Marker and color pencil on tan Crescent board, about 11″ x 8″. Reference photo by Gin Marks.

My husband and I originally had two chihuahuas (Samantha and Peanut). Then, we also adopted a lab-shephard mix named Indiana (a long story). Indie was smaller than the chihuahua’s when she came to live with us and always thought she was one of them even though she eventually grew to 85 pounds. She was the “bridge” between our chihuahua’s and our current miniature pinchers. She passed away about a year ago at nearly 15 years of age … a good long life for a big girl. I cried most of the time I was reading “Marley and Me” because it sounded as if they were describing Indie exactly (right down to her extreme fear of thunder storms)! So, okay, that’s enough background. Now, this is how we got to where we are today …

After Peanut and then Sammie passed away, Indie was pretty lonely. I had my mind set on getting a little papillon from a local breeder. About that same time, Rick fell madly in love with a feisty little female min-pin in the pet store. He was very persuasive, I eventually gave in, and Sophie came to live with us. A year or so later, my sister called me from the animal inn where she works. A woman who sometimes boarded her male min-pin at the inn was getting a divorce and was looking for a good family to take the dog. She was willing to give up the dog and all his things (dog crate, toys, food, etc.) at no cost. We had never had a male dog and had no plans to ever get one. But, when I mentioned this story to my husband, he decided to go for a visit one Friday on his way home from work “just to check things out.” After waiting at home for some time, I called my sister to ask if Rick had left there … that’s when she told me that they were on their way home. When they arrived, he assured me that it was just a trial visit and the dog would go back on Monday. As you can probably guess, Joey never left our home.

Sophie and Joey have been virtually inseparable since that day forward. We call them my bookends because I always have one on each side whenever I’m sitting down – Joey on my left, Sophie on my right. There were some growing pains in the early days. Joey suffered from separation anxiety – mistook a leather sofa for a giant chew toy, chewed the corners off of all our decorative pillows, little things like that. But, we’ve come a long way since then, and the positives far outweigh the negatives. – Gin

Thanks for sharing, Gin! I’ll be drawing Sophie eventually, so everyone will be able to meet both of your dogs.

Color pencils on pearl Mi Teintes paper, about 7.2″ x 7.2″. Reference photo by Rhona.

Meet Rhuari, a British Dachsie living in Liverpool UK. He’s a Cream Brindle Mini Longhair. I have had Rhuari since he was 9 weeks old but first saw him at a day old. He turned 2yrs. old in June and is my constant companion except when I am in work and he stays with my Mum and her dachsie Penny round the corner.

He is very intelligent and understands what I say to him, he has my Mum and I roaring with laughter, I’ll say to him “are you tired” – he’ll blink sleepily,”are you very tired” – he’ll yawn, it works every time. Mention any food he recognises like CHEESE, BISCUITS or DINNIES and he licks his lips. I think he has been here before.

He is very loving, likes to be as near me as possible, and lies on the computer table by me when I am surfing the net. – Rhona

Thanks Rhona – I’ve never seen that coloring before – wow! He is a very striking and handsome dog.

Col-Erase black pencil on cream Canson paper, about 7.6″ x 9.5″. Reference photo by Katie.

When we adopted Murray he wasn’t much to look at. His coat lacked sheen, he had dried slobber all over him, eye goobers caked in the corners of his eyes, he was scrawny, skiddish, and heartworm positive.

In fact, when my husband and I got him home, we worried we had made a mistake in adopting him. We couldn’t take him back though, who else would’ve taken him in?

So my family kept him, and became very attached. Even my other dog, Bonsai, a snotty alpha dog with a bad disposition grew to love him.

Now, 6 months later Murray is a full-fledged member of our pack. A good, consistant diet and regular brushing has filled him out and made his coat shine. He’s confident, happy, and best of all healthy and heartworm negative. The slobber and eye goobers are still there. But now, they’re endearing.

This particular shot of Murray was taken after his first trip to the groomers. I took him for a bath and brush the day after he was declared heartworm free to celebrate. Upon getting home, the first thing he did with his beautiful self was to roll in the grass and dirt. But at least he did it with a big ol’ grin (I know they say dogs don’t smile, but can you really look at the picture and tell me otherwise?). – Cheers, Katie

Thanks, Katie. Murray definitely has great smile!

