Paintings by Carrie Tasman

Life is Short, Play with Your Dog!

2011-10-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Commencement remarks to Stanford graduates by Steve Jobs in 2005 are worth repeating:

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma--which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

In other words, life is short, go play with your dog!

Focus on Mixed Media Collage

2011-10-07T10:03:00.001-07:00

I'm gearing up for a show in Seattle called Best of the Northwest. It will be ov 18-20th, at the Cruise Terminal, Pier 9. I'm showing my mixed media collages. So I am making millifiori canes like crazy, and rolling out clay and getting it ready to build my pieces with. I'll be posting some of my newest ones here. Below is a sample of some of the canes that I have built and use for my pieces.

Sanctuary

2011-08-03T10:10:00.001-07:00

This is my summertime spot to read, nap, look at the stars, and enjoy my garden! It has a nice cool breeze even when it's super hot outside. I'm headed out there now to have my breakfast.

2010-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

It is the end of summer almost into autumn, and this is when my show season goes into full swing. I have posted my show schedule on my website, and sent out my newsletter, but for those folks who enjoy reading my blog, and keep up with me on facebook, here is the blog version of my schedule. Hope to see you out there!

Excerpts from Everyday
Contemporary Still Life
Bush Barn, Salem Oregon
Sept 3-Oct 24
Opening Sept 10, 5-7pm

September 25,26
Corvallis Fall Festival
Central Park, Corvallis

October 14-17th
Local 14
World Forestry Center,
Miller Hall, Portland, OR

Teal Gallery
120 SW 4th Street
Downtown Corvallis

A Big Thanks to all of you who have supported my art career by collecting my art, emailing me, coming to my shows, and commissioning paintings! Couldn't take this trip without you!

Nummy Dog Biscuits

2010-02-01T11:44:00.001-08:00

Once a year I bake the dogs their very own biscuits. I like baking them myself because I always wonder what's keeps those biscuits "fresh" for so long on grocery shelves... will they still be around decades from now? I like knowing the ingredients, and I feel this way about our food too. When I pull them out of the oven, and tell them, "these are for you guys"....well, Chamois and Tully are certainly appreciative! Tully's the one with the intense stare, a perfect portrait of his personality...focused!

Here's the recipe I clipped from the local paper years ago.

Debbie's Dog Biscuits

2 1/2 cups flour (I used spelt flour but you can use regular flour)
1 1/2 cup whole grain spelt flour
(you can use part rice flour or regular flour)
1 cup instant potato flakes
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup grated cheese

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients, and stir well. Add all of the wet ingredients and mix well. You might have to ditch the spoon and mix it up with your hands. You want a thick dough, because you're going to roll it out to cut cookie shapes. Shape the dough into a ball, and place on a good amount of flour (so it won't stick when you roll) and roll out to about 3/8ths inch thickness or thinner...you don't want them too thick so they will get crunchy. Cut out your shapes, Chamois prefers the hearts, and of course, Tully prefers the bone shapes. Keep adding the dough back to itself and cutting out shapes until you have a little pile left and free-form that into your last cookie.

Bake 40 minutes at 300 degrees. When they are all done, I put them back in the oven after I turn it off to let them get crispy and crunchy. I leave them in the cooling oven for an hour or so.

This makes a lot of dog biscuits. About 3 to 4 dozen depending on the cookie shapes! Enjoy, share with your doggie friends!

Royalty in a Blue Chair

2009-06-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

I paint a lot of yellow dogs, and there is no wondering why, when you see that half of my blog (such as it is) is about Chamois, my yellow labrador. Because I take my art on the road all over the west, I've met a lot of yellow dog lovers along the way. So I thought I'd post my latest yellow dog portrait. I call it H.R.H. (Her Royal Highness), right down to the Royal pearls!!! Chamois of course, is my model. The painting is 24x36 acrylic on board. It's up in Portland, Oregon in a show that I have at Realty Trust, in Lake Oswego.

Planting Time!!!!!!!

2009-04-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!! It's Springtime!!!!

Here is the end of the picnic table I use for my pot planting area!

