Puppy

(The staple-free sides have been painted so you can display your new painting unframed. This is a digital photo. The scans above are more accurate.)

This piece is so much fun. And it is so unusual. At least in the context of my work. It is a real treat. Most women my age get baby-crazy. I am currently puppy-crazy. I just can't get enough of puppies. I love them! Mine and those that belong to my neighbors and friends and family. All puppies. It occurred to me the other day that puppies and kittens and babies of all kinds offer us a way to recapture our innocence. I fall so in love with my sweet wild funny puppies that I do not mind if they track mud in the house and I do not mind if they pull the stuffing our of their toys and I do not mind if they shred the newspaper. All things that would bother my grown-up self. But they do not bother me because I become a kid again when I am playing with puppies. I live in the moment as they do. I am unconcerned with propriety or order. I just have fun. And isn't that the definition of innocence?

We talk about innocence as if it can only be lost once and never reclaimed, but I think that is a bit dramatic. Innocence is always available and can be reclaimed at any moment. Ask folks who have had near death experiences. Ask cancer survivors.

I am hopeful this sweet mischievous little weimaraner puppy will bring smiles and happy daydreams to your home or office.

How Puppy was created..... I used a technique in creating this image that I have not worked with for fifteen years or so. This piece is a collage. After the black acrylic primer dried, I used layers of clear acrylic medium to apply a photo to the surface of the canvas. Once that layer dried, I used palette knives to apply fine artist-grade stucco to specific areas on the canvas. Again, I had to wait a bit for things to dry. Then I used a variety of brushes to paint the soft "muddy" expressionist image. And I finished this piece with tiny detail brushes. I painted the paw prints and I also painted the puppy, too. Very little of the actual photo can be seen in the finished painting. I used the photo as a starting point and then adapted the funny puppy to my own needs. I finished by adding the words, "Innocence can always be reclaimed".

Puppy was created on a professional quality gallery-wrapped canvas. The staple-free sides have been painted. This piece looks wonderful displayed unframed directly on the wall. Or it can be easily and affordably framed as it required no matting or glass.