Spent part of this morning at the vets with Rusty – he’s been getting sick frequently. Our vet is great, she’s extremely thorough and she’s confident it’s only a mild case of gastro intestinitis. He’s doing just fine and we spent some quality time this evening before I started drawing. It was really special when I brought him home – he went and curled up with Bandit, using Bandit’s forepaw as a pillow! I’ll have to draw them the next time I see them in that pose…

Brush pen on Strathmore watercolor paper, about 7″ x 9″. Reference photo by Kristi.

I learned about Chyanne through an email I received in a group I belong to called The Dane Train. She was in a kill shelter in Elizabeth City, NC where she was an owner turn in. I heard the plea for her life (she was slated to be euthanized within days) and spoke to my area director for great dane rescue and within a few days, Chyanne was picked up by my husband, my mother in law and myself. I wish so badly I had taken pictures of this poor girl. She weighed maybe 105 pounds … you could count her ribs and back bones with no problem. She suffered calluses on her elbows and bum from where she had been exposed to constant pressure on hard surfaces. Her tail was weeping pus and blood where it had been broken a few times from what they call happy tail. She had never been taken in to have it properly taken care of until she had been given to the pound. Her intake story is even sadder. She had been picked up as a stray in a city down the road from us called Chesapeake, VA. There a family adopted her. Within a month they moved and apparently Chyanne (her name at the time was Beauty which was an oxymoron at the time, the poor girl!) didn’t fit their manner of living. She was left in their apartment .. abandoned in their bathroom. Horrible as that is, they left her no food and no water other than the toilet. Great Danes can empty out a toilet bowl in one drink. It was four days before the apartment manager found her. They called the Sheriff who in turn contacted the pound and then located the family who abandoned her to get permission to give her to the pound and find her a new family. It was fortunate that the pound had her and someone in the group had heard about her and passed on an email to the rest of us in the group. It was at that time both of our lives took a turn for the best. She found a forever home where she was well loved and I was blessed to have her in my life. She learned to trust a man (although she was always very protective of her mom, sometimes trying to protect her in the dark even if it was dad) and play with him. She learned to play with toys in general. She gained 35 pounds, a beautiful shiny coat, and a well padded bed so that hair even started growing back on some of those hard calluses and her bum. She learned what it was like to be a well loved member of a family who would not abandon her. Unfortunately, God felt he needed her more. She passed away prior to Christmas on Dec 17th. We still do not know what it was that took her from us as the cytology capsule was bad and could not be processed. Her passing left a great big hole in my heart which I don’t think will ever be filled. It gets easier with the passing of time but I still miss her sooooo much! It is this I share with you in hopes that you will show her outer beauty to the world. I gave her the name Chyanne because she was a wild child … I called her my wild Indian. I gave her the middle name of Hope because even through all the horrible things she had in her past, she seemed to carry the joy of life and the eternal hope of love and happiness with her new family. She always had a wag in her tail and a kiss to give her mom. She loved me as much as I loved her. – Kristi

Thanks for sharing a wonderful dog and heartfelt story with us, Kristi.

Color pencils on pearl Mi Teintes paper, about 7.5″ x 10.7″. Reference photo by Sarah.

Storm (then known as “Orly”) was rescued from a shelter in Slidell, LA following Hurricane Katrina. The Carolinas Bearded Collie Club took him in and contacted me, knowing that I was looking for my first Beardie and that he would be the perfect dog for me. I brought him home on September 24th – which happens to be when the eye of hurricane Rita made landfall in Texas.

Storm is the most fascinating dog I have ever met. He is intensely observant and keen: a clever fellow who picks up on the subtlest changes in his environment. He is also a sensitive guy and highly attuned to his Person. While not immediately apparent, his sensitivity and intelligence come with a very definite stubborn streak. Fortunately, I am just as sensitive, stubborn, and hopefully as intelligent as he is, so we have fun matching wits. – Sarah

Thank you for sharing. Sarah. You take some very fine photographs – Storm looks like a pro at posing for you. Beautiful dog!

Black marker and brush pen on cream Mi Teintes paper, about 10.5″ x 8.5″. Reference photo by Kathy.

