Lacey and Monet

Lacey (Lynx Point Siamese) is now ten weeks old and fitting into our home quite nicely. Monet (Irish Setter), who is two years old, is quite intrigued with her and is trying to clean both ends of this little kitten.

Monet loves cats and her new little girl is a constant source of amusement for all of us.

Monet and Lacey are very much a like - fearless and friendly. It will be interesting to see what kind of bond develops between them as the years pass.

German Shorthaired Pointers

This painting was a very exciting piece to complete - and quite a project. Of the six dogs (five german shorthaired pointers and one labrador retriever) three of the dogs were deceased. My client had very limited photos. Some of the photos were perfect and some were not.

The mountain range in the background is called the "Three Sisters" in Montana. The client wanted a cameo of her husband in the tree line hunting. The foreground reference was from a photo I had taken while driving cross country at a fort in Wyoming. Between her photos and mine I had two pheasants, six dogs, one husband and great landscape material.

The composition took some time to plan. Of course I didn't want a mid break in the surface either horizontally or vertically. Ideally I wanted some uniformity in the dogs head positions and certain dogs were to be primary in the painting while others were not.

A larger image of the painting is on my website under the dog art gallery specifically the german shorthaired pointer page.

Have a great day!

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!

Pug Portrait is Finished

Pugsley is finished! Pugsley, the Pug, was so much fun to paint. He is always sitting in the garden surrounded by flowers so Pug's owners wanted his portrait to include an atmosphere of him being outside with a few flowers. I didn't want the flowers to become a focal point so I had a hint of pink behind him with just a few flowers loosely implied in front of him.

The upper part of the composition is light to be in contrast with his dark mask. The lower part of the composition is dark to have a contrast with his light fawn coloring.

Thank you for taking a peek at my work.

I will be putting a larger image of this painting on my website at http://www.dawnsecord.com/pug.html. The painting may not be up for a few days - so please check back if the link doesn't work.

Have a great day!

Dawn Secord

http://www.dawnsecord.com/

http://www.artofthedog.blogspot.com/

Pug Portrait in Process

This is Pugsley and his portrait is in process. He is a therapy dog and just an awesome all around companion. He lives in Southern California and I had the delightful experience of meeting him when taking photos of him for his portrait.

He had recently had cataract surgery so most of the photos we took of him were in the shade to keep his eyes comfortable.

In the primary reference pose he is leaning towards the left. His expression in that particular photo was fabulous - we all agreed it was a wonderful photo to base his portrait upon. For the portrait I sketched him with his legs straight under him eliminating the leaning to the left which had made his left shoulder look a bit odd.

He is just as sweet as he looks!!

Dawn's Etzy Store

Well, I took the plunge and created an on line store. (Actually - this was done by my husband, Rich and this is his project.) The store is hosted by the website "Etsy". This site specializes in hand made items such as art.

If you are interested in visiting our new store the address is:

http://www.monetsecord.etsy.com/

We were having a little fun and set the site up under our dog, Monet. Don't ya just love the internet!

If you have a moment drop me an email and tell me what you think!!
fff@linkline.com

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.

Boxer Puppy "I See You"

This brindle boxer puppy was so much fun to photograph. She was running around the yard - chasing toys and just a joy to watch. Her name is Chili and we affectionately call her "Chili Dog".

"I See You" is the name of the painting and if you look closely you will see the puppy is looking at a lady bug on a blade of grass. The pastel painting is one of the puppy series I am completing for my upcoming exhibit "The Art Of the Dog" to be on display at the Pinnell Gallery. The show opening is the first weekend of May, 2009. This painting is for sale - if interested please contact me at fff@linkline.com

If you are interested in commissioning a painting of your dog please contact me!

Thank you for viewing my work - have a great day!

Basset Hound Puppy "Give Me A Hug"

Here is my latest painting for the puppy series that will be on exhibit in the "Art of the Dog" show at Pinnell Gallery beginning the first weekend of May, 2009. This pastel painting depicts a ten week old Basset Hound puppy.

The name of this painting is "Give Me a Hug". Those little eyes were so cute and pleading that "Give Me a Hug" just seemed to fit. If you are interested in purchasing this pastel painting before the show please email me at fff@linkline.com . The painting will need to be shipped to you after the show.

For those of you who live in Southern California - I hope to see you at the show in May. If you need more information - please email me or call me toll-free at 1-866-393-7111.

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!

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!

Art Show At The Dog Show

The "Art Show at the Dog Show" www.artshowatthedogshow.com has the award winning artwork up on their site now. Almost 600 pieces were entered by 200 artists. The piece I entered "Waiting in the Wing" (which features two English Setter puppies) won a placement in the pastel category and has sold. It was humbling to be excepted into the show, wonderful to receive an award and the icing on the cake to have my work sold.

There is some beautiful work up on the site - I would encourage all who are interested to take a minute to view the artwork.

To see my painting - please go to my web site www.dawnsecord.com and click on the English Setter Gallery or click on this link.

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