Kat Corrigan: Paint!

Monday March 5th!

2012-03-05T17:39:00.002-08:00

It is Duane's birthday today, and I was gonna paint his cat Madison, but I've already painted her and I've NEVER painted a gorgeous fluffy creature like THIS before!
This is Lulu, whose piercing blue eyes grabbed my attention immediately and I decided she did have to be painted full-body rather than just a head or those EYES would've just been TOO MUCH! And I still would love to try a version of just her head too....
All you cat owners, would you please send me a little note about your cat too, so I can post it with their painting? I am just so bad at breeds, I really don't know Lulu's origins! Is she a Himalayan, or a fluffy Siamese?

Help!

Sunday March 4!

2012-03-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVED painting this one! Kris said this is Carlos, her sweetie's cat and that I had to be sure to try to include the "spilled milk" calico coloring down her sweet little chin~ I love the photo and lOVE how the painting turned out! Yay!

Here's what else Kris says~ "Carlos is crazy. She bounces off the furniture and walls in her best Tony Hawk impression. Pirates have parrots, but we have Carlos- perching on shoulders for a better view. She sometimes snuggles, with her arms stretched out in front of her, waiting for a manicure. And she is usually purring happily, rumbling away under the cute spilled milk mark on her chin."

March 3, Saturday!

2012-03-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

This green-eyed darling is Luna, sometimes referred to as "LooneyTunes" by her adoring owner who rescued her and has worked at creating a comforting life for Lunam who is a bit shy...
Those eyes are brilliant! She is one of the rare cats that I attempted to photograph myself and it actually worked~ it is a lot more difficult to take photos of other people's cats than it is to take photos of other people's dogs...

Gotta admit, I am already having a gas with this project! Thank you for supporting it and providing me with an audience!

Friday! March 2!

2012-03-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

Ha HAAA! Look at me go! Whew!
So, here is Charlie, lying on the kitchen floor. He's one of those manly cats who goes out galavanting around town and we almost thought we wouldn't be able to include him because he was gone so long, but lo and behold he came home and Lucy was able to get a good photo of him lounging about, recovering...

Those cats...
Stay tuned!

Thursday, March 1~ 30 Cats in 30 Days starts NOW!

2012-03-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

Alrighty then, folks!

Here is the revised list for the 30 Cats in 30 Days Project!
I do reserve the right to move and adjust cats to different days, so this isn't written in stone by any means, and if your cat is not a commission it may be adjusted to make room for a commissioned piece. If this would really bother you, you can let me know and we'll make sure your cat does get painted. And I am always willing to take payments per month or week until a piece is paid off~

1- Patrick Corrigan~ Mr Timmons

2- Lucy Bacon~ Charlie

3- Anya Zalyba~ Luna

4- Kris Musto~ Carlos

5- Judy Woodfill~ Lulu

6- Jim Kruse~ Stripey Kitty

7- Stephanie Shippy~ Fergie

8- Jeremy Hansen~ Emma

9- Alaina G~ Suai Chuong Lao

10- Soozin Hirschmugel~ Smokey & Sweets

11- Carla Kennedy~ Woody

12- MaryAnn Miller~ siamese

13- Mollie O’Connor~ Apollo

14- Beth Harrington~ Augie & Mimi

15- Linda Colburn~ Babe

16- Barb Sontag~

17- Anita White~ Gypsy

18- Sandee Elftmann~ Calvin

19- Rachel Seppi~ Luna and Zebulon

20- Colleen C~ Boo

21- Kelli Corrigan~ Fatouche

22- Sharon Parker~ Stray Barn Cat

23- Pat Olson~ Chin

24- Duane T~ Madison

25- Cami Applequist~ Mishe

26- Brook L-T~

27- Amy Ballstead~

28- Leora EW~ Mister Brown

29- Janet Hammer

30- Kristin Heiberg~ Nora, Nick, and Nell
31-Jess Pearson~ Ting

AND
Here is the first cat of this March~ this is Mr Timmons, who resides in Kent, WA, near Seattle, with my oldest brother Patrick, who is a Shamanistic Cartoonist and has a blog of his own here if you'd like to check it out~

Monday moring, but you're just getting up anyway...

2012-02-27T04:52:00.000-08:00

...so really I COULD'VE posted this last night and you never would've known the difference! We had a busy day yesterday- I had some talented students who won awards at MCAD so I attended the award ceremony, and then we had an amazing, tearful, joyous memorial service for Rich Wilson to attend~ and then I was too tired to go to the Academy awards party at my dear friends' house and even went to bed before Steve Martin could play his banjo on Austin City Limits last night. But I DID get a painting done-

this is an 8x10~ you can buy it here! And the 30 Cats in 30 Days starts this THURSDAY! I have a few spaces left!

Wednesday Feb 22, 2012

2012-02-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

I am really enjoying teaching adults! I mean, I do enjoy my younger students too but it is just more of a dialogue with adults. We learn together.
This is an apple from an earlier class- I did a cat tonight that you might see next week for sale...

The antlers did sell, so let's see who is interested in an apple! You can bid here-

Okay, yes Monday...

2012-02-20T18:09:00.002-08:00

...but it's a HOLIDAY so it FEELS like SUNDAY... besides, we had a lovely rowdy loud brunch yesterday and I'm still tired...
So here is another commission... this is the lovely Stella~

Wednesday Feb 15, 2012

2012-02-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

Wow~ busy darn day today! Showed student animations at school this afternoon for the large community meeting and the response was great! I'll have to see about uploading a couple for your entertainment...
Here are some antlers that I painted while trying to think of ways of demonstrating painting on a complimentary colored ground... which is purple...

And if you want them, you can bid on them HERE! I'm only going to continue doing these auctions for another couple months, because I haven't been getting as great a response as I'd hoped. I guess I have to give something away soon to get more subscribers! Stay tuned...
kat!

Monday~ darn it!

2012-02-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

I DID get paintings done this weekend, really! It's just that I get caught up doing the "business" side of the art and then I'm too tired to post anything...

so here's a couple dogs I've redone for a client because I didn't want to give them to her until I liked them! That's a tricky thing too- quality control- I've gotten a lot more fussy about when the work is finished. I want it to be fresh and feel that it has been painted quickly and with freedom, but sometimes this requires stepping back and letting it sit before adding the finishing strokes, and sometimes it even needs gessoing over, in parts or all! I need to extend my 6 week deadlines to 3 months....

Wed Feb 8th

2012-02-08T19:42:00.000-08:00

Had another great class tonight and forgot to take a photo of my sample! So here is a lovely commissioned piece of a firepit up at the cabin...

And send me your cats!
xokat

Sunday!!!! Feb 5~

2012-02-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

Yay! FINALLY actually got some painting done this weekend! Though I also got a little obsessed with Franken-stuff too- I'll be dropping some things over at Articulture next saturday, if you're interested- mostly sweater skirts... It IS so satisfying to go through those bins and pull some sweaters out and get cracking on them! Thank you Pam Robinson for sending me that box!!!!
SO this is somewhat of a value study of the illustrious Bingo, in order to better be able to explain it to my patient class on Wednesday...

And you can BID on him at my Daily Paint works site! Just click HERE!!! Starting at $25 bucks, baby! What a DEAL!!!
Oh, and I hadn't really meant his man-parts to be so obvious...

Wed! okay, yes it is Thursday...

2012-02-02T05:04:00.000-08:00

Last night was the first night of my Painting Lessons! For adults! And wow! It was REALLY REALLY fun!!!! If I do say so myself.... I think I talked as quickly as I could and still be understood, but there is SO much I want to cover! Hmmm.... thank goodness there's 4 more classes! And I only left about 40 minutes for the students to paint! They need MUCH more time than that... but they were great listeners, and had excellent questions, and even though my demo was not a masterpiece (see below) they still believed I could paint~
I can't wait til next week!

Here's a couple of apple demos....

Sunday Jan 29- 30.....

2012-01-30T04:13:00.000-08:00

Man, I DO apologize- it has been a wicked winter with coughs and colds and stitches... but here is another commission for your viewing pleasure, Koda, and he is being mailed home today!
And do get me your cat images if you are interested! I am for SURE donating a portion of all sales to the Caring For Cats Rescue group, located here in the twin cities who do good work for our feline souls~ I have to admit, I was a lover of cats before I loved dogs, I think because I was a shy and awkward kid (at some points in my social growth) and the elusive love of a cat meant more to me than the all-pervasive sloppy dog love I now value so much....

...not that all dogs are sloppy, or all-pervasive, and acknowledging that we own a cat who is more like a dog than some dogs I know....

SUNDAY Jan 22, 2012

2012-01-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

Soooo.... I seem to be starting this year off being a bit to busy to post... I have honestly been painting my butt off this weekend, but had a few other distractions such as Max throwing his accordion across the living room, no target in mind really, but it connected with Duane's face and caused a ruptured something or other in his lower lip so he had to go get four stitches to close the gaping hole... you know that little bridge of skin holding your lip to your jaw, when you put your tongue down into the very front of your mouth, in front of your front teeth? Yeah, that little thing- oops~ Yes. And then, I took Max to see the New Muppet Movie at the Riverview with friends this evening and just got back, and made the mistake of sharing a HUGE Sprite with him.... yeah, not a good bedtime drink for a 2year old...

SO these are commissions, because I am not finished with the large (16x20) cityscape I am working on...
Stay tuned for more!
And my FIRST Adult Painting Class starts NEXT WEEK!!!!! I am REALLY excited! I am not sure whether the "Adult' part refers to me or the students... time will tell...