Chico belonged to the next door neighbors, but we loved him as our own. My favorite Chico story is of his encounter with a muskrat. Living on a lake, we get all kinds of varmits – water snakes, muskrats, etc. A muskrat is a very destructive water rat. Occasionally, my husband does his Elmer Fudd imitation and with shotgun in hand tries to kill the muskrats. When hit, they will dive under and try to make it back to their underground den.One summer day, we saw Chico tugging fiercly at something by the water. Upon further investigation, the bloated, and very dead muskrat was being pulled out of his hole by our hero. After successfully freeing the rat from its den, we were all strock by the horrible stench. Chico spent the rest ot the day wiping his nose on the grass to try to get rid of the smell. He was a joy! – Kathy and Mac

Thanks for sharing Kathy and Mac! This one just had to be a graphic black and white, it suited the high contrast of the sun and shadow. Now that I look at the art, it reminds of the the “RCA Dog” – the one looking into the old Victrola. The RCA dog’s name is Nipper – I didn’t know that until I just did some quick research. And the logo was originally from the Victor company, which RCA bought out… okay, you guys can use Google too!

Colored pencils and crayons, about 8″ x 7.75″. Reference photo by Mary.

When my other dachshund, Brandy, was 10 months old, I decided to get a second one…for Brandy as much as for me.  I got Amy when she was 4 1/2 months old from a dachshund breeder who was a close friend of Brandy’s breeder.  As soon as Amy was placed in my arms, she covered my face with dachsie kisses!  Well it was love at first sight!  I brought her home and walked into my living room, placed her on the floor and Brandy came over with tail wagging and gave Amy a sniff.  Amy and Brandy bonded immediately.  Although Amy is smaller than Brandy, she can hold her own against the rambunctious, “in-your-face, I want to play” Brandy!  When they are both in the backyard, Brandy is busy sniffing and looking for lizards, while Amy is patrolling the fence line and barking at the least bit of noise!  Getting the second dog was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.  They both love to snuggle and I see the love they share.  You can’t have just one dachsie, they are addictive! – Mary

When Mary told me Amy is a healthy 6 pounds, I was amazed! Rusty is SUPPOSED to be a miniature Dachshund, but at 17 pounds (he’s not overweight), he’s in the “tweenie” category. Thanks Mary!

Stabilo All black pencil with water wash, about 7.3″ x 7.7″. Reference photo provided by Roger (my nephew).

Noodles was the first dog I remember our family having. I was only 2-3 years old when we got him, and 7-8 when he was no longer with us. I can’t remember much, i don’t even know is he was given away, died or what, maybe one of my siblings can comment on that. Noodles was a full-sized Dachshund and, judging from this photo, a cute little puppy! I can only recall second-hand stories about him. My favorite – my Dad got Noodles a dog house from Mexico (we lived in El Paso Texas at the time). He was an “outside” dog and so he got this nice all wooden doghouse. He completely tore that house apart board by board in less than one week! Tough little guy… I wish that he had been inside, more a part of the family, but, being 3 or so, I didn’t have much say in the matter!

I need to thank Roger for digging up this rare photo of Noodles! He also gave me a photo of MY first dog, Taco – I’ll get to it eventually!

New media on this one – a Stabilo ALL pencil that draws like a soft 2-B but you can use a barely dampened brush to do a wash effect. Hard to control and get verious tones, but it’s fun so I’ll be trying it again.

Brush pen on natural Canson paper, about 8″ x 9″. Reference photo by Amber.

This picture was taken when Oreo was first acquainted to our weekly tradition of visiting the beach. “Cookies” joined our family about a year ago and up till this day he stays by my side night and day. Since being by my side doesn’t easily make for good camera poses, this picture was taken after I sprinted across the beach and waited for him to prance like a cute duckling toward me. As that winter winded down he learned to enjoy himself with his new sister and was barreling across the sand with exciting games of chase and roughhousing. Now that summer has set in he’d rather cuddle with his mom under the shade while Sister fetches endlessly. Every season has brought so many memories, and I can’t wait to go make some more! – Amber

I needed some brush pen therapy and this photo had so many nice wavy lines I had to give it a try.

