", a mixed media on canvas. He is a rescue dog , an American bulldog crossbreed who was lucky to find a great home. Proceeds of this sale went to his rescue charity, http://www.adogslife.ie/. for much needed funding.
This charity is one of many around the country , who rescue dogs from our bleak pounds, - and place them in kind foster homes, where the dogs are then integrated into family life, while awaiting forever homes. They do brilliant work , - and only this year Ireland has been described as the puppyfarming capital of Europe! On average, we put down about 16,000 healthy, rehomable stray, dogs in Ireland. (2011)