This weekend I planted all of my hanging baskets

then I planted violas and pansies in my blue and white pots.

I LOVE blue and white pottery,
and blue and white pottery appears in my paintings often....
I usually make up the design, I always think I'm going
to copy some beautiful pattern, but when the brush hits the canvas,
I seem to want to head down a brand new trail.

Chamois is helping in between chewing on a bone,
and keeping Tully away from her bone,
even though he has his own bone to chews on.

Some of my blue and white indoor pots with succulents!
Succulents, another obsession!

Talking to Chamois

2009-03-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Chamois is such a pretty dog. She likes to admire herself in the window in the evening. when the reflections are good. She's also on alert for any falling leaves, wind blown branches, and less interesting, a squirrel or chipmunk. She is lots lighter around her eyes and muzzle....quite the distinguished old lady, except when there is a tennis ball or stick around.

Chamois Sleeps (and inspires)

2009-03-15T18:55:00.001-07:00

Chamois's bed in right in the middle of the studio, so when I turn around I get to enjoy her repertoire of sleeping poses. This is a pretty standard sleeping position and often shows up in my paintings.

Oh, so sleepy.

The cradle pose.Inspiring creativity. Tully likes to sleep closer to the easel, so he can be underfoot where he is safest.

What? You need some help with cookies?

Paris

2009-03-10T12:52:00.001-07:00

It has been a dream for me to go to Paris for years, I had my reasons, I thought, but it didn't become clear to me until I actually went. I even have an french psuedo name, given to me by my friend Marcy, named Genvieve. Well, we found out St. Genvieve is the patron saint of Paris. So I had to go!

And so we did! We actually ended up staying in St. Genvieve's old stomping grounds, where a church and abbey were built around her tomb. This was right up the hill from where we stayed at Residence Henri IV (5*s) ...past a few artful bakeries, vitners, frommageries, markets, and other wonderful shops.

Every artist should visit Paris at least once. Just to see a favorite painting in person is worth the trip (me looking at a Bonnard I've had on my bulletin board for years, can you see it in the photo?). It seems the entire city of Paris is a monument to creativity.

I know from experience that being a painter isn't just about the craft, that's an important part, but there is so much more. A creative life is every day all day. This is no burden, it is a supreme joy. Parisians have made enjoying life into a fine art form, to be savored, thoroughly delighted in, paid attention to. Every evening there was be a line at the bakery for the dinner baquettes, everyone would have a bag from the market, today's dinner, and the flower shop stayed open late, in case you needed some flowers that night. This experience has inspired me to a whole new level of appreciation and enjoyment in my life.

ACEO Format

2008-04-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

I wrote in my previous blog that I am painting in miniature format, and selling these little paintings on ebay at a steal. The Art Cards and Editions format is 3.5 x 2.5 inches! Very tiny. The painting is created with premium quality acrylic paints on Strathmore 246lb paper made especially for acrylic paints and protected with a satin varnish. There is a clear border around the edges for ease of framing. I thought I would post a few paintings that are up this week.

"Healthy Obsession"
This is our dog Tully, both of our dogs love to camp on our canoe lake and love to fetch anything out of the water. Tully is wire haired pointer cross, and was terrified of the water when he accidentally tried to walk on water when he was a puppy, and to his surprise, went in at about step five. It took a year to get him to try it again, and now he's officially a water dog. After he cannot convince us to throw the stick or ball any longer, he will stare down into the water and pounce on anything that moves, lights, shadows, fish, algae. The lake is very clear, and cold, and he will stay out there for hours, until he is shivering and we have to order him to stay up by camp. This is as the sun is setting, just before we called him in. Please click here to bid on this miniature painting.

Pepper Caught a Mouse
This is my sister's cat, Pepper. She has three, and they often make their way into paintings. She is a cute cat, and always looks to me like she has a bit of the devil in her, but it's just her markings. She is a also a gifted mouser, and always looks so pleased with herself when she deposits her present. I put the mouse parts back together so you, the viewer, can tell what it is!

If you would like to bid on this miniature painting, click here. (Auctions last 7 days.)

Catch Up

2008-04-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted a blog...I'm more of a painter...than I am a writer. So pardon me, for the lapse. What have I been up to this winter?

