Callie Update

I just want to thank-you all of you that have asked how Callie's doing. She's really done well now that I had the Phenobarbitol reduced twice. She's back to her old self. I'm thrilled. Hopefully this will last a while.

New Painting available, "Springer's Surprise"

Here's another painting I just finished. I adore action shots and I love painting and looking at fields. I got the inspiration for this painting when I was watching a client's dog play one day. I really enjoy this pose, as if he was caught by surprise at the last second when the pheasant flushed out of the tall grass.
Springer's Surprise is a framed 11x14 oil painting on masonite offered for sale. 1950.00.

New Painting available, "Practice Makes Perfect" (SOLD)

Now that Callie's having a better day, I was able to finish two paintings.
I thought this was a fun idea. In this painting the hounds are practicing their "voice" as the fox meanders by in the background, unnoticed. The two hounds on the left are pretty tickled with their performance indicated by the look they're giving the viewer. Those of you who have dogs are familiar with "that look"!
Practice Makes Perfect is an 8x10 oil painting on masonite, framed and available for sale for 1200.00.

My older dog, Callie

Our 12 y.o. French Brittany, Callie, (photo by Mary Fournier) had a bout with grand mal seizures this week. Very scary. It took 13hrs for the vets to get them under control. What I attributed to old age personality and physical changes this past year have turned out to be symptoms of a brain tumor, or so they suspect.

She's now having a difficult time adjusting to the antiseizure medication which has caused her to become extremely lethargic, restless, very anxious at times, and very unsteady on her feet. I'm having to lift her up and down stairs, etc. I've been unable to paint and have become a private nurse instead. The vets say if we can get through the initial two weeks of this adjustment to the medication, things should be looking up on the third week. I'm hoping. I feel so sorry for her and want her to continue to enjoy her life.

If I don't paint over a few days when at home, I'm become easily agitated. It's almost like a drug. I have to paint. I've got my fingers crossed tomorrow will be a day in the studio.

Spring

Well, spring (more like mud season) is here. There's tons of outdoor work to be done around the farm. I'm busy taking a few hours per day just clearing trails in the woods. We've had tons of blow downs from the winter. More branches than usual. I've already sent my husband, Peter, out with the chain saw.

Trying to keep my gray horse, Gully, clean is not working. He loves being muddy and this is his favorite season. He looks in the mirror and his reflection lives up to his expectations. I'm riding him at 7am in the mornings so no one sees how dirty he is. That's the best time to ride anyway. All of the birds are singing now.

Believe it or not, we still have snow but not everywhere. Just in shady spots in the woods and fields and still up to 8" in places.

Great news! Out of my seven entries at the show, five were pinned and my Brittany and Woodcock painting won Best In Oils!