Vizsla Posing

We had a golden retriever named Natasha and a borzoi named Tatiana when we lived in the Midwest. We absolutely loved Tatiana because she was so healthy and so sweet. Our son and his family have a Viszla named Kepler. She is everything the opposite of Tatiana - except perhaps when it comes to running. Although I think the borzoi would outrun the Vizsla. But when it comes to overall energy the borzoi lays around with just rare spurts of energy. She also had a cat personality and wanted attention only when she asked for it. The vizsla is like Velcro. She sticks to you wherever you go. So when we were visiting the family last weekend we had an opportunity to hang around with Kepler. I also needed photos for the weekly photo challenge and she would be a good subject. So whenever she would stay in one place long enough I tried to catch her in a good mood - although she always looks like she has a scowl on her face. I got her standing down the hallway that showed the length of the space from one end to the other, several of her sitting on the couch looking like she was running for office, and a few of her lying in the afternoon sun. She almost blends in to the background. I have also painted her portrait from a photo that was taken when she was a puppy. There is something about dogs. They are such wonderful companions. It’s the one thing we really miss about living in the Midwest, but at least we have a taste of it when we visit our family in central Virginia. 

A New Furry “Granddaughter?”

I’ve been painting digital art pet portraits for six years. The first commission I had was from Oregon, and it was a Vizsla. After that I had two more Vizsla requests from different places. We had two dogs in our family. Our first was a golden retriever named Natasha; the second was a Borzoi named Tatiana. When we moved to DC we never got another dog hoping our grandson might want one - but he never did. He had a few unpleasant dog encounters as a youngster so he wasn’t in to wanting a pooch. Then our family and grandson - who used to live down the street - moved to Virginia four years ago and four hours away. They were talking about getting a dog a few months ago, but we never brought the subject up as to the type or timing. So it was with sheer delight that we heard this week we will be getting a furry granddaughter next weekend! She is a Vizsla, eight months old, and lives in West Virginia. We don’t know all of the details yet, but we got a photo of her and she looks lovely! We are not familiar with this breed, but we know we will love getting to know her. It just seems ironic that the dog they chose was the breed of the first portrait I painted. I have a feeling I might paint another one soon. 

The Unexpected Guest

Our neighbor has one of the quietest dogs. You wouldn’t even know a dog lived next door compared to a couple of the other ones that live in our building. You can hear them every time they come in and go out - barking and obvious. We had a borzoi that was almost silent! She would become animated when the black cat ran by the front door, but was otherwise so docile and lovely! So last night when the alarm system went off in the soon to be moving neighbor’s apartment, we heard the distinct wailing of a very distressed animal. So we tried to contact the owner; the board member; and another neighbor down the hall to let them know something was amiss. In the interim, until the alarms could be addressed, and the owner returned, we took the pooch in for awhile to calm him down. It’s been twelve years since we had a dog and it felt odd. He blended in with the furniture and has a brown coat. We are used to a very large white dog that you can’t miss. So we took him for a little walk around the block. He was the perfect gentleman and obeyed most commands. But as soon as he heard his owner’s voice he headed to the door to be with her. We often talk about getting another dog and it’s hard to make that decision. I guess we’ll just have to think about it. 

Chicagoland Eskie Rescue Auction Thank You

Yesterday I found a letter on the shelf of our mail room. It was addressed to LITDigitalPaintings. That's me, so I scooped it up and saw that the return address was from Indiana. A few months ago I agreed to donate a digital art custom portrait to the Chicagoland Eskie Rescue Auction. I participated in the auction last year with a positive result. Since I like dogs so much, I thought it was a good, and fun thing to do again. The winner contacted me last month, and I completed her portrait. She was so happy with it that the Eskie rescue group posted it on their website, and the winner sent me a picture of the completed framed artwork as well as where she displayed it in her house. The letter was a thank you from the organization for participating in the auction. I am still so touched that someone would request and display something that I created in their home. Those little Eskie critters are mighty cute. I'm just glad I was a part of it. 

Borzoi Sassy Girl at the Westminster Dog Show

We've watched the Westminster Dog Show for as long as I can remember, tuning in to the hound group in particular. Last night was no different, but our expectations were low for the Borzoi to win or even place. We love the Borzoi because we had one. Her name was Tatiana, and she was the sweetest pooch around. She was the inspiration for my New Yorker Eustace Tilley win, and other digital art. Her portrait hangs in our home and reminds us of her daily. We stopped in Indiana on our way home from Milwaukee this past summer to see Tatiana's breeder and her gang of pups. Of course, I wanted to take one home with me then and there! So we watched the competition as usual. The afghans, beagles, and others trotted around. When Sassy Girl Borzoi began showing her stuff, we were impressed, but didn't think the judge was. Then when the judge pulled out a lot of the taller, leaner dogs as the finalists, our borzoi made the cut. And when she was placed in the lead, we were thrilled and stunned at the same time. So the Sassy Girl from Japan came through in the hound group, and we couldn't believe it! We will tune in again tonight and see who wins best in show. We have been thinking about getting another cutie pie since I retired. It might be a good thing? 

