New Family Member

"Blonde & Beautiful"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

This is a drawing of our newest family member, Mandy, a 5-year-old (or close to it) yellow labrador retriever who we "found" at the pound, the same place we "found" Buddy, our chocolate lab. She is a gem: loving, kind, gentle, plays well with other (i.e., Buddy), obeys commands and is in all ways a complete lady. Mandy had been at the shelter since August, where she was taken after being snagged as a runaway. I can't help but feel she was just waiting for us to find her.

My husband, who had told me for years that one dog was enough, just recently decided the two was okay. What changed his mind? Well, he'd read an article in the paper about how overcrowded animal shelters have become due to the economy and particularly the fact that people are losing their homes due to eviction and foreclosure. The shelter calls them "Foreclosure Dogs".

My dogs (yeah, two!) are just that, my dogs, they are not my kids. They are nonetheless, loved and well cared for. I have a huge soft spot for lost or rejected dogs and always let people know that my big beautiful, well-bahaved pets are from the shelter. There are some wonderful companions there just waiting for someone to find them. Just walk through an animal shelter once and see if you don't fall in love with at least one of them; or many, many more.

Each time I have been there, I cry, then realize that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to back my small VW Bug up to the back door and fill it with as many dogs as it would hold....

But these two love riding in my Bug and fit very, very well.

Buddy & Mandy

Life Is Good

"Life Is Good"

Original Colored Pencil ACEO

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

This new piece is a drawing of Capone, our neighbor's new adopted dog (they're great!) and Buddy's new friend. Capone is a big, beautiful, beagle/lab (is that a beagador or a labagle?) mix young male.

After he had gotten loose from his owner and run through our house looking for Buddy, who was not home at the time, I was able to snap a few pics of him. Buddy's absence, however, didn't seem to upset Capone at all. Like all labs I've ever met, he just seems to love life and is always happy no matter what. The look on his face seemed to say "Doesn't matter, there's so much in the world to to see, and I intend to find it!"

We could all take a lesson there.

Phase 6 - Teddy and Me

I seldom burnish my work, but this piece seemed to call for it to push the darks to where I felt they should be. This time I used a stiff hog bristle brush which allowed me to move the color around more subtly than when I burnish with another pencil or solvents. I am very pleased with it...so far.
I promised myself that when I started this blog I would keep my big mouth shut about anything controversial or political. BUT, I want to share with you something I do feel strongly about - rescuing a pet from your local shelter. We rescued our dog, Buddy Tucker (sounds like a country-western singer doesn't he?), three years ago. He is a full-bred chocoloate lab (according to the vet) and absolutely one of the best dogs I've ever had. The shelters are full of wonderful dogs. Don't worry about which dog to choose; they choose you. Buddy took one look at me and it was all over! I haven't regretted his choice and I don't think he has either.