The highlight of winter 2007-08 was the events that unfolded after I displayed my paintings at the Portland Rose City Classic Dog show....my life has not been the same since. Besides hanging around my "peeps", dog people : ) I also met a really talented and generous-hearted artist, named Connie Bowen. She also paints dogs, cats, horses, etc. She is a pet portrait artist, whom I would highly recommend. Although I do take in a healthy amount of custom "pet" paintings, I like to paint A LOT of different things, and often a dog or a cat is part of my subject matter. Anyway, I enjoyed meeting a fellow furry creature painter, and she introduced me to ebay. Gave me pointers, patiently answered a million questions, and just got me going. It is something I've thought about and wanted to try for a long time, but didn't make the time learn how.

So here I am, with my own ebay store. For now, I am painting miniatures ("ACEO's" stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals, they measure 3.5x2.5 inches) and small paintings (5x7, 9x12) and auctioning them. I've only had my ebay store for a month, and it is fun, and motivating, since things do sell, and keeps me even busier than ever. One thing I like about the minatures is that they are akin to the "painting a day" genre. I try to paint one per day, they take about an hour, and it is a great warm up in preparation for painting. Just gets my head in the creative zone, right from the start. Lately I've barely been finishing my coffee. Don't need it!

These are all samples of the little paintings I've sold so far on ebay. Come by and see what's new!

Stormy Weather Art

2007-12-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

Winter is here in Oregon, and it has arrived with some very powerful storms. My thoughts and prayers to all the folks in western oregon and washington who have been affected by these events. These renditions of weather-related events are of the milder, enjoyable variety.

I created several 12x16 paintings for the annual Stormy Weather Art show at Dragonfire, my gallery in Cannon Beach. Six in all, three have sold ("First Frost" , "Weathering a Storm", and "Red Sky" pictured here, are still available, please contact www.dragonfirestudio.com).

I have found I enjoy working in this smaller format, I can explore ideas quickly, and if I want to pursue a larger canvas, I can do that, and have worked through many issues that don't come up in my sketchbook. I have gotten into the habit of working large and singularly, so this is a helpful problem for me as an artist to create a series. It stretches me creatively, making the paintings relate to one another, while being complete paintings on their own.
I have a few larger paintings at Dragonfire, it you get a chance and are in the Cannon Beach, Oregon neighborhood, be sure to stop by.

Dog and Cat Show-The Casting Call Unveiling

2007-08-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last February we had an event at Tails West Gallery in Sun Valley. We called it the Casting Couch, think of it as a "Casting Call" for paintings. Over 80 people brought in photographs of their dog(s) or cat(s), deposited them on the dog bed (casting couch) for me to look at and select for a painting. Being the nutty dog and cat lover that I am, I couldn't decide between all of them, so I brought home to my studio the ones that called to me, and decided to do several pieces.

Two of my most favorites were "Bella" a Portuguese water spaniel, and "Bergen" and "Yurich", two Bernese mountain dogs. These two were my star paintings. Bella is a large acrylic on birch panel, and Bergen and Yurick are pastel. The rest (10 more! yup) are small acrylics on board. It was a great way to meet people and hear about their critters, and to paint several different breeds that haven't come my way until now.

People often ask me, "Do you get tired of talking about people's dogs?". And the answer is "no". I love the surprising connection that comes about between creatures and humans. After you get past all the cutesy stuff, dogs and cats have a way or worming themselves into your heart, before you even know it. It is hard to qualify what they "provide", it is not just love and loyalty...they help us to be more compassionate (even if only in retrospect), and more humane. My first dog, Pu, would have been a model Cesar Milan dog. I leash trained her from puppy hood, and we went for long walks two times a day for years. She was the smartest, most entertaining dog I've ever owned. But most of this I found out in retrospect. I also treated her like a dog. Yes, she was my family, but she didn't get much special treatment (no scraps from the table, no naps on the couch (although occasionally I would find that warm, hairy spot on the couch when I got home from a long day at work). I just kept up my end of the deal. Two good meals and two long walks per day, and walk on the woods on the weekends, or a day on the river, so she could dive for rocks. Might be time to finally do her painting for myself. Eight years later.