MLK eve!

2012-01-16T19:09:00.000-08:00

Missed Sunday again~ sorry 'bout that! We had a full house yesterday with lovely artcar folks up from Texas to see the Art Shanties and hopefully have an art car parade on the ICE- something that rarely happens in Texas, but unfortunately we couldn't drive on the ice either, so our guests satisfied themselves with firecracker-hats instead... but DO get out to the Shanties while you can! Only THREE more weekends!!!!! Here's a link! Art Shanty Projects! We'll be out there for sure on Feb 4 for the Art Cars On Ice parade and to have a Groundhog Cakewalk for our Anniversary!

ANYWAY, here is a little painting of Max and the penguins at the MN Zoo, of which we are members, which allows me to take many photos of my favorite animals... I think there may be a "30 Otters in 30 Days" project coming up~ oh and get me your CAT PICS for March's "30 Cats in 30 Days"!!!!
And you can bid on "Who's Looking at Who?" HERE~ starting at $30!

Wednesday's Post, a Day LATE~

2012-01-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hi all! This is Castor, just to get you in the mood for the "30 Cats in 30 Days" project that will be commencing in MARCH! Thought I'd start getting the word out, but perhaps I am pushing it TOO early....

anyway, enjoy a little kitty love...

Sunday Jan 8

2012-01-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Feeling a bit better after over a week of not feeling well, but I am still heading to bed early tonight~
Here is a little piece from a photo on my way to work last week, right at the greyhound bus station on 9th and First Ave~
It's up for auction at my DailyPaintWorks site- check it out!

Wed Jan 4

2012-01-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

I tried sending this last night and it didn't work- I'm home sick with a crappy cold- does that affect the whole year, do you think? Starting off with a cold, introspective, under the covers... hmmm...
I do want to mention that I will be teaching a painting class at my studio this February, Wed eves from 6:30 to 8:30- There are 5 wednesdays this February! We'll be looking at painting as a daily habit and how to get yourself there, so expect some homework! I wanted to let you all know first- It'll be $100 for the month, and you can pay via credit card~ I'm limiting it to the first seven people and you are the first people to hear! Spread the word!
Here's a couple commissions for your canine-viewing pleasure~

Petey

Bella

Sunday, Jan 1! Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

SO I am back! Wow, it is crazy how a couple week's vacation can totally screw up your schedule...
I DID paint a lot, some are still waiting to be collected by their new owners so I don't want to post them just yet. But I DO have this lovely Cairn Terrier I just painted tonight, in an attempt to get back on track.
It is that shape of a dog that I am most attracted to- that stocky, solid, trotting brick, reminding me of a bear cub, or a soap sculpture, or a stuffed toy. Just so compact and smooth. I want to carve a cairn terrier....

And again, you can own this wonderful spunk of a pup by clicking HERE to join the auction!
xoxokat!

wed dec 21 SOLSTICE

2011-12-21T20:46:00.000-08:00

so in celebration of solstice, and of the beauty of a straight-face and a sense of humor, here is a cat. Do be aware that the Cats of March are approaching, and if you know anyone who would want to be included in the "30 Cats in 30 Days-2012" project, do direct them to this blog and my e-mail...

this is a present for someone whom I hope is NOT following my blog... but I rather like this one~ without and with the frame...

ack-THURSDAY!

2011-12-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

Man, I swear I will be better next year! Wow- you know, I DO paint almost every single day, and those I miss, I really feel the absence~ I think the issue is actually getting the darn things photographed and posted!!!
Here are a couple commissions for your viewing pleasure!
Xoxokat!

Sun/Mon... I give up~ either way, it's ART, right?

2011-12-12T04:55:00.000-08:00

...and yes, i've been just a tad busy this weekend, so this is actually a painting I did in Door County this summer at the Peninsula School in Carol Marine's workshop... seeing as I didn't bring many still life items, I ended up using these lovely vintage black boots I'd just gotten on-line. I still want to paint a series of boots, maybe even all the boots I own. Hmm. Do I have enough for a month? I just might...

And this one is also up for auction at Daily PaintWorks! You can click HERE to bid!
Can you let me know what you think of this site? It has been an experiment for the last couple months to post a painting there for the auctions, and I am happy that almost all have sold, but I'm not sure whether I should keep it up or not, as they aren't quite bringing in what I would have sold them for... but it IS fun~
thanks for following!

Wednesday Dec 7, 2011

2011-12-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

Whoa! I mistyped at first and put "2012"... sure makes you think about how fast time DOES go by. I still remember learning from Sr. Agnes I think in 4th grade how to put the proper heading on your paper, including date with your name, and writing "1975" and then in January, "1976" and how difficult that was to get used to, but that "1976" seemed to last a WHOLE heckuva lot longer that "2007" did, for me personally, I don't know about you~

so here are a couple more commissions. And I just want to remind you to check out my Daily Paintworks auctions, because noone has bid on my last two and I can't figure out why and it is affecting my attitude. They are both starting SUPER low priced, at $25 or $30, and would make great presents, and if you live near me I'll deliver them to you so you won't have to pay postage....

Sorry, just been a little under the weather and sleepy lately. Things will look up in a week or two~
xokat!
OH and DO come to something this weekend! Mom and I will be at the Women's Art Festival all day saturday, 10-5, and I'll be at Diamond's with the Holiday Art Show for the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday from 11-1 and at HOBT for the "Dreams of Winter" Artist Reception from 4:30-6 after the 3pm show of "Winter Dreams" which is MY favorite HOBT production, as it features the wonderful groundhogs that were present at our wedding in 2008 at the Artshanty Projects on Medicine Lake on Groundhog's Day!

SUNDAY or monday....

2011-12-05T05:17:00.000-08:00

I swear, I WILL be back on a regular schedule as soon as life returns to normal... whatever that looks like lately...

It's just been a LITTLE nutty, as I am sure you're life is too, with the holidays and all. This weekend is my last big weekend- We have the Women's Art Festival on Sat from 10-5 and the Diamond's and HOBT Artist Receptions on sunday, and tomorrow I am going to the Bloomington Art Center to set up for the Gifts in the Gallery Sale, and I end up sitting up and worrying and planning on how I'm going to set my stuff up to its advantage, and whether my prices are on, and who is gonna buy anything anyway...
ack~
so HERE is a pup from the Red Hot Art Festival this summer, silly silly dog! You can bid on him and give him to someone for Christmas! Go HERE! This one is starting at $25...

xokat!

Yes, THURSDAY- missed Wed again...

2011-12-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry folks! I know you all depend on my timing, but sheesh and jimminy it is BUSY around here! It is the holiday crush, I think... so I have a couple commissions to share, some in process~

I am never going to get over the incredible connection between human and beast- and how much fun it is to be a part of that delicious electricity...
So these are Annabelle and Pete, respectively... I am not sure what either client thinks of these yet, but I like them, especially Pete- the contrast of dark and light in the photo really drew me in and those lovely fleshy wrinkles on his hind leg, I can feel them....
Come see me tomorrow and Sat at the Shasta Building! I may be painting!

Sunday Nov27!

2011-11-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

So, this is a Shiba Inu from the Home for Life dog walk at the Mall of America last sunday~ been a busy weekend, as holidays often are and this was my first chance to paint in three days! So I apologize to all my clients waiting patiently for their masterpieces to materialize, but for my paint to flow well and naturally I have to exercise my creative visions as often and as whimsically as I wish. And I really wanted to play with the multiple shadows below this spry dog, belted into his beautiful blue jacket, held by the shadow arm with the leash. It was fun!

And you can bid on it at Daily Paintworks too! Click HERE for the auction page!
It'll be dry by the time I need to mail it to you~
kat!

WedOOPS Thanksgiving DAY!

2011-11-24T05:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, I got a lot done last night, painted a couple groundhogs for our "Dreams of Winter" Show, as I felt the lacking of any rodents would be quite telling, and also they deserve representation as the ambassadors of our wedding... and started on a larger piece for a commission. I also spent last sunday early morning at the MOA (where I very rarely set foot, but the hours were perfect and the crowd- both canine and homosapiens- were wonderful!) as the entertainment/live artist for the Home For Life Dog Walk! It was much more fun than I'd expected, and the couple whose dog is in this painting sought me out to purchase it from me, unfinished! I got to paint quickly and large for two hours straight! What a dream! Got to do that more often- let me know if you need an artist to come over and paint live at your event!
Oh and the groundhogs will be at the Heart of the Beast for the durtation of the Dreams of Winter Exhibition, and will be for sale! If you LOVE them and want them, you can certainly let me know and I can mark them sold before they even go up!
Personally, I crack up when I see them...
What a silly animal~

Sunday Nov 20

2011-11-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

So, first snowfall reads significantly different on the "excitement" meter for a 2.5 year old than it does for his aging parents....
Max was so excited yesterday, he had to step in and touch every bit of snow he could find on our excursions, while I was overly aware of the fact that rain had preceded the white stuff and that equals ICE and I have this horrible fear of sliding and slamming into something. Perhaps brought on by childbirth and the diminishment of my testosterone... which incidentally also presaged the selling of my motorcycle, if you were wondering.

ANYWAY, we had a lovely walk this evening, me on the sidewalk, Max across everyone's lawns to leave tracks and here is the dog of the evening, for auction, as is, starting at the incredible lax fee of $30, which is downright silly but SUCH a sweet face! As promised or maybe just suggested, the Jax, who I now realize is actually JAZZ! So, for a shot to help send my child to college, and maybe I'm just being melancholy, you can bid on him here.