Black Col-Erase pencil on Strathmore watercolor paper, about 8.5″ x 7.5′. Reference photo by Lori.

This is Missy. She is Thorny Rose’s sister and the queen of the house. She is as close to human as imaginable. She is momma’s girl and my constant shadow. She loves everyone she meets and they love her. She is 4 years old and gives joy to our lives. – Lori

Thanks Lori, that’s another sweet dog you have! Love her wide-eyed expression…

I am later than usual with the sketch today – I decided to get some sleep before finishing this one. So if you’re an early bird (or very late night owl), sorry about that!

Color pencils on tan Mi Teintes paper, about 6″ x 6.5″. Reference photo by Becksterb.

Bailey or “Beckster’s Bama Dog Bailey Lou”, is a purebred AKC Labrador Retriever bred from a wonderful sire and dam in Alabama. Although she is technically a yellow lab, her color variation is “fox red”. (Bailey prefers the term “strawberry blonde”, with sunlight colored highlights.) Bailey found me on New Year’s Day, 2006, when my roommates convinced me to take a road trip to just look at some puppies…out of the four females, Bailey was the smallest blur of fur and had the only black nose. It was no contest, done deal, no mas, etc. I gave them a deposit and was about to become a puppy mommy again! I lost the most wonderful black lab, Savannah Mae, about five years ago at the age of 13 and I was not really sure I could get attached to another lab. Savannah was the dog every one wishes their dog could be–of course, she was a perfect angel right from the start, ok–almost. My roommates knew how much I missed the old girl and thought it was time for me to get another pup. In just a moment of weakness, I fell for that puppy breath and chubby tummy. Well, let’s just say I had forgotten how much time, effort and emotion is exerted in raising a puppy. I know, it will all be forgotten and only the “good dog” tugs at your heart…memories can be cruel.

Bailey is becoming the dog that I needed and subconsciously wanted, not a replacement for Savannah–rather a beautiful girl in her own right. Bailey is not the most graceful young lady, nor has she conquered the finer points of “inside behavior”– but she does give me at least a thousand reasons a day to laugh and smile. She has always been the photogenic little ham—The first three photos above are just a mere glimpse into the devilish imp behind those sad brown eyes…she can be quite independent and stubborn. The bottom three are self descriptive…what can I say?? It was the start of a wonderful friendship—hopefully for the next 100 years:) – Becksterb

Bailey is a beautiful Golden… um… Strawberry Blonde! Classic Lab all the way! Thanks for sharing, Beckster.

ATTENTION! – I am running behind in replying to some emails, so please bare with me for a couple days. If you haven’t heard back from me yet, you will soon!

Color pencils on lavender Crescent board, about 9.5″ x 9″. Reference photo provided by TJ, Jessi, & Sunny.

Daisy May White – 7-20-2002 / 6-26-2006

Happy 4th Birthday Daisy! We miss you!

Daisy May White made a huge impression on our lives from the first moment we saw her. From the moment we laid eyes on her, we were in love. Daisy was a sassy little girl that gave nothing but unconditional love to her family. She had no idea how small she was because her attitude was so big. Daisy loved to be outside basking in the warm sun and if inside always wanted to be on your lap. When she was excited, her tail and butt would wiggle so fast that we sometimes called her “wiggle butt”. Daisy was our daughter, princess, and most of all, FRIEND. We were so lucky to have been a part of her life, short, as it may have been, but lucky. She was one of a kind and will never be forgotten. R.I.P baby girl, we love you and will join you again one day on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. – Love, Mom, Dad, & Sunny

Breaks my heart to hear she left you so soon in your life together. I am so sorry for your loss…

Neocolor crayons and color pencils on black Strathmore, about 8″ x 8″. Reference photo by Karen.

A close friend of ours whom we help a lot found out that I had always wanted an English Bulldog so she decided to get me one for my Birthday. Well needless to say, my husband said “NO BULLDOG”. He didn’t find them appealing. Yep, I got my Bullie anyway and now my husband and her are the best of friends. Roxie, like most Bulldogs is a little clown. She never fails to make us laugh and everywhere we take her we make friends because our dog demands attention, she doesn’t care who you are, your her bestest friend in the whole world. We are very lucky to have her in our lives. – Karen

Thanks Karen, Roxie is beautiful. I love the photo you sent in, the lighting instantly grabbed my attention.

