Dog Paintings

All my paintings have one of three themes. When I first started painting the dogs all the paintings were pretty much allegorical. They were about being a person in our current society, as told to us by a creature that loved us best and most wanted to be like us, our dogs. I started painting these in the very late 80’s and still paint them today; they are just subtler now. The second theme is one of death and remembrance. They are about memories, memorials and honoring those we loved and have lost. The newest theme is just about dogs being dogs. I find myself painting more of these now, although I paint plenty of the others, as well. The models for the paintings in this show are my dogs. They are handy, work for cheap, and I love them; but I also do portraits of other peoples dogs, on commission.

Gracie and Loosie on a Walk Through the 30"x40" Oil on Canvas. Collection of the Artist. This is a painting from my view of walking my Dogs, Gracie and Loosie, down Pasquale Road, where I live. We all loved those walks.	Let sleeping Dogs Lie #1 Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #2.jpg Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" Collection of Marilyn Keithley. The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.	Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #3 Oil on Canvas 30"x 40" The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #4 Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.	Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #5 Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" Collection of Curt and Teri Colagross. The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.
Loosie Looking Oil on Canvas 30"x40" Collection of the Artist This is a painting of our newest pup, Loosie, in a typical activity. She is just sitting, off in the trees watching us. I don’t know if she thinks she is hiding, but the sun hits her and illuminates her against the gloom of the forest. This painting is also about us, observing the world and what is going on in it. Not necessarily wanting to be part of it, just wanting to watch. We are part of what’s going on whether we like it or not.	Funny Dog Faces # 1 20" x 20" Oil on Canvas This series of paintings is just about capturing dogs being dogs and giving us those funny looks that make us love them so much.
Funny Dog Faces #2 20" x 20" Oil on Canvas This series of paintings is just about capturing dogs being dogs and giving us those funny looks that make us love them so much.	Funny Dog Faces #3 20" x 20" Oil on Canvas This series of paintings is just about capturing dogs being dogs and giving us those funny looks that make us love them so much.
13 Mollies Oil on Canvas 40"x150" We got Mollie from the Redlands pound when she was a year old. We had her 12 years. This work consists of 13 panels, one for each year of her life. There is a large central panel with 6 smaller panels on each side of the main one kind of like angel wings. On each panel is a painting taken from photographs we have of her. It took 2 years to paint. It is an expression of remembrance to her and what she meant to us. It is her monument.	The Missing Piece Oil on Canvas 72"x72" Each of the 13 panels in this work were drawn and painted separately. This represents us as people having many different parts to our lives. Although separate characteristics, they all come together to make the whole person. However there is a piece removed. It is the chest with a heart. On it is written “Forever Home”. For a rescue dog, finding their forever home means getting picked by a person who will keep them and love them all of their life.
Just Waiting (Final Rework) Oil on Canvas 40"x30" Collection of Jill Dolce. This painting was painted from memory, remembering how Mollie used to wait at a big picture window for someone to return when they had left for a while. The painting is about waiting for someone's return, but it is also about missing someone and longing. Mollie died several years ago. This painting is really about her waiting for me at the end of "The Rainbow Bridge". It will be a happy reunion.	Let's Play Oil on Canvas 40"x30" Collection of EDCGSR. Gracie loves to play. Mostly with other dogs, but when they are not around, I’ll do. Of course she has the play posture going and her eyes are looking at you, into yours trying to communicate. This happened in the late summer, so the colors are sort of warm even the green of the shade is as yellow as it is green. The red of her ears and the red tinge to the brown fur shows the passion she has for the game of “chase me” she wants to start.
