Happy New Year!

Bark Contrast

A slight departure from my norm...all black and white.  There is no better way to depict a Dalmatian, though!

Do you hear what I hear?

Wide open

Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

The Triplets

Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

Missing Piece

Everything is better in miniature

Here is the mini version of "The Joy of Growth"...the only one of its kind.  Available for purchase to the highest bidder at the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine Fall Conference auction this week!

California is going to the dogs

I'm excited to be participating in the The Billboard Art Project!  A collection of some of my favorite past works, along with some brand new paintings, 10-15 in all, will be displayed on an electronic billboard.  The show will run for 24 hours on Friday December 2, 2011 in San Bernardino, CA.  Check out their Facebook page to see all of the fabulous artwork that is being displayed across the country!

A nice "Peke" me up (Daisy)

Patience is a virtue

Soak up the sun (Buddy)

Here is the painting of Buddy, the winner of my Facebook contest last month. Isn't he just the cutest little dog!

I have a bone to pick with you.

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with Nextel Direct Connect

Congratulations Buddy!

Buddy was the winner of the drawing for the free 11 x 14 in. custom painting. Be sure to check back to see how the painting turns out. Congratulations Buddy!

FREE DOG ART! (how does that grab you?)

I'm looking for a few good dogs to paint. Want to help me out? If you are willing to give me a photo of your pet, post it to the Essential Dog Facebook wall now through May 31st. Everyone who posts a picture will be entered in a drawing to receive a free 11x14 in. original painting of their pet created by me!

While you may post more than one pet photograph, your name will be entered into the drawing only once. (My dog Cooper suggests I put all the names in his food bowl and let him draw the name. I think that is a good job for him!) By posting your pet's photo, you give me permission to use the photo(s) and create beautiful artwork using your pet's likeness at a later date. There is no guarantee that I will use any or all photographs submitted. However, you will be notified if I do use your photo, as well as be given first opportunity to purchase any original artwork created if you so choose. Doesn't that sound doggone good?

So dig out the cutest photo you can find, and spread the word to all of your dog-loving friends. You only have until 12:00 am (midnight) Eastern Time on May 31st to post! Ready, set, FETCH!!!

(Cooper anxiously awaits seeing all of your wonderful photos!)

The Joy of Growth

This series of paintings now hangs in the west lobby of Lynn Hall, home of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

The title, "The Joy of Growth" comes from a quote by Mitsugi Saotome:
"If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life; it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth."

The time has come...

It has been a monumental project, and now the day has arrived! My piece "The Joy of Growth" has been hung in the west foyer of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine! The dedication will be this afternoon at 2:45 pm. For those of you not in the area, pictures will be posted soon!

If the J. Peterman catalog had dog accessories, they would look like this...

Trying something new! Made a few dog art pendants for man or beast. Coop was nice enough to model them ;-) Now available in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/essentialdog

Dog's eye view

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of my work on the Purdue vet school project. The piece is finished and will be delivered to Lynn Hall this week! (Note Cooper critiquing my work in the background of the first picture ;-)

A little sneak peak

Here is the long awaited update on my vet school project! I put together this short video by assembling photographs I took while creating the first panel. To be honest, I think it took longer for me to put together this video than it did to actually create the piece!
What's that you say? You want to see the other four panels? Well, you will just have to wait until it is all done and be surprised!

No, I havent been hibernating...

I haven't posted in a while, but that's because I have been diligently working on my big project for the vet school. Pictures of that project are coming soon! Tonight, though, I took some time to try out my new Ultra pen mouse and ArtRage software. It's taking some getting used to, but I am really liking it so far. Here is my first digital rough sketch: