Dairy Cow Painting - Black and White Princess in Pink

I had the urge to paint a cow, so went to a local dairy to take some pictures. I had never been to a large dairy farm and was intrigued by how many black and white patterns there are and how different each cow looked.  Some were prettier than others.  I thought this girl was a beauty.  I admit I felt sympathy for all of them because they cannot go outside at this farm.  So I took off her ear tags and surrounded her with pink to make her feel special.  And here she is, my "Princess in Pink".  If you would love to have her mooooove to your home to share her special beauty contact me.
This original acrylic painting on stretched canvas is 8"x10".  The sides are wrapped and painted so you can choose to frame it or hang it as is.  $130.00 - you can use PayPal or mail a check.
Prints and some nifty products are available in my online gallery at Amy Reges on Fine Art America.

Thoroughbred Horse Portrait

Anyone who knows me knows this horse portrait painting had to be coming.  It is a portrait of a horse I have been riding and leasing for 2 years.  He is an Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) that ended racing many years ago and was retrained as a dressage horse somewhere along his journey.   His name is Truckee Tudor.

I met Truckee as a lesson horse when I decided to try riding again after a 30 year hiatus.  (It still sounds crazy to hear that in my head!).  I had been introduced to dressage for a short time back then and really enjoyed it, so that is what I wanted to learn.  He was a great teacher from the first day.

Truckee and I grew closer.  His use for lessons declined as arthritis developed so he could no longer jump, which is what all the "lesson kids" wanted to do, and I was the only one interested in dressage.  His owner offered me to lease him, so 2 days a week he was mine and the rest of the time I shared him off and on with others.  Eventually, it got to be pretty much just him and me and our focus changed.  He developed heaves and masts that are possible cancer, so no longer up to the demands of other riders.  We still had fun together, even on days when we could only walk or I didn't ride at all.

Truckee is a smart, sensitive 17-yr-old guy, set in his ways and assertive that things should be done correctly (according to him).  He was well-trained to the level of dressage that he knows and would show me how things should be done or let me know when I messed up.  He gave approval, or not, on just about everything I did with him, not just riding.  It was rewarding when I made him happy.  Due to circumstances he recently moved away and out of my life.  I am happy to have this portrait painting to keep his memory warm in my heart.

If you are an artist you will probably understand when I say I started this painting all wrong.  And because of that I struggled with it to the end.  It was on and off of my easel for months.  I have to laugh and say Truckee gave me a hard time with this just as he sometimes liked to give me a hard time in my other lessons.  Always a great teacher - Thanks for everything Truckee Tudor.

Happy Birthday Brown Dog

Happy 10th Birthday to my kooky Brown Dog, Lobuff OtterTail Noble Nissa, RN RA RE CD.  Thanks for always being there for me Sweet Patootie!  This also marks the date of the first litter I bred 30 years ago.  Yikes!  Time goes fast and they were wonderful!  I stopped breeding many years ago too, but the birthday of my first litter will always be memorable.  I knew Nissa was the right puppy for me when I found out she was born on the 20th anniversary of my first litter.  I was happy that her breeder, Lisa Weiss of Lobuff Labradors, offered her to me when I asked.  It's been a great 10 years with many more to come.  Love you, Miss Nissa - The Enforcer.

Fun Goat Portrait Painting

I love painting portraits of animals - all animals.  This was my first goat.  She was a cherished pet who enjoyed getting into mischief.  She also liked to help her human in his beer making hobby and the reference photo for this painting is used as his label logo.  That made it extra fun for me to paint as a tribute to her memory (and extra special for their daughter to have commissioned as a Christmas gift).

Please visit my website for information about commissioning a pet portrait of your own at http://www.OttertailArt.com/Portraits.html

I look forward to every new animal adventure in painting, whether it's a dog, cat, horse, goat or any other being that is special to you, he or she will be special to me too!

Black Lab and Yellow Labrador Steal Snowman Carrot Nose Dog Holiday Christmas Cards

Black and Yellow Labs with Snowman Holiday Cards
Here is a new holiday design for your 2017 Christmas cards, or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Happy New Year or whatever you like to share and celebrate.

A silly black Labrador tries to steal the snowman's carrot nose as the happy yellow Lab watches wagging her tail.  Carrots are a daily treat for my dogs, we love them!