Color pencils and crayons on black Stratjmore, about . Reference photo by Theresa.

Cujo is a Maltese. He was born with one paw missing. The breeder was putting him down at 3 months old because no one wanted him. I took him in and he is 7 months old now. He has the missing paw, and his eyes have a different pigmentation. One eye has the black around it and the other has pink so it looked like one eye was bigger than the other (it is cute because it’s like a cartoon dog). The ironic thing about it all is that he is gorgeous and white as could be. He is now sorta popular in the area and his photos are up at two different stores. That lady hates me now but that is OK.

He is not a foo fooi Maltese but if you would like to try to draw him, like the cover photo. (also attached) I would be interested in your interpretation.. I have not found an artist that has yet to capture what I am looking to frame. His personality is spunky, bossy and definitely not a lap dog. Loveable and kisses , yet a crazy running puppy! – Theresa

He really is adorable and I hope I succeeded in capturing his true personality. What an awesome little guy – hard to believe he was almost put down. Great save Theresa! Thanks for sharing.

Color pencils on sand Mi Tientes paper, about 10.5″ x 9″. Reference photo provided by Deb.

Ollie is our “first born” pup. We bred our male with one of a local breeders females and he was our pick of the litter. At that time we were only “owned” by his dad, Mikey. But soon the obsession grew. Ollie was such a joy to raise that others soon followed. We are now owned by 7 adorable doxies all with different personalities. Ollie is “Dad’s” baby though. Dad picked him out of the litter of three and they have been inseparable ever since. Everywhere Dad goes Ollie must go, too. He is Dad’s shadow. He also has the most expressive face. This pose is one of our favorites. All you have to do is say anything to Ollie and that head tilts to the side like he’s trying really hard to figure out what exactly you’re saying. He is a precious boy at 18 months old and one of the loves of our lives! – Deb

Thanks for sharing, Deb. Love his expression and this is such an unusual pose…

Carbon pencil on Canson cream drawing paper, about 6.5″ x 7″. reference photo provided by Becky.

The Budster was thirteen years old and a real sweetie. Unfortunately, he recently became very sick with heart troubles. Buddie’s Mom stayed with him through a rough fight, but sadly he died in her arms Friday morning, June 30th. I guess there was something about the Budman that just made you wanna hug on him–I know his family really loved him. He was listed as a pound mutt/collie-shepherd mix, but I think he was 100 % pure sweetheart–so just a suggestion for another dog of the day. – Becky

Becky, thank you for sharing Buddie’s story with me. It’s heartbreaking in one sense and heartwarming in another – seeing how many folks have offered their thoughts and prayers to Buddie’s family (click here to see Buddie’s Dogster page). Once again, I hope my sketch of Buddie D. Smith can bring some joy to his loving family.

This is a quick sketch from a small picture from Buddie’s Dogster page. I tried out a new pencil I just purchased – a carbon pencil. It’s smoother than a charcoal pencil but much more bold (rich) than graphite and without the graphite sheen. I need to play with it some more, but I like it so far.

Pencil on Strathmore watercolor paper, about 7.25″ x 8.5″. Reference photo by Tom.

During the hot summer in Louisiana, Bear would listen for the familiar sound of the ice cream truck.  We lived in a rural area and the truck only came around about once a week.  Of course, WE didn’t have to listen because when Bear heard the ice cream truck, he would squeal and cry to let us know it was coming.  When it came close to the house, Bear would come get us and lead us out front and dance on his hind legs (Bear was a big boy so this was no small task.)  He would be rewarded with a Popsicle.  Bear was our “Duffy” and our special dog that dog lovers seem to experience only once in a lifetime. – Tom

My brother-in-law, Tom, is having a birthday today, so I thought Bear Dog should greet him this morning… Tom has been SO supportive of my work on this project (and my life in general) and he is a flop-on-the-floor-and-play-with-the-dogs kind of guy, I figured he deserved a sketch of one of his best friends! Happy birthday, Bubba.

India ink, color pencils and crayons on Crescent board, about 10″ x 8.4″. Reference photo by Quinn.