Digital Art Commissions From Canada

People in Canada are a lot like us - they love their kids, dogs, and cats. I just received my first 2015 commission for a digital art hand painted custom portrait of a bull dog puppy. That makes the sixth request from Canada that I have had since I opened my Esty shop in August 2012. It's really exciting to be able to provide personal art for people all over the world - including Australia and Puerto Rico - and all over the US. It's all done using my iPad and sending the final product as an email attachment. When the order is "shipped" a map shows the beginning and end destinations. Most of the orders are gifts for loved ones, and the Christmas holiday is a particularly busy time. Many of the requests are memorial pet portraits. It's usually the wife requesting a special portrait for a husband, but this one was a husband requesting a special portrait for his wife for her birthday. One cat portrait was a sister for a sister; a child for a mother; another dog portrait was a daughter for her father who didn't have any photos of his pooches. There was a lot of manipulation and imagination getting those two dogs in to one scene. In the end I'm really touched that someone actually makes the request, and then displays it for viewing. And because it is a digital image, it can be used over and over in traditional mats and frames, but also in unconventional ways like coffee mugs, pillows, smart phone cases, etc. The iPad has made a huge difference in my life for many reasons. This whole process is perhaps one of the most meaningful. 

Maggie Mae Borzoi

I love Borzois. Our Tatiana lived to the ripe old age of thirteen. She grew up primarily in Milwaukee, in a big house, and a big yard. We have toyed with the idea of getting another one, but can't seem to decide if it would be the right choice in a city and in close quarters. I always look at the Borzoi rescue website, and have communicated with the folks who are responsible for keeping it up to date. I also did a couple of pet portraits for two of the very active members. I was so pleased to see my rendering of one of the Borzoi on the National Borzoi Rescue Foundation poster. In fact it is one of my favorite portraits because it reminds me of our Tatiana. This month we will probably go to the Middleburg Dog Show in Virginia with the sole purpose of seeing the Borzoi. We are still in England for another day, and almost had an opportunity to meet a few English dogs that belong to our friend's daughter. Unfortunately we missed them, but saw the house - a splendid old manor complete with a pond and several outbuildings. I would have preferred seeing the pooches! Maybe that's why I like painting dog portraits so much. Those critters just have a way of bringing a smile to your face. 

The Dog Memorial Portrait

It didn't start out that way. I opened my Etsy shop two years ago featuring digital art. I grew up on watercolors and pastels, pen and ink, and sketches. But when the iPad came along, my life really changed and my hobby blossomed. It started with a win in The New Yorker Eustace Tilley contest, and featured works in the employee art show at The Library of Congress. Capitol Hill and Washington DC are highlighted in a lot of my art. Three of my children's books feature fish, grandsons, family life, and cities. Trips to England, Iran, and Denmark spark some creativity. But one of my favorite subjects to draw is a dog. So far, I've done quite a few. Several are on display at the Wagtime Shop across from the Navy Yard on Capitol Hill. There is just something about a dog - or a cat. We had two wonderful animals when we lived in Milwaukee. A golden retriever named Natasha and a beautiful Borzoi by the name of Tatiana. When they left us, they took a part of us with them. I guess a lot of people feel the same way. One of the most frequent requests I receive for a custom portrait is of a dearly departed pet. And one of the best compliments to receive is that I captured the spirit of that beloved pet in their eyes. It's so rewarding to get positive feedback on anything, but there is just something special about the bond between a pet and his owner. 

House and Garden Ornaments on Capitol Hill

The window dressing was more than interesting. On a lazy summer evening walk in the neighborhood we came upon an unusual sight - mannequins tucked tightly inside a window. That gave me the idea to scrutinize what else could be found on the homes and in the gardens around us. We always put in the mediocre birdbath and some garden statuary. In Milwaukee, my husband loved his cowboy taking a bath in the gurgling birdbath on the patio and to this day is sad we left it behind. But here, statements are made with an interesting collection of front yard displays. The colorful lizards climb a brick wall; an Asian theme and home decorate a sloped garden; a huge bird totem pole of sorts takes up a lot of space filled with more stuff. Animals are well represented - the whimsical colorful cats sitting on a windowsill; the rabbit with the shovel looking for carrots? How about that cat sitting atop a man made platform way above us looking down from the second floor? Then there is a pig sitting in the window well. The vacancy sign is down on the delightful birdhouse that looks exactly like the owner's manor house. A gargoyle sits on the windowsill sending off emails on his laptop. Of course there are gnomes supporting the Washington Nationals. "On this site in 1897 - nothing happened" sign captured our attention on a bench sitting in front of another residence. Lastly, some sort of huge white dog sitting on a chair in a picture window caught two little kids attention. There are pink flamingos somewhere around here too. If you look hard enough you can alway find something interesting to see...but most of the time it's right in your face - you just need to take the time to notice. These folks put a lot of effort in it for you to do just that.