Happy Fabulous New Year!!

How the mighty have fallen eh? While my kids were at a New Year's Eve Party I gave in to middle age and dozed on the sofa last night. Here's a pic of me:

I watched CNN with Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper. Kathy Griffin was rolling around nude at the side of a pool doing the ice bucket challenge. Then she was just wearing a bra in Times Square. It was all a bit sad and desperate for attention. I thought of all the people crammed into Times Square for hours trying to get on TV. What happens when they have to go to the bathroom? It's probably best not to think about it!

Suffice to say New  Year's Eve passed me by this year. I had been at the National Gallery of Art in DC all day which can be pretty exhausting for an old fart like me.

Christmas Tree and the Capitol

I went with a friend who wanted to see all the Medieval, Renaissance and Mannerism paintings. My favorite was this El Greco. Absolutely amazing! Can you believe this was painted in 1610??

The Laocoön by El Greco 1610-1614

2015 has been a hectic year that has just flown past. I have been doing a ton of pet portraits. Here's my latest one of a golden retriever:

Wishing all my friends a Happy New Year! Remember you are fabulous dahling!!

How did you spend New Year's Eve?

Happy Paint Party Friday. Linking up with Brilliant Blog Posts.

Who Let the Dogs Out!

Hi Everyone!

What a crazy week it's been. I am busy working at the moment. I teach art in residential homes and I must say it is fun. I love getting out into the community and inspiring seniors and those with special needs to tap into their creative side.

I also found myself asked to create a vivid blue doggie commission. I am rather pleased with it. A friend even told me it reminded her of Chagall. I found it intriguing to juxtapose the solidity of the blue body with the translucent watercolor swirls of the background. What do you think? I am now adding blue pet portraiture to my repetoire over here at Etsy.

 

I am also thrilled that my doggie calendar for 2015 featuring all my original artwork is now out. You can buy it here.

It's been such a crazy week I have not had time to make my daughter's Madhatter halloween costume for a party tomorrow. I will have to scour thrift stores for crazy jaquard prints to create a truly tasteless ensemble! What kinds of costumes are you cobbling together?

Linking up to Paint Party Friday! Come and check out some amazing artists!

Pugs Go Wild in a Cake Shop

I did this humorous cartoon today of some pugs going crazy in a cake shop in the 1950s (just click on the image to see it in more detail). It was so much fun to do. I am going through an anthropomorphic in my art and loving it. Let me know if it tickles your funny bone.

I grew up in England and voraciously read all the Giles cartoons. His recreation of the battle axe that was grandma was nothing short of genius. And I preferred his cartoons done in the Daily Express when they were black and white. This is an example:

I  was also influenced by the Rupert the Bear comics in which Rupert Bear has many adventures with his pals badger and pug. Now I look at it I am amazed at how little this pug resembles a real life pug although he is still cute. However Rupert's adventures were mesmerizing.

Prints of the pug cartoon can be bought at this link at Imagekind