30 Paintings in 30 Days - NUMBER 13

"The Best Dog in the Whole World"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Hasty Herman - our little black and tan dachshund - 

left this world just over 4 years ago.

He was almost 10.

I have painted him many times,

but found this photo this

morning, and it's so 

typically HERMAN.

He would plop down

on just anything

that was creating a soft spot.

This shoe area in the laundry room 

suited him just fine -

using Dad's shoes as a chin rest.

A little paint shine - this time of day

it's unavoidable.

PAINTED WITH LOVE....

and remembrance

A Dog Portrait in Oil

"Herman in a Chair"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar board

There will be more paintings of Herman - and I can't put my finger on it, but there is something about this painting that is him, yet it isn't.  I guess when you miss someone that much and knew them just the same - you become very persnickety.  It is wet and shows lots of glare off the wet paint, maybe that is what is bothering me.  I plan to revisit it once more when the paint is dryer. 

DH has dreams about him. I don't.  I walk into a room and just slightly in my panning vision, I see him - just for a second...not a ghost, just like walking into a familiar room and seeing something in a spot that maybe was moved, but you are so used to seeing it there, YOU do see it momentarily. 

This painting has been good therapy for me.

It's been a long winter...already.

An Acrylic Painting for Today

"Black and Tan"

6" x 6"

acrylic on Raymar board

Just a quick painting this afternoon, to loosen up the brush hand and ways of seeing.  It feels real rusty - even though the job I had been doing used my hands alot with detailing and finetuning.  But...I started - got past that jumping off point and on the road again - hopefully.  It was interesting - having all the fans going and trying to keep the acrylic paint wet enough on the palette.  Hot here today, think I will finish off the night with a little mowing and then a movie on PPV. 

Maybe the mosquitoes won't be so relentless - wishful thinking.