Bull Dogs

"Sam Side"

Miniature magnet (oil on panel)

 2" x 2"

"Sam Sitting"

 oil on panel

 7" x 5"

Two portaits I painted this year of a beautiful bulldog I briefly got to know.  The first one is a "miniature magnet painting": I attachd a super-strong 1" round magnet to the back of the panel to create an original work of art that can decorate the fridge, or office file cabinet. Who says art has to be restricted to white walls?

White Dog

5"x 5" oil on panel

I often like to leave some paintings with some mystery to them.  Just a white dog running in the sun feeling good. 

"Dalmation Two"

8"h x 6"w Oil on Panel

This painting is the companion-piece to "Dalmation One" and depicts the same dog in a different pose.  Again I used blue tones to represent the black spots; this time a slightly less abstract and more "painterly" style seemed appropriate, and the colors are more muted than in the first.  I almost never plan those sorts of things in advance, but let the painting itself guide me towards the "look" it wants.

Boston Terrier

5" x 5" oil on panel 

This beautiful little Boston Terrier was definitely looking forward to it's treat. I had fun working with the shapes of paint and creating energy with the brush strokes, colors and the forms created by the dog's pose. 

White Dog Waiting

5" x 7" oil on canvas
Sold

I am not sure what breed this dog is that I saw at a Rhode Island dog show.  But the dog was very white with soft long wavy hair with a body like a golden retriever.  After looking through "The New Encyclopedia of the Dog" by Bruce Fogle DVM, I think this dog may be a cream golden retriever or the Slovensky Kuvac breed.  On the other hand, various websites online make me think it might be an "English cream golden retriever." 

In any case it is fun for me, as an artist, to see how much color is in "white".   If you know much about the different dog breeds, let me know what breed you think this white dog could be.

Dog Days

10" x 10" oil on panel

The title "Dog Days" for this oil painting came to my mind today while I was feeling the full heat of  summer.  If anyone can suggest what breed this dog might be please do.

Golden Retriever Waiting

10" x 10" oil on panel

Recently finished this painting of a Golden Retriever from reference material from a pet show event at the Providence RI convention center.  This was a patient, well trained dog receiving much love from  his or her family.

Diggity Dog

Pen and Ink

This weekend I enjoyed a day at The Durham CT Pet Fair.  It was a beautiful sunny day to watch, sketch and photograph dogs, cats, and people.  For some reason Diggity dog came to mind as I sketched this fellow.

Blue Dog

15" x 13" Monotype Print

Sometimes I like to let go and just paint quickly on the printing plate. I use a variety of materials for my plates - usually acrylic or copper - with Akua brand water based intaglio inks. Akua's intaglio inks are nontoxic and thicker than regular inks; I enjoy using them to create monotype prints. On the other hand, the material I use for the plate usually doesn't matter to the process for me.

This Great Dane symbolizes spring energy to me on two levels.  There is the obvious visual energy of the dog's pose and movement; but also the speed at which I created the print.

ANIMAL PAINTINGS AVAILABLE FOR SALE

From left to right - titles: MYSTERY WOLF, BISON 1, RED WOLF 8"X 8"acrylic, RED SKULL 8"X 8" acrylic

From left to right: ONE DOG NIGHT, MY BOWL, SHOWING OFF, RED DOG (all these oil on panels), 6" x 6"

ALL 6" X 6" OIL PAINTINGS ARE $95.00 buy now.

THE 8" X 8" ACRYLIC PAINTINGS ARE $145.00 buy now.

TO PURCHASE AND ANY QUESTIONS, EMAIL ME AT: jholderfineart@gmail.com

Lets Go, Red Dog

6 x 6" oil on board

I met this dog and its owner in New Haven, CT while they were both getting exercise on a sunny day. He was a muscular, healthy looking animal with a very regal carriage. When I asked the owner what breed he was, she said, "Just dog, adopted from a local pound." I really enjoyed creating an oil painting of him and capturing his spirit and strength.

Update: to purchase this painting go to my auction on ebay:

http://myworld.ebay.com/jholderartworks/

One Dog Night

6" x 6" oil on board

With painting, I often emphasize the contrast of textures and blocks of color by utilizing a palette knife. I feel the knife becomes a pencil or chisel in my hand and I enjoy the physical pushing and pulling of paint, scraping away and adding. It's a different feeling than when I paint with a brush.

I noticed this regal dog standing guard over the goats and his turf at a local goat farm. The one ear up and one down reminded me of a German Shepherd I once owned and loved.

UPDATED: if you wish to purchase this painting go to my ebay auctions:

http://myworld.ebay.com/jholderartworks/

Red Dog Waiting

8" x  6" oil on board

Dog Drinking

6" x  6" oil on board

Bowl, half full or half empty?  Ready to run, ready to hide, or ready to play?  

No time lately to post or to play but ready to play.

Running Dog

6" x 6" oil on board

Striding out, on a mission, sun and shadow, ripe for a painting

SOLD

Sam

bronze relief  

13" x 12"

Sam is a beautiful boxer show dog I got to sketch and photograph in action and at rest.  

Beagled

5 x 5 inches, oil on panel

SOLD

Sometimes I want to "say something" with my art, sometimes I just want to take pleasure in the textures and forms of my subject - in other words, give myself permission to have a little fun.