Wednesday! November 16~ Give to the Max Day!

2011-11-16T19:32:00.000-08:00

but not necessarily to my Max... he's got plenty of stuff already!

So here is a commission of Jax, a very cute and little dog, who likes dry white wines and cozy nights by the fire while the snow blankets the ground~ Really. No, see, I painted this pup a bit too close-up at first, and my collector really wanted to emphasize Jax's sweet petite perspective, so I gave it another shot. I've honestly never painted a wine glass before. I like his intense gaze towards the empty glass, as if he is attempting mind control... "fill my glass....fill my glass....."
Still think I need a bit more practice... but Jax's original painting MAY be this sunday's auction.... stay tuned!

Sunday Nov 13

2011-11-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

Busy busy weekend! Man, but fun too~ though I was a terrible mom yesterday and let Max eat 3 small bags of oreo/holiday cookies at the Barton Open School sale, and wow that stuff REALLY does affect a kid! I felt really bad because it was clear that he didn't have control over his emotions or his energy and he had to run and run and scream it all out~ and THEN I came home with balloons, from the 5th Annual Art Boutique (thanks Jay!) and he went NUTS~

But I am sure you don't want to hear that much about that.... so here is yet another painting, and I'll be setting it up on Daily Paintworks too for an auction! This was a sweet little heartstealing puppy at the Twin Cities Obedience Training Club Fall Bazaar I sat at all day Saturday~ I'm hoping to get a couple commissions from it, because unfortunately I didn't sell much. But the dogs were SO fun to see! And I saw this pup out in the parking lot and his owner and he were pretty constantly surrounded by ooooooing and aaahhhing people, wanting to pet him and remark on him. He really was a great little, outgoing, unafraid little beast!
So click here to join in the auction and have him for your very own! Your friends will all be jealous~

Wednesday~ Nov 9, 2011

2011-11-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's almost 2012.... SO weird... I'm sitting here watching "Back to the Future", with all its inherent 80sness... I think what I love most is the concept of the fluidity of time, and that things can change. But also that those small details DO matter.
SO here are a couple commissions...
Details, baby, details....

And you can find me active this weekend at the Twin Cities Obedience Training Club on Saturday from 9-2 with paintings and cards and prints and books! And also at the 5th Annual Art Boutique at 4901 11th Ave S! See the flyer!
thank you!

Monday morning... Oops...

2011-11-07T04:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry folks! Here's the post from last night, kinda a re-post really, since I want to put a piece up on the auction at DPW and here is one!
I am working on a few new winter scenes from my collection of Pine City photos from last February (since we FORTUNATELY don't have snow yet!) and will put those up soon too! What with Daylight Savings and the youngest sister being in town (from Beirut, where she works a big job! silly girl) and having family gatherings and Duane being gone all weekend to work on the set for "Winter Dreams" at Heart of the Beast (have you ever taken a 2 3/4 years old to Anthropologie and thought you could try clothes on? Ha!) so all in all it was a WAY busy weekend! I did manage to collect a lovely pile of art to hang at Diamond's this weekend after we have Duane's Closing Party this Friday (6-8!) so stay tuned!

Click here if you'd like to get in on the auction for little Dudley here...

Wed Nov 2

2011-11-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

It is "All Soul's Day" in the Catholic Tradition, and I am fortunate to have more than a few souls to think of whom I know thought kindly of me while they were alive, and I hope are still thinking kindly of me now... as I think of them~

And speaking of souls, I don't think I have ever really doubted that animals have them. We went to see Cavalia this past weekend, the Circe De Soleil Show with all horses, Duane and Max and me, and both Duane and I were amazed at how the sudden appearance of a group of herbivorous quadrupeds could bring us both to tears. I mean, WOW~ I had tears streaming down my face for the good first half of the show. Like those tears of awe that you get sometimes, when you are just struck thoughtless by a sight, or a sound. I have to admit that I have these occurrences a lot more since Max came, possibly because of the disappearance of my testosterone which caused me to sell my motorcycle and stop stilting. But these horses, they were so beautiful, it was amazing. I found myself feeling so connected to the performers working with them, as if I were experiencing everything they were~ It was seriously incredible.
And Max was amazing- huge grin on his face for pretty much the entire show, which was 2.5 hours, which is pretty crazy for a 2 and 7/12 year old...
We stuck around for the stable visit after where I was able to take some photos of these amazing creatures in their calmer state. This is one of them~

Sunday October 30th

2011-10-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

And here is a sweet little dog on a pink rug~ our favorite little Gus-tapher, who can be SO annoyingly clingy at times, and yet also faithful, and patient, and frolicky and joyful and just all that great energy of dogdom wrapped in one fuzzy little bundle!
And you can bid on this one at Daily Paint Works!

I just really love the edges of things! You know, the rug, the light, his nose and ears... I like this one!
You can like it too! So click here to go bid on it!

Wed, Oct 26

2011-10-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a great smile! Sorry, it's a commission, so you can't have it...
More later!

Sunday October 23rd

2011-10-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

What a lovely fall weekend! And I spent most of today napping and watching kids' movies with Max, feeling a bit under the weather. Had a great time at the VFW for the Fall HandmadeMN Market! It always is a gas chatting with people, PLUS I was able to get a couple paintings done!
Here's the first, from my morning drive into school through downtown Minneapolis- this is 9th street, and I think that's the Hell's Kitchen sign off to the left, barely visible below the skyway...
I LOVE living in Minneapolis! And it is SO fun to actually WORK in Minneapolis now too! Yay!
Not that I have anything against St. Paul....

I will be attempting to post this one on the Daily PaintWorks site.... for an auction, starting at $30... if you are interested, click here!

WEDNESDAY!!!!!

2011-10-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

By gum, it sure is wednesday! And I may have done a really stupid thing by actually signing up for Daily PaintWorks because my daily paintings are usually already commissioned. Hmmm. Perhaps I will just have to make time for at least 2 paintings a week that are NOT commissioned... DPW is an on-line art auction site, created by artist Carol Marine and her husband as a venue for daily painters who want a place to sell their work on-line. It is all pretty darn cool and helpful~ if you don't remember, Carol Marine is the artist I took a workshop from this summer up in Fish Creek in Door County MI at the Peninsula School for the Arts.

so anyway, here is a sweet little fluffy white something or other....
named "Jazz" which I think is the perfect name~

Sunday Oct 16th I think...

2011-10-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

SO after another gorgeous 3rd Sunday, and lots of lovely food and people (thanks for the leftovers! I'm just heading out to grab another bite of a little something...) I've been working on these this weekend~ let me know what you think...

more later...

Wednesday, Oct 12

2011-10-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hey! Look mom! It IS Wednesday! And I have two paintings! Yehaw! Whew~

thank goodness... maybe this means I am back on track again. I do seriously find that I paint MUCH better when I am able to be consistent, which means painting every day, even if it really isn't worth keeping. It is the practice.

So here we have an irresistible face from the Red Hot Art Festival, with oh so much tongue! And a snap-shot painting of my drive in to work last week. I want to do more of the leaves right now- they are gorgeous, though I am not sure what it will look like tomorrow after the rain and wind of today.
Both paintings are 6x8 inches on panel, and are $60 each, if you are interested!

Monday Oct 10th!

2011-10-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry! I tried posting last night and along with being personally exhausted, my internet wasn't cooperating... It amazes me how impotent I feel at those times... while at other times I feel omnipresent!!!

And now, I think I got Gus' tounge a BIT too big on one side.... but I do really like his eyes!
xokat!

Thursday~ Yup...

2011-10-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

...but if you've been paying attention, you know we've been a bit busy in the Corrigan/Tougas household... and now Max has a wee cold that kept us up most of the night. I think it is pretty obvious that he is our first (and only) child, because rather than just leave him to cough and whine his way back to sleep again, we both had to rush in a hover over him for hours, propping him up so he can breathe, trying to figure out what medicine we can give him, poor little popit...
Anyway, I've got all the art out in the van for hanging at the Firehouse tonight and hope to have a great weekend at the L7 Art Collective Show!

Here's another piece that will be there! It's 18x18 $400~ "Willows at Lake Hiawatha"~

Monday- I know, I did it again!

2011-10-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

Dang! I think it was almost easier when I was committing to every DAY, because then if I forgot to post, I KNEW it... if that makes sense- dang!
Well, anyway, here's a couple I'll have at the Firehouse show this weekend... Windy Trees and Below the Wabasha Bridge~ both small, 8x10 I think, come see them in person!

Wednesday, Sept 28... ( yes I know it's Thursday...)

2011-09-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

...so forgive me! I sat up and read a book way too late last night... so TONIGHT I work! And here are a couple pieces I've gotten done over the last few days- should have some fun new stuff for next week at the Firehouse Show with my lovely Art/Support/Therapy Group, L7!
Oh and come by tomorrow night for my closing party at Private Art 2: Key North!

Sunday Sept 25

2011-09-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely bike ride over to Hidden Falls Park just past the Ford Plant on the River Road this afternoon, to go see the rehearsal antics for the Barebones Halloween Show~ what a gorgeous day! Duane has been helping out with the creation of this year's show- If you haven't seen it, GO this year!!! October 22, 23, 29, 30, 31!
And here is sweet little trouble-making Daisy!

