“Cowboy,” 6” x 8”, commissioned Pomeranian pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (thank you!). Proceeds from the sale of Cowboy’s portrait will be donated to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (I believe our BFAS tab is currently somewhere around $100, after just one week!).
Doing this whole dog-a-day thing is incredibly fun, but it can also be a bit sobering. I had every intention of painting Cowboy earlier in the day, but one thing happened after another, and before I knew it, I was in the throes of preparing a dinner party. You see, my favorite aunt and uncle are in town, and it was our turn to entertain. Nothing fancy – just wiffle ball with the kids, some bar-b-qued ribs, a nice bottle of wine and apple pie a la mode.
Of course, there was the high point, when the kids drug out a so-called Elvis Presley signature they found months ago in the attic of my brother’s house, and Uncle George had them going for a bit, thinking the autograph was worth a couple of bills. It was highly entertaining – far more so than the trick nickel that Uncle George used to move around his house when I was a kid – one would think that we would eventually clue in that any loose change on his floor was not as it would appear. In my defense, I was only 10. But I’d probably still fall for it 30+ years later, too. And I wouldn’t put it past him to have planted one tonite somewhere in our house, either!
Anyways, after a night that couldn’t have been any more perfect, we wound things up, waved goodbye to our dinner guests, and tucked some exhausted kids into bed (where they will dream of spending the millions they’ll earn on ebay from selling this autograph).
And it was then that I realized my night was literally just beginning. Cowboy was waiting patiently in the studio.
Thankfully there were some still warm dregs of coffee, and a sliver of pie left.
Not to insinuate that Cowboy got the shaft because I had a busy day (come on, this is the same dog who, when taken into the euthanasia room at the shelter, stood on his hind legs, and clapped his paws together, all the while flashing that famous Pomeranian smile – Cowboy simply will not accept anything close to the shaft!).
He essentially lucked out in the end, because I cranked my ipod and slid into the painting groove (it’s almost like meditation). He practically fell off my brushes. It doesn’t always work this way, but the more miles I get under my brush (I’m coining a favorite expression from one of my mentors), the more often it does happen.
This has to be one of my all time favorite dog-a-days – the abstract composition (squint down and you’ll see it), the expression on his face, the loose brushwork, the edges, the color. It all comes together nicely in a good-sized package that matches Cowboy perfectly.
And while it might technically be darned close to Wednesday in my time zone, it remains Tuesday in other parts of the world. J So I’m still on track with my dog-a-day commitment.
Now I’m off to see if I can slide that new Harry Potter book out from under my 12 year old’s pillow. The coffee’s kicked in, and I might be able to get a chapter or two down before I crash.
Thanks, as always, for looking. And for passing these dog-a-day emails around to interested friends and family.
If your evening was 1/2 as fun as mine, you have a mighty fine life.
See you tomorrow,
Kim
Kimberly Kelly Santini
http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/
distinctive pet portraits
& 4-legged paintings
http://www.paintingadogaday.com/
come. sit. stay.
enjoy the art.
Founding member of the Canine Art Guild
http://www.canineartguild.com/
the gateway to canine art on the web
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