Anyway, how did mentioning other people's dogs get me to talking about mine?

Yellow Dog Art and Warm Ups!

2007-06-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

I've just published a calender of my paintings that feature yellow dogs (which happen to be quite a few, since Chamois, my yellow lab, is one of my favorite models!). It has been featured on the zazzle.com website, where you can buy your very own copy! I've also been a featured contributor all week this week...a very nice benefit to being noticed on this site. If you've not been to www.Zazzle.com, it is a fun way to see and purchase art/photography and clever graphics, and buy small cards and/or prints always at bargain prices. Here is the back cover, so you can get an idea of the pieces that are inside. If you are interested in purchasing one, please go to http://www.zazzle.com/CTasman*I like to have a lot going on in my studio...so I currently have about 10 of my whimsical narrative style paintings in various stages of ready to paint and almost done. I love the chaos of all the ideas, the problems, the happy accidents, the beautiful areas that are working. I like the fact that when I hit a spot where I don't know what to do next, I have other options besides chewing on my paintbrush, I just move on to the painting that calls my name. Another thing that is really giving me some inspiration is my current obsession that I call "warm-ups"! They are basically small landscape paintings in very loose and brushy colorful strokes. Quickies. I don't spend any more than two hours on any one, and try to keep it at one hour. Just depends on whether I fuss with it the next day. I am learning alot from them and I am having a lot of fun. Nothing fabulous yet, but we'll see. I think it will give me painting a big boost overall to flex some different painting muscle. Well, this artist needs to get some sleep, so I can get up nice and early tomorrow morning and get down into the studio early, before the sun gets too bright!

Cooper Commission

2007-04-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

I am in commission mode for a few months. If you've read my blog or visited my website, you will have noticed that I do a fair amount of custom paintings. All of them are enjoyable, some are more enjoyable than others. This one I just finished was of a cat named Cooper. His owners are almost as quirky as a normal cat which made the process and the painting very fun!

When I went to Cooper's home to take photos, he was nowhere to be found. Evidently he is a very socialable sort and has made friends with all of the neighbors, so he is often off visiting. After a lengthy spirited search, they found Cooper in a hideaway in the basement. I guess he knew the photo shoot was about to happen! Cooper was not at all pleased about getting his photo taken! According to his "mum" she wanted him to look normal, ie. possessive and somewhat annoyed, so that worked out just fine. She also wanted his cat scratches and armchair tears on his favorite red chair in the painting. The rest of the painting would be her favorite flowers-star gazer lilies, Cooper's family portrait, a red mini-cooper (how perfect is that!), and a view appropriate to their northwest home.

It now hangs in the foyer so you see it as you come into the house. The family loves the colors, and Coopers reigns supreme, as it should be.

It is nice to be able to take my own photos and see critters in their "habitat". That made this painting go so smoothly and it was so much fun to see how much they adored this little furry creature that adopted himself into their home. I learn so much about the family and animal by just visiting and taking photos. If a subject is too far away, I like to get a selection of photos of your animals and home so I can get an idea of what you surround yourself with on a daily basis. A companion animal makes a home more a home. I like to paint the whole story. Sometimes folks are sheepish about having their animal painted, but I say, "That's nothing, I paint my dog at least weekly"! Dogs and cats bring out an adventurous and creative side. There is often an openess to colors and patterns that would not be in "normal" portrait type painting. It is also nice to not have to hide a percieved flaw...I don't have to make them an idealized version of dog or cat, they are beautiful just as they are.

Well, enough rambling about my favorite subject. Dog and Cat painting!!!! Back to the easel!

Order Cards of my Art!

2007-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce the availability of cards of some my paintings. Easy to order and sent right to you! Zazzle produces cards, tshirts, mugs, prints, all that...for now I will have cards of some old favorites featuring colorful, whimsical paintings of dogs and cats. I will post new cards as I create new art. You can get to my Zazzle Gallery by clicking on any image below or from my website by clicking on the Buy a Card link in the navigation bar!

Here is the Zazzle flash screen.