Wed Sept 21

2011-09-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Man! I need a personal secretary or something... I've NEVER been so forgetful, well, I mean not LATELY... I'm sure there are people who know me well who would disagree with that comment...

anyway, I am catching up and getting back on top of work, and here is today's painting...
I really REALLY like this one... the contrast and shadow work beautifully!
Oh and LOOK AT MY BOOK!!! in the post before this one!!!
I am SO EXCITED and I have three more books I want to get done too!!!!!

Monday Sept 19th

2011-09-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

My book is NOW AVAILABLE! I've been working on getting an actual book of this year's 30 Dogs project on Blurb, an on-line book-making site, and I finally DID IT! So check it out!

"30 Dogs in Thirty Days" 2011 by Kat Corrigan | Make Your Own Book

Sunday Sept 18th

2011-09-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

I've been taking photos on the drive to work again, and it is a lot different than my previous drive along 38th St to the River Road... now I can drive through Downtown Minneapolis if I like, and it is pretty fun! there will be a series of city-scapes kicking in here now~

This one is from my drive from Savers on Lake St back to our house, and I think it is the corner of 22nd Ave and 36th St, but I have to go back and check... you can see the cross on the top of that church...dang~ I just can't remember right now which one!

Wednesday! Sept 14

2011-09-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Ha! Several of you were SPOT ON! Yes it is an egg timer! The wind-up kind. Ours sits on the stove top gathering grease and dust... I wasn't feeling great when I painted it, just kinda wanted to paint something simple and it seemed to fit the bill.

And this is Boone! for Dede, from my incredible Door County Adventure! Feels so good to PAINT!!! I hate when I get too busy- and I DO LOVE commissions! Because they MAKE ME PAINT!!!!

MOnday September 12th

2011-09-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

I'm just not going to even say anything... I am really, really busy, and obviously painting is very important to me, and I will say that I am doing my best, which is currently pretty darn good but the focus is spread pretty thin at the moment... and then there's these darn commissions that keep taking up time, not to mention planning lessons for my lovely new students!
So can you figure out what this is? My husband said if it wasn't his, he wouldn't know, but my mom laughed and guessed right away!

Wed- um THURSDAY sorry~

2011-09-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

yes I already fell off the wagon- but I do hope it is more intriguing to hear from me twice a week, and I do appreciate the support from you all! It's just a bit too much pressure on myself, trying to adjust to this wonderful new life and have time with this miraculous being we call our KID.... so strange...

ANYWAY- here's a couple pines from the Hiawatha Golf Course- I'll have them with me this weekend at the Uptown Farmer's Market that I have yet to let anyone know I will be at.... this Sunday, the 11th, yes the 10th anniversary of the towers' fall, I will be at 29th and Lyndale from 11 to 4, so come by and see me!

Monday September 5th!

2011-09-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

Dang. I'm going to have to rename this blog yet again... it is just not possible right now for me to get a DECENT painting done every day, and I really DON'T want to be posting pieces that I feel are inferior. I am painting every day, but not all of these efforts are keepers... SO I have decided that I will post twice a week, Sunday Eve/Monday Morn and Wednesday Eve/Thursday Morn. And any DECENT work I have completed in the interim will be posted~ and I WILL figure out how to get them into the auction dealio too...

Park Ave, September

Jackson on the Dock

SO for today, a small piece from an on-the-fly car-driving photo that I actually like quite a bit, and a commission...

Saturday Sept 3-

2011-09-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

wow- I am pooped... got this quickie done of Glenwood Ave on the way to Breck on friday, and now I am pretty much not capable of anything else....

...including taking a decent pic of it... bit shiny there to the right yet.

Thursday.... again....

2011-09-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I DID get another one done today! An incredible, inspiring, lovely shade of blue and cream surprised me and I just had to paint my dramatic and irrepressible TAPE DISPENSER!
Ahhhh.....

September 1st!

2011-09-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

This is actually from yesterday, painted very quickly out in the backyard while Duane took a shower and Max was in bed- very quickly because the mosquitos were even quicker...
And I will be painting another tonight... still working out scheduling conflicts and such. And the 30 Dogs will be coming down Sat morning, so if you want to see them again in their full glory, run over to Diamond's tonight or tomorrow for a last look!

Tuesday, August 30

2011-08-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Only one more day of August~ crazy! Sorry I missed yesterday- the boys went to the State Fair with the art car and had so much fun they were late home and brought beer, so that required a bit of discussing...
Here is a small painting of Bingo at the Airport Dog Park, and a large painting of a lovely dog named Bell whom I know from the Art Shanty Projects when we used to be able to have dogs on the lake...

Bell on the Red Couch

Bingo at the Airport Dog Park

The one of Bell is a 30x40 canvas that I was working on over at the studio this summer, and the other one is my painting for the day....the paint is still wet!

SUNDAY August 28th!

2011-08-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Whew! LOLA Rocks!!! I gotta tell ya, it is SO nice to be able to sit outside all day and have friends and strangers alike come by and tell you how much they like your work, and then actually BUY some of it!!!
But dang, it sure is hard to get a painting done with all these people coming by! Here's what I managed today...

And it really isn't done, because I haven't figured out the mess on the bottom left side yet... there is supposed to be a sidewalk and a trash can there, but every time I would be attempting to focus on that little problem, someone ELSE would come by and bug me with money and questions!
Dang!
THANK YOU so much everyone who came by! It was a FABULOUS weekend!
And tomorrow I have my new students... oh that was another amazing thing today... I got to see four of my students from my last school, St Mark's, who came by~ dang, makes me miss them all the more...

August 27th, Saturday~

2011-08-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

Um, why didn't any of you kind people let me know I was a day off? I said that yesterday was the 25th- so where did the 26th go, then? Hmmmm? Are you the kind of people who let someone know when they have a bit of spinach in their teeth, or their fly is down, or there is a smudge on their forehead, or do you just ignore it and let them find out later at home when they look in the mirror as they are getting ready for bed and leave them desperately trying to remember WHEN was it that they last had SPINACH?!

Well, despite that, I still love you~ and thank you to those of you who came out for LOLA today! What a great day! And I LOVE sharing space with Christy and Rebecca~ who've been with me since the START of LOLA~
So come by tomorrow if you can- I have a couple new pieces from Grand Marais I didn't have along today...
And this pup is Molly, and she is a commission, and I DID just paint her tonight, believe it or not, and don't ask me how I do this because it just seems to happen, and now I need to write out class lists for monday when I meet my new students for the first time....
Thanks for following!!!

friday august 25

2011-08-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

yup- tired again, and feeling that feeling of working too dang hard and missing the fun stuff, but i do know i've had a heckuva lota fun in my life, and still do, even when i'm "working", so i guess i'm just maturing....
maybe...

so here's a couple commissions because i have had no time to paint today- will be doing THAT tomorrow and sunday at the LOLA Art Crawl!
Come see me!
xokat!

Thursday august 25....

2011-08-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

wow- tired today- up last night with a feverish child, and more workshops and meet-the-teacher things today.... lovely but tiring~

so here is a corgi, with an earnest expression...

August 24

2011-08-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some more crabapples, from the park by Lake Hiawatha, picked by Max but snatched by me before he plucked the stems.....

tuesday August 23rd~

2011-08-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a not-so-great one- but it is hot and I am tired and it seems that there are small invisible insects constantly BITING me as I sit here in the dining room under the ceiling fan~

Attempting to really suggest the rainy pavement... this one will be revisited because I love so many artists' depictions of a rainy street.... gee, I suppose I could see if I could find one to put on here to show you what I mean-
Ah! There! And it is by Gustav Caillebotte, NOT Sargent, and since it is Paris and not New York, that would make sense....

MONDAY! August 22~

2011-08-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Whew! I DID it! I painted a painting, despite being tired and needing to fill in my new insurance forms and all that stuff and get class lists and the underpinings of a profession in line for the new school year, and I still DID IT!!!!
And I want to go to bed now...

this is a house that I took a photo of as I was taking photos of another house for a commission, but I just couldn't resist it. The large tree to the right had a sumptuous summer saturated green going for it, and leaned protectively over the house, dwarfing the house which is quite a bit larger than ours...

Nice for August, I think...

Sunday August 21st!

2011-08-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ha! We're having a brunch today, it looks like it may rain, Duane is trying to get more blocks into the window well so we don't have a muddy flood in the basement like last tuesday, and I painted Max's mug and another blue one I like to drink wine out of and the couple of crab apples from the playground at Lake Hiwatha that Max did NOT pull the stems out of on the stroller ride home...
Alrighty folks, I'm going to seriously try to keep this up, and I will learn how to put these onto the Daily Paintworks site so I can auction them off... Something like this one I'd sell on the auction for like $40 starting...
Whadaya think?

August 20th, Saturday...

2011-08-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

ummm....
I do feel the need to give an excuse, but I am NOT going to, except to say that yesterday was incredibly busy and the opening at Diamond's was WAY better than I'd expected with a lovely mob of boistrous people and kids and dogs and some treats and stuff!

Dudley, with Sad Eyes...

The Madden Cabin in Door County

And here is a painting for today~

And a painting for yesterday too, so you won't feel too gyped or anything. Dudley is my friend Rachel's friend's dog, and the EYES were just WAY too much on this one. Really, the photo is even more extreme. Believe me, I toned them down...
And the other painting is the view from the living area out the amazing front windows through the sumac to Lake Michegan...
thanks!