Isabella, better known as Izzy, is a 4 month old female Chihuahua and the real ruler of the house. She rules her brother Tucker with an iron paw. – Quinn

What a great expression! This little pup might weigh 2 pounds but add on another 50 or so in attitude! Thanks for sharing Quinn.

Pencil on Strathmore watercolor paper, about 10.2″ x 7.25″. Reference photo by Peggy.

Buddy is part Springer Spaniel and Lab. He is 7 years old and is the light of our lives. He has had both of his ACL’s replaced because he is a big boy, and like most springer spaniels, he likes to jump. However, having Lab in him, his size is larger, so there is the knee damage. He has always thought he was a lap dog and loves people, all sizes and shapes. The only problem we have is that when friends and family come through the door, he wants to be all over them and with his size, it is a little overwhelming. He can hear when one of our children’s cars is coming around the corner and is downstairs ready at the door. When we went looking for a dog, my husband and I were thinking small, but we went to see this litter of puppies and fell in love with Buddy. He has an incredible personality and brings joy and love into the house. – Peggy

Buddy is a very sweet looking dog – I have never seen that particular mix of breeds. Thanks for sharing, Peggy!

Color pencils on tan Crescent baord, about 9.25″ x 8″. Reference photo by Shannon & Jason.

Recently my partner and I lost our baby boy, Ares, to a terrible series of veterinary mishaps. Ares was a five month old Shiba Inu puppy that had a tremendous impact not only on our lives but on the lives of hundreds of other people through his contacts on Dogster.com. I can not describe to you the horror we faced in making the final decision to let him pass from our lives into the peace he needed so desperately. He was the center of our universe. Losing him was such a blow to us that the pain itself was as much a shock as his passing. They say it is always toughest for those left behind and that is definitely true. – Shannon & Jason

What a horrible way to lose a loved one. Not that any way is good, but he was just a pup and it happened so suddenly – I can’t imagine how hard it must be. My sincere condolences go out to you. I hope this drawing can help in some way commemorate Ares and, with all the support of my readers, maybe lift your spirits. He was a handsome boy.

India ink with color pencils on lavender Crescent board, about 8.5″ x 12″. Reference photo provided by Lisa.

Huey Huge was my much loved Newfoundland dog. He was very unique in his enormous size, which I would soon discover was needed to hold such a huge heart. He was oversized as far as Newfs are concerned, weighing in at a healthy 200lbs for most of his life. This made walking him or traveling with him quite an adventure. Everywhere we went we had to anticipate many inquiries into his size, type of dog, how much he ate, etc. He easily won over anyone who met him with his gentle demeanor and massive size, even when he slobbered! Huey was very much a local celebrity. He was a therapy dog who regularly visited nursing homes, schools and hospitals. The local Humane Society would request that Huey attend their events to ensure its success, as they knew his presence would draw a crowd. He appeared on several local television news shows promoting his work as an oversize therapy dog. On a visit to Washington, D.C., we spent over two hours in front of the Nations Capital while people, mostly foreigners, posed for photos with Huey. It seemed he was the bigger attraction that day. Huey did nothing but good things throughout his life, in return he only asked for some love, petting and of course those daily cookies. Huey passed away February 1st of this year, at the age of 9, after beating the odds a year earlier with a life threatening heart infection. I miss him more than anyone knows and take comfort in knowing he didn’t have to have any bad days as he grew older. In his passing his good work continued with the overwhelming amount of support I recieved as well as the donations made in his name to continue helping less fortunate pets. – Lisa

Wow, what a great dog! Thank goodness most of the huge breeds seem to be gentle giants or else we’d all be in trouble! Thank you Lisa for sharing and for continuing Huey’s good work.

Brush pen on Strathmore watercolor paper, about 7.5″ x 5.5″. Reference photo by Tina.

Only being 6 MOS old, Skipper’s life adventures have really just begun. After a rather lengthy search on the Internet I found a very reputable breeder in Ft Collins CO who’s main focus is the health of her dogs, and since Skipper will be introduced to canine sports, his hereditary history was an important consideration. With the internet being our main medium of communication, we felt we were right there through his mom’s pregnancy, delivery and birth. Digital photography combined with the internet allowed us to truly be a part of the entire experience.