The Sisterhood Oil on Canvas 30"x40" When we first got Loosie, she and Gracie bonded almost instantly. Sure there came a couple of fights later to see who was dominant, but they loved each other from the start. This painting is about their love for each other, but also about how friends, after a time, become family.	Cooper Oil on Canvas 12"X20" Collection of Mary Harper. A portrait of a beloved pet in a favorite pose.
Well... Are You Going With Me or Not 30" x40" Oil on Linen. Collection of Allison Kozak. This painting is of Gracie giving me the impatient look she had when she was ready to go and I was waisting time doing something else, like shaking the gravel out of my shoes.	Ben Running in the Back Yard 40" x30" Oil on Canvas Collection of AnimalSave, Grass Valley, CA. This is a painting of one of my dearly departed dogs, Ben running circles and figure 8's in the backyard oblivious to all and in his own world thinking his own doggy thoughts.
Our Handsome Guy Oil on Canvas 24"x30 Collection of Cassi Reed. Great story with this one. At the KVIE Art Auction this year, Rob Stewart, who is kind of like The Nor Cal version of Huell Howser, was describing my painting, when he stopped mid sentence and asked the camera operator, "Cassi, are you crying?" She was; while on air. Rob then went on that this is what good art does; it elicits emotions. She had lost her German Shepherd "King" a week and one half prior to the show. So here is her portrait of King.	Fred Foraging 20"x 20" Oil on Canvas Collection of George and Eva Jorochilov This is a commissioned portrait of George's bulldog Fred, doing what , according to George, he loved best; wearing his Superdog cape and checking out what was good to eat in the fridge. George felt that this captured his beloved dog perfectly.
Pleasant Puppy Oil on Canvas 30" x24" Collection of Christy Quinan. This painting was inspired by people walking or running down the street on which I live in those runner baby carriages or pulling them in bicycle carts. It sort of defeats the purpose of walking or running your dog, but is funny to see. The dog in the painting was one I saw from a rescue.	Sky Oil on Wood Panel 24"x18" Collection of Curt and Terri Colagross. This is a portrait of the Colagross' new pup.
Missou Oil on Canvas 20"x 20" Collection of Bob Aldendifer. A commissioned portrait to be a gift to Bob's friend Matt, of Matt's sweet boxer Missou.	Jigsaw Oil on Wood Panel 60"x60" This painting represents our life as a puzzle yet to be completed. It is only complete after we die and have nothing to add. As we progress through our personal puzzle we add pieces. Marriage, a new job, some set back. As long as we are living , we have something to add and the puzzle will remain incomplete.
Maggie Mae Oil on Canvas 20"x 24" Collection of Theresa Woodey. A commissioned portrait in memory of a beloved boxer.	Mollie in a Red Field Oil on Canvas 40"x30" Collection of Christy Quinlan. This is a painting of Mollie not doing anything in particular, just standing there. She did that sometimes, just standing, watching and studying me. The red field represents something going on inside under the surface. We can’t be sure, necessarily, what it is but something is happening in her mind as she quietly stands, watches and thinks.
The Blue Glove 40"x30" Oil on Canvas. Collection of Deanna Ruth. This painting was brought to my attention by the collector, who felt it should be in my website. Although it has been in her collection for at least 15 years, it is fun to see again and maybe you will enjoy seeing it, too. It is an allegory for "Putting on the Dog" It was to supposed look like a fashion magazine image but, no matter how you dress up a dog, they are still a dog.	Mollie as Greyfrier's Bobby Oil on Canvas 48"x48" The story of Greyfrier’s Bobby is about a policeman in Scotland who took his dog on his rounds every day. The policeman died suddenly and the dog followed the funeral procession to where the man was buried. Following the internment, the dog lay on the grave and spent the rest of his life there waiting for his master to return, This work speaks to the faithfulness of our dogs and the undying love they have for us.