August 18th, Thursday~

2011-08-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Here are the two pieces that got into the Niza Knoll Gallery in Denver, thank you to an old friend who LIVES there and let me know about the show, and then offered to deliver my art to the gallery for the jurying process, and THEN offered to pick the work up and mail it back to me! What a GUY!!!

Sparky Waits

Front Seat Grinning

Sparky was up at the Grand Marais Art Festival in July, which was a wonderful event with incredible people, and LOTS of rain! And the other painting is Bingo and Gus in the front seat of the car on the way to the airport dog park... they OBVIOUSLY know where they are going...
And if you haven't noticed, I've changed the title of my blog here, since I am not always posting paintings of dogs. I may rethink this and go back to "My AutobiDOGraphy" since I think that is a remarkably clever and witty title, and I like to see myself in that light. Since I AM remarkably clever and witty~ really. All my friends say so...

Okay, tired and going to bed~ more mugs tomorrow!

Agust 17th, Wednesday!

2011-08-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

With a White Gesso Ground

Today was my last day of official SUMMER. And I was bummed that I haven't painted since some crappy attempts at Plein Air saturday afternoon at the cottage in Door County, so I painted a couple versions of Max's yellow cup/mug...
I mean, it just seems that if the VIEW is great, shouldn't it be easy to PAINT it?! Man....
And I was excited to try to use some of Carol Marine's tips in my acrylic this morning. I DO want to do oil, like I did all last week, but it is just trickier for me to get that all set up, and our basement flooded last night, and blah blah blah, excuse excuse excuse.

With a Black Gesso Ground

SO what I want to try to do is to get on a daily painting dealio, where I auction off a painting every day. I want to try to start in September. This may be ridiculous, as I am committed to a few shows here and there where I also need to have some STOCK to sell, but since I do love to paint, I thought I'd give this a shot. What will happen is I will post a painting a day, like I have with the dogs and the cats, but THIS time you will be able to bid on the piece in an on-line auction (like e-bay) and by the end of 7 days, it can be yours! I want to start the pieces at the low end of the price scale, again probably ridiculous, but what the heck? I can always quit, can't I? So, I think I'll start the first few bids at between $25 and $50 bucks~ and the pieces will all be small, like 6x6...
Any comments or ideas for me, I would REALLY appreciate hearing them!
lovkat!

still Thursday...

2011-08-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Dang- sorry- I got excited~ i definitely will be learning how to take better pictures of oil paintings... but this is my NEW boot I got from an etsy shop (i have the other one too!) and I love it so much~ I wanted to paint it!

August 11th! DOOR COUNTY!

2011-08-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

I am at the Peninsula School of Art in Door County studying with Carol Marine, an incredible artist and teacher who has a daily paint blog that I follow, and have totally forgotten about putting a link to in my own blog!
Anyway, this has been an AWESOME week and I thought I'd maybe better start posting things every day too, since I do want to try to paint daily and it will never be the perfect time for it so I may as well do it NOW.

Left boot from Porto Portugal

so here are a couple things i've painted here....

August 5th, Thursday

2011-08-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

And here are a few dogs I have had a chance to get back into~ I was gonna try to do a "before" and "after" scenario, but I am too dang tired and Doc Martin is on.....

Sunday, July 31~ Zodi!

2011-07-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

I hate to admit that I couldn't finish this one today, but man~ it is HOT out. Whew. I was pretty wiped out yesterday after sitting in the heat until after 7pm, oh yeah no it was later because we stopped at a friends' house on the way home, seeing as the neighbor was kind enough to listen in on our sleeping Max... So it has been an incredibly long weekend, tho the Red Hot Art Festival was really fun with lots of great people and a number of new commissions! But it was really hard to paint there, first because people kept wanting to chat, and because it was just so HOT. It felt like my body would let me paint and concentrate for a little while, and then YANK my attention back to the fact that I was drenched with sweat and flies were biting every bit of exposed flesh, and it was almost too hot to breathe. I wonder when it is too hot to be allowed to be outside?
So ANYWAY-
THIS is ZODI, whom I will be finishing later this week~ i just wanted to get the post in so you could understand that I AM NOT superhuman.
thanks~

July 30th- Buster & Bassa!

2011-07-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

Buster

Wow- this was a bit tougher to do~ and I will be going back into Bassa's face yet, as his expression is just not quite fully available here...
And believe me, I did attempt to get the plaid blanket behind Buster's face, but it just wouldn't go so I stuck with the emphatic shadows and the rather strong gaze, which reminds me of Vincent Price... I hope that isn't an insult!

Bassa

And we are at the moment loading up the truck to head over to Steven's Square, and Duane is cursing at the mess in the garage as he drags out tables, and there will be a birthday party down the block for a young friend that I will miss as I sit in the sun selling our ART!

I hope to see some of you out and about today!
And there is SO much going on!

And TOMORROW is the LAST DOG!!!!!!!
Wow~

I'll sure miss them...

July 29- Ditto!

2011-07-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

It is funny that I would do a repeat of a dog named Ditto... I actually did THREE versions before I was happy, and now have two that look like completely different dogs...

Ditto is a very lucky dog, in that he is on his second set of owners who are close to his original owner who will be turning 92 next month! What a great way to live~
And what a mischievous face! Personality up the ying-yang on this one!

Sorry, I'm a bit pooped, and trying to get my stuff together for the Red Hot Art Sale tomorrow at Steven's Square!
I hope you are coming by!
It's been a VERY long day- I dropped my piece off at the State Fair (wish me luck!) and was very happy with how quickly it had all gone and the conversations I'd had in line, and as I was shooting out onto Snelling, I had a call from the head art guys saying I had to come back and get the piece and frame it.... Now, I KNEW this, because I have entered work in the State Fair for a few years now, so I couldn't be mad at THEM, but this piece is painted on a gallery-wrapped canvas and therefore NEEDS no frame. And one of the women who was helping there looked at it and said," I really like it like this!" So, I took it home and Duane and Max and I went on a run to Home Depot, and Duane took it back to the studio while Max and I played in the sandbox with the mosquitoes and ants and Duane had to miter the corners twice or something but then he very kindly ran it back over to the Fair for me so I haven't seen it yet. I hope it gets in.
thanks for letting me blurt...
See you tomorrow!
the two scotties I have on the list for tomorrow will be done in the morning... wish me luck with that too...

July 28th- Goldy & Sota!

2011-07-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

Goldy!

Sota!

Yup, another two-fer~ and both sweet white Golden Doodles!

Here is what their loving sports-minded owner says about them~

"Goldy is six and I got her shortly after I moved into my house. I got her for company, security and a running buddy. She is named after my beloved Golden Gophers.

Ultra social going to baseball games and all dog friendly event she also loves to swim, run and fetch. She exceeds the phrase “Woman’s best Friend."

"Sota is only a year old; I got her last summer for Goldy from the same breeder. Although not related they look very much alike! She too is named after my favorite college team Minnesota. She is a little on the crazy side, likes to “fetch” which really means steal the ball from Goldy. A newbie to the lake she is still getting used to the idea of swimming. A great addition to the family, she makes me laugh every day!"

I gotta admit, these two were awfully fun to paint, with the challenges of white fluffy fur~

Thanks Jill!

July 27th~ Cody!

2011-07-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

Darn John, you sent that e-mail just a bit late~ I got to work early today because of some plans later. Cody's owner John was hoping I could take a photo of me painting the painting, as it is for his mom. And actually, the space is a mess, and you really wouldn't want to see it anyway. It's kinda like seeing the wizard behind the curtain- takes some of the magic out of it... or maybe not. Maybe you like to see the underpinnings of the business of painting... well, I'll include some shots of my varnishing rack with a buncha dogs spread out on it in the backyard yesterday afternoon while Max was napping...

And here is what John has to say about the sweetly concerned little pup~
"This is Cody. He is my mom's dog. My mom and I picked him out last July at a Petsmart adoption day event from the Last Hope organization. He is a sweet little boy who loves to give stinky kisses. My mom lost my dad about a year and a half ago and Cody has helped my mom to not feel too alone at home. This picture was taken the day we brought him home. He is a Chihuahua and Mini Dachshund mix."

Cody looks to me to be fully capable of providing as much loving as a person could need.

Thanks John!

And here is a crop of paintings, settling into their varnish... gotta happen on sunny, coolish days with not so much humidity. Been a great summer here for those...
I gotta admit, it is really fun for me to see them all together! And this isn't all of them either! Man, this has been SO fun and it is almost over! I'll bring a couple dogs along this weekend to the Red Hot Art Festival at Steven's Square in Uptown! Come see me!

July 26th- MOXIE! For Rob~

2011-07-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Rob doesn't know that I've painted this of Moxie. Rob lives in Winona. Rob is a very great man, and he and his wife and son and this dog Moxie were all incredibly supportive at a time when I really needed it, and when a dear friend of all of ours desperately needed it- this is one of those paintings I've been meaning to do for a while, so thank goodness I finally made myself get to it! Moxie is a Burmese Mountain Dog, one of the best, and I was fortunate to get to go winter camping with her once upon a time~
So thank you Rob!

July 25- Eddie!

2011-07-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

At first, I was going to paint a puppy version of this sweet daschund/beagle, but after careful consideration, I was drawn to this amazing gaze. I am so awed by the sheer intelligence, warmth, compassion, and gentle humor so often clear in a dog's eyes...

With that said, here is Eddie, in his own words!

