Secord dogs

I was training our puppy, Faith, in our bathroom using treats. The bathroom is sectioned off from the dogs because our cat box is in there. For those of you who own both dogs and cats....no further explanation is needed.

So, before bedtime Faith goes in the with me and plays. For pups, I use a lot of food rewards when training (which we will graduate away from as they get older). Love and cuddles are are great training tool for the older ones. We had an audience during our training don't cha think!! ha ha

Drew and Carrots

I was writing a story about my dogs for my September newsletter that goes out to art collectors and friends. The story was about our dogs and carrots. So, it seemed like the appropriate move to take Drew outside and pose him with a carrot in his mouth.

At first he looked at me like... "you have to be kidding me!" I put the carrot in his mouth and gently told him "hold it". And he did. Then a cat came by hunting lizards - he held the carrot. Then I moved him to a second location for better lighting...and he held the carrot.

Finally, I moved him to a sunny area by a hedge and asked him to hold the carrot....which he did for about 10 shots. He then ate the carrot. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. Drew is a little charm. Let me know if you want to see my newsletter and I can forward it to you. Take care - enjoy those carrots!!!

Morgan

This is Ch Rusticwood Dance To The Music "Morgan" aka Goober. The photo reference for this painting was of a young Morgan - approximately 5 years old. Morgan just turned 12 years old on November 4th. She is a very special girl to her human family and the portrait of her was/is a Christmas gift.

My husband and I had the privilege of meeting Morgan this past summer while we traveled in Georgia. She still has a beautiful mahogany coat and has a real sweet temperament.

Merry Christmas to Morgan and her family!!

To see more dog art please go to my website at http://www.artofthedog.com/ or http://www.dawnsecord.com/.

"Dillon" Irish Setter

This is "Dillon" Am. Can. Ch. Rusticwood's Airtight Alibi. I've known Dillon for many years and he is a wonderful dog. We photographed him at a number of dog shows trying to get the perfect shot of him for his portrait.

Ultimately three photographs were the primary reference material for this portrait. One photo was the main pose. However, that photo had draw backs. His eyes were squinting as he was in the sun and his neck was hanging a bit funny due to his leash and his owner holding his head up with her hand. From the photos taken of him there was a perfect eye photo giving me his eye shape and eye color. That photo was used as my visual aid to create his eyes in the painting. Another photo had him standing at ease with no restrictions on his neck. That photo was used to create the natural look to his neck.

I always tell people we take lots of photos because I won't know what will be needed until the painting is started! This painting was a perfect example of needing multiple photos.

Thanks Dillon for being such a good poser! More paintings of Irish setters along with many other breeds are on my web site. Please click here to go take a peek!

For information on commissioning a painting of your dog, cat or horse - click here!

Monet goes WB at Burbank Kennel Club

Dog showing is a funny thing. We always try to predict what the judges will or will not like. We avoid some and follow others. I learned a long time ago not to "follow" anyone as there is no telling what other dogs will show that day or how I will feel or my dog will feel for that matter.

I try to avoid the shows when it is hot outside as Monet does not do well in the heat. We entered both our young dogs this past weekend only to support our local dog club when they were trying to build majors. I knew it would be too hot and I knew Monet would do badly. Once again I'm eating my words. It was hot - sweltering at over 100 degrees and humid like is expected in Texas. To top things off - Monet was in season. She showed well, ignored the heat and humidity and won for the girls. Our little boy, Drew, was insane because Monet was in season. Monet however - was perfect - a little gem! Hope our show picture turns out nicely.

Note to self: "Show when you feel like it and enjoy your dogs!"

Drew sleeping on Jewel's Thrown

Jewel on her Thrown in the Studio

Drew taking over Jewel's thrown......

Our dogs keep me in stitches. There is a leather chaise near my easel and Jewel is usually on it watching me. She lays there like the little princess she is. Then there is Drew - our typical "teenage" male Irish Setter. He just turned 19 months old.

I was painting and looked over to see the pretty delicate face of Jewel perched on her thrown only to see Drew laying about like such a boy! It was so funny - just had to share it.

Irish Setter "Moxie"

This is a portrait of Moxie - in the dog show world she is known as BIS/BISS Am. Can. Ch. Windntide Sand In My Genes CD, JH, RN, CGC, VC.

Moxie has been an Irish Setter I've admired for years. She is a few months younger than my heart dog, Jewel. There have been few but wonderful times we've shown against Moxie in the ring and I've been able to admire her from an intimate distance.

It was a joy to be secretly approached by Patrick at the Arizona ISCA National Specialty in 2008 to paint Moxie's portrait as a surprise gift for Carol. We took a number of photos of her there and additional photos were sent to be afterwards. Moxie is quite the little "sailor" and can be found yachting around the Northwest Pacific. It was a perfect scene to paint her sitting comfortably in the vessel she knows so well.