When he was 8 weeks old, Skipper was loaded on a plane in Denver CO for a direct flight to Sacramento CA where we picked him up after a 2 1/2 hour flight. He looked so tiny and adorable in his crate as he was wheeled into the pick-up area of Frontier Airlines Cargo depot and we were “in love” as soon as we saw him! He slept in his little crate during the 2 hour drive to Chico and was warmly welcomed by our older golden, Casey.

Skipper recently graduated from his “Puppy Kindergarten” class which was an excellent opportunity for socialization and introduction of the basic commands. He’s so smart….yes, I’m a tad prejudiced!…..and was truly a quick study! He knows his “sit, down, stay, wait, watch, come” commands by voice and signal and is polishing his “leave it” command to which he responds nearly 100% of the time. We’ll be continuing his obedience education with the same trainer who emphasizes positive reinforcement (clicker training) as opposed to the use of choke/pinch collars which is what I had always used in the past. I have found the new method (new to us) a very easy and “feel good” approach to obedience training and would highly recommend it to all who may be preparing to attend obedience classes. Since we have two dogs and each is on a different diet (Casey has food allergies), I didn’t have enough hands to hold food treats for each of them and the clicker, so we’ve substituted the word “YES” for the clicker. It’s been so amazing to me to see how fantastically the dogs have responded to this method and we’re “yes-ing” with enthusiasm for every positive response to a command….with as much energy as you would when saying: RIGHT ON!! ALL RIGHT!! WAY TO GO!! FAR OUT!! Well, you get the idea…we’re having loads of fun and so are the dogs!! – Tina

Thanks, Tina! Skipper reminds me of Duffy when he was just a pup – a little white puffball! Thank you for sharing him.

I went with a brush pen sketch again, this one was purely pen-to-paper. I usually like to mix up my techniques from day to day, but I got in a time crunch. I really enjoy doing the brush pen sketches and they go pretty fast when I don’t try to draw ever hair…

Brush pen on watercolor paper, about 7.25″ x 8″. Reference photo by Kari.

Finn is a yellow labrador retriever, and, will be three on Christmas Eve. I’ll tell you a little about him.

Finn has won hearts everywhere he goes. He won mine the moment I saw him with his littermates. He is always happy, and, always ready to cuddle. He’s a tremendous spirit, and, I try to learn from him every day. He really knows how to love, and, how to enjoy life. He’s a fabulous retriever, and, an outstanding swimmer. Finn is smart, funny, goofy, and, a joy to have around. I don’t know that I would be where I am at today if it weren’t for him. He’s a heart rescuer! – Kari

Thanks Kari! Any of my regular viewers know I love Yellow Labs and Finn is a prime example of the breed. I loved the expression here becaue it’s not a typical one for a lab – “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr Demille!”

The drawing is up a little later than usual today because I was up later than usual enjoying the company of good friends. I’ll be on track tomorrow…

Black and white Col-Erase pencil on Moonstone Mi Teintes paper, about 9.5″ x 6.25″. Reference photo by Aubrey.

Maverick is about 3 months old in this photo – He’s about a year old now. Maverick likes to lick toes and sleep on my feet… – Aubrey

Thanks Aubrey! Don’t you love the innocent look of a puppy dog? Makes you ALMOST want to forgive them for eating the sofa … and all of you shoes. And the coffee table… Heck, you can yell and scream, but by the end of they day they find their way to your lap and you love them all the same.

Color pencils on champagne Mi Teintes paper, about. Reference photo by Tom Davey.

Oobi is approximately 8 months old and is a ball of fire. Like the Cindi Lauper song, “Dogs just want to have fun” Oobi lives every day to its fullest. Life is a joy to Oobi. He’s been to obedience school and even has a private tutor (a “dog whisperer”) but his spirit overshadows his formal education. You can’t help but feel the happiness and love in their home and Oobi makes every family member and visitor know that they’re welcome. That fact that he’s one handsome dog doesn’t hurt matters either. – Tom

What sweet face! This energetic Goldie has fun written all over him. Thanks again, Tom!

Color pencils on green Crescent, about 12″ x 7.5″. Reference photo by Leslie.

