Day 30 Heaven on Earth

PEI (Prince Edward Island), is the smallest province in Canada and sparsely populated.  If you are looking for heaven on earth, this is it. They have the  the nicest people.  We would pass things for sale on the side of the road with a can to hold the money.  No need to ring the doorbell  - just put the right amount in the can - who would think of stealing?  We were there for a week for Mike Svob's workshop.  My husband would drive me to the site so he could have the car.  He was irritated by everyone waving to him as they passed us in the other direction.  Coming from the city, we are not used to that, but by the end of the week he was waving too. If they didn't wave back, he would say they must be from the mainland.

I miss the PEI Preserve Company, lobster straight from the fisherman, mussels, the Dune's gallery, one room school houses, the local beer, Anne of Green Gables, small white churches and of course Cow's Ice Cream. Every stop had a million potential paintings.  Most of all I miss the red sand. See the crowds!

PEI really is heaven on earth.  You should go.

I started this series with a painting of my old dog walking with my husband - I am going to end the 30 in 30 with a picture of Mully walking with my husband on the beach in PEI.

Thank you for looking at my paintings. You can continue to see them free of charge by signing up at the upper right hand corner.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 29 Her name is Lola

Actually her name is Lolita - but I ask you does this look like a Lolita?

She was a very nice dog that we met at a dog park.  I would have liked her better if her owner wasn't so busy laughing at my dog.

Doesn't she know, he who laughs last, laughs best. The only thing is I never laughed.  Dumb dirty dog. Ok she really is smart dirty dog. Never mind. 

Mully I think you missed a spot.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 28 Hit Your Mark

Actors have to hit their marks when performing - it means walking to a specific spot .  This poor woman was leaving the dog run when I was coming in.  We pass each other quite often but this time I asked if I could take her dog's picture.  She was very agreeable but I don't think she knew how bossy I was going to be .  Move back,  stand behind  etc.  She was very sweet and obligingly moved so I could get Maya the boxer partially in the sun.  Thank you so much for your patience. Now you can go  to work.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 27 A Day at the beach

Is there anything more joyous than watching your dog run up and down the beach, bouncing through the waves and chasing off seagulls.  Okay the seagulls might not appreciate the additional exercise and stress but really she doesn't even come close to the birds. Oh but I wish I could feel her joy and freedom for one moment.
Run Mully run

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 26 Spread em

I was going to name this painting "A Different Point of View" or "The Backside" but all I could think of was  "Spread em".  I don't think that this is a really refined title for fine arts blog. What the hell - you got to have a sense of humour - so here is "Spread em".

Maybe it should come with a warning for adults only.  Hmm

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 25 You go First

I've mentioned before my dog is a wuss. If she gets scared she runs to me and jumps on me.  Its not a bad thing except for the bruises I get. This pupp is a border collie. They're supposed to be brave and herd sheep and other things.  Not this one.  It was afraid of Mully.  You have to be a super wuss to be afraid of Mully.

Don't worry we won't tell.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 24 Bored

This is Mully - she is very good at sighing.  The reality is that most of the time our dogs are bored. They are bred to be outside all day and we expect them to be content sitting in our house all day.

Sorry Mully.  I wonder if she knows that I spend a lot of time painting her instead of playing with her.  Please don't tell her.
I mentioned yesterday that I am waking up at 3:30, now my husband is too.  Mully, the dog thinks both of us are crazy.


Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through "how to books" and improve our art skills

Day 23 Dog Jumping in the Water

This is a picture of my dog jumping into the water.  My husband says people might not recognize it as a dog jumping into the water. I am sure no one will have a problem because all they have to do is read the title - "Dog Jumping into the Water".

Dog Jumping in the Water

Just as I said - no problem.

I have a confession to make - I think I am crazy.  You probably wouldn't notice but I have been among the first 10 people to post to the 30 in 30 challenge.  Not really a big deal unless you find out that Leslie Saeta lives in California  and I live on the the other side of the continent  - on the east coast. She does it at 12 midnight which is 3:00 am my time.  Every night I wake up between 2:30 and 4:30 and post.  That would be fine if I was setting an alarm but I'm not - I just get up that time.  My husband thinks I am crazy and even the dog gives me a dirty look and turns over.  I think I need help. I wonder if there is a group I can join. Any suggestions?

