Painting dogs...

Jana's Pack

A pack is a little of an overstatement.

Really a glimpse into the life and loves of one family who knows how wonderful Labrador Retrievers are, with the Labs who have graced their homes over the years.  I felt very lucky and honored to have Jana ask me to capture her dogs on canvas in my more whimsical and painterly style.  

I so enjoyed getting to know them through my brushstrokes and the many, many photos Jana sent me of each one, their bandanas, their collars...and the tidbits she shared about each one of their personalitlies, 

I've included a few here in the captions.

Ellie

The canine Sheriff in the pack, Ellie could be a little intimidating, and the sweetest girl.

Otis

Crafty old knucklehead...with an unrelenting spirit, Otis was a happy go lucky fellow to the end. 

Puppy Angus

Chubby and lazy little puppy Angus...and a lovable Momma's boy.

Angus

All grown up at 100 pounds, Angus is a bit of a bull in a china shop...though a lover boy for sure.

Violet

 Violet was a special little nugget...that so sadly left way too soon.

Java

The first dog of this pack and stayed with Jana for 16 years...Java was a gem.

Side note...

I rarely use straight black when painting, which is a challenge when painting black labs.  I mix my own blacks and for this I mixed a green black...which as you can see I got a little carried away with green for Java.  But it was fun, the color was repeated and complimented in a few of the other paintings, so I went with it...luckily doggy Mommy Jana gave me the thumbs up.

Violet & Java

This photo of these two girls was in the Human Society Calender years ago.

Hershey

Quite the gentleman, always delightful...Hershey was happily, a foster failure.

  

Hula

Quite the fireball and sassy pants through and through...Hula loves anything to do with water!

Ellie + Hula + Violet

The three girls in their Holiday best.

And a big thank you to my little shop girl...who hung out in the studio

while I painted 10 paintings of six other dogs.

She didn't even get jealous, she knew we were in very good company.

Thank you Jana and lab family...

for the hours of enjoyment and the chance to get to know them...

through the many brush strokes on the canvases upon my easel.