Thursday, October 20, 2011

DOGS




Sketches and watercolor washes...
trying to put ideas down quickly ...
not worrying about perfection...
just in having a good time, just like dogs. 




A protector...




an entertainer and companion...




... loyal...




... interested in every-little-single-thing-that-you-say and do




 ... never argues or complains...



...best friend...




"A Dog has the Soul of a Philosopher"........ Plato


...crazy to see you again
even if it was only 5 minutes ago that you left the room...

....and always ready to go
before you even know you are.

Our New Copper and Sterling Silver Dog earrings inspired by our gang
...simple little design of dogs with curly tails

Tabitha    
... alias the Queen... Miss Energy... see how high I can jump...
what's you wanna do now Butch, huh, huh?? come on, lets go, come on, come on!

Gabi  
... alias Shy-girl, Sweetheart, sleepy-head, lover not a fighter..
her motto to a thief: here's where the good stuff is, I gotta go back to bed.

Pirate  
... alias Stinky, need I say more..  super-sensitive, super-smart, likes to steal...  
oh and his feelings get hurt very easily..




Tobi  
...alias Bouncer,  Mr. Runaway Hobo, happy go lucky.. 
...come whenever I feel like it, but that's OK isn't it?




and if you like a few laughs.. check out Andy Rooney ... 
He prefers dogs to people.... and  he is funny.


... Dog Portrait Photos by my son, Max Ackerson...  September 2011


*in memory ... about a week after this post,  Andy Rooney passed away.. 
 I was very sad to hear this.. I always enjoyed his "Rants".  He will be missed by many.


25 comments:

Oldfool said...

I don't prefer people over anything. There are specific persons I would put at the top of the list, however I would prefer dogs over people generally.

Seth said...

I love the different personalities of the dogs that you captued so well here.

Joanna said...

The sketches are beautiful and I know how difficult because dogs never really stop moving. You've captured them so well. I especially love the protector and the one who is ready to go. Your gang is gorgeous.

Owen said...

Loving your sketches as only a dog lover can...

Are you familiar by any chance with Elliott Erwitt's dog photos ? Perhaps the best dog photographer ever... just google Elliott Erwitt Dogs, and click the images tab...

And then of course, Pink Floyd's epic song "Dogs" on the Animals album.

Nothing like the faithful company of a friendly dog.

Penny said...

Love the dogs. quick sketches and actual. Had to laugh, I have a daughter called Tabitha and she has a daughter called Gaby!

Carol Steel said...

The sketches and photos do a superb job of capturing the various personalities of your dog companions. Animals seem more honest than people, don't they?
Hope you're enjoying fall in your glorious location!

Gwen Buchanan said...

OF... we agree! the world hasn't found a cure for the Human race yet.

Thank you Seth... I never realized how different their personalities were till we had 4 at the same time.. very different!! and definitely a pecking order too..

Joanna, Thanks.. I don't know what we would do without them.. it sure would be empty. I mean, who would take us for a walk?

Owen.. Elliot Erwitt's dogs and photography is amazing... Love them he really picks out the character of each one. Just listened to Pink Floyd again... forgot how much I liked them.. and the meaning behind that song makes you think..

Penny, That is so cute.. Our postmaster is also named Tabitha.. She didn't know what to think when she heard our dogs name was the same as hers.. But we didn't want to change it cause she had it when we got her at 1 1/2 yrs old.. have had her, Tobi and Pirate for about 6 years now. Gabi has been with us only 3 yrs.

Carol.. you're right they don't hide their emotions!! It is a gorgeous day today.. we deserve it after all that rain... oh well I guess it fills up the water table for the winter.

Steven Cain said...

My favorite subject!

Four! I'd have four dogs. But somebody doesn't like to share me.

Wonderful drawings and photos!

Priya Sebastian said...

Gwen, everything you do, your blog, your house, jewellery, paintings...everything you do is very very classy.
These sketches are great.