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Mike Svob Workshop Day Three

He always wets he canvas.  You have to decided ahead of time what will you leave white.  Cover everything in midtone. then put in darks, think about gradations.

Darker or lighter, warmer or cooler, each stroke should be different.  Too light too dark too warm too cool is it right 

Look for the right shape right colour.

Value, shape, colour edge in order of importance.   Don't paint what you think you see paint what you see.  You don't paint light you paint your impression go for the big shapes.

Nickle azo, yellow transparent, q burnt orange. Use q violet instead of alizeren Crimson.  Cadium yellow, cadium orange, Cadium red

buy tubs of paint and but them in a buton box

95% paint should go into the garbage- he meant put out a lot of paint 

 your time is more important than a little paint - we all groaned at this.
Throws in a random bits of cool in a warm painting  for interest
ask what's wrong with it

Day 22 Blowing in the Wind

It's true blonds have more fun especially if you are Mully.  Actually she was a redhead but she is turning prematurely grey - it runs in our family.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 21 And the Oscar Goes to

Oh the tragedy of it all. Can you imagine the awful thing that is about to happen to this dog.  Oh don't worry he has a great owner and the acting he was doing was unbelievable. The horrible thing that was to fall upon this dog - the owner put on his leash and it was time to go home.  So sad, but great acting. The owner said he does it all the time and really deserves an Oscar.  I agree.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 20 Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

There are some moments that you wish you can just keep forever.  We had rented a cottage and our children flew in and we were a complete family living under one roof for five days. Five days is the perfect amount because we don't fight - any longer and who knows.  The kids left and it was just me, my husband, Mully and the ball.

Here is a hint for any artist's studio.  Take one husband, train him for over  30 years and he might make you a brush stand just like this one.  I couldn't believe how many brushes I had until I had a place to put them.  I think he did a great job - many thanks.  Maybe I'll even start cleaning my brushes - nah.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

T

Day 19 So Close

This is Mully trying to pat the water to get the ball to come closer to her.  Why she didn't just jump in -  I don't know.  We had rented a cottage up north and she was in the water all day but I guess she didn't want to get wet.  

Eventually the ball did come to her - smart dog.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 18 Life's a Ball

I have noticed a trend in my series of dog paintings of my golden.  She either has a ball in her mouth or her tongue is sticking out.

As least she is not swearing at me.

I think.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 17 Ready for my Close up Darling

It turns out you can get really close to a dog's face and still read it as a dog. It was fun to do but I think I could go even closer and just do the eyes.  So far all the paintings for the 30 day challenge have been vertical and I want to keep it that way because it looks great when they are together in the same format and size but when the challenge is over, I will do a horizontal -  just of eyes.

Should be fun.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 16 In my Shadow

This is another portrait of Sam.  He was just sitting in the shadow of my husband a stranger to him.

There should be a special place in heaven for dogs like Sam.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 15 Don't Leave me

You can see him over there and he is getting into the car without you.  It's a tragedy - don't worry he'll be back and you can guilt him into giving you a whole bunch of cookies, but in the mean time it's hard

"Don't leave me"
Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

Day 14 Puppy

This is Mully as a puppy.  In truth, she was a terrible puppy - nobody wanted to be with her because she nipped.  She still does have a few bad habits - walking on the kitchen table, rolling in the mud and bad breath but now we love her madly.

I would like the tv remote back.   Please

Day 13 A very very nice dog

I have a simple definition of what makes a nice dog - one that doesn't scare mine.  I have to admit she is a wuss.  Now I wouldn't care but when she is frightened, someone gets hurt and that is usually me.  She gets scared and jumps on me and bruises usually appear, on me.  

This was a nice dog - they checked out each other's butt,  ran around a bit and separated.  No bruises - a  good day, a nice dog. 

Day 12 I'm All Ears

This dog is all abou the ears.  They seem to go in all directions and move constantly as did the rest of her body.  Too cute.

Day 11 The Grass is Greener ......

This is the before (my painting)

This is the after, about 3 minutes later

Unfortunately, we had to take home the after.  