"Hi, I’m Eddie. What’s your name? Huh? Wanna play? Huh? Huh? Did I tell you my name is Eddie? Let’s play! Ok? Ok!!

Sometimes I have other names: “Stop Barking” is one and “Oh No!” is another. I hear “What a Cutie” from strangers.

I was born the day after Christmas, the only boy in the litter. My mom is a beagle and my dad a miniature dachshund. I get my looks from my handsome dad, but there’s no mistaking my mom’s contribution! I can bark as loud as a hound dog…that’s because beagles are scent hounds and that’s what I was bred to do. The cats I live with don’t seem to like it, but it’s my job and I gotta protect the household.

The people I live with have rearranged their lives for me. I know that, but I have some issues. They want me to stop whatever I’m doing when they call me. They want me to pee on command and they want me to be quiet when I know the world wants to hear from me. What’s a dog supposed to do? I tilt my head and peer into their eyes, trying to figure it all out.

People come from far and wide to get their “Eddie fix.” I’m not sure what that means, but I love it when people come by.

Hi, my name is Eddie. Wanna play?"

july 24- Sully!

2011-07-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

This is SULLY! A wonderful gentleman of a dog, a hound/St. Bernard if I remember correctly~ He lived next to Duane's house with Grace and Russ and then moved when they did, I think to California, and are now back in the midwest! I remember most how sweet he was when Duane and I bought Star (a yorkie/poo who now looks more like a schnauzer/poo..) for my parents for an Easter present, and Sully just bounced around the backyard with that little scruffy black puppy, bowing low to the ground and acting as if HE were a puppy, although a much bigger, floppy-eared and more graceful puppy! Such an incredible dog! And now he has a human baby to hang out and drool all over!

july 23- Basil~

2011-07-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

And here is Basil, an incredibly intelligent dog, if I am to be any judge, after painting that face and those eyes....

We are enjoying the change in temp and air movement today, and I've been cleaning the car up for the Art Car Parade this evening! Come watch the parade at Lake Harriet at 6pm! All the cars will be lining up by the Rose Garden at 5 if you'd like to come see them up close~
Dang- I can't find the pic Ruthanne took of me and my car in front of the Weisman... you'll just have to come see me in person!
xokat~

July 22- Scout & Peeps!

2011-07-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Now, THESE two were a heckuva pleasure to paint! Not that any of our other canines have been unpleasant, but this was quite fun! All the HAIR involved, plus the incredible expressions....

well, you'll just have to tell me what you think!

Oh and while I'm at it, I would really appreciate all of your input on which five paintings should have prints made of them~ I will have greeting cards of all of them, but the prints require a bit more to do, and cost a LOT more, so I am only planning on doing five of the dogs... if you have a favorite already, you can cast your vote!

And here is what Helen writes of her two canine companions~

"Scout is a border terrier mix and quite possibly the best dog we will ever have. She is the perfect dog that everyone hopes for - well adjusted, well behaved and sweeter than sweet. She came to us from West Virginia via Underdog Rescue. Scout is a true athlete. Her athleticism is a beautiful thing. At almost nine years old, she still has an amazing vertical that lets her effortlessly jump up on five foot retaining walls as she casually walks next to them. When we first got her, she would jump up on the 4 inch wide railing on our back deck and walk around like a cat. She's 30 pounds of grace, love and fun."

"Peeps is a Brussels Griffon puppy mill rescue from Missouri (via Underdog Rescue). While four-year-old Peeps had a hard luck start to life, she is resilient. Thanks to lots of love from a great foster home and us, she is beginning to embrace life. She's overcoming her fears, and is not afraid to show enthusiasm. She's so enthusiastic sometimes it's like living with a cartoon character as she slides across the wood floors, moving too fast to make a turn or come to a stop. Looks-wise, she's a show stopper - snaggle teeth, big eyes and messy hair. When her tiny tail wags so goes her whole body, earning her the nickname Tiny Dancer. "Busta move, Tiny Dancer!"

July 21- WOODSTOCK!

2011-07-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

What is not to LOVE?!?
And I got to meet this delicious velvety creature! On a lovely day last week, and as I drove to my morning rendezvous, I swear I saw no less than THREE other bassets walking their owners!
Here is what Karen, Woodstock's owner, says about him~

"Woodstock is 10 years old and has lived with us since he was 6. I grew up with Basset Hounds and have always loved the breed. We have known Woodstock since he was a puppy. He lived with friends on a hobby farm and hung out with kids, kittens and a pygmy goat. He would lounge in his dog house and the goat would love to keep watch on top of Woodstock's house. In the evenings the family would go on walks on the country roads with the dog and goat following along. Woodstock and the goat would "wrestle" where the goat would head butt the dog and the dog would grab a hold of the goat's horns. When our friends decided to move to South Africa, we agreed to adopt Woodstock. He has transitioned to city life well, he particularly loves his walks and has many fans all over the neighborhood. We are glad to have Woodstock be a part of our family."

July 20- Champ~

2011-07-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is Champ, who was an incredibly fuzzy, velvet-bristle-covered sweet-faced wrinkly fella who allowed children to crawl on him and was placid and even-tempered and loving. He belonged to my friend Rosemary's siblings and it seems we all got to have him live with us for a time, as I remember having him saunter around my old backyard on Butternut off Shepard Road in St Paul, when Bingo was a pup... I believe he was rumored to have some chow in him, though his fur and wrinkles suggested sharpei. I don't know that I got the wrinkly-fuzzy feel right- I may need to go back into this one too...

And I have also included a photo of me and Liz Sivertson (my favorite local artist since I was a kid!) taken at the Grand Marais Art Festival! It was SO fun! And this other photo is of the German Shepard HONEY posing in front of the painting I did of her in May! Of all wonderful reocccurances, she was at the Art Festival with her owner, and I recognised her as soon as she walked into the tent~ she was shy as ever and it took quite a bit of coaxing but she did consent to pose in front of her likeness for a few shots. I gotta say, that really made my weekend!

Liz & me!

Honey with "Steady Gaze"

July 19- Afton!

2011-07-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

I gotta admit, this was a difficult photo to work from, as it pixillated horribly when I tried to get it in closer. So this is what I was able to come up with, and I hope it gives the sense of a delighted dog bouncing about in White Bear Lake~

And here is what the delightful Mary Jane has to honestly say about the enthusiastic Afton! (You can tell writing is one of Mary Jane's loves...)

"Afton is a rescue dog of uncertain parentage. Her jowls say schnauzer. Her tail is a furry curl. Her fuzzy back legs make her look like she’s wearing pajama bottoms. That, and her neck’s wooly cowl suggest that a husky might have been part of the mix.

Afton is my daughter Ellen’s dog. We got her when Ellen was a ninth-grader. Afton would wake Ellen up for school. On those mornings when big tests loomed or a paper was due, I’d put a red bow around Afton’s neck before I sent her in to Ellen’s room. “Oh, she is sooo cute!” Ellen would say. Ellen never said that to me when I woke her up.

Ellen went off to Panama for a service trip one summer, to Portugal as an exchange student and now to Washington D.C. for college. Afton stays with me, enthroned on the leather couch. Wherever Ellen’s life takes her, she’s always eager for a puppy report. “Thank goodness for Skype,” says Ellen. “Afton is just no good on the phone.”

I am not a dog person. The unauthorized adoption of a dog was a minor factor in the break-up of my marriage. I’ve put everything I had into raising three kids and keeping a complicated household humming along, mostly on my own. I nearly made it through their raising-up with pets no more demanding than guinea pigs. I was a complete fool to take on a dog so late in the game.

Foolish undertakings do bring silly satisfactions. I love my kids. I love my mate. I do not love my dog. However, I am very, very fond of her and deeply grateful for the joy Afton brings to my nearest and dearest."

July 18- Spencer~

2011-07-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

This is Spencer, a standard poodle, who lives and loves Shawna, who tells an incredible story about him~

"Spencer was rescued from a puppy mill in southern MN by Second Chance, a non-profit animal group, in late August, 2005. We had been looking for a second dog for quite a while, but with allergies in our family, there are only a few breeds of dogs that work for us. We already had (and still have) our dog, Luna, who is also a black Standard Poodle.

When Spencer came up for adoption over Labor Day weekend, 2005, we raced to his foster home to meet him, with Luna in tow. When we introduced Luna and Spencer in the caregiver’s back yard, it was love at first sight for the two of them. They immediately began playing, running and jumping. We knew Spencer was meant to be in our family.

Spencer had never lived in a home before, and I believe he was confined to a small space outside. When Second Chance took him, he was matted so badly that he couldn’t lift his head up all the way (the hair on his chin was matted to the hair on his chest, and his jaw was pulled to the side as a result). He also had a skin infection, and old scars from where he was apparently bitten in the face. He was a year and a half old, and I don’t think he had ever had a toy, regular meals, or much love. Now he is healthy (that means chunky) and is just about the sweetest thing you could imagine. If he had his way, he would be attached to me (Shawna) 24/7. We taught him how to “shake” and if you ask him to do it once, he will lift his paw up over and over again to get your attention.

The nice thing about rescue dogs (he is our third) is that they just want your attention. Spencer will let you brush his teeth, clean his ears, and pick burrs out of his coat without a fuss. He just wants to be touched and loved. Luna has to take allergy medication, and Spencer gets jealous when you have to stick the pills down her throat. He will actually try to eat her pills. So, I make him sit alongside her and then after I open her mouth and toss the pills in, I go to Spencer and pretend I’m putting pills in his mouth by just tapping on his tongue. This makes him happy. It’s the little things, truly.