Tell your friends!

Solo Show in Sun Valley, Idaho

2007-02-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Since my work isn't quite ready to show, I will post some photos of one of my favorite subjects, my yellow lab, Chamois (pronounced Shammie). Here she is looking beautiful in our last snowstorm which had me studio-bound for almost a week.

If you've never made the trip up to Sun Valley, Idaho, here is an excuse! Come to my show opening on Feb 16th at the Tails West Gallery in Ketchum. Besides the usual arty opening type goodies, I am inviting each visitor to bring a good photo of your dog(s) or cat(s) and I will select one lucky "subject" who will be featured in a fun, cosy, colorful painting. The painting will be unveiled at the gallery in August....and then, you will have another excuse to visit Ketchum in the summer!!! when it is almost impossibly beautiful there. Come by, and see the show, and don't forget to include your contact info with your photo.

More Chamois photos! She might even be considered my muse...if she wasn't such a dope and didn't snore quite so loudly. I don't know, do muses snore? Well, if nothing else, she is a-musing! (sorry) She is quite the picture of refinement, unless you get her near water, or near a ball. Then she becomes psycho dog.

Now I just have to decide which paintings I can finish up in the next week. Commissions are on hold, and I am busy, mixing colors and enjoying the process of putting paint to canvas and seeing my ideas come to life!

Hibernation

2007-01-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

We have had about a half foot of snow up here on our hill in Oregon. This is our second snowstorm this winter...we usually get one in february, often none. My studio is downstairs and I get great light from the bank of windows on the side. A perfect time to hunker down in the studio and paint, paint, paint.

I just finished a group of dog commissions, here are two, five completed, ten more to do. My wintertime is full of dogs and cats to paint. I love hearing the stories and meeting them if I get the chance. People always think that I am just being polite when I ask more questions about their animals and how they are dear to them. Honestly, I am sincerely interested, and love hearing the tales, long and short. Not only to they provide fuel for the paintings, anyone who has had a dog or a cat know how many endless hours of entertainment and joy they add to our life.

Also I am starting on some small pieces for my show coming up in Ketchum, Idaho. I will be the featured artist for a month from Feb 16th to March 16th at the gallery "Tails West".

Lots to do...better git back to work!

A Dog for All Seasons

2006-10-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Fiberglass Dog is Completed!

What fun to paint in 3-d!

I delivered the finished and sealed fiberglass dog to Lyn and Terry Thursday evening. They were delighted with it and have it at thier "Fortunate Dog" cookie booth at the Portland Cash and Carry Show this weekend in Portland, Oregon. They have raised a lot of $$ for the Ketchum Shelter over the last few years with the painted Labrador project. I admire them both very much for all their great ideas and commitment to helping our furry friends.

This is the daybreak, summer side. The sun is coming up on a beautiful day in Sun Valley, the dog is looking out the window longingly, ready for an adventure. Maybe kayaking? Definitely, something in water!

This close up is the view on top, which shows the transition into night, on the other side.

This is the winter, nigthtime side. After a fun day of skiing, "Burt" is cosied up on his favorite red chair, getting ready for tomorrow, tennis balls at the ready on the table in case he needs to play a bit, painting of the tropics on the wall to remind him that winter doesn't last forever.

The dog will be displayed either at Lyn and Terry's gallery, Tails West, in downtown Ketchum, Idaho, or at one of the sponsoring businesses throughout town. It is for sale, all proceeds go to the Wood River Animal Shelter.

I miss my painted dog, already...but not to fear! There are more dog forms available, and if I want to paint one for myself, I can. Which also means if you would like me to paint a dog for you or your business, with your special images and/or mementos upon it, that is also possible. You can contact me at carrie@tasmanstudio.com, or Lyn or Terry at www.fortunatedogcookies.com. with inquiries or questions!Getting Burt into the van to drive to Portland. My two mutts want to go too, of course.