Here’s Dexter, added to Chloe’s drawing from yesterday. They make a cute couple… Thank you for sharing, Leslie!

Color pencils on green Crescent board, about 5.5″ x 7.5″. Reference photo by Leslie.

Today we get the first dog in a two dog image – Chloe the Cream Dachshund. Her “brother” Dexter will be finished (that’s his ear on the right) and you will get to see them both tomorrow! I drew Chloe once before with brush pen, but I wasn’t happy with the way it turned out, so here’s her well-deserved portrait. Thanks for sharing Leslie!

Color pencils and crayons on black Mi Teintes paper, about 3.25″ x 5″. Reference photo by Megan.

This is Maggie my doberman. She’s my heart and soul and I just don’t know what I’d do without her. We got her at 5 weeks when she was given to my dad. She’s definitely the best thing that has happened to me. At 5 years old she is going very strong and at times will still act like a puppy. I adore her and love the doberman breed because of her! – Megan

I chose Maggie’s photo for this quick little color study because she has such a strong, distinct look. Very regal and proud! Thanks Megan.

Happy July 4th! 

Graphite on Crescent board, about 8.5″ x 8″. Reference photo by Briana.

In Summer 2002, we decided to look for another dog. We went to the local shelter in search of a small dog, but ended up with Roxy instead. She was on her final days, and I was really stunned to see nobody wanted her. She was a big lovebug. She’s a Boxer Pitbull Mix, and certainly has characteristics of each breed. The bouncy, lovable disposition of a Boxer, and the caring, gentle soul of the Pitbull. Roxy has always been a joy to my life. She’s always there to cheer me up when I’m sad, or make me laugh. When I’m happy, she’s always there to play, and make my day more enjoyable. Rescuing this lovable girl has been one of the best $20 I’ve ever spent. She was always waiting for me, waiting for me to take her home and give her the life she deserved. – Briana

Gotta love those rescue dogs – it always seems as if they were there just for you. I’ve heard it and experienced it enough to realize it can’t always be coincidence… My current two dogs aren’t rescues, and I love them as much as any dog I’ve had, but there’s that extra bond – inexplicable really – that comes with a rescue. Thanks for sharing, Briana!

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Color pencils on champagne Mi Teintes paper, about 9.5″ x 7″. Reference photo by Cathy.

Mimi is now 2-1/2 years old. We adopted her when she was 5 months old, on Cinco de Mayo in 2004. She’s a mix between Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Chihuahua, we think. She is by FAR the smartest dog we’ve ever owned!! She’s a little escape artist, too – she’s been known to scale the exercise pen and the front gate more than a few times, though she never runs away, she just waits outside the gate wanting to be let back in. She loves playing chase with my husband, and she probably can’t wait until our son is old enough to walk so he can chase her, too! Her other great passion is destroying our cherished belongings. Today’s collateral damage includes a piece of Tupperware I’ve had since I was a little girl (it was sentimental) and our son’s favorite teething toy, a vibrating star teether which was the 5th of its kind, and apparently Mimi’s favorite too. She is also very dainty and refuses to walk on wet ground. And she’s very picky about the surfaces on which she’ll – um – eliminate. J But let’s just say carpet and grass are really the only options (and if it’s raining, then it’s definitely the carpet). But we love her dearly and are so happy she’s a part of our family! – Cathy

Mimi has quite a smile! That’s such an odd mix of breeds, but she turned out beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Cathy.

White and brown pencils on sand Mi Teintes paper, about 7.75″ x 9″. Reference photo by Dawn.

Hatcher is my connection to nature as well as my dearest friend. Our outings together are an escape to a primordial past – free from the modern hustle of everyday life. To see him romp and revel in the wilds or become curled, nestled at my bedside eases my soul, strengthens my spirit, and brings joy to my heart. Hatcher, a companion like no other. – Dawn

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” -Milan Kundera

Thank you for sharing Dawn. You have have a very expressive pup… And thanks for the quote – everyone could use more peace.

This piece was an experment with a “duotone” technique. By using only two colors on the background color, the shadows are more “suggested” than drawn. The modeling (making the shapes appear to have mass) is easier to achieve than in more straightforward renderings and I like the overall energy.