This design is also available with a black Lab and a chocolate Lab stealing snowman's carrot.  Visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop and browse the large selection of Labrador Christmas cards.  You can save 25% when you choose sets of 20 Lab Christmas cards or select sets of 10 Lab Dog Christmas cards for your shorter list.  Many designs are even available as single Labrador Holiday cards.

  Inside verse: Wishing you joy and happiness this holiday season and throughout the new year!

There are more greeting cards with horses, other dogs and a special Hanukkah Labrador Card in the Other Pets Christmas and Holiday Cards section.  Something for everyone!  Happy shopping and sharing!!

Painting of Two Gray Horses, OTTB Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse

"The Grays" is a painting of two paddock buddies at the stable where I ride.  City is an OTTB retired Thoroughbred and Buddy is a quarter horse.  Both are gray with freckles.  They shared their space with my favorite horse and a bunch of others.  (Buddy has since moved to his owner's land and the others now lounge in smaller groups.)  Always looking for treats that they knew I carried when I went to visit, this day I was ready with a camera as they posed so sweetly to ask for more goodies.  I chose them as my subjects for this quick, more abstracted painting than my usual portraits.  It was fun and freeing to push the paint around and let it drip, smear it and add some more.  I will definitely be doing more of this style for my dog paintings as well as horses and everything else.

The original painting has been sold.  Click over to the horse section of my OtterTail Art gallery at Amy Reges on Fine Art America to order a print of this two horse painting in the size that fits your space and on the surface of your choice.  If it is a shower curtain or a bedspread that strikes your fancy, good news! they are there!  Or choose a more traditional painting print and have it matted and framed before it is shipped.  SO many choices you will have tons of fun shopping!

Bon Voyage Sweet Kitty

Sad to say good-bye to Dame Helen of Hector.  ?1998 - 3 May 2017 - RIP Miss Helen.  She chose us and used us for her happily-ever-after life.  Jim and our dog, Dave, found Helen under a box on the porch of Jim's hunting camp one cold November day.  He checked with all the neighbors to see if she had wandered from home - Nope.  He asked all the locals if anyone wanted her - Nope.  So he asked me if he could bring her home.  My requisites were that she had to get along with the dogs, she had to be allowed to go outside (i.e., not harboring any contagious cat disease), and she would be HIS pet (= he should maintain the cat box).  So home she came, cleared on health and surprisingly already spayed, ok with the dogs (who she quickly learned to love) and Jim promising his role.

At first Jim wanted to name her something silly or cute, but after knowing her for a few days he agreed with me that there was nothing silly about her and an "old lady" name would fit her better.  Hence, we came up with Helen (depends on your generation if that sounds like an old lady name to you).  Immediately it was formalized to Dame Helen of Hector (we live in Hector) as she clearly thought she deserved a title and due respect.  With that, she moved in, became one of the family (with 10 Labs at the time) and made herself at home.

For 13 years she refused to sit on Jim's lap despite his pleas and that fact that she was "his".  She would sit on my lap more than I could stand.  In her old age we were finally able to convince her that Jim's lap was warm and comfortable and she spent many hours a day there until the end.

You were a good one, Dame Helen.  The honor was ours.

Horse Angel Painting - a Gift from a Horse

I created this painting as a gift for a friend after this horse, Chia, showed me this image and asked me to paint it for her.  Chia and another off-track thoroughbred race horse were retired to this loving person's stable.  Before long both horses, who arrived lame, developed serious founder.  After every effort to help them heal, it was decided the most humane decision was to euthanize them.  Knowing I practice animal communication, my friend asked me to communicate with the horses and tell them how sorry she was and how much she loved them.  When I connected with Chia he already knew what had been decided and understood.  He wanted me to let our friend know that he appreciated all she had done, that she did help him feel better, and he hoped she would try again with future horses.  He was so sweet and gracious, as the animals usually are when I connect with them.  He wanted her to know he would be galloping free and fast across the heavens with a light heart.  I kept the image he had shown me in my head and did my best to recreate it in this angel horse painting on canvas.  Now our friend has it as a memory of sweet Chia and a tribute to the other horses she has tried to help and will continue to help in the future.

