Elle

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

This sweet girl is one of the dogs from our shelter.  I couldn't stop thinking about her this past week.  She liked to sit calmly in her kennel, watching every move I made.  I could get lost in her eyes.  I was praying that she would be adopted.  When I went into the shelter today I saw that she had found her forever home!  I'm so happy for her! 

Dog Beach Puppy

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

Sing It With Feeling

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

I've been working on a few commissioned paintings lately.  It's been wonderful and challenging; just the way I like it!  Today, however,  I felt the need to paint something that I picked out.  Isn't this pup adorable!  The expression on his face just makes me smile!  I used a photo I found on Pixabay as a reference to paint this soulful lab.  It makes me want to get out and do some caroling!

Wading Trio

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

A few summers ago on a hot day, our daughter and her friends braved the frigid waters of the Puget Sound to cool off.  Luckily I was there to capture some photos of it.  It's amazing how kids are not affected by the cold as much as some adults (me!).  I would have been flying out of that water and running straight for a hot shower! 

Skeet Shooting Lessons

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is my latest commission painting.  I was super excited to do this one!  I love the long shadows and fall colors.  Also, it's for one of my best customers!

Home On The Sea 2

36x24
acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

I finally finished a painting for us!  I did a smaller version of this a while back and was so happy with the results that I decided to do a larger version just for our family.  Our times spent on our beloved sailboat, Pearl, are some of our best!  I'm always looking forward to another adventure aboard her.

Scenes From Dog Beach

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is another dog I photographed while in Los Angeles last winter.  It was at the end of the day and the light shimmering on the water was beautiful.  It was the perfect day for a dog to be at the beach!

Race To Shore

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

I wanted to do another "splashing" painting to refine my water painting skills, and adding dogs to it made it that much better!  I am constantly working on simplifying my strokes and being more cognizant of each time I put brush to board, in the hopes the end result will be a much "cleaner" painting.  I'm happy with the way this one turned out.

50 Yard Dash

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

This shepherd was having a great time at the dog beach in Los Angeles.  He was super speedy and loved running along side any other dog that would allow it.  

Let Loose

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

After working on "Take the Leap", I wanted to do more paintings with the feeling of motion.  I love the way this guy is totally letting loose!  I decided to use my looser, abstract side for the background.  I used a photo from Pixabay to paint this.  Thank you Pixabay, for the inspiration!

Take the Leap

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

I tried to capture the feeling of jumping in this painting.  It was really fun to paint this! 

Handsome Boy

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

Our first dog, Tabor, was a black lab.  There's just something so regal about these beautiful dogs.  This guy looks a lot like our Tabor.  He was a gentle giant.  I'm enjoying painting dogs other than my own.  It makes it that much easier to part with!  I was actually looking on Pixabay for a picture of fall to use for this month's challenge, when I came upon this gorgeous pup.  I had to paint him!!!  Painting black fur is always a challenge for me, so I knew this would be good practice.  Enjoy!

Dogfish

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

I thought this pup looked like he could be part fish, the way he's casually gliding through the water.  I used a photo from Pixabay to paint this one.  When I saw the photo, it made me think of our Salty, when we were sailing around Mexico.  One of our favorite activities while in Mexico was swimming and snorkeling.  The first time we all went snorkeling off the boat, I noticed a strange four legged creature swimming towards me...It was Salty, of coarse!  He would jump in the dinghy and then jump into the water and follow us around as we explored.  I never tired of swimming with him.  Now that we're back in the Pacific Northwest, I don't do much swimming, but Salty doesn't let the cold stop him. (He probably misses swimming with us, though!)

Showtime

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is our friends' beautiful daughter and horse at one of their many shows this past summer.  A few years ago she fell in love with horse back riding.  She's now fully engaged in the sport and loves every minute of it.

Summer Day in the South Sound

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is how I spent Labor Day weekend this year.  I am so blessed!  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  What made it extra special was meeting up with friends that we hadn't seen in years.

This past summer wild fires were raging all over the PNW, which made our skies smokey and dull.  Once we had a little rain and cooler temperatures, the heavens cleared and gave us this gorgeous palette of blues.  I really wanted to capture the brilliance of the sky and water that weekend.

Stanley Park 2

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

One just wasn't enough!  Love this place!  I tried to loosen up my strokes a bit on this one and and go with a bit more color.  I'm really happy with the outcome.

Stanley Park

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

My husband and I spent this past weekend in Vancouver, BC.  Our favorite thing to do there is rent bikes and ride around Stanley Park.  I'm a very lucky woman because my sweet hubby is more than happy to stop with me (and I like to stop A LOT!) while I take photos for paintings.  Saturday morning was absolutely gorgeous!  Enjoy!