If you are interested in having me paint a portrait of your dog please email me at fff@linkline.com or call me!

Thank you to Moxie's parents for the wonderful experience of working together on our "Moxie" project. I hope Moxie touches you when you view her portrait as much as she touches me.

Jewel in the Art Booth

Jewel is always in my art booth. She is retired from the show ring and currently a therapy dog. For the most part - I take her everywhere.

This is her convertible and how most people see her when she is at the shows with me. What else can I say about Jewel - she is the apple of my eye - my constant companion and the biggest food stealer in the house!!

Irish Setter Puppy "Wanna Play"

This is the fourth and final puppy painting for my upcoming exhibit at the Pinnell Gallery.

The painting's model is an Irish Setter puppy who runs our home and is in charge of all the toy inventory. Monet was about four months old when I took this photo of her on our patio. It was late afternoon and the sun was shining on her at an angle. The shadows cast by the setting sun on this feisty puppy were amazing. It has been two years since I took that photo. I knew it would be a perfect painting some day and that day has come.

Monet's slogan for life is "Wanna Play". She is always up - always happy and always stealing toys. Actually, I "toyed" with the idea of naming the painting "Mine".

If you live in Southern California I would love to see you at the exhibit. Here is the information: Pinnell Gallery, 124 N. Main Street, Fallbrook, CA 92028. Phone: 760-728-8870.

Drew Secord - Happy St. Patrick's Day

Drew is our youngest Irish Setter. My grandfather was Irish and was always going around his home and garden singing Irish songs and just being a really fun man. He had red hair and blue eyes when he was young.

"Bapoo" as we called him (when I was young I couldn't say Grandpa and somehow I came up with that name!) bred and showed Kerry Blue Terriers. He would have loved to see my Irish Setters. I hope he is looking down on us and smiling his Irish Smile!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to ALL!

Irish Setters: Shannon, Ginger and O'Malley

These three Irish Setters live in New Jersey. I had the opportunity to meet Ginger and O'Malley in Florida in 2007. We took pictures of both of them at that time for a portrait. Then Shannon was added to the family. We decided to wait on the portrait until Shannon matured and then add her into the painting.

In 2008 we met up again in Arizona at the Irish Setter Club of America National Specialty and I took more pictures. They are all absolutely wonderful dogs - great little "posers" and very cooperative for our project.

The painting was created from three individual pictures. The painting was great fun to create and I shipped it off today to its home in New Jersey. That is always the tough part - letting go! To a fun note - what perfect timing - shipping a painting of Irish Setters on St. Patrick's Day! Happy St. Patty's day to Anne, Shannon, Ginger and O'Malley!!!

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait of your animal(s) please contact me toll-free at 866-393-7111, email at: fff@linkline.com or go to my website to print a commission form!

Have a great day!

Hannah - Irish Setter

This Irish Setter is "Hannah" Ch. Winfree's Love Of My Heart. The painting was done from a professional photograph - with permission of course.

In April of 2007 I had taken photos of Hannah while attending the Irish Setter Club of America National Specialty in Ocala, Florida. Hannah's owner knew what photo she wanted me to use for the pose - but wanted me to meet Hannah in person and take photos of her for additional reference material.

Hannah is one of those special dogs that can look right into your heart. The above pose is so precious - the tilt of her head and the softness of her eyes tells you what a priceless princess she is!

To see more of my work, purchase limited edition prints or to commission a portrait of your dog please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/.

Monet - Rusticwood Spellbound

Monet just received her third point towards her AKC (American Kennel Club) conformation championship. Monet is our third show Irish Setter - but not our third Irish Setter.

Her aunt is Jewel - my heart dog. Actually, that is the reason we wanted Monet. She was our little piece of Jewel since we never bred Jewel.

Coincidentally - Jewel had her third point when she was 27 months old - and Monet is 27 months old. Monet (Rusticwood Spellbound) has also won a Puppy Best in Show and a Best in Sweepstakes. She is a wonderful girl and we are thankful everyday she is in our home. She is an extreme dog - extremely smart - extremely good - extremely naughty and extremely nice.

In the near future she will be featured in one of my paintings. To see my artwork please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/.

Have a great day!

Jewel - BIS BISS Ch Rendition Treasured Moment

Jewel, my heart and soul dog, turned ten years old today.

I remember her coming home a tiny puppy just like it happened yesterday. Where are the years going?

Jewel is my constant companion, my Velcro dog. She watches my every move - sometimes so she can stay close to me and sometimes so she can know when is the perfect time to sneak into the pantry and steal treats. She is such an Irish Setter - loaded with that "rollicking personality"!

