Done and Done

Ah, the Christmas portraits are complete, shipped and delivered, what a wonderful feeling. These two were a blast to create, with loads of personality in the fuzzy faces, and great reference photos from the clients.

I hope that these two pieces do justice to the beloved animals in them. I will say, I am quite pleased with how they turned out, and am looking forward to getting started on the next one.

 Note: there isn't a line through the original, I had to scan Tequila's portrait in two separate pieces

I will be officially announcing the contest for a complimentary 5"x7" pencil portrait after the holidays are over, so stay tuned!

In the mean time, I hope everyone has a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. Here's to a white Christmas, with snow melting the next day and temperatures in the low 20's for the rest of the winter. Is that too positive? Is there such thing as being too positive? Well, one can only hope.

All the best!!

It's Arrived!!

Ah, to be woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of tiny droplets of freezing rain hitting the window, like a car being sand blasted before a fresh coat of paint is applied. Only roused for a second mind you, and I really didn't have time to compute the sound in my sleep heavy brain.

But then the morning arrived, and the deep voice of early day reminded me, "there's a ton of snow outside so be careful." Actually, there is no deep voice of early day, it was just my husband indicating how the day would begin. But, now that I think of it, Early Day would make a great actor or famous person name ... I will file that away for later.

Anyway, I rolled out of bed and hobbled to the window to witness this:

The first signs of winter... oh yes, it's coming, the snow has reared it's ugly, yet strangely beautiful, head and now we're well on our way to a typical Southern Ontario winter. Slow drives, icy roads, copious amounts of snow and bitter cold. On the bonus, I got to try out my new boots. Got to look on the bright side of cold sometimes you know.

Busy Time of Year

This is the time of year that commissions always pick up. Of course, they make great gifts at Christmas, but that means I have much less free time - no complaints here though, I love doing portraits!

Tequila, the adorable little Chihuahua, is almost complete. A few more area's to darken here and there, plus an addition of some memorial text and the the portrait will be finished. I've added the other half of the portrait below, and will post the full image once all the bits and pieces are done.

I am also currently working on a beautiful, male Husky for a client, in coloured pencil. This portrait is coming along nicely, and I'm really pleased with the textures and tones that I am able to create with the pencil crayons. This portrait will be completed as  9"x12", and is also a gift for my clients other half. A small sample below of the portrait progression so far.

In the mean time, Brandy has managed to pick up two, yes that's TWO qualifying runs in Steeplechase. A class that we always had difficulty with, and I can not count the number we've taken a stab at it and failed. We have always used the class as a warm-up, something that I didn't overly care about, and it gave her a chance to wind up before the rest of the runs. Steeplechase is always first where I trial, so it was perfect warm-up run. Never in a million years did I think that these "warm-up" runs would amount to anything, but they certainly have now. Our goal, 8 more qualifying runs next year to obtain her Steeplechase title. Lofty? Perhaps. Is she capable? Most definitely. Am I capable? Sometimes I wonder, but we're going for it anyway.

Meet Vibe - Rescue JRT

 

Hey hey! My name is Vibe, and I am a happy young girl of only one year old! I was found on a highway, and was brought into the Brampton shelter. I am very friendly and good with other dogs, EXCEPT when there is food around. I would love it if you helped me get over my food aggression and learn that there will now always be enough food,,,that I don't have to protect it anymore! I am very playful and love to play with my ball...I also understand "go get your ball" and will happily do so! I am in a home with another pooch right now and I am fine with them. I am a dive and would likely enjoy being the only dog in the house IF I had to choose... I am just a teeny tiny action package looking for a loving home! Adoption fee $200

 

Visit Vibes page for more pictures:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14191224

Visit Russell Rescue for more information on adoptions, JRT's in need and fostering.

www.russellrescue.org

Aggressive Dogs in Beginner Class?

My thoughts? Well, here goes, with a grain of salt.

I think dog aggressive canines can do well in a beginner group class setting under the proper instruction. Though I do believe that they should be privately assessed first for the level and type of aggression that they are displaying. Fear aggression needs to be handled somewhat differently than pure aggression, prey aggression etc.

If the levels are high, they should be worked in a private class first, one on one with the instructor, encouraging desensitization, and only then progress to the group class environment. If the levels are low to medium, sure, let 'em in. They can then learn how to behave appropriately around other canines with a positive, but firm approach. Of course, the handlers level of experience, knowledge and comfort definitely comes into play. If the handler can not control the dog in a proper fashion as directed by the instructor, or is not comfortable handling their dog around others, well, back to privates for them.

On the other hand, I do not believe that human aggressive canines should be in a beginner group class setting and here's why.

Too many people, including instructors, do not know how to appropriately deal with a human aggressive canine. There is a huge liability to the instructor/school if the dog happens to break free of it's owner and go after another student, and of course this means there is a huge safety issue for the rest of the students in the class. The other students are probably not be well versed in how to avoid a confrontation with a human aggressive dog. The "flooding" of people in this situation can cause more agitation and frustrate the dog further, causing it to retain it's aggressive view to people. And, of course, situations play out differently if it is fear aggression, or pure aggression.

In human aggressive canines, it is more common to see fear aggression towards people rather then true aggression, and private instruction on desensitization is very necessary. These dogs can be a huge liability and must be managed correctly in order for them to live safely and comfortably around people. I will not delve into details on how to desensitize here, but it is my opinion that these dogs do not benefit from a group class setting in beginner training or being flooded with people who have no idea how to react around this kind of canine.

In all my years around dogs, dog sports and training classes, I've seen only one truly human aggressive dog, actively displaying some fear aggression but becoming more confident in the situation, though the dog looked to be badly trained in some sort of personal protection venue. It's reactivity was quite high, especially around women, which is an oddity in itself because fearful dogs on the whole, normally display stronger reactions (be it fight or flight) to men rather than woman. And the fact that it looked to be well over 90 pounds didn't add any positivity to the situation.

