Portrait of Irish Setters and Siamese Cat

This is a special painting. I took photos of the subjects the summer of 2025. The cat, Kit, was a veteran cat (21 years old at the time I photographed her). Her owner was able to provide me with a photo of her when she was a younger cat. Breanna, the oldest dog, passed shortly after we photographed her. She loved rally and obedience. Her owner and I were thankful we were able to get ideal photos of her. Carrol, Doyle's dam, was lovely and a complete angel with the camera. Of course, Doyle, a pup at the time, kept us in smiles. Kit and Breanna were best buddies. Both passed now - making the painting even more special.

When painting multiple subjects in a painting, I create several collages of different photos so the collector and I can compare photos side by side. It is a great tool to help decide which reference photos we want to use.

Thank you Tiffany for having me paint your special pets. It truly is an honor.

Best in Show at "The Cat Show" art exhibit

"The Cat Show" exhibit at Pinnell Gallery in Fallbrook, California opened today, June 6, 2015.

During the artists' reception, my painting, "Shades of Blue", was awarded Best in Show. So exciting!

Thank you to the Pinnell Gallery and the judges for this honor.   After the reception, we came home and hugged my little model, kitty Cash.

Originally, there were three paintings ready for the show.   One of the three paintings, "Come Fly with Me", sold before the show.   Three paintings had been committed to the show so I had to scramble and create a new painting to take the place of the one that sold.  

I had a number of reference photos of my bluepoint Siamese cat, Cash, from a few years ago.   No painting is ever rushed, so I took my time with this third painting - which is titled, "Shades of Blue."  This painting was one that really drew me in while it was being painted and I had to make myself stop when it was completed.  Sometimes I keep fiddling when that is no longer

necessary.  It is almost like a great book, one hates to get to the end because then the story is over.   That is what happened with this painting.   I could have kept painting!

Some things are just meant to be.

Thank you again to the gallery and judges.

"Sonoma Summer" Original Pastel Painting

This painting was rendered in soft pastels (one of my two favorite mediums). My husband and I were recently in Napa, California specifically to photograph vineyards for paintings. This painting was created from photos taken in Sonoma.

The painting will be in an exhibit for mini paintings opening tomorrow in California. All paintings must be 8" x 10" or smaller. This framed painting is approximately 8" x 8" with a professional frame. The painting is available (pending sales at the gallery that I am unaware of) for $325.00.

My cat, Cash, was very jealous of me looking at photos while painting that were on my computer screen. So the little bugger sat behind the screen giving me the "eye". Was tempted to put him in the painting!

Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed?

I left my studio for just a minute. All I needed was a Dr. Pepper on ice. Upon my return I found evidence of "Someone Sleeping in my Bed" so to speak......

The naughty kitty has been caught. Naturally Lacey had to be put under the sink to turn her blue/pink/green/purple paws back to her Siamese colors. Somehow she ended up with a peach belly too.

Ho Ho Ho from the Secord Pets

Here are two of my pets.....Monet who is an Irish Setter and Cash who is a blue point Siamese Cat. Monet is about 15 months old in these photos and Cash was about three years old. It is two years since those photos were taken and oh my gosh how time flies!

Hope you enjoy the photos. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Dawn Secord

http://www.dawnsecord.com/

Lacey the kitten and her Big Red Dog

Lacey to Drew: TAKE THIS!

Drew to Lacey: LETS JUST CUDDLE!

Siamese Kitten - Lacey Secord

This is our new kitten, Lacey. She is eight weeks old and is called a "Lynx Point" Siamese. This is actually a breed in Great Britain, but in America it is simply a color variation of the Siamese cat. The Lynx Point color was established by breeding a Siamese with a Tabby. With Lacey, she has the classic tabby markings which are circular rather than striped.

Lacey was adopted through "Cats in Need" a local cat rescue organization. She was pulled out of a local animal shelter, along with her brother, by this rescue organization. One of my friends ended up adopting her orange tabby brother when she went to visit Lacey at the foster home with me!!

I'm looking forward to using Lacey as a model in my future paintings! To see some of my current cat paintings please go to my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/ and click on the cat art gallery.

Have a great day!

Don't Forget Cash!!

Yesterday one of my girlfriends was over and we were working on the website for her horse ranch, Cottonwood Ranch. I was showing her the St. Patrick's day photos I had taken of my pets. All the while, my Siamese cat, Cash, is sitting on the desk facing her demanding attention. Then I remembered I had photographed Cash. The photos range from tolerant cat to a rather cranky cat.

So Judy, here is the picture of Cash you insisted I blog!

Remembering Aspen

Little Aspen:

Adopted December 1994—February 18, 2009

Little Aspen came into our home as an adult cat that we rescued from a local shelter. She had been scheduled to be euthanized the next day.

When we brought our two Irish, Amber and Malibu, into the house to meet our new pet, Aspen, she just laid on the floor and watched them “rollick” past her. To our amazement she was unaffected by the dogs. We knew immediately she was meant to be in our home. Though she was tiny and weighed only eight pounds it was her self appointed task to train all new red dog puppies that came into our home over the past 14+ years. Running in the house deserved a whack in the head. Putting paws on the desk top deserved a whack on the head. Putting faces on the kitchen counter absolutely deserved a whack in the head. When the dogs passed her they walked slowly and respectfully. For rather naughty behavior a small chase might ensue with a red dog in flight from the enforcing feline. When the red dogs were behaving within the rules they could all be found lounging together.

She is now whacking Amber and Malibu in the heads again (and anyone else misbehaving) at the Rainbow bridge.

We miss you so much little angel. We will love you always. Dawn and Rich