Happy Birthday Jewel - you are simply my wonder dog. To see a crazy amount of photos of Jewel please go to my website - the main gallery page and scroll down to the bottom and click on the button that says "Dog Show Photos"!

Drew (Irish Setter) gets his first point.

Drew turned 11 months old exactly on the day he was awarded his first champion point. "Drew" Willowbrook Artist's Rendition, is our fun little boy. He also was awarded best Irish Setter puppy and went on to win a Group 4 in the puppy sporting group (his second puppy group placement).

He weighs 70 pounds and is constantly trying to get in our laps. My father in law was visiting this past weekend from Santa Barbara and had taken a seat on our living room sofa. Drew went up to him and slowly climbed in his lap. My mother in law was laughing and we could barely see my father in law who was hidden from view by Drew's body.

We have great hopes for Drew in the show ring. More importantly - he is a member of our family and is an absolute dream to live with.

I have some plans to use Drew in future paintings. To see more pictures of Drew please visit my website and scroll down to the bottom of the main gallery page and click on "Dog Show Photos".

Have a great day!

English Setter and Irish Setter Portrait

This pastel painting is of two lovely girls, Devon, an English Setter and Amber, an Irish Setter.

Their parents had commissioned me to paint the girls some time ago. We kept trying to get together to take photos and it is amazing how difficult such a small task can become!

We decided to get together at our local club's doggie fun day. The girls were photographed separately in several different locations in the park. We all had so much fun. Devon was a little princess and each photograph was a pose in and of it's self. Amber, on the other hand, was the queen and much to busy to be photographed. At discrete moments she would honor us with a gaze and if I was quick enough I could take the shot. Thank goodness for digital cameras on a speed setting!

There were several great photos of each dog that would work for the painting and the final choice of reference poses and the background of the painting was left to my artistic creativity. I picked poses that were complimentary to each dog and then complimentary collectively. One photo of the girls standing together gave me the reference point on how tall to make each dog when placing the dogs in the painting.

Thank you Devon and Amber for being so cooperative and thank you to Cathy and Dave for asking me to paint your girls!

To see more of my work please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/. Have a great day! Dawn Secord, Artist.

Bodhi - Irish Setter

This is the second painting I've done of Bodhi, an Irish Setter. The first painting I did of him was several years ago and he was jumping through an agility ring.

This painting was a head portrait. I photographed Bodhi during the Irish Setter National Specialty in Arizona. His owner thought it would be fun to put the red rocks of Arizona behind him.

Bodhi is a very special dog and it has been an honor to get to know him, his owner and paint him in two different settings.

To view more of my work please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/. Have a great day!

Irish Setter

This painting of an Irish Setter was done from a professional photograph (with the photographer's consent of course). The dog's name is "Magic" Ch. Marlyn All About Magic.

There was something "Magic" about the photograph. The dog is so regal - so proud. The photo was taken outside and the way the light bounced off the flowing mahogany coat took my breath away. When I was asked to paint the dog I had so many ideas!

I worked from a total of three photographs with the primary reference pose being a photo of Magic standing in the show ring with his handler. The other photos were used as additional reference material for me to make some changes to his muzzle and tail in the painting. The party commissioning the painting had no preference on the background. With the highlights on the dog's coat it was natural for me to make the background dark to draw the audience's eye to Magic's face. I used the lighter color reeds to minimize the attention to the highlights on the body coat. My overall goal was to lead the viewer to Magic's face but keep them engaged in the entire painting.

Irish Setter and Cowboy Boots

"Boots 'n Boys" is a pastel painting of an Irish Setter by artist, Dawn Secord.

This is a pastel painting of Luc, an Irish Setter. His human mom sent me a photo of him laying on his father's lap. Instantly I was drawn to the jeans and cowboy boots. Being from Texas - this scene just melted my heart.

The lines of light that are being cast from the blinds gave an interesting feeling to the composition. In the photo the lines of light were also across Luc's face. With artist liberty I chose not to include those as they took away from this gentle boy's expression.

This painting is available on greeting cards. To purchase please click here!

To see more of my work please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/. As always - thankyou for looking!

Dancing Irish Setter

This weekend I finished a painting I've been working on for some time. This is Daysie - an Irish Setter. She enjoys many different activities with her human mom. One of the things that Daysie loves is to dance in competition.

Along with the photos sent to me for this portrait was a DVD of Daysie at a competitive dance exhibition. My husband and I enjoyed watching all the dogs that were performing on the recording. We noticed immediately how interactive Daysie was with her "mom" during the performance. She was absolutely in her element.

The primary reference pose of Daysie showed her in an indoor facility. In her painting I placed her outside in a green meadow surrounded by wild flowers with subtle gentle colors in the background. I hope you enjoy viewing the painting as much as I did painting her.

Dawn Secord
Fine Art Website
http://www.dawnsecord.com/ISGalleryFive.html

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