It was my honor to communicate with Chia and all of the other animals with whom I have connected.

If you would like to schedule a telepathic animal connection with any of your pets or animals in your life please visit my animal communication web page for information.  You don't need to live nearby, my communications are done long distance via email with a photo of your pet.  The animal can be here now or passed-on, so don't hesitate if you want to make this connection.

If you would like a print of this painting, please contact me.

New Combination Frame for Upland Game Bird Dog AKC Titles

As OtterTail Dog Art we are happy to announce this new design for our popular Combination Frame.  This frame was created to hold a standard AKC title in the bottom cutout and a photo of the title-holder in the top opening.  The original design features flying waterfowl and cattails.  You can see it on my OtterTail Dog Art Wood page.

This design displays a pheasant creeping through the corn ($92) and was created at the request of an upland game bird hunter for two of her newly titled Labradors.  It would be a great gift for anyone with bird dogs.  The lower opening is sized to accept an approximately 8" x 10" photo in place of the AKC title, so you can fill it as you prefer.  It is lovely either way.

This example is cut from solid maple.  All of our wood items are created in solid hardwoods with the beauty of the natural wood color and grain highlighted by a hand-rubbed finish.  You can also choose black walnut, cherry, or request which other hardwoods are periodically available.

Celebrate your accomplishments in partnership with your dog in this lovely display.   Order today!

Black Labrador dog Portrait Painting, Life size

Handsome Diego was a wonderful model for this recent commissioned Labrador dog portrait painting.  I had a great reference photo, which always makes the painting process easier.  I love that this collector chose the large 20"x16" size.  This makes the subject life-sized.  It will be a lovely tribute to his beloved black Lab where it hangs in his home.

My portrait paintings are done in acrylic on stretched canvas.  There is a final protective coat applied so the paintings can be framed without glass or, since I paint around the edges of the wrapped canvas, they can be hung unframed.  For more information and to order your own, visit my website here:  OtterTail Dog Art Portrait Paintings.  In addition, you can purchase this and many of my other paintings as prints, greeting cards, and images on products in my online shops at Amy Reges Fine Art and OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop.

Labrador Dogs Tug Santa Scarf Christmas Cards

Those silly Labs are having fun with Santa's scarf.  He was looking for it while getting ready for his big trip and finally tracked the dogs down having a game of tug in the yard.  If Santa gets a late start this year we will know who to blame!

This is my first new Christmas design for 2016.  I love my regular customers who ask me to make a new card every year.  I have a large collection of Labrador Christmas Cards in packs of 10 and 20 as well as single cards in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop Greeting Card section.  There are cards with black Labs, yellow Labs and chocolate Labradors, of course!  You will also find a nice selection with two dogs in various color combinations - Something to make everyone happy!

Holiday greeting cards are just the first step.  You will find great gifts for all your Lab loving family and friends.  Happy shopping at the OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop where finding unique dog-theme gifts is easy and fun!

Off-track Thoroughbred Horse Portrait Painting OTTB

It was lots of fun to paint this handsome Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) portrait painting.  This piece was commissioned by a mom for her daughter's 13th birthday - lucky girl!!  The subject is her special horse, Stuart.  He was bought by them off the race track and is now doing very well in training and showing as a hunter.  It's so nice when these wonderful horses get another chance to live a good life.  So many of them never get that opportunity.

I've been riding at Hess Stable myself since March.  It is wonderful to have horses back in my life again after a very long absence.  I also have a thoroughbred to enjoy, though he is quite a bit older and well-trained previously as someone's dressage horse.  Lucky for me that Truckee is now a resident with many other rescued thoroughbred horses at Hess Stable.

If you or someone you know has a special companion why not honor them with a custom horse portrait painting - or cat or dog painting.  Any pets are welcome!  Visit my website at http://www.ottertailart.com/Portraits.html for information, then email me to get started.  Now is a great time to be planning for Christmas.

Horse Painting - Retired Thoroughbred Race Horse

I started riding horses again after missing it for 30 years.  Wow!  That sounds crazy since I am only 32 :-).  It's been great to get back around horses - the smells, the sounds, the energy.  I am loving it!

