Mystery Man and Hard-Working Woman!!!

Here is my most recent entry to the www.differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com challenge. 180 artists swapped photos of themselves with another artist, and submitted them to Karin Juriks wonderful blog, which she works tirelessly to support for us to share. She has even created videos of the photos fading to the portraits...with music...so very excellent!!

I was glad to be a part of it. Happy new year everyone!! I have alot in store for me this year. I can feel it in my paintbrush!!!

Enough.

This is Holly.

You probably have never heard of her before.

Holly is a victim of animal cruelty.There have been dogs just like her that the media cast their light on because their owner was famous.

Holly's owner wasn't famous. However the abuse still exists, whether the media chooses to shine their light on her or not.

I would not say I have become hardened over the years working with these dogs. When I meet each one, they never look back. They have taught me not to waste time hating their previous owners for what they have done to them, but to forgive, educate when I can, and move on. God only knows what could have happened to those people in their lives to make them think that treating another creature this way is okay.

So when I meet the dogs for the first time, I keep a stiff upper lip. No matter what condition they are in, we move forward.

This time was different.

Holly arrived with the other dogs rescued from her yard, and I went out to receive her. I smiled when I saw her, and gently tried to pry her 20lb. body from the crate she was petrified to be removed from. I barely had both arms around her tiny frame before she stuck to me like glue, and wrapped her tiny arms around me like I was a life preserver in the sea. I stroked her back and told her she was alright now, and the tears just welled in my eyes. I have never been hugged so hard in all of my life.

Holly is on the road to healing. She is trying to eat, and gaining strength on her deformed legs. She is trying. She will get better.

So, the media may not be following her. You may not get to see her when she gets to romp with other dogs, perhaps later getting therapy dog certification...or even when her new adoptive family comes to take her home safe......forever.

My mission as an artist is to cast a light on the ones that the media may not. They are still here. They have faces, and they have names.

Heres to good friends...

I am adding this picture to my blog for a couple of reasons. One, I got a new dog named Kane, and this is him...Isn't he cute?? Two, my best friend Marina came out for my wedding last weekend..(thats her hugging my new dog...isn't she cute??)

I wanted to write about both of them because last week meant alot to me for many reasons. One, of course was that I got married, and the other was that my best friend put her fear aside and gave my dogs a chance. Although I know in her heart she didn't want to be afraid of them, the media will hardly let you not be. They are both pit-bull type dogs. (probly mixed with greyhound, presa canario, great dane and who knows what else!!!) I just read that she was talking to someone about them when she got back home, and she said "I was a little afraid to meet them at first, but then I looked into their eyes and I melted!!"

Of course my dogs can't change everyones mind, but they change many. This one probably meant the most to me. We miss you Marina!!! Thank you for everything!!

Thank you to Angela Elledge!!

This beautiful portrait of my dog Ziggy Marley was painted by a wonderful artist Angela Elledge.
She saw Ziggy's picture on my blog from a January post that was taken by photographer Lisa Fishler.
I cannot thank her enough for doing this. Her rendering of him brought tears to my eyes. He is a lovely dog, and is captured so well here!!
Please check out her blog, and Lisa's. They are both extremely supportive of networking for other artists. To me, this is what it is all about!! Many thanks to both for spending time with my wonderful boy!!

Ziggy Marley brings home the blue!!!

I just could not be prouder of my little man!!! His first dog show at a year and a half old, and he won the blue! I showed him in an advanced obedience course called Rally-o, where dog and handler go through an obstacle course with approximately twenty obedience signs to follow. We got a ribbon for a qualifying score in the first round, and a blue ribbon for a higher qualifying score in the second round. As many know, Ziggy was a rescue from a pit-bull shelter. Many of the dogs there endured obstacles of their own before they found shelter, and many are deserving of a blue ribbon in their own right. Ziggys ribbon now hangs at Animal Farm Foundation, with the dogs still waiting for their forver homes. Way to go, Ziggy!!!!!!!!

Beach Guy

This was a fun one to do. I am definately stretching myself with these DSFDF challenges. It is so fun to see which parts of the picture people gravitate twords. I really wanted to know what this guy was thinking about.

It was also a challenge for me to slow WAYYY down, as I am starting to move into my new studio today. I am chomping at the bit to get in there, but have to wait for my landlords to finish up a few minor details. I had to finish the painting, photograph it, get the pics in my laptop, take my laptop to a place I can upload the photos...post it on my blog and FINALLY...(deep sigh...) send it to the Different Strokes From Different Folks blogspot. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy every minute of it. It shows me I can work well under pressure, and concentrate on the task at hand even though everything I own is in a BOX!!!

Time to go load up my truck!!! Cheers...

California roll, anyone?

This painting has already sold!! I was happy about that.

This was a fun one to do, and I will paint it again. The sauce was intimidating, but turned out well, I thought.

Still working on doing as many small still lifes as time allows. I will be moving into a new studio in a couple of weeks that has an actual office. I am having fun figuring out how I am going to organize it so I can ligitimately have a working ORGANIZED space!