Daybed Dogs Oil on Canvas 30"x40" Collection of EDCGSR. This painting is much like "The Sisterhood" in that it explores the interconnectedness of family.	Ghost of a Dog Oil on Canvas 40"x30" First award Figurative Painting 2014 KVIE Art Exhibit and Auction Collection of Christy Quinlan This is a haunting painting. Not in a scary way. It is like being haunted by a memory. Thinking about your loved ones lost. This is what this painting is about. It is about memories and how they make us feel.
Mollie in an Abstract Field Oil on Canvas 30"x40" This is a painting trying to fuse the all over subject matter of abstract expressionism with actually painting an image of a dog within it. The dog looses her edges to the abstract forms and the abstract shapes become part of the dog. Later after I painted this I learned about Hans Hoffman and that he taught others to paint in a similar manner before I was born. At the time I thought I came up with something new. Oh well,	A Reminder of Mortality Oil on Canvas 30"x40" In the Death and Remembrance paintings there are usually cypress trees in the background. Every graveyard I have ever seen had Cypresses in it. In this painting the dog thin and gaunt. Her eyes are dark and blank. The sun makes a halo around her head. This is about our pending decrepitude. We become less than what we once were, and yet, become somehow more precious, more beautiful, and more holy, because we won’t always be there.
Mollie Thinking Oil on Canvas 18"x24 Curator's Award 2011 KVIE Art exhibit and Auction Collection of D. Oldman Neath This is a painting of Mollie lying on her bed looking peaceful and thinking doggy thoughts. Dogs seem to spend a lot of time in this activity. They must be very wise.	Running for the Fences (Final Rework) Oil on Canvas 40"x30" Collection of Rob Stewart. There are ghostly outlines of a fence showing through as Mollie ran in that direction. The painting was about us thinking we are free, when we are fenced in by our duties, expectations of others and even the image we have of ourselves. It looks like she might be running toward a red mark on the canvas. That was not intentional, but after she died, some people thought she was running toward a red light. That gave the painting a whole new meaning.
Gracie Oil on Canvas 48"x48" Collection of Jill Roberts-Wilson This is Gracie just being Gracie. She loves to lie on the bed or on the floor and watch you with her face smashed flat on what ever she is lying on. If you need a deeper meaning, I guess it’s just that she is a funny girl.	Loosie in Shades of Grey Oil on Canvas 20"x20" I did a painting for a friend several years ago called, “Composition in black and white”. It was of a group of Dalmatians. I thought it was funny because the painting was very colorful, with greens, blues and some red. That painting kind of informed this one. . This is one of the “dog being a dog “ paintings, , because when we first got her, Loosie spent a lot of time on the dog bed, watching us to figure out how she fit in to this family.
Shadow Dog Oil on Canvas 40"x30" This painting is about death and remembrance. In the background are the graveyard cypress trees. The dog is there, but is not. It is just a shadow. But the love remains, represented by the heart.	Fab 4 Oil on Canvas 24"x48" Collection of Ed and Cindy Minghelli This is a commissioned portrait of 4 precious friends, gone now.
Mollie in a Stark Landscape Oil on Canvas 38"x30" The eyes are the windows of the soul. Although it looks like there is nothing going on in this painting, that is not the case. Mollie confronts the viewer and behind her appears to be a stark vacant landscape. However, the landscape is only a skin over boiling, roiling colors and obliterated images. This piece is about still waters running deep and not judging a book by it’s cover.	Rising Dog Oil on Canvas 48"x48" This painting is meant to be hung from the ceiling. From that angle, it appears that Bo is floating above you under a cathedral dome. This painting is about rising above your talents to accomplish great things.
On the wings of a Dove Oil on Canvas 60"x48" I painted this during the LA riots in the early 1990’s. You could look out over the basin and see frenetic activity with fires burning in spots here and there. It was a very disconcerting feeling. I painted the lights and activity I felt more than saw with a dog angel calmly flying above the fray. This painting says that God takes care of those without sense enough to take care of themselves.	Cheyenne and Keko Oil on Canvas 30"x40" Collection of Ben and Joyce Hoffman This is a commissioned portrait of the owners 2 precious friends, awarded to Ben Hoffman on the occassion of his retirement.
