A Day at the Dallas Arboretum

Into the Woods, 11X14, Oil on Linen

Into the Woods was painted on location at the Dallas Arboretum with a little help from a 9-year-old friend. If you notice a particularly gorgeous smudge of dark purpley brown in the bottom left corner, well that was the mark of what will likely be a future Picasso in the making. I never got her name. After she made her mark, she gave me back my brush and began hopping up and down and spinning in circles in her red dress.

Fredericksburg and Hamboogers

Indian Blanket

A Scene from Fredericksburg, Texas

11X14, Oil

Every year we try to make a trip down south to Fredericksburg, Texas, for a family vacation with the puggies. We have discovered the absolute best pet-friendly place out there and took Winnifred Wigglepants and the Stinky Boys a couple of times last year before Winnie Wiggles got sick. We lost Wiggles in January this year to GME encephalitis, but some of my best memories of Winnie will always be in Fredericksburg. While visiting there last spring, Winnie drew quite the adoring crowd in her polka dot harness and pink pearls shopping downtown at the fabulous must-see store for woofs of all sizes and shapes, Dogologie. Winnie also had dinner at a five-star restaurant with us (on the patio) where she enjoyed a five-star frenchy fry and the unabashed adoration of the waitresses.

We are planning another family trip in June and I can hardly wait to be on the road with the piggypugs. This painting, Indian Blanket, was completed from a sunset photograph taken in Fredericksburg last May.

The best part about traveling to Fredericksburg, according to Howard Pee Pugpants and Java Cheesybritches, are the bites of hamboogers they will get on the way up and back. Howard also particularly enjoys barking at every vehicle that dares to come near us on I-35. He keeps an eagle eye on the rear view mirror to ensure these pesky cars and trucks do not ambush us from behind. Java only howls for the first 50 miles, then drops off into a snoring snooze.

This year will be Anniebelly Bossybritches' first trip with us on family vacation. I'll need to start explaining now that she can't pack all 50 of her favorite toys.

Emmy Finds a Home

Emmy Before...

Emmy After.

In this second picture, Emmy is pictured below, with his sister Luling, above.

When Emeril "Emmy" came to Dallas Fort Worth Pug Rescue, his skin was in terrible shape. My friend Sherrie took in Emmy and Luling, his sister, as foster pugs because she didn't want them to be separated. It didn't take long for her to decide they would be a permanent part of her family. It's what we fondly call "foster failure." You can see now that Emmy is a beautiful, healthy boy under Sherrie's care. He has grown back all of his fur and has a sparkle in his eye. Sadly, his sister Luling, who is pictured with him, died suddenly a few weeks ago. She was just a young pug, and they're not really sure what caused her to go so suddenly. I dedicate this post with lots of hugs to Sherrie and also to every dog rescuer who has given their heart, time and love to these babies in need. Once you give your heart to a pug, you can never live without one. Sherrie and I both volunteer for DFWPRC - Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue takes in all pugs regardless of medical condition, and is always in need of donations, volunteers, and foster families. You can see some of the puggies needing homes on their web site and in their anniversary video.

Poppies and Pears

Poppies and Pears, 16X20, Oil

Poppies and Pears was a good exercise because it was full of challenges for me - reflections in the vase from the pears, the folds of the cloth napkin, and the blue vase and its patterns in shadows.

Cool Things From Photoshop Elements

Orange Crush Using the Photoshop Elements' "Fresco" Effect

For all you artists out there on a budget (we're not starving, we're eating paint! :) I found a great program with many benefits of Photoshop at a fraction of the price! Photoshop Elements has lots of bells and whistles and there is even a book called "Photoshop Elements for Dummies". I created a video for Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue's 10th Anniversary using the Photoshop Elements slideshow, which has smooth transitioning features, a nice variety of templates, and the ability to upload multiple photos into a presentation at the same time - much less clunky than Roxio or Digital 8, if you've tried those two older slideshow programs.

Another nice feature is the way you can change your artwork to a black and white photo to check out whether you've succeeded in getting your values correct. You can also try out some painterly effects - here is an example of my artwork Orange Crush using the "fresco" effect.

Pickles and Peaches - Step by Step

Pickles and Peaches, 16X20, Oil

These two little Missouri pugs were a commission I completed for my friend Melissa who is a professional photographer and graphic artist. Take a look at her beautiful work on her web site. Can you tell which one of these pugs is the diva?

The Bright Lights

Bountiful on the Cover of

Journal of Emergency Nursing April 2008

A big congratulations to Ann Hardy for winning third place in the Oil Painters of America annual show. For those of you who know Ann, you won't be a bit surprised to hear about this. She is one of the most talented artists you will ever meet. One of the bright spots about taking a workshop from Ann is to get one of her trademark hugs. She is a bundle of energy and always has a kind word for everyone.

I also received some exciting mail yesterday - the April issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing with my painting, "Bountiful" on the cover. I'm happy to report this painting found a permanent home with a nurse in Buford, Georgia, shortly after the issue was published. Bountiful was a small work done entirely with the palette knife. Winnifred Wigglepants was my primary assistant for this creation, and I recall she insisted on early lunch to celebrate its completion.

