Dog Book

I greatly enjoyed the spontaneity of the paintings in my first publication, Moon Book, and the surprises that doing monoprint springs upon you, as happened with Cat Book. Actually Dog Book seems a natural step after Cat Book although my artistic technique is quite different.With this latest project I'm taking a series of photos and then composing the image by doing a quick pencil sketch. Then I transpose my ideas to board. When the painting nears completion, the canine subject visits my studio and I do the final touch-up live. Some dogs prove to be terrible models. In those instances I do very little more to the painting. Others sit very well for those final improvements. With Rachel, a Doberman, I was able to re-do her entire portrait--every hair! With chow-corgy mix Monkey, forget it! She is in your face with "the tongue".For this project I went to the local shelter and adopted the quintessential mutt, a dog that encompasses all breeds. Her personality is loving, protective, adventurous, friendly, perceptive, and very athletic. Why did I wait so long to adopt another dog?!?! I truly forgot how much joy, love and exercise a dog companion brings into one's life. Going away has not been a problem. She happily stays with friends that have dogs and a fenced yard. The positives far outweigh the negatives.Another BIG difference with this project is that my subjects are not simply all the dogs and people I knew before or were led to. I had to devote a chapter to the rescue K-9s of 9/11. Then, another two paintings in the series were auctioned off to raise funds for Animal Haven in Queens, NY, and most recently I met the incredible Ginny, the dog that rescues cats. Thus, to understate it, I can honestly say this project has taken me to places I've never been, as I'm sure it will you.Dog Book has been available since 2004, and now only a few copies remain for sale.

Saint Ginny of Long Island* Oil 32" x 28"

Click on the picture to read Ginny's story. This picture was available through a silent auction benefitting The Ginny Foundation, a no-kill sanctuary, and realized $3,350 in 2005. If you'd like to visit The Ginny Fund, its website is at www.ginnyfanclub.com/.

Dog Class

Skippy, Most Improved	Rachel, Most Elegant	Bentley, Mama's Boy
China, Class Instigator	Trudell, Party Animal	Grover, Love Puppy
Lucky Lucy, Class Clown	Ruth, Daddy's Girl	Jasmine, Best Tongue & Coat

Click on above for blow-ups.

DOG CLASS

First class we meet dogless at the Armory for orientation. Puppy class, beginners and advanced beginners, all grouped together. Correct collars, jumping up, chewing, aggression are mentioned. The choke collar is obsolete and dangerous, causing trachea damage, and worse. The pinch collar looks worse, but is a miraculous invention, as it stops the human’s arm from being ripped from its socket. This I like.

China’s excited. So many dogs to play with, at once! Not my reason for being here, but certainly hers. Trudell, Lucy, Grover and Skippy are all of the same mind-set: PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! Rachel is subdued and seems disdainful of the rowdy bunch. Jasmine, the biggest, with lavender tongue, will and does attack when provoked. Bentley is most under control with his 11 year old handler, Amanda. The other junior handler, Laurie, is nine, and her dog child, Skippy, has been an enfant terrible at home. Her parents are close to wits’ end.

Ruth is shy and reserved and stays close to her human dad. Both she and her brother Cooper were found abandoned by the side of a road. Both are adopted by Richard who is dedicated to seeing that the rest of their lives are as close to perfect as possible. Unfortunately Cooper can’t take the class. His twisted basset hound legs are healing from several corrective operations. The surgeries have been successful, but dog class would be too physically demanding.

Second class, Jasmine is now civil and understands the commands well. Ruth has her stubborn moments, but wants to please. Grover, all heart, rolls on her back, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. She never takes class seriously. China only behaves when there are ample doggy treats. Otherwise, as with Lucy and Trudell, it’s still PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! These girls LOVE coming to class and the motivating factor is PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! Rachel is a little friendlier toward the wild bunch, but unlike them she remembers her humble beginnings. She was adopted through Doberman Rescue and shows her appreciation by being beautifully behaved at all times. The rowdy shelter mutts appear to have perfect amnesia that way.

Skippy and Bentley are doing great. The bond and understanding our young handlers have of their canine companions is uplifting to behold. This class does not offer knowledge that they can get from sitting in a class room or watching TV. Laurie and Amanda know instinctively in a compassionate caring manner how to be in control. Future leaders; they prove it here.

Last class, all heel, halt, sit, lie down, turn pretty well. Each dog student with student dog handler walks up, in turn, to receive a diploma. Fortunately we get ours before China decides she needs to bark loudly and continuously in celebration. We exit quickly as others start to join in.

The class

Separated at Birth

Oil.....22" x 18"

China & Sierra

Saving Magic Places.....Home Page.....Murals.....Moon Series.....Moon Book.....Cat Monoprints 
Pet & People Portraiture.....About the Artist.....Purchase Cat Book

P.O. Box 3223...Chapel Hill, NC 27515...(919) 402-0160... weinsteinart@bellsouth.net