Chinook’s responsibilities include watchdog duties, checking all shipments coming in and leaving, and making sure we get some fresh air and exercise every day. However, she will probably tell you that her most important job is to see that we eat on time!

began with my eight year old nephew excitedly relaying the story of witnessing the birth of 13 yellow lab pups while visiting overnight with a friend. I was invited over and took many photos of the pups playing and sleeping all over each other. Though I was fortunate to have plenty of time, access to a big back yard, and good weather (to me that always means sunshine) some of my favorite poses - like the reference I used for this painting - were in the shade and on a sidewalk.

Capturing light and shadow is the main inspiration of my work. I started by hitting the fabric stores looking for the perfect print to coordinate with my chosen color scheme, and used a duck print as a border on a design I worked out to balance the pose of the puppies. I made the little quilt, cut a cardboard box, and placed the arrangement on the floor of my studio to catch the sun coming in the glass patio door. Towels squished into “puppy shapes” gave me the placement of highlights. Down on the floor myself, I completed the full size drawing, then added the puppies back at my easel. A pencil value study helped me plan the cropping of the image, and I then transferred the drawing to a stretched linen canvas, and did the final revisions. Blocking in the main values and colors came next, to give the overall representation of the finished painting. With the major decisions made, I spent the next several weeks working my way around the canvas with finishing layers.

Response at our first showing of this painting indicated that we should put it into print; and it reproduced extremely well. Horses are my most common subject matter, but I often paint dogs, and credit years of commissioned portraits (most done from live models) in the early years of my career for the ability to take a not-so-perfect reference photo and create the scene I’ve envisioned.

My niece, Michelle, has been begging her dad for a pony. He's been putting her off by saying he's going to buy himself a boat first, so lately she's been begging him to buy a boat. I don't remember how many times I asked my Dad for a pony, or how many times I looked through the weekly newspaper ads, reading every one under Horse and Ponies for Sale, but I distinctly recall the Sunday drive with the family when Dad unexpectedly turning off the highway onto a side road. I remember the farmyard we pulled into and I especially remember my first glimpse of the brown and white pony that we would soon be taking home. And I also recall being totally stumped when, later that year I was asked what I'd like for Christmas -I had always asked for a pony, and now that I had one, what more could I possibly want?

I'm going home next week (to my parent's farm, which, I'm sure will always be referred to as "home"). A lot has changed, but many things still bring back wonderful childhood memories. Three of my brothers and sisters still live within 20 miles of the home farm and I'm looking forward to visiting and catching up -and seeing how many of the nephews have outgrown me.

Also, there's a new addition to the neighborhood that I'm anxious to meet. A few weeks ago, my brother pulled into the driveway with the stock trailer and his daughter Michelle asked to see the cows she had been told were inside. I can only imagine the look on Michelle's face when the trailer door opened, but I do know exactly how she felt! I'm looking forward to meeting Silver, Michelle's new pony.

It is a technique by which the color from a lithograph is transferred to canvas, leaving the paper behind. The paper is removed, the film of color bonded to quality artist’s canvas, and given a hand applied UV finish that guarantees the colors true character for years to come. The canvas is then stretched on stretcher bars in the same manner as an original and is ready for framing. With the fine texture of the canvas still visible, and no need for the protection of glass, the canvas transfer is the closest resemblance possible to the original painting from which it was created.

Technically, an Artist’s Proof and a print begin as the same image. The Artist Proof (A/P) in modern lithography arose from the tradition of hand pulled prints. When a print was hand made, the first ones approved by the artist occasionally had slight variations, which gave them a greater perceived value. This custom has been carried on, though modern technology allows for consistent reproduction throughout the printing. Generally, the edition of Artist’s Proofs is 10% of the original edition. Each is signed and numbered and designated A/P. With the rarity of the Artist Proof, they are much sought after by collectors, and often available only from the artist.

Want to give a print as a gift but aren’t sure which one to choose? We now have gift certificates available in any denomination. Call for more information.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call me toll-free 1-877-547-3450