Wait For It

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

When we are playing fetch with our dog, Salty, we often have him rest before throwing the stick again.  He will run until he collapses, so we try to give him little breaks here and there.  His attention and focus when he's waiting for someone to throw the stick or ball, is so intense!  We love our amazing Salty Dog!!

The Beach Is My Happy Place

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

If I were a dog, this would be a self portrait.  This is how I feel when I'm at the beach.  I found the photo I used for this painting on Pixabay.  I couldn't resist painting this happy dog.  The light breeze blowing off the ocean while the sun warms his fur.  Oh summer, I already miss you!

Big Smile

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

Our dog, Salty, LOVES playing with his ball.  This is his happy face after we've had a rousing game of fetch.  Could that mouth get any bigger?  I don't think so!!

English Bay

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

I have been in a painting "funk" these last couple of days!  It's driving me crazy!  I really had to push myself to finish this one.  When I'm in a funk, that nasty little negative voice creeps in and makes me want to throw in the towel (and paintbrushes!).  Well, I am so happy that I finished "English Bay", and I'm actually quite pleased with it.

English Bay is in Vancouver, BC.  It is beautiful, especially from Stanley Park.  My husband and I are going to be visiting this wonderful place again soon, so that's why I had the urge to paint this.  Enjoy!

Ready For the Attack

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is our goofy pup, Chili Pepper.  One of his favorite places is the beach.  He has a blast running, fetching, and pouncing on his brother (our other dog, Salty) (as he is about to do in this painting).    This particular visit, was exceptionally beautiful.  The sun was up early in the morning and the beach was all ours.  I really like the blue of the water and wet, reflective sand in contrast with Chili's coloring.  I'm also very happy with the way his reflection came out. 

Regatta Dogs 2

6x8
Acrylic on gessobord

This is Doug, the most adorable, mellow, sweet, huge lab I have had the pleasure of meeting.  This painting is of the "Wind Regatta" in the Columbia Gorge this past summer.  The wind was howling and the sun was out.  What can be better for a sailor?

In this painting, I really wanted to capture the feeling of the day.  The sun was magnificent and there is just so much excitement when you see all the lasers and optis parked on the beach, waiting to take on the wind and waves of the Gorge.

Regatta Dog- Alex

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

Where there's a sailing regatta, there will be dogs!  Dogs make everything better...Don't ya think?!  This sweet boy is Alex.  He is a favorite of many sailors around here.  Sweet, loving, and always looking for some love, are just a few of his adorable characteristics!  Enjoy!

Montague At Sundown

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

Montague Harbor is one of our favorite places in the Canadian Gulf Islands.  On this particular cruise, the evenings were crazy beautiful!  Enjoy!

Birthday Dahlias

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

I had another birthday last week and my sweet friend, Natasha, brought me these gorgeous dahlias from her garden.  I don't usually do still life paintings, but I couldn't stop gushing over these beautiful flowers!  So, I set up a very rudimentary staging area for my subject and painted away.  I am happy with the deep purples and pinks I used in this piece.  It definitely challenged me, so I guess I had better sharpen my skills with another sometime soon.

Put Your Paws Up In the Air

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

This goofy girl is my latest love at our dog shelter.  She is the sweetest mutt!  Oh, if only I could adopt one more dog.  Sigh.

Gandalf

5x5
acrylic on gessobord

I painted this for our daughter's roommate.  Her sweet furry boy passed away recently, and I couldn't resist capturing this adorable face on gessobord for her.

Eight Foot Jump

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

I did this painting for Daily Paintworks' background challenge.  I often struggle with what to paint in the background after I've worked on the focal subject.  Numerous times I have given up on a painting because it just didn't work well.  I am consistently trying to challenge myself by stretching my boundaries, and luckily, this time it worked out!

Belly Flop

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

I've been looking forward to doing this painting.  Capturing the lightness of the water has been a challenge for me, including this painting, but it is something I'd like to get better at, so, as the saying goes, "practice makes perfect"!  I think I need to get out and enjoy the last bits of swimming weather (I think I'll try to avoid belly flopping though!)!  Happy last weeks of summer everyone!

Salty Dog

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

In honor of national "Dog Day" I decided to paint our sweet boy, Salty, doing his most favorite activity.  In the actual photo, the stick was a lot bigger.  He tends to find the unusually over sized sticks to play with.  A few times they have been so big, I couldn't throw them more than a few feet!  Funny dog!

Here's our silly Salty with a favorite stick.  What a goof ball!

Salty's Sunset Ride

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

Our dog, Salty, absolutely loves going for rides in the dinghy.  This particular evening ride was in Canada, at Montague Harbor.  What a perfect evening!  And this is why we spend so much time on our boat!

Seabrook Summer

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

Last month we had the good fortune to stay at Seabrook for a few nights.  My favorite thing to do there is take early morning walks on the beach with our dogs.  It's almost like we have acres and acres of beach all to ourselves!  Most of our mornings there were quite foggy, but on our last day, the sun came out and I jumped at the chance to get a few photos before any fog rolled in.  If only summer could last just a little longer!