Until recently, he really loved spinach stems as a treat, and cucumber peelings. He finds all the acorns in the yard during the fall, and eats them, too. But if you want to make his day, give him some popcorn, pretzels or wasabi peas. Besides sitting on a lap, those are his favorite things."

I gotta admit, I wasn't expecting such great stories about these dogs! Wow~ what an amazing bunch of people~

thanks!

Sunday, July 17- Coco!

2011-07-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a scorcher- we had a brunch today and actually had a number of people show up despite the heat- Duane set up the big tent in the backyard over the kiddie pool and we all ended up out there, with our feet in the pool, drinking Duane's punch while Dave cooked eggs and fresh-picked mushrooms on the grill...
Yup- what a life!

And here is our lovely dog for today, Coco, whom I painted at the tail-end of the brunch with some on-lookers~ I enjoy painting with people around. And here is what Bethany has to say about Coco, who happens to be her parents' dog~

"I know little about Coco, except that he brings my Mother and Father-in-Law much joy. They adopted him a few years ago when he was surrendered when an older woman was no longer able to care for him. He lives in Charlotte, NC and I know he loves ice cream. I think it is funny that my in-laws denied a dog to their four kids when they were young and never considered themselves dog people, but now Coco is a major part of their family and among the four kids, each of them now have 2 dogs."

Funny how our families turn out, ain't it? Coco looks like a sprightly little sweetheart of a pup~!

July 16- Smokey~

2011-07-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

An apt name for a day like today, I guess... and I gotta admit, this one was really tough to paint and I am STILL not entirely happy and so some messing around with this image may happen before the final showing.

And here is what Smokey's loving owner has to say about this special dog~

"I just thought I would send you a little information about Smokey who I occasionally refer to as the Smokster. I loved reading about Atticus. I have had Smokey for around 8 years. His history: My son and I received him as a Christmas present from my sisters. I had decided it was time; I was ready to get a canine companion and mentioned it to one of my sisters and she jumped on the opportunity to get one for us for Christmas. I really had only a few criteria; one to go with the Humane Society or a rescue foundation and second was thinking a beagle mix. One of my other sisters got involved so there was a good balance and I trusted their decisions. They got Smokey from a rescue foundation called ARF in Superior Wisconsin. He had been abandoned with a cat in December. The foundation said they thought he was a beagle mix, the vet thought he looked more like a hound, he does do hound speak once in awhile. When I first get home and he is so excited to see me it sounds like he says heellllooooooo, so cute, other than that his coat has the texture and coloring of a German Sheppard and a little of their temperament.

It took him a while to settle in to our house. He was my first dog and because he was rescued came with a lot of issues; I learned a lot that first year, his fears such as thunder, fireworks, riding in the car, abandonment, things that make him crazy, bikes, trikes, trucks pulling trailers, the UPS truck is a big one and well, squirrels. I had a cat when I first got him who he so wanted to be friends with, but Sammy never really warmed up to him, then I got Josie, two years ago now and they are the great buddies. It really was fun to see him interact with a crazy kitten and now cat. The other day all of us, my son Isaac in his wheelchair, Smokey helping me pull Isaac along and Josie the cat went for a family walk around the block. It was entertaining for the neighbors. "

Sounds like a perfect family!

July 15~ Bitsy & Otis! Two fer One!

2011-07-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Bitsy

Today I painted a pair of dogs again, and they were meant to both be in the usual square format, but I just COULDN'T crop the Boston's EARS for crying out loud, so she got painted on a rectangle... It's my game and I can change the rules if I want to! Speaking of changing rules, there is a shift in dogs- tomorrow I will be painting Smokey for Kelley, instead of the two Scotties for Mark, who asked for a later date because he says the dogs were out in the big backyard running around in the rain and he won't be able to get decent pictures of them til they are drier~ at least, I think that was the reason!

And here is what Krista has to say about HER lively pair of pups!

"Bitsy came to me from a friend, an old co-worker, who's sister's husband passed away, not allowing her to care for Bitsy and her two brothers anymore. I had been thinking about fostering a Rottie, and got the call from my friend saying "I have a little girl for you if you're interested." Of course, as a responsible parent, I immediately said yes, THEN decided I should meet her first. It was love at first sight. She hasn't stopped following me since. She's my best friend, and we take care of each other. She has many nicknames, Bitserella Psychedella, Ritzy, Farfle, Bit-Bit, and the list goes on. She's a very happy dog.

Otis

"Otis came to my boyfriend Chris 5 years ago after he got kicked out of service dog school. Not because he was naughty, but because he was so independent and opinionated. =) Before his stint in service dog school, Otis was found wandering the streets of Saint Loius and got picked up by a woman who transported him back to MPLS. When Chris got Otis, the woman told him he had to always sleep in the bed under the covers. And he does until this day. I always say it's like putting a blanket over a bird cage...put a blanket over Otis and he falls right to sleep. Otis has many nicknames too, Otiewan Kenobi, Otissima, Otis Lampinian, and so on. He can be a challenge at times, but we love him dearly.

Otis and Bitsy have now lived together for 2 months. They are the best of friends, and get into lots of trouble together. They really bring a lot of personality and love into our lives. Don't know what we'd do without them. =)"

I also wanted to mention that I have posted my Art Talk on my website under the "Welcome" page, if you feel inclined to read up on my background...

July 14- STELLA!!!

2011-07-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I LOVE the name Stella~ I once had a great student named Stella, who drew an incredible iguana in 3rd grade and was the epitome of creative student...
I have had the honor of meeting THIS Stella, who has a great dignity and beauty about her, and an elegance that can be seen in the bearing of her head here... she is not beyond silliness and joy, however...
And I have to say it was difficult to chose a photo to paint from the selection Kari gave me, because Kari is an incredible artist herself and sees the world in a refined, elegant and dignified way, and many of her photos are beautiful works of art, which are nearly impossible for me to paint from as I need to feel my own interpretation in the painting and if the photo is already great, what do I have left to do?!?

oh and Kari titled this photo "Ear Wings" which just about explains it all~

And come tonight to hear me talk at Private Art 2 if you can~ I've been writing all afternoon~ I need people to read it too!

July 13- Gucci~

2011-07-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

What a fabulous name for such a FABulous face!!! This is Gucci, with a lovely grin, and here is what his loving owner Megan has to say about how he GOT that great name!

"Gucci boy is such a sweet dog. I adopted Gucci on Labor Day weekend two days before my first teaching job. He reminds me of my great memories of Minnesota... Gucci loves to play tug-o-war with his little sister Stella. She hand feeds him one doggie food nougat at a time. They are inseparable, but have their moments... While in Minnesota I nannied for a family who had a dog named Georgio...named after Georgio Armani... I loved the thought of naming him after a brand. So... being the shoe and purse enthusiast that I am, Gucci fit perfectly. He may be the only Gucci I'll ever own, but I'm okay with that! :) "

Stay tuned for more!

July 12~ Gizmo AND Blueberry!!!!

2011-07-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

Today I painted TWO dogs, just because I didn't feel I was challenging myself enough and I don't want to go soft in my old age...

Their owner Michelle is a painted herself, and came by to see us in Grand Marais this weekend which is where my mom and I met her in May at the Art Colony! Isn't it fun how the world spins so smoothly?

And here is what she has to say about her two sweet pups~

"Gizmo came to live with our family about 6 years ago, when he was just a puppy. He grew up playing with our son and daughter and our 2 cats, and they all got along famously. One of Gizmo's favorite games was playing fetch with his squeaky penguin toy. "Penguin" was one of the many words the Giz learned over the years and whenever he heard that word, he was ready for action. One of us would kick the penquin and then Gizmo would run and get it, bring it back, and then crouch down, bouncing on his front paws waiting for the next kick of his favorite toy. One day when Jim and Gizmo were out for a walk, Giz walked smack-dab into a tree. That's when we ralized that Gizmo was going blind. We took him to the vet and to a specialist, but no one could figure out what happened to Gizmo to cause his blindness. It was permanent and irreversible. Gizmo seemed to lose interest in a lot of his favorite things, like going for walks, and because he couldn't see any more, playing the penguine-fetch game came to an end. Gizmo was a sad little dog and we weren't sure what to do for him."

"Then we found Blueberry. Blue had already lived with 3 other families in his short life of 7 months, and he was about to go off to his 4th--in Canada. Our neighbor, and the owner of Blueberry's mom, was worried about making plans to get the little guy across the border. What if things didn't work out at his new home? Soon someone made the suggestion that Blueberry might be a good companion for Gizmo maybe he should come live with our family. It seemed like a good idea. So now Blueberry has been with our family for just about a year, he and Gizmo are great friends and Gizmo likes to go for walks and play again. The puppy energy of Blueberry in our lives has been good (most of the time) for all of us, and as you can see, they make a very cute pair!"

July 11, ARWYN!

2011-07-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

And this is Arwyn, a very special Chiuaua, found and loved by Sandy and her daughter Olivia~ Sandy has a beautiful art car, a VW bug (the newer ones) with a panopoly of fairies painted all around it, and in parades Sandy and her friends wear wings and wigs and glitter, and so here is Arwyn, with a bit of a purple glimpse of her lilac wing and a hint of a halo....