Not by my choice, this story hasn't ended yet, but I'm curious to see the outcome, so we shall see if I come away with all of my limbs intact in the end.

Handle with care...

EDITED Nov. 25, 2009 - Whew, said dog has been removed from class to work one-on-one with the trainer (what I was hoping to see). I'm not afraid of dogs, not even nervous around aggressive ones, but I'm glad to know that my limbs will be kept intact for later use.

Plant Rescue Anyone?

Meet our Cyclamen.  For the purpose of this post, I will call him "Steve".

Steve came to us as part of a wedding gift from my parents back in spring of this year. A wedding gift that was somehow overlooked and left behind with my well-meaning mom and dad, who have a way of killing plants with love that is just amazing.

My mom called about a week later to let me know that Steve was still at the house, and we neglected to take him. I told her we would pick him up next time we came down.

Next time came and went, and we did it again. No Steve.

Steve was banished from memory for a while, until my mom brought him up in one of our ensuing weekly phone conversations. Steve was still at their house, but "your father fed him and now it's dead".  He was originally doing well enough, not thriving, but not hurting either. But then, my dad fed him.  My dad seems to enjoy feeding the plants for what-ever unknown reason.

A nice large, yellow road sign beside all of the live plants in thier house that says "DO NOT FEED THE PLANTS", sort of like the "DO NOT FEED THE BEARS" signs that you see up in Northern Ontario, would have helped Steve's situation. Though, the reasoning is slightly different - unlike the bears, the plants don't seem to become aggressive when they're fed by humans, they just die.

So there sat Steve, on their kitchen counter, in his final death throws, the few leaves left barely hanging on, yellow tinting their edges, indicating that his time in this world was almost up. Steve had been in full flower at the moment when we were to have originally take him home. Not so anymore.

I told my mom not to discard of him, "but hang on, we're coming up soon, and we'll bring him home. Hubby likes to tinker with indoor plants, and bring them back from certain, impending death, so we'll give Steve a chance." Of course, at the time, he was just 'the plant' and not 'Steve'.

Steve finally came home with us about 2 months after we were suppose to have originally taken him. Though, not neglected, but beaten down by too much love and food, he was a mess. That is where hubby took over. He has a way with plants like no one else I've ever seen. Him and Steve took to each other right away, and it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Steve blossomed, pun intended, under my husbands watchful eye, becoming stronger and more vibrant everyday. He spent the summer on our porch, just watching the crazy world go by, and it became clear that he he was meant to be here with us, not in a garbage somewhere as another discarded, unwanted house-plant. His leaves multiplied, his stalks and chutes became firm, and eventually he needed to be re-potted in a larger container. A very good sign in the world of plants. Steve was getting fat.

With Steve flourishing under hubby's care, we were eager for the day to come when he would produce flowers.

Months went by, and he continued his neighbourhood watch, though now it was from our bedroom window, bathed in sun during the day, and protected from the evils of frost at night. Still no blooms.

Every day we checked, searched through his leaves, intruding upon his personal space in hopes that we would find the beginnings of a flower or two. No such luck.

Then, one day my husband called me to come and have a look. Steve had buds, soon to be flowers!

And the rest, my friends, is history.

Steve, in the photos of this post, is doing extremely well, is happy, well-adjusted, healthy, loving life and full of flowers. A nice little token, a happy memory of our wedding, though he was not with us in Cuba, he is a refreshing, fat little reminder of that day.

"Steve" in full bloom

My husband has brought many plants back from the brink of death, from umbrella trees, to cyclamen,  ficus trees, to Japanese maples and the unknown, rather large tree/plant thing that is sitting in front of our living room window. So, if anyone has any unwanted house plants, he'd be happy to rescue them from you, and give them a good caring, knowledgeable home where they will be loved and appreciated. He likes plants, what can I say?

A New Pet Portrait

Initial stages of a new portrait - Tequila

I love what I do, truly, I do. The art of, well, creating art fascinates me, entertains me and keeps me busy. I delight in handing over a finished piece and seeing how people react. I enjoy being able to create something special for people, that captures a memory, a look, personality or spirit.

There are times, however, when my job is heart breaking. I am often called upon to do "memorial" portraits of loved ones passed, be they animal or person. Though it is sad to reminisce that these lives have left us too soon, I am thankful that I am able to provide a special image, a memory for families that can be cherished for years to come, and I really hope that my work does justice to those who have gone before us.

This new piece that I am working on is heart breaking indeed. I was contacted by a client to create a portrait of his girlfriends beloved chihuahua as a Christmas gift. We worked out the details, and I met him and the adorable little canine one night after work to pick up the reference photos. What a beautiful little dog, full of life and happiness, just bursting to be petted and loved, a personality that I absolutely adore seeing in a dog.

With photos obtained and client met, I sat down to begin creation of this portrait. The finished product will be a double, with two poses of the little dog, and a name title on 11"x14" paper in pencil.

I received an email from the client over the weekend, full of horrible news. There was an accident and the dog, so full of life and love, unfortunately did not make it. I was shocked, and left speechless. It is extraordinarily difficult to lose a beloved pet, and the relationship that can be built with an animal is nothing like relationships that we share with our own species. The unspoken love and the awe of innocence is one of the most powerful feelings you can harbour, and the loss of a pet is just as great as the loss of a parent, sibling, child, friend or family member.

So now this portrait is a memorial, a dedication to this little dog that was taken away from her owner far too soon.

Though the outcome of this is heart breaking, it lifts my spirits that I have been blessed with the ability to provide the owner with something that she can cherish and remember her tiny companion by for years to come.

RIP Tequila.