Painting and Sketching

It seems like forever since I posted a painting.
Today isn't going to change that.
I do have a painting I'm working on, but the progress is slow due to the emotional attachment.

Six years ago I lost my first dog, Spotty. She was a rescue we adopted at 18 months old and she lived to be 18 years old. I loved her immensely. Still do.

 This is her photo on a picnic set that Tonya from  Hillbilly Handiworks made for me.







In honour of her, I offered to "paint the Spots" on a jack russell forum I belonged to. (Jack Russells Online, owned by Bill Tomei, r.i.p.)   The bronze, silver and gold of beloved dogs who were adopted, and the bronze, silver and gold of the dogs belonging to that dedicated band of people who rescue dogs.

Five portraits were done within a couple of months. The sixth is the one I am currently working on. The rescuer involved is Suzy, who runs "Saving Georgia Dogs" . Sadly she's kept so busy it took her til now to photo and send the pics of her two dogs.  So that's what I'm working on and its bringing back all sorts of memories.

I'm also keeping up with the sketch-a-day challenge. The finish line is 75 sketches. We're in the thirties now :)
For this lot, I swapped to a coloured background and an inked subject.  Fast sketching at 3 minutes, then stopping - finished or not!   Wonder if I'll ever paint this fast? :)

Sioux, See!

When we moved into this house we were doing some work in the garden, and we discovered a shallow grave. On investigation we discovered it was the grave of the previous family's beloved german shepherd dog, Suzy.

We dug a deeper grave for Suzy, in the shade of the sycamore where she will never be disturbed.

We were keeping our eyes peeled for something to mark her spot, something that would fit in with our likings also. The usual pet markers didn't do it for us as.

Monday, we came across this chappie - who is temporarily named Sioux, See! until we come up with a better name. If you have the ideal name, leave us a comment, please. We'll consider all suggestions.

here's the gargoyle - and yes, I'll paint him.. I have an idea in mind :)