Art of the Dog: Dawn Secord: February 2017

Thursday, February 23, 2017

A painting of Easi.....Multi BIS, BISS Am/Can Ch Ashton Peaceful Easy Feeling

This is a painting of Easi. Her owners tragically lost her a few weeks ago. The painting was being finished at that time. When they received the painting today - and opened it - I think it was like getting a little piece of her back. That is how I feel when I look at the paintings I've done of my pets that are passed. Having their painting allows me to feel I have a piece of them here in my home - something special in which to pay tribute to them.

Her owners gave me permission to use the information they had about her on their website - here is what is posted under a beautiful photo of her:

Multi BIS, BISS Am/Can Ch Ashton Peaceful Easy Feeling

(Am/Can Ch Mijean's I Fooled Ya X Ch Pin Oak's Secret-Lee Ashton)

"Easi, and that totally depicts her, is our Homebred Star. Finishing her AKC, and Canadian Champion title just months before she won the Irish Setter Club of America National Specialty in 2008 , then only to follow the next year by winning Best of Breed at Westminster "The Garden" in New York City. All of this before she was 4 years old. Throughout her career extending 2 years, always piloted by Jennifer Holmberg Baggenstos, Easi garnered 50 + Group Firsts, Numerous Best In Specialty Breed Awards and Five All Breed Best In Shows."

In 2008 I was at the Irish Setter National Specialty where Easi had gone Best of Breed. It was an exciting show - and personally an emotionally exhausting show. It was there I'd retired my special girl Jewel. She was in the show and made it to the final round as a veteran. I remember walking towards the ring after the show (like usual, I'd left my brush or something at the ring and I was on my way to retrieve it). My path was on a course to intersect with Janet who was walking my way. When I was about to pass her I saw she was crying - her face was flushed. Stopping and filled with compassion towards this woman who was having something very emotional going on I asked her, "Are you okay?" She wiped her tears and with a huge smile told me she was okay, that it was her girl that won. I congratulated on her. I'd been in the ring with Easi. She was breathtaking.

Now, years later, I was honored by being asked to paint her. You know they always say good things come around. This has been a full circle for me. Being able to share in the glory of this dog and then being able to paint her. Thank you Janet for having me paint your special girl as a surprise for Gary.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

This is a painting of Jade - an Australian Cattledog

This painting of Jade was recently finished. Her family saw my art a few years a go and spoke to me about painting her. They put down a deposit and a place on my waiting list.

We made arrangements for the painting and then life got in the way. They would contact me, then I would contact them. They sent me a number of photos of her a few months ago. I finally was able to "see" Jade. Until the photos arrived, I simply knew I was painting an Australian Cattle Dog named Jade.

When I saw her photos my heart jumped. She was not only lovely, but you could see in her eyes that she loved her family. There was "that look" that I could see in the photos - the look that she was lovingly looking into the eyes of the person taking the photo. It was time to get to work. It was their time on the waiting list and I had a beautiful girl to paint.

Thank you to her family for having me paint your special girl, Jade.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Painting in process

My work is in a show this April. The theme of the show is California Images.

This is an oil - subject is an egret. There is an under painting solely of burnt sienna. Most of the background will be completed with a palette knife.

Having fun~

Pastel Painting in Progress - French Bulldog

Here is a painting in progress. The pastel paintings are done very much in the same way an oil painting is done. I start with a base color. Usually I work with a precolored surface. With oil painting I would lay in a foundation color so the white canvas wouldn't show through. So this is the same basis. Since I am right handed I work from left to right unless it is a landscape or still life in which case the entire surface is worked uniformly. With pet portraits, so I don't damage an area that is completed, the surface is worked from left to right. While working an area of the subject I lay in mid tone values first - then work light to dark. With pastels an artist can "fill the tooth" of the surface so it is important not to over work any areas. Once the entire subject is painted I go back and reinforce the lightest lights and darkest darks. My greatest area of interest is the eyes. If the eyes aren't right the entire painting will look odd. If the painting is about a sleeping animal it is important to convey the comfort of the animal.

Oil Painting in Process

The following pictures show an Oil Painting in process. The first images show my beginning sketch. I use a common pencil, ruler and an eraser. Once the beginning sketch is satisfactory the sketch is secured with a layer of black oil paint. When the first layer is dried I apply a base color over the entire canvas. I love working on a burnt sienna foundation. There are paintings where I start just working directly on the white canvas and there is no base layer or foundation. It really depends on the painting. From the base foundation I start layering colors. It is a slow process due to drying time. This is where it really becomes fun. I should really make a recording of my husband saying, "You're done - stop messing with it!" Thanks for taking a peek. This painting is of a cat named Lynxy!