A Logger Blog

2006-09-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend I took a couple of days off to help my husband log. We rent a house on 16 steep acres, very pretty and very neglected. The former inhabitants didn't do much to the yard or property except throw trash over the landing and into the woods. We found a wood cookstove, two bicycles, all colors of electrical wire, glass bottles, tires, truck canopies, beer cans, foam and more foam, plastic bags, there was a shed that crumbled, and it was filled with trash bin garbage! (Just 'cause there 16 acres with nothing but deer and a bobcat, doesn't mean it's a trash bin!) Our landlady is thrilled....and so are we to have wood for the fireplace to offset our heating bill.

So after trash clean up Michael got to work felling the dead trees. When he got 20 (!!) or so down, he called me out to help him yard them out. He pulled "green chain" (he actually pulled climbing rope) I commandeered the yarder/slash pickup truck. We took everything real slow, didn't want any crushed anything, with the dogs supervising from the safety of the back of the van. And lo and behold, after a bit of sweat and muscle, we gotta pile of logs. A HUGE PILE!!!! Perfect timing to get them in and covered before the rainy weekend ahead. A very satisfying, squirreling away for the winter.

Cutting out the deadwood is a good metaphor for me this week inspiring me to making more space to think and work. In a painting...taking out the excess, leaving only what is alive and thriving. A challenge for me since I love filling space with an overabundance of color and pattern. In my thinking...making room for new ideas or just letting in a little more air and light. Sorting through the old stuff, old ideas, old paint, doing some dump runs, and yarding up my new found treasures into a satisfying pile to fuel my creativity for the winter months ahead!

Now, onto my closets. Oh, how I love fall!

www.tasmanstudio.com update!

2006-09-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

My web site is updated and ready to be viewed. There are a few technical issues to be resolved...just little formatting, link issues that I will work out as I see them. Please let me kow if you see anything...or if there is something you want to see that is not there. I will publish some of my older galleries in the near future.

Here is a new painting that is in my painting gallery of Winn, a dog class mate of Tully's when he was in training. Winn is a very delicate looking border collie, but she is all smarts. I may have to paint her again....I love her face.

I also have published some commissions that haven't been seen yet. I will let the page speak for itself. Have fun browsing. Tell me if you're inspired to order a dog painting of your own...my calendar is filling up for the 2006-07 winter painting year!

Going to the Dogs!!

2006-08-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Unveiling of New Work at Dragonfire Gallery

Mari and Eeva the owners (and dog lovers) of the Cannon Beach Gallery, Dragonfire, created a unique event for the opening of our new work. There were three artists featured, myself (Carrie Tasman), Shai Stiener, and Susan Rene. We all had new dog related paintings that were unveiled with an introduction, and lots of fun activities and things to munch on! Dogs were invited, so we got to meet and greet our wagging friends also.

It was an honor to be featured at the gallery, and Mari and Eeva went all out...beer, hot dogs, hot pretzels, and to top it off a Dog Fashion Show! Ah the lengths some of us go...

The Big Fiberglass Dog
He needs a name! Any thoughts on a name for my ghost dog?

He is getting his first coat of primer before I start in the painting. The Golden paint website has lots of tips on painting fiberglass sculpture which has been very helpful. I will have an update on the "Blank" Dog painting next week sometime. This week is a week to stay in the studio and get some things done, like for instance, finish updating my website.

Ghost Dog

2006-08-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

We came back from the Sun Valley Art Festival with this fiberglass dog for me to paint. Chamois had to sniff his butt after she attacked him on our porch.

It all started when we saw this big white dog at Ciro's restaurant in Ketchum where we had dinner saturday night. We had seen many painted dogs around town at different places but no "blanks:. I said to my husband, "I sure would like to paint one of those dogs". Evidentally it was part of a fundraiser for animal charities in the Wood River Valley.

Sunday, the next day at the fair, a woman came into my booth with a shirt that had some painted ponies on it and I asked her if she knew anything about the painted dogs around town. She said she sure did, she was one of the local shelter organizers of the event, CeLABration. I said, i sure would like to paint one, and she said, it just so happens we have one left, it's at Ciro's Restaurant and we would love to have you paint it.

So after filling the van with my art work and display, we made room for the big guy and brought him home to Oregon. It is in my studio and the dogs sniff him everytime they come in the door. Very funny. It is now waiting for it's first coat of paint!