Wildflowers of Seabrook

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

Seabrook is an adorable little town along the Washington coast.  It's one of our favorite places to visit.  This is the view from one of the many walkways before you head down the path to the beach.  I absolutely love this view!  The little wild daisies were in perfect shape on this visit.

Hobbs

8x8
acrylic on canvas

I painted this sweet pup for a friend of mine.  I enjoyed the challenge of painting curly fur.  I've never done this type of dog  before, so it was great experience.

Sunset at Watmough Bay

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

Watmough Bay is a wonderful little spot at Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands.  When we are at anchor, I can't help but explore any nearby rocks, islets, and beaches via kayak or sup.  I love this place, and can't wait to get back there!

Speed Swimmer

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is our awesome dog, Salty, doing what he loves.  When it starts to get a little too warm for fetch on land, we head to the beach.  He can really make waves when he's going after his ever precious ball! After he's been swimming, I love the salt that's left on my lips after kissing his head!  I hope you all can find a beach to enjoy this summer! 

Summer Swimmer

6x8
Acrylic on gessobord

This month's DPW challenge is "The Dog Days of Summer".  I am so excited to participate in this one.  I have a couple more furry friend paintings I want to do, but it may take a while to get to them, as I am loving all the fun this summer is offering!  I used a photo from Pixabay for this piece.  Enjoy! 

Making Waves 2

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

This is the second painting of this sweet fetching dog I enjoyed watching in Seattle.  I've been getting a lot of beach and dog photos lately that I'm really excited about painting!  I have a few commission pieces to do and then I'll start digging into some new fun paintings!

Making Waves

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

I captured a few shots of this guy having a blast on a sunny Seattle day.    I hope to do another painting of him playing fetch. He was absolutely in his element!  Happy Summer everyone!

Dockside Poppies

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

This is another painting from my Seattle visit last month.  The orange poppies alongside the walkway near Golden Gardens Park were really shining that day.  I've been looking forward to painting this one for quite some time.  I love all the colors, shadows, and warmth.

Surrounded By Blessings

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

What a week I've had!  Our sweet little dog, Chili Pepper, became deathly ill this past weekend.  We really didn't think he'd make it and the veterinarians had no answers.  I'd been praying for healing and answers for our little furry guy, and on Tuesday night, God answered them!  Chili is thankfully on the mend!  I wanted to paint this scene because it reminds me that God is all around!  I painted this from a photo I took about 10 years ago while out kayaking in the South Puget Sound.  Beautiful, huh!?  I also thought it would be perfect for this month's DPW "Sky Challenge".  Blessings to all of you!

Boys and Tonka Trucks

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

This is painted from my photo I took while in Seattle a few weeks ago.  These boys were adorable!  They came zooming past me at one point while "driving" their trucks along the path, making all the necessary truck sounds.  This was such a fun one to paint!  The colors!  The sunshine!  The water! These are a few of my favorite things...

Seashore Treasure Hunt

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

When our girls would get together with their friends, the fun and creativity would abound!  I have so many wonderful memories of the fun times they've had playing with their buddies.  I know I've said this before, but sometimes I wish I could go back in time, even for just a bit, to see them exploring and taking in their world without holding back.

Father Daughter Time

6x8
acrylic on gessobord

I've been challenging myself lately to work with more muted colors.  It sounds easy, doesn't it?  For me it's been a bit of a struggle!  It's worth it, though, because I know I'm stretching my boundaries.  I find I'm paying closer attention to values.  This painting is based off of a photo I took in Los Angeles last January at our daughter's regatta.  Enjoy!

Eileen

8x8
acrylic on canvas

This is a painting I did for a friend.  Isn't Eileen a cutie!  A couple of cool facts about this adorable girl...she only has 3 legs and she is training to be a service dog!  Enjoy!

Rudy

6x6
acrylic on gessobord

This painting was both rewarding and sad to paint.  One of my dear friends lost her sweet boy, Rudy, recently.  I never had the chance to meet him, but enjoyed watching his life through photos posted on Facebook.  I loved the feeling of peacefulness and relaxation I felt sweet Rudy was experiencing when I saw the photo I used for this painting.  R.I.P Rudy.

Sunny Day Water Play

8x6
acrylic on gessobord

I don't know how many of you have taken a dip in the Puget Sound, but let me tell you...It is Co-old! Especially in Seattle!  It doesn't seem to bother kids, though!  All the adults that braved it into the frigid waters had these pinched faces.  Oh to be young again.  Sigh.  This little girl was having a blast running to and from the water with her buddies. 

Tinker

8x8
acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This is a painting I just finished for a friend.  I'm thinking I should have worked out some puppy play time for me in the deal!  What a cutie pie!