And just a bit of an amusing little glint in her eye~

And we are just back from Grand Marais, beautiful day yesterday! Like UNBELIEVABLE day, the kind where you find yourself thinking, I would LOVE to live here! And I got to see a few of my favorite local artists, my special incredibly cool favorite artist Liz Sivertson who has influenced my love of painting animals since my childhood, and Timouth Young whose trees showed me how to see the sky~ mom and I took a class from Liz in 2008 which is when I actually began painting dogs again, and ended up getting a commission right in class and selling two other paintings right off the wall... yup, that's me...

Oh and I wanted to remind you to come hear me speak ever so eloquently of my life and philosophy of art on Thursday at 6pm at Private Art 2: Key North!!!!

July 10 Sunday- Ike~ the Vizsla~

2011-07-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

I did get sunshine and time to paint today at the Art Festival! Here is Ike~ a very noble creature, with regal bearing~ and I actually met a vizsla in person today too! I mean, wow! It was like a Dog Show here, or at the best a Dog Parade! So fun! and what a GORGEOUS day! Yesterday we were all running to the thrift store to buy sweaters and scarves, and today we were all stripping down to tank tops and swapping suntan lotion! Our spot was right on the square, looking out over the bay and there were tons of people and boats and SUNSHINE!!!! I think all the vendors were pretty darn pleased with ourselves for conjuring up such a great day~
Especially after the depressing soak of saturday...

and I believe I will have a few more commissions coming in soon! So fun to paint with an audience! Oh and mom and I were on the radio yesterday, the local station, and I talked about the 30 Dogs Project and how it got started. Maybe next year I'll turn in into more of a fundraiser, depending on where we are financially... and whether we ourselves will be needing a fundraiser!

Tomorrow is our little fairy dog, Arwyn!

july 9, HUDSON! for Lianna~

2011-07-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

This is Hudson, dressed for the Christmas Holidays, and he has that expression that most dogs wear when they are humoring you and your penchant for cute bows and ribbons and antlers and bunny ears and such-like.... That black-blue shine was SO fun to paint, as were those HUGE brown eyes~

We are up in Grand Marais- not a great day today, as it rained for most of it and we had to keep shuffling items around and half closing the front flaps... sold a bunch of cards and gave a ton of postcards and brochures away, had a number of people we knew show up and a lovely collection of new fans~ so hopefully tomorrow the weather will be more conducive to commerce....

Oh and it is my mom's birthday today, so Dad and Duane and Max snuck in with a cake and Dad and Duane enticed mom out of the tent for a minute so Max and I could jam candles in the cake and attempt to light the candles- I mean, I lit them and Max attempted to blow them out~ then I asked anyone walking past to come in the tent and sing Happy Birthday when Mom came back and she did and they all did and she blew out the candles and everyone got cake!

and now, to bed,.....

July 8, CLOVER for Chris!

2011-07-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Ha! Here he is, in all his glory, wearing his little red scarf... oooo at least I think I thought Clover was male... Chris, you haven't sent me any little stories about him! SO this is all I know-

I may have mentioned in passing that we are heading up to the Grand Marais Arts Festival TODAY! So Clover was painted early.... and I am anticipating painting Hudson and Ike while at the festival! So if you will be in the area, please come on over!

July 7, HENRY! For Abbie~

2011-07-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

And this is Henry~ a sweet older dog, loved by Abbie, whom I met as Duane and I were rounding Max up to leave a friend's daughter's graduation party during which Max disappeared for a good five minutes while Duane was looking up a tree and I was chatting and he didn't appear again until I went into complete mom-panic and asked everyone I knew if they'd seen him and FINALLY our divine friend Shannon saw him in the next yard on the brightly colored play-equipment... ANYWAY, Abbie hadn't told me too much about Henry, except that she was really excited to have a portrait of him as he is getting on in years, and it would be great to have a memorial~ I hope this does him justice! I think it is one of my more Van-Gogh-ish ones... and it was still wet when I took the photo in case you are wondering about the glistening bakground..
And Clover WILL happen tomorrow, possibly at 6am, as we will be traveling to Grand Marais all day and then setting up various tents and easy-ups and stuff.... wish us luck!
thanks!

Wed, july 7~ Atticus!

2011-07-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, he is named after THAT Atticus, he of the Mockingbird fame, oh our beloved Mr. Finch, both in book and movie, and I was delighted to paint such a distinguished name-bearer, though as I proceeded with paint and brush to attempt to depict this countenance, I felt I was looking at a visage more known for the discovery of many engineering feats but I don't have the tiny little "2" to carry it all off, you know "E=MC..."...
Enough of my ramblings~ I've been reading Douglas Adams again... here is what Lauren has to say about Atticus~ and I must say his face bears wisdom far older than his years!

"Atticus is an nine month old Golden Doodle, half Golden Retriever half Poodle. We chose this breed because of their exceptional cuteness. When we went to the breeders to pick a puppy we had 16 pups to choose from. Lucky for us Atticus crawled up in Eric's lap and just stayed until we had eliminated all the other choices. My daughter Sierra named him after the wonderful lawyer and father Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird, which she was reading at the time. Atticus is a dream dog. He learns very quickly and was easy to train and he makes it really easy to love him. He loves to be outside, especially in the snow. In the winter he rolls in the snow and down hills like a kid. He can entertain himself for hours at a time throwing balls for himself, chewing sticks, and he recently learned to swim. He plays a fantastic game of fetch in the water and on land. Atticus is the kind of dog who will put the ball right in your hand if that's what it takes to get someone to play with him. If your hands are full that's ok too; he'll put the ball at your feet so you can kick it for him to chase. There is nothing he likes more than to be social with humans and other dogs, although at nine months he is a very big puppy and can get overly excited to meet new and old friends."

What a great dog! I hope to meet him at the Opening! Back to packing for the GRAND MARAIS ART FESTIVAL this WEEKEND!!!!

july 5, ADDIE!!!!

2011-07-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Addie is the kind of lab that is full of love and energy and will happily eat anything you give her off the table which is why Jane makes sure all her guests at the barbque understand that THEY will be the ones responsible for cleaning up the resulting mess. Which was right next to the principal's flip-flip... on the lawn...

But doesn't she look happy anyway?

Whew! We are heading up to the Grand Marais Art Festival this weekend and I am SUPER excited and the kitchen is disheveled and full of rubbermaid bins and paper bags and cards and prints and paintings and I am trying to get price lists made and little signs printed up and we are trying to get organized to stay in the parents' winnebago (with them) and Duane chose today to haul a truckload of crap to the City Recycling station, concrete and metal and just stuff so we are both wiped out and Max is too and tomorrow is another day!
Thanks for following- some days it is a CHALLENGE to get my dog done, I gotta tell you!

July 4th! Cooper~

2011-07-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

And THIS is our Red, White and Blue Corgi for the Fourth of July! What a fireworks display! I meant to do all the dogs as cropped in head portraits, but this seemed to call for a larger shot~ And here is what Mary, her owner, says about Cooper;

"My Cooper the cardigan corgi is an unusual looking dog that longs to be 
 painted.
 Commander stumpy as she is sometimes called is long and stumpy with a polka dot blue coat, a few

prominent black spots and if she lifts her tail with the proper surge of pride one can see a black heart

out lining her 'stuff'. She is very athletic and a good listener with BIG pointy ears and a face that is

kinda Dobermanish."

I had the pleasure to meet Cooper in person in Mary's backyard in "Whimsy On Thomas" or WOT, and

that is an accurate description of her home because it is exceedlingly whimsical!  The area Cooper is sitting

is NOT the Grand Canyon as one may conjecture but one of two  enormous concrete sculptures Mary

made in her backyard around a firepit and Cooper's favorite place to sit.

I did actually paint another dog too, but that one is on my i-phone and I am not sure how to post

it...    maybe later!

kat

July 3, Jeremy for Lisa!~

2011-07-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

Wow this was SUCH a fun face to paint! If you go to the 30 Dogs 2011 website you can see some of the photos I am using and Jeremy's are SO fun! I will have to get Lisa's story about Jeremy later and add it in to this post- I think she said he's a Basset/Beagle mix? What do YOU think?

Again, GREAT smile!
Really, I think I just love dogs so much because when they smile, they do it with their entire SELVES!!!

july 2, Toby for Wendy!

2011-07-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here is today's dog, a charmer for sure! From what his owner says, Toby leads one of those lucky dog lives where he's allowed along to her workplace~

"Toby is a 7 year old Boston Terrier. During the school year, he is lucky enough to spend a couple of days a week in the office of Meadowbrook Elementary in Golden Valley. He has a special talent of covering himself up in his bed when he's chilly. He is a friend to all; people, dogs cats - he's not particular. He never passes up a ride in the car, a game of frisbee or a tennis ball. His favorite toy of the moment is "pig", whose nose he has sucked on so long it's starting to rot. When pig is finished, he'll choose another "baby" and start again. He's done this since the day I brought him home at 7 weeks old. He is, of course, a one-of-a-kind and we are lucky to have him in our lives!"

Of course, I love the ears...

And here are a couple photos of the Private Art 2: Key North Opening of Thurdsay eve~ thank you so much those few brave souls who ventured out in that life-sucking heat! I'll be back again on Thursday the 14th of July to do an "Artist's Talk" so if you'd like to try and come again, I would appreciate it! I don't often get the opportunity to see the big dog paintings in an exhibition space~ and you really do need to see them live!


"Backseat Opinions" and my favorite~

"Woeful In The Kitchen" with mom & dad in the background...

Susan, Trish & Jan