Art accepted

 

 

This picture I donated to raise money for the North American Bear Center.  It sold for $70.  So far my 2 donated art works have sold for a total of  $ 170.    Not bad for an untrained artist.  Along with the sale I received lots of nice compliments.         

Donations sell

So far I have donated 2 drawings to friends of NABC.  Both have sold. The first large framed print was of a bear at sunset.  It was sold at a silent auction late in the summer of 2012, This past weekend I sold an 8 x 10 of the founder of the NABC (North American Bear Center) and a black bear.   Dr. Rogers signed the iamge and was very impressed.  The sale of the 2 images has netted $175 for the near center.  WOW  In the mean time can do canines has agreed to use my donated drawings of it's graduates and dogs in the organizations news letter.  I know all this work is graatus but it gets my name out there.  Besides I can't give any money, so It's great to be able to give some of my time.

Possible donation

I produced another drawing for a possible donation for can do canines.  My hope is to produce the artwork for a calendar.  The sale of this calendar could then be used to raise funds.

Donation sells
A little while back I donated a print to the NABC. 
"Bear at Sunrise" sold for over 100 dollars. Thus encouraging me to continue drawing.  Right or wrong I still have lots of breeds to go!  I have for sale more than 50 now.  Click on my labeled logo to go to my website where you can purchase a print. I also have sold several custom prints.  I would like to sell more however so if you like what you see...

I may get an assist dog.  This pup could help me with mobility issues.  I hope to be able to help the dog's supplier by donating prints of their Dogs.  "Can do canines" is an awesome organization that provides challenged folks in the upper midwest with fully trained assist dogs.

As with most blogs it's beeen a long time since I last posted.  Is open heart surgery an excuse?  Well it's part of mine.  Late in april, I was at our cabin for the weekend and having more trouble than usual breathing.  My wife ( Thank you hon) suggested we stop at the hospital on our way home.  Being the typical macho male I said "no".  But halfway home I was having so much trouble breathing I agreed to stop ny and have them check me out.

They admitted me, and knocked me out for a few days.  I had a valve that needed replacing plus  afib.  Almost a week later they operated...  7 . 5 hours  and replaced my defective valve.  Here now 2 months later I'm feeling better than I have in years.

Whooping Cranes

My friend has a huge lens and a high resolution camera and took these pictures at StMarks Jan 30 2012.    She was a very long way from the cranes, but I love the idea that you can now see cranes in the wild at St Marks NWR.  YEA OM!!!!!!!!!!

POTUS

OK...so this isn't one of my Dog pictures.  But I loved this drawing I did so I had to include it on my blog.  Enjoy.

Back home

We're back home after a trip to Florida.  I've had several health episodes along the way and we may be rethinking the dog adoption.  I have a cardiologist apointment tomorrow that should tell us a lot (hopefully) about my current condition. If I can control my symptoms better the adoption is still on.  KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED for o so many reasons.

REX

Rex's foster had a mom had a great suggestion.  We are sending  a towel and a toy so he can get used to our scent.  (thanks mp)  It looks like we will see him and probably pick him up mid January.  I sure hope the weather holds up.

Akita

I'm pretty happy with this akita.  It took about 6 hours to draw,  that is fairly common when I add this much detail.  I'm still having fun.  I will be off line for a few days starting friday.  It will give me a chance to refresh and start anew with a fresh perspective.  I hope that somebody out ther likes my drawings.

I drew this guy last night.  Some days when I'd get home from Junior High, we'd have a St Bernard sleeing on our front porch.  He wait for me to give him a little scratch then move on.  I never did figure out where he lived.

News on print auction

I heard from Operation Migration today.  My print will not be auctioned off until spring.  I was hoping that the auction might generate a little interest in my drawings.  I enjoy doing them so much I was encouaged to believe I could supplement my income with my art.  It looks as though that was pie in the sky thinking, although admittedly not many people have seen them. 

Donation auction

I found out todaythat the auctioning off of my Whooping Crane picture will not take place until spring.  Sigh.  I was hoping I could generate some interest in my sales site.  I wish I could make that work.

Added faces

I've added a few more dogs to my Furriends store.  Check out the Mastiff,  It is awesome, you might want to invest in a poster while the art is not expensive.  Also just added was the Newfoundland water dog.  Do you own one of these dogs?  Let me know what you think.

Good News

We think we found a dog!!

He's a small springer-beagle cross.  Basically he's a springer with short hair,black and white, 43 pounds.

Down side is he's about 15 hours away.  We'll make the drive though in January.

He's in Foster care right now.  He's being cared for by a wonderful family that we've spoken to on the phone. He was found abandoned in a farmhouse.  Poor guy was so scared that the animal control officer had to climb under a deck to retrieve him.  He's coming along well and has no social or medical issues.  We think he's between 2 and 5.  More soon.

We heard from ESRA

I got a call this afternoon from a very sweet lady. Sharon of the ESRA illinois. We didcusssed my limitations and dog choices.  It seems her husband has MS too so she is familiar with balance problems.  The dog in question was too big and too active for me, we decided.  It was 70 lbs and had a habit of jumping up on people.  that was totally not what I needed.

She was aware of another dog...only 32 pounds, very mellow, foster mom would deliver from MO.  No charge.  Sounds good?  Well... 8 years old sort of a strike not out, diabetes.. uh oh.. missing one eye,  poor girl.  Well shes out, too much commitment for this old handicapped man.  Most of the work would fall on my wifes shoulders and I can't do that to her.  She already takes care of me, runs errands for my mom, and works full time.

So, the look continues.  I know we'll find a match soon.  Until then I'll just have to be content drawing dogs.

Oh btw, speaking of drawing dogs,  I got my calander from Zazzle today.  The one with the dogs that I drew.  VERY COOL!!  It came out looking great with portraits so good there are 12 pieces of art.

Still no word.

Still no word from ESRA.  sigh.  I'm still drawing dogs like crazy,  approx  2 a day.

Today I did a would be customer dry run.  Some-one... no names... sent me a photo to create a picture from.  It took about 3 hours and the person was satisfied.  Here is her reaction  "Holy cow you're QUICK!

I love it! I thought it would be difficult to draw given that she's so dark. It certainly is difficult to get a decent photo of her."

I'm impressed!

Thanks so much :-)

 

1st satisfied "customer".

Looking for a dog

I've had several dogs in my life including 2 Springer Spaniels.  My first family dog as a child was a springer. SAM.  Sam was more than a handfull for me as a young whipper snapper.  He'd pull me down to the vacant lot nearby every morning to do his business.I tried real hard to shirk that responsability but still we bonded.

Much later in life a second springer came into my life.  He was an abused dog that came looking for a good home.  Rocky was the best dog I've ever shared my life with.  He's been gone over a decade but still people talk about him.  He was a gentle soul with everyone he met. 

Rocky loved cheese.  Boy did he love cheese.  We lived in a rural area where he was free to roam.  No matter how far away he was he'd always come running when I went outside and shook his cheese slicer.  It made a tiny ratteling noise, but he'd hear it every time.

This is why we are investigating rescueing a springer spaniel.  We researched online and have found several candidates.  We've been approved for adoption by the "English Springer Rescue Association or ERSA.  Due to my handicapp we are looking for a mellow dog and so the search continues.  I hope to log more here soon.