Okay, I don't see the facebook page, so I'll try again by putting it in the body of the post

http://www.facebook.com/#!/LarkStudios

There, that should do it!

English Springer Spaniel enjoying a Yummy Toy

This is Lady.  She's an English Springer Spaniel, and she's May's winner of a monthly contest we started last March.  The winner of this entry, Missy Reynolds, Lady's mom, gets a free 8x10 print or a pendant, her choice.  Plus, she gets first choice at the purchase of the original 8x10 on wood paneling painting for $50 if she so chooses.  If she doesn't want the original, I'll make it available to the general public.  So, in other words, there's no requirement to buy anything at all if you enter the contest - in fact, you get something free if you win.  Also, if your entry didn't win in the month you entered, you have the option to contact me to say you're resubmitting for the following month.

To enter your pet's pic(s), send high-quality photos (at least three) of your pet.  We'll let you know at the end of each month if your pet was chosen.  We, the family members involved in my business, vote on our choice; then the winner from the final three of those choices is drawn from a hopper.  If you want more info on entering, just get in touch with me, dottie@wildwildthings.com, and either my daughter Lara or I will write you back with more info.  Also, there's a lot more info on the contest on our facebook page, listed I think above this posting -- well, somewhere on here, anyway; I'm not really sure where.

What do you know about 1000 Markets?

1000 Markets

Dottie Dracos, Animal Artist

Visit the Shop

This is a link to an online venue, "1000 Markets," that I'm giving a try.  If anyone out there has any experience, positive or negative with it, I would love to hear from you.

Leonburger

Okay, this is the last one I'm posting tonight.  I'll try not to be so slow in posting my next batch of paintings.  This is a really handsome young guy I met at a little art show in Corvallis, OR.  I wasn't familiar with the breed at the time, and I was amazed, first of all, at his size, then at his gentle nature, his very soft fur, his sweet, sweet face.  I could go on and on.  I expect I'll be doing more paintings of Leonburgers in the future.  So beautiful.

I've posted quite a few paintings this evening.  Do let me know what you think about them if you have time.  I really appreciate all the comments I get.   Painting is a lonely job . . .

Keeshond

Okay, all you people who have been requesting that I paint a keeshond:  Here's my first one!  So sorry it took me so long.  I'll try to do another one or two in the months to come.  (Too many pretty dogs, too little time!)

He looks an awfully lot in form like my little Pomeranian, Harry.  I did some reading and found that they indeed are quite closely related, only quite different in size. 

Jack Russell Terrier with Yellow Ball

This also is a painting I finished this past week, today actually, and it's another painting done from a photo submitted by a customer.  His name is Chico, and I think he's a beauty. 

When I first painted him, I had him on a greyish-blue background - and it just didn't work.  So I just "abstracted" the actual background in the photo, and I really, really like the results. 

Great Pyrenees Portrait

This Great Pyrenees painting is one that I just finished this past week.  I'm quite happy with it.  They're beautiful dogs.  Nothing more I can say.

It's painted from a photo submitted by a customer.  Hope you like it.

Golden Retriever with Ball

This is a painting I just finished today, and I really like it.  For me, it is a wild departure, though, which made me really uncomfortable, I'm afraid.  It's a bit more abstract than most of my dog paintings, but I think I needed to do this - be a bit more spontaneous, that is, in doing the painting.  Scary!

It's 16x20x3/4", staple-free sides, wired and ready to hang -- Sorry, this painting has sold. 

I should mention that, actually:  I sometimes mention here that certain paintings are for sale.  As my paintings are also shown in other venues, I cannot promise that they'll always be available if listed here.  So if you're interested in a painting, just email me to check on its availability.

German Shorthaired Pointer by Lake

Well, as you might notice, I'm listing these recent paintings alphabetically rather than chronologically -- but again, they all were done within a two- to three-week period up to the present. 

I really enjoyed doing this painting.  It was a bit difficult for me, but I think it came out pretty well.  I love shorthaired dogs, especially to paint them, because you can see their body shape so extremely well.  German shorthaired pointers are especially beautiful, and it seems that every one is different from any others.  I had a magnificent best friend up until just a few years ago, named Dune, who was part GSP and part greyhound - what a beauty!  And what a wonderful, wonderful dog and friend.  I'll miss him forever.

Dalmatian Puppy

This is a small painting I did recently of a little dalmatian puppy I spotted and photographed (with permission) at Portland Saturday Market.  He was so sweet looking to me.  I used to have a dalmatian, so I have a soft spot for them -- well, I do for all dogs, actually.

Anyway, he's on 8x10 wood paneling and is available for purchase at $50, plus shipping.  Email me if you're interested in purchasing him and I'll send you an ebill.  As usual, prints and pendants are also available on my website.

Dachshund named Sue

This is a commissioned painting I finished about a week ago.  Her name is Sue, and she is very much beloved.  The recipient of this painting likes the color orange, and it was requested as the background color.  I think she turned out great.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ruby

This is a ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that I painted recently for a customer.  The original is sold, but there are prints and pendants available.

I'm going to be posting quite a few images this evening, but I don't know if they'll be in the order I produced them because I've been really busy lately and haven't had a chance even to think!  Just paint.  They're all within two or three weeks of each other, though, and I'll try to keep them somewhat in a chronological order -- if that matters. 

Oh, regarding my endeavors to be looser and brighter, it's meeting with only limited success.  I manage to do one like that, and then I'm back to painting individual hairs and worrying about being nearly photo-realistic again.  Gotta loosen up! 

Red Australian Shepherd

This is a commissioned painting I finished about a week ago -- I've been really busy with commissions lately.  That's why I haven't posted much lately.

This girl's painting was a Mother's Day gift for a customer of mine.  I think she turned out very nicely.

Obviously, the original is gone, but you can get prints and pendants on my website.

Yet another pug! This is Lola's sister - whose name I can't remember!

This is the other pug I finished for my friend.  Her eyes really, really are this wild looking, and my friend says she sees fine, though.  Weird!  But cute -- as a button!

This original has also already sold, but again, prints and pendants are available on my website, http://www.dottiedracos.com/.  (I'm going to gradually end using my "wildwildthings" name because it no longer reflects my current artwork.  I started it when I did my ceramic animal masks, and it was great for those.  But it just doesn't go with my more "elegant" work these days.  (I think, by the way, I really, really have quit doing the ceramic dog/cat/fish masks - for good this time!)  I have a few left that I'm selling on Etsy, and then they're gone!  Forever!

Another Pug!!! This is Lola

This is a painting of my friend's little pug, named Lola.  I also painted another of her pugs -- whose name I can't remember right offhand! She's coming up in the next post.

The original of Lola is already sold, but prints and pendants are available.  I really enjoyed painting her - what a sweet little face.