Dachshund commission - Twix!!!

I'm really excited about my next dog commission - those of you who follow dog blogs may be familiar with Twix, the "tweenie red Dachshund" from A Wiener Dog Blog. I was delighted when her mom emailed me about painting her portrait as a Christmas present for her daddy.

I looked through a lot of her photos, and this one screamed "PAINT ME!"

The above photo shows her sketched out on the canvas and ready for paint. Here is the original photo:

It's going to be so much fun to paint that sweet head tilt, those ears and eyes, (and the hearts on her collar...) The canvas size is 10 x 10 inches.

Remember, it's a surprise Christmas present, so don't leave any comments about the painting over on Twix's blog in case her daddy reads it! :-)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

The Happiest Ending...

I am thrilled. My painting of Nigel Buggers that was auctioned for A Place to Bark last week was given to Nigel's Two-Legger, otherwise known as "The Author," by the winning bidder. Some of Nigel's biggest fans pooled their resources to help this wonderful cause, and then gave the painting to the people who would love it best in the whole world.

I am so touched at their thoughtfulness, and the money they raised. This was such a wonderful experience to be a part of. Dogs, and dog rescue, mirror our very best qualities. I would say that's why we love them so.

When I first contacted "Mr. Author" about painting the infamous Nigel for a charity auction, he was extremely helpful and as enthusiastic as I was. He is both an eloquent and hilarious asset to the dog world, (I know Nigel is laughing because I said "asset") and the story of this painting couldn't have had a happier ending...

You can read his post about the experience here.

Much love,

Joe's portrait is finished!

"Joe" (Rat Terrier)

8 x 10" acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard
© 2009 Kathleen Coy

Joe the Rat Terrier's portrait is finished. This sweet little dog passed away last month at the age of 17 years. It's always a little sad to paint a dog who's no longer with us, but it's very rewarding too, knowing that it provides a comfort to the family and a reminder that he will always be in their hearts.

I didn't take as many work-in-progress photos as I normally do, since I have a lot on my plate right now and it takes time to stop painting and photograph, crop, adjust color, etc. But here are a few photos. The first one is the photo that I worked from. As you can see, parts of it were quite dark, making it a bit of a challenge. Since there was no way to take new photos of Joe, I did my best with it.

Starting to lay down the color.

Blocking in the rest of the colors.

And once again, the finished painting. I like the loose brushwork and painterly feel to it. It looks quiet and dignified, just like I'm told Joe was.

Latest commission - first stage of Joe the Rat Terrier

This is Joe. He passed away recently at the age of 17. It's so very hard to lose a dear dog, and I love being able to create art for people that honors their pet and gives them a sense that a part of their dog will always be with them.

Joe's owner says he was very serious, very business-like, and very dignified. He looks all that, plus a little stern in this sketch, but his expression should soften up as I start adding color.

So he's all sketched out and ready for paint. The size is 8 x 10 inches.

New painting for charity auction - Nigel Buggers!

Nigel 12 x 12" acrylic on canvas
© 2009 Kathleen Coy

Yes, THAT Nigel Buggers! (Is there any other???) When Bernie Berlin placed a call to artists for the annual art auction benefiting her dog rescue A Place to Bark, I was delighted to have a chance to help out. I am in awe of all the hard work and dedication Bernie puts into her rescue. She is truly an angel on earth.

In a flash of brilliance (or madness?) I contacted "The Author" of the hugely popular and hilarious Life With Dogs blog, and asked if I could paint his Greyhound Nigel for the auction. He not only thought it was a great idea, but gave me a nice assortment of photos to choose from. This one jumped out at me because of the fun pose, the look on Nigel's face, and the fabulously foreshortened paw (which can be hard to pull off, but in this pose it worked perfectly!)

Thank you so much Neil, for letting me paint Nigel. It was an honor, and a blast!

Here is a link to the auction, (with a starting price of $1.99!!!) where you can bid on this fantabulous original painting of the famous (or infamous) Nigel Buggers, AND support A Place to Bark:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270480846523