Bountiful - Cover Art

Bountiful, Palette Knife/Oil, 11X14

Feature Art for the April 2008 Cover of

the Journal of Emergency Nursing

Great Pug Connections

Winnie Wiggles gets kisses from Aunty Sharon

It's true, we pug people are certifiable. We're the ones who will stop on a busy street and roll down the car window for a chance to exclaim undying love for pugs we've never met before if we spot a total stranger walking one or two. When I spotted an absolutely wonderful pug painting through FineArtStudioOnline, I did basically the same thing. I stopped everything and immediately posted a note to the gifted artist who had masterfully rendered a snorfley smoosh-nosed little puggy named Spike.

Sheri Bartholow's web site has paintings and drawings of her pug, Spike, as well as her figurative and botanical work. Sheri has been drawing and painting since childhood and has her MFA from American University in Washington, DC. Don't tell Howie I said this, but her pug Spike is one of the most photogenic specimens I've ever seen.

Boris the Intrepid Schnauzer

Boris the Intrepid Schnauzer, 11X14, Oil

Boris was a little San Diego Schnauzer who had a pretty tough life until he was rescued by my friend Mindy. She nursed him back to health, both physically and mentally, and he enjoyed the good life with his pug brother Elvis by his side. As you can see, Boris was quite the dresser. His closet was always full, as his mom has her own business with cool T-shirts and gifts. In addition to taking care of her critters and running her own business, Mindy can play Scrabble in three languages! You can see some of her latest creations at her web site. Her designs on math and autism have gained quite a bit of notoriety on Zazzle. I just ordered a painting apron with a design of Pablo Pug-casso on it and can't wait to show it off at the paintout at the Dallas Arboretum next week!

Stella, Canine Art Critic

Stella wonders if there might be one more piece of popcorn in my pochade box.

Plein Air Day 1

Iris Garden, 11X14, Oil

This is my first plein air painting, completed last weekend at the Mackey estate in Southlake under the watchful eye of Stella the Canine Art Critic. As long as I kept the popcorn coming, Stella had nothing but tailwagging praise for my every move. The front of this painting may appear to be a blue blob encroaching on an innocent batch of giant monster irises. In fact, it is just a harmless ice plant in need of some root structure.

Painting Outside With Judy

Last weekend I got to spend some time painting outdoors with my friend Judy Mackey and her special assistant Stella. Stella enjoyed the popcorn more than the painting, and kept abandoning her job as our supervisor to chase rabbits and greet neighbor dogs. Judy is a talented palette knife painter as well as a world traveler. Check out her beautiful artwork and her blog with some amazing photographs from her travels. I am a proud collector of Judy's art, and have her paintings in my office as well as hanging throughout my home.

Mango

Mango Still Life, 11X14, oil

Mango was completed during the Kurt Anderson workshop last week. I may have mentioned this before, but if you get a chance to take a workshop or see a demo by Kurt, don't skip or hop - be sure to leap at the opportunity.

One of the most important things I learned from Kurt was the essential role that cool and warm color notes have in paintings. I tend to go way overboard in the warm department, as you can see from works on my web site with my use of oranges, reds and yellows. By working from real life rather than photography, it is easier to see the cool notes that lie in the shadows, even in the brightest, warmest colors.

Kurt explained to us that photography tends to erase a bit of the spectrum and takes away those important subtle visual cues. So here is my painting "to do list" - look for the cool notes, work from real life setups, paint outdoors more often, and most of all, have a stern talk with that pesky inner artist about this excessive noodling. It has got to stop!

Rubbing Elbows With the Masters

I learned a new thing not to do this week - noodling! Today was my second day at a workshop taught by OPA signature member Kurt Anderson in Dallas. Kurt showed us how to make effective use of the side of the brush to draw in lines against the form, rather than follow the shape ad infinitum, aka "noodling." As you can see from just about anything I've painted, I am a master noodler. I have some unlearning to do! Also in class today, speaking of legendary painters, I had the honor of painting with Ann Hardy, another OPA dignitary and someone who lives not so far down the road by Texas standards, right down yonder in Colleyville.

Kurt's knowledge base is extensive, as you can see from his web site. He is a very giving teacher, and is friendly and approachable. Here is a quote from the master teacher Kurt Anderson (this stuff just falls out of his mouth; this guy needs to write a book!):

"Get beyond tactile preconceptions of the objects we're painting and think abstractly and allow the truth about the objects to come through." -Kurt Anderson

At left is a picture of one of the most gifted painters I have ever met, Ann Hardy. Ann has an eye for subtle, beautiful color that really can't be explained in words. Take a look at her web site and you will see why she has won so many awards. Ann is currently working on her master's and teaching young people the wonders of art.

Orange Crush, 8X10, Oil on Linen

I painted Orange Crush immediately after painting Splash. Orange Crush was displayed with some of my other new artwork during the Grapevine Vintage Wine and Art Festival. It was fun experimenting with capturing the edges of light on the leaves. The light edges on the leaves are not dew, but reflections from the evening sun.

Winnie's Garden

This is Winnie's Garden, 30X48 oil on canvas.

Winnie's Garden

I just finished a large painting called "Winnie's Garden" in honor of Winnifred Wigglepants, my constant companion and studio assistant who went to the Bridge on January 23, 2008. Wiggles was my light and my joy, and she never tired of being the divapug in charge of our hectic household of foster pugs, two stinky brotherpugs, and a mom and dad in constant need of training and supervision.