...And the skull keeps inviting me to stare at it some more.

Guillaume said...

I am more of a cat person, but I love happy dogs. And I love the pictures and the drawings.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Yeah, you're right Steven, dogs do get possessive of people (and things) they love... But they would all learn to share you!!

pRiyA, You are way too kind.. you should see the huge messes I make.. no, maybe not..

Guillaume, I have been doing more loose sketches of cats, I'll post some of them soon.
..... there does seem to be definite Dog vs Cat people doesn't there.

Lynne with an e said...

These are delightful studies! You've captured so much character and life with each one. They'd be great illustrations in a kids' book, too. Oh I do remember the welcoming committing of barking dogs up on the hill, one day last autumn. Definitely a lively crew.
Am looking forward to seeing your cat sketches now; leaning more towards a preference for felines, myself.

Deborah Carr said...

Oh! The spirit and joyous abandon. We love dogs because they love us first. You've captured so much character with a few thoughtful strokes.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks Louciao, So you are a Cat woman!!... I am real sorry I missed you that day... Hope the dogs didn't scratch your car.

Thanks Deborah, there is so much to be said about a dog we have barely scratched the surface... sure would be a strange place without them.

jerilanders said...

I have just read through several of your posts and visited the remarkable HOUSE/ Gallery you created. What a wild and beautiful world you live in.
The Bayous Tapestry video was a treat! The tapestry has been of interest to me for many years..the meaning is made wonderfully clear with the added animation.

pauline said...

i hadn't visited in a while... Pirate is absolutely adorable. :-)

mycuriousteaparty said...

Hi Gwen

You've captured the very essence of your dogs.. I'm amazed tht you can get anything on paper when your model is wiggling all the time..

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Jeri, Thanks so much.. ... I have always loved the Bayeaux Tapestry since the first time I saw pictures of it in a National Geographic magazine.. it is Amazing isn't it!!

Pauline.. Pirate's also known as Capt.PP... but he is a cutie...

Julie, Dogs are pretty whimsical characters just being who they are. Just wish they could talk!

Acornmoon said...

You have captured the Joie de Vie of dogs in your drawings and photographs.

How can you bear to part with your lovely house, I want it! All I need now is for my six numbers to come up on our National Lottery!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks Valerie, its not easy to part with but being artists it is our only pension when we plan to retire.... I am sure it will take a few years.

Ruth said...

Oh your playful pen. Gwen and the playful pen has a nice ring.

How do dogs manage to be so consistently happy to see us? It really is extraordinary, but not for them, I guess.

All the dog shots make me smile, but Tobi the Hobo is too precious.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Cute, Ruth... I guess they really like to show their appreciation.. so the feelings are mutual...
...and each of their personalities are so unique.. I feel lucky to have been able to see this for myself.

Debbi said...

Love the sketches and love the photos.
The quick drawings have a wonderful spirit and energy and would make great book illustrations. Also love your dogs names and personality descriptions. . . . Pirate's feelings are easily hurt? Interesting. They all look so loved and happy. Cheers!

A Heron's View said...

Sorry for not having visited in awhile, have been wrapped up in other things.

Pirate looks similar to our Toby with the same temperament, I think perhaps Toby is larger as he weighs about 50lb and is 22 inches at the shoulder.

Like very much your sketches.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Debbi ... oh my gosh yes, Pirate is so sensitive.. being a second hand dog I don't know what ever happened to him in his previous life but we have to be so careful about how we talk to him or he gets his feeling so hurt and and his body language shows how bad he feels .. so we always have to be very gentle with him.. he is a great little dog tho... so alert and aware.. and it has makes us realize how intelligent dogs are..

Hi Heron's View.. so cool you have a dog named Toby that acts like Pirate.. the world is a small place isn't it? oh yes, you're Toby is bigger... Pirate is the smallest, only barely 15 lbs. but he thinks he is the biggest ... Dogs are great aren't they?