Scout Oil on Canvas 24"x24" Collection of Tom Rowe A commissioned portrait for a lost companion.	Ben Unleashed Oil on Canvas and Wood with Dog Leashes and Collar 40"x44" Ben used to run in figure eights and circles in the back yard. He would be in a hypnotic state and loose himself in that activity. He didn’t hear when you called. He wouldn’t respond to food. He was just gone. The only way you could break his trance was to catch him and touch him on his back or neck. Then he was like, “Oh, did you want something?”
Mollie Running in a Green Field 40"x30".JPG Oil on Canvas 30"x40" Collection of Anna Robinson Mollie is running in my forested back yard past some bushes, with sunlight coming through the trees and leaves of the bushes. Although taken from life they have been abstracted to an unrecognizable point and only Mollie remains visibly recognized for what she is.	Remberance Oil on Canvas 30"x40" I painted this right after Cassie died. She no longer has eyes to see me. Although she has ears, they are unhearing ears. But the love is still there in my remembrance of her, as represented by the heart.
Juno in shades of gray Oil on Canvas 20"x20" Collection of Elizabeth Allen Commissioned portrait of a special pup.	Baselitz Angel Oil on Canvas 60"x48" There was a big controversy over Georg Baslitz, a German painter who was painting expressionistic paintings upside down. Some people were calling him a fraud because he was doing work that was not really “new” and was using a formula of just paintings his subjects upside down to gain attention. He is now seen as important . This is just a comment that Georg Baselitz must have an angel watching over him and that angel would have to be upside down.
A Walk in the Park Oil on canvas with Metal Leaf 48"x60" During My Father in Law’s fight with cancer, my wife spent a lot of time helping out. It was a very intense period of our lives. One of the nice things that went on was that after work I took Mollie for a walk. We would walk through Prospect Park in Redlands and you could see Haley-Bop Comet to the north. It was a peaceful hour in a hectic time. This painting is about taking those golden moments and cherishing them while you can.	Awakening Oil on canvas with Metal Leaf 60"x40" Have you ever been disrupted during a nice nap and woken up grumpy? This painting is about both “golden” slumber and leaving sleeping dogs lie.
Turnaround Oil on Canvas 48"x60" This painting is about changing your direction. It is about making changes in your life. It also has some nice shapes and planes in the composition.	Bad Dog Mixed Media on Paper 26"x22" Collection of Tim and Julie Grotheer This painting is supposed to be a humorous look at how we deal with each other. The preacher dog is wolf like and angry looking. The dog to which the correction is being issued is a hound dog that looks sad and hang dog even with his back turned. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
A Run for the Roses Oil on Canvas, Wood, Etched Glass and Roses 43"x43" This painting is a dog running with roses . It is framed in redwood with glazed in panels on the top and bottom. A paraphrase of lines from the E.A. Housman poem, To an Athlete Dying Young, are etched the words “the glory of youth is past”, “now faded like a rose”. Behind the glass are placed rosebuds which wilt with timeThis painting is about the death of our youth and the passing of our vigor.	Up on a Pedestal 30"x 40".JPG Oil on Canvas 40"x30" Collection of Jill Dolce This painting is pretty much what the title says. It’s about putting someone on a pedestal. The dog is faded with out means of communication. All faults are eliminated and faded out. It is the myth of the individual and not the actual one.
Riptide Oil on Canvas 36"x36" This painting is an observation of how we tend to float along in life ignoring the rip tide and floating out to sea not realizing the dangers we are in. We waive to those on the shore enjoying ourselves, oblivious to what could be around the corner.	Drowning Dog Oil on Canvas 36"x 36" This painting is a companion to Riptide. After we realize we have put ourselves in danger, we suddenly thrash around struggling to save ourselves and turn our eyes heavenward crying out for help. These two paintings taken together are both an observation and a caution to look around and pay attention to what is going on, before it’s too late.