Day 10 Cujo

Got to be honest - I didn't like this dog.  I got the picture at the park beside the yacht club.   They allow the dogs to go swimming after 3.  Mully needed a rinse because she had just been rolling in something awful and the smelly water at the shore was still better than whatever she felt needed to cover every part of her hairy coat.
This little one was going after all the big dogs and the owner thought it was cute.  This is a pet peeve of mine - just because your dog is small and cute doesn't mean it can snarl, bark and nip at big dogs who are the sweetest things in the world and too polite to rip your little yappy thing to shreds.  Just saying.  I think you can see I am just a touch emotional about it.  Look at the painting and you judge.  Cujo?

I rest my case

Day 9 Cha Cha Cha

Caught this little guy in the middle of a step - so cute. In addition to black and white, I added one colour.  It's amazing how many values you can get from 3 tubes.

Dance little one, dance.

Day 8 What's Black and White

What's black and White? Beside being the start of a very old joke - it's the title of this painting.  I got saturated (bad pun) with colour and decided to go the other way.

Warning very bad joke coming up.  What's black and white, white and black, black and white.   - Give up -  its a penguin rolling down a hill.  I think I will go back to painting I think the fumes are going to my head.

Day 7 - Later, much later

Sometimes you just feel like colour - sometimes you don't.  Today I did.  Here is Mully - too lazy to move. She gets like that sometimes - we just walk over her  then.

Day 6 There's gold in them thar hills

Coming up with titles ain't easy.  The dog is looking for something - I hope for its sake it's edible.

Day 5 Potential Energy

Potential energy, is energy that is stored within an object not in motion but capable of becoming active. I had to look up the definition, I took physics in school but it didn't stick.  I did think of the term "potential energy" when I saw this dog  He was one second from taking off and I hope his owner was holding on tight because there could have been consequences.  I have no idea who he is - I was out taking pictures of my lazy beast but the sheer intensity caught my eye.

We got out of the way

Day 4 - Ceci Pas une Chew Toy

For some bizarre reason this painting made me think of  Magritte's "Ceci n'est pas une pipe".  Miss Mully is just sitting there chewing on her tennis ball  - squeezing all the yucky tennis ball juices out of it. It is not a chew toy but it has the essence of one.  Very existential for this morning.  So continuing with profound thoughts here is  a quote from Magritte  "We must not fear daylight just because it almost always illuminates a miserable world". Mully would disagree - she would say let's enjoy the sun. As long as there are tennis balls, dog cookies and hugs, life is good.

I know dogs shouldn't chew tennis balls and that it wears down their teeth.  You go ahead  and try to get it out of her mouth.  Good luck.

Day 3 - Sam I am

This is Sam

We  met Sam on a beach where dogs aren't allowed off leash, and people can't go swimming and no one is allowed to have fun, but everyone disobeys the rules and the security conveniently stays away.  Anyway this is about Sam.  My dog of course was running off somewhere but Sam was hugging my husband.  Turns out that Sam was just rescued.  He wasn't beaten but  tied up and ignored, for years.  And now he is with a couple that is lavishing attention on him and Sam is running up to everyone leaning on them and craving petting.  This was a couple of years ago and I am sure that Sam has passed by now as he wasn't a youngster but I think of him now and again.  He could have been mean and  vengeful but instead he just wanted to get and spread love.

We should all be like Sam.

Day 2 Run Mully Run

Normal people have normal dogs that walk together with them through the woods.  All my dogs have always ran crashing through the forest.  They usually find the only mud spot, roll in it and return to me with glee. Hmm I wonder if it has anything to do with  me.
Mully is no different but unfortunately she loves to run back to us at full force and sometimes she doesn't stop in time.  I do get a secret thrill in their speed and but mostly I bask in their joy.
So run Mully run.

Day 1 - The Last Walk

Sometimes you know it is and sometimes you don't.
This wasn't the actual last walk but it was the last outing.  We had driven up north and he walked and swam, caught the ball and it was the perfect day with our dog.  The leaves were turning bright red, the air was crisp and we were out with our dog.  The leaves fell,

winter came and you know the rest.  There was a last walk and now we have the memories.  I am doing the 30 in 30 challenge.  this time around, I am painting 30 dogs.  This is day one and I wanted to remember Bogey.