Dog Paintings​

Gracie and Loosie on a Walk Through the

30"x40" Oil on Canvas. Collection of the Artist. This is a painting from my view of walking my Dogs, Gracie and Loosie, down Pasquale Road, where I live. We all loved those walks.

Let sleeping Dogs Lie #1

Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #2.jpg

Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" Collection of Marilyn Keithley. The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #3

Oil on Canvas 30"x 40" The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #4

Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie #5

Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" Collection of Curt and Teri Colagross. The paintings in this series depict friendly or peaceful Looking dogs that are also alert and have a slight air of menace because of it. Allegorically speaking, they caution about stirring up old stuff.

Loosie Looking

Funny Dog Faces # 1

20" x 20" Oil on Canvas This series of paintings is just about capturing dogs being dogs and giving us those funny looks that make us love them so much.

Funny Dog Faces #2

20" x 20" Oil on Canvas This series of paintings is just about capturing dogs being dogs and giving us those funny looks that make us love them so much.

Funny Dog Faces #3

20" x 20" Oil on Canvas This series of paintings is just about capturing dogs being dogs and giving us those funny looks that make us love them so much.

13 Mollies

The Missing Piece

Just Waiting (Final Rework)

Let's Play

The Sisterhood

Cooper

Oil on Canvas 12"X20" Collection of Mary Harper. A portrait of a beloved pet in a favorite pose.

Well... Are You Going With Me or Not

30" x40" Oil on Linen. Collection of Allison Kozak. This painting is of Gracie giving me the impatient look she had when she was ready to go and I was waisting time doing something else, like shaking the gravel out of my shoes.

Ben Running in the Back Yard

40" x30" Oil on Canvas Collection of AnimalSave, Grass Valley, CA. This is a painting of one of my dearly departed dogs, Ben running circles and figure 8's in the backyard oblivious to all and in his own world thinking his own doggy thoughts.

Our Handsome Guy

Fred Foraging

Pleasant Puppy

Sky

Oil on Wood Panel 24"x18" Collection of Curt and Terri Colagross. This is a portrait of the Colagross' new pup.

Missou

Oil on Canvas 20"x 20" Collection of Bob Aldendifer. A commissioned portrait to be a gift to Bob's friend Matt, of Matt's sweet boxer Missou.

Jigsaw

Maggie Mae

Oil on Canvas 20"x 24" Collection of Theresa Woodey. A commissioned portrait in memory of a beloved boxer.

Mollie in a Red Field

The Blue Glove

Mollie as Greyfrier's Bobby

Daybed Dogs

Oil on Canvas 30"x40" Collection of EDCGSR. This painting is much like "The Sisterhood" in that it explores the interconnectedness of family.

Ghost of a Dog

Mollie in an Abstract Field

A Reminder of Mortality

Mollie Thinking

Oil on Canvas 18"x24 Curator's Award 2011 KVIE Art exhibit and Auction Collection of D. Oldman Neath This is a painting of Mollie lying on her bed looking peaceful and thinking doggy thoughts. Dogs seem to spend a lot of time in this activity. They must be very wise.

Running for the Fences (Final Rework)

Gracie

Oil on Canvas 48"x48" Collection of Jill Roberts-Wilson This is Gracie just being Gracie. She loves to lie on the bed or on the floor and watch you with her face smashed flat on what ever she is lying on. If you need a deeper meaning, I guess it’s just that she is a funny girl.

Loosie in Shades of Grey

Shadow Dog

Oil on Canvas 40"x30" This painting is about death and remembrance. In the background are the graveyard cypress trees. The dog is there, but is not. It is just a shadow. But the love remains, represented by the heart.

Fab 4

Oil on Canvas 24"x48" Collection of Ed and Cindy Minghelli This is a commissioned portrait of 4 precious friends, gone now.

Mollie in a Stark Landscape

Rising Dog

Oil on Canvas 48"x48" This painting is meant to be hung from the ceiling. From that angle, it appears that Bo is floating above you under a cathedral dome. This painting is about rising above your talents to accomplish great things.

On the wings of a Dove

Cheyenne and Keko

Oil on Canvas 30"x40" Collection of Ben and Joyce Hoffman This is a commissioned portrait of the owners 2 precious friends, awarded to Ben Hoffman on the occassion of his retirement.

Scout

Oil on Canvas 24"x24" Collection of Tom Rowe A commissioned portrait for a lost companion.

Ben Unleashed

Mollie Running in a Green Field 40"x30".JPG

Remberance

Oil on Canvas 30"x40" I painted this right after Cassie died. She no longer has eyes to see me. Although she has ears, they are unhearing ears. But the love is still there in my remembrance of her, as represented by the heart.

Juno in shades of gray

Oil on Canvas 20"x20" Collection of Elizabeth Allen Commissioned portrait of a special pup.

Baselitz Angel

A Walk in the Park

Awakening

Oil on canvas with Metal Leaf 60"x40" Have you ever been disrupted during a nice nap and woken up grumpy? This painting is about both “golden” slumber and leaving sleeping dogs lie.

Turnaround

Oil on Canvas 48"x60" This painting is about changing your direction. It is about making changes in your life. It also has some nice shapes and planes in the composition.

Bad Dog

Dog Paintings