It comes as no surprise then that I feel the need to paint them.  This is the first one.  I left it abstract and with the canvas texture showing to give a rustic feel.  It just felt right this way.

This handsome fellow is Homer, a 20-something year old retired Thoroughbred race horse.  He is now enjoying life at Hess Stables with a bunch of other ex-race horses.  He was kind enough to strike some lovely poses for me when I was out taking reference photos, so he gets to be the first on my easel.

This original painting is 12"x9" acrylic on canvas panel which will make it easy to frame.  Plus the final top coat protects the painting so no glass is needed.  Sweet Homie can be yours for $198.00.  Email me.  I'm looking forward to more time with the horses and creating many more horse paintings.

See more of my animal and dog paintings and contact me through my website at OtterTailArt.com

Training Tips from 2-year-old Labrador Dog

Happy Birthday Mooki - 2 years old today.  That means you are grown up now so there will be no more "bad dog stuff" ... right?  Haha.  I know that won't be true, but I am happy to say he has made a lot of progress over the past few months towards being a well-behaved dog.

I am a good trainer and have experience with lots of dogs.  I admit I prefer the softies and, having had a bunch of them, I have gotten away with some training short-cuts.  Mooki has a willful streak, is quite stubborn and, well, not the brightest bulb in the pack.  He has pushed me back into being a more strict trainer instead of the lazy way I slide into with the easy dogs.  We went to "1 strike and you are out" instead of 3.  It means I have had to follow through every time if he ignores me.   I am happy to see him making big strides toward listening better, especially when it comes to being rough on the other dogs.  At this point I may give him a little slack, but if  he needs to be told more than once a couple times in a day, we go right back to the 1-strike system.  The good news is that Mooki does not dislike these rules since it is very clear to him that he is in control of the consequences of his behavior.  Animals like clarity.

One of the big mistakes I realized I had slipped into was too much of telling him "don't do" this or "stop" doing that.  Frankly, I was getting annoyed with him and not thinking like a trainer.  It is much much MUCH more effective if you tell them what TO DO instead of what NOT to do.  Now that I have corrected myself Mooki has learned some good new cues.  In addition, his recall has gotten significantly better since it is a "to do" cue that gets him out of trouble (and often gets him a fun reward).  We will happily put those rough days behind us and move forward with positive energy!

Hand-Painted Silk Scarf Labradors and Botanicals

Today is our coldest day this winter and we got a couple of inches of snow yesterday to cover our bare ground.  It's making me think of spring!  Phil said it is coming early this year.  Are you ready?

"6 Heads Botanicals" is an 11" x 60" China Silk scarf adorned with hand-painted Labrador dog head profiles among twining leaves and flowers.  The colors are spring green, warm golden yellow and blossom blues.  $70.00

China silk, also known as Habotai, has a nice sheen, light and billowing drape.  It will help you feel shiny and special.  6 heads has been the most popular design of my Labrador silk scarves and every one is unique.  All of the dogs and elements are hand drawn with resist on a suspended blank silk scarf.  Once the resist dries I apply colors that I mix specially for each individual scarf.  This completely hand drawn and painted process results in one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art.  How special is that?

6 Heads Botanicals is $70, payable by check or through PayPal.  Order this or any of my scarves by emailing me.   I can also paint a new scarf just for you in colors of your choice.  Get your spring juices flowing!  See more at my Hand-painted Silk Scarf webpage.

Hand Painted Cute Black and White Dog

Introducing Zen Dog Too.   He is made of wood and is 13 inches long by nearly 15 inches high, 3 inches wide.   Hand-painted and covered with a protective coat, he will be faithfully adorable in any room of your home.   I don't think you would believe the hours I spent lost in creating his doodles, he will be the last of his kind.   Zen Dog Too is available to good homes only.  You can adopt him for $158.00 plus shipping.  He will make you smile.

He is, in fact, the second Zen Dog, but his name is not a typo.  Since there will be no more of these I am going with "also" instead of number "2".  Plus it matches his cuteness better.  Check out lots more of my artwork at OtterTailArt.com

Happy New Year for 2016

Happy New Year Everyone!  I borrowed this pic from Mike Dooley who I love for his Notes from the Universe.  Join the Infinite Possibilities Project if you are so interested.  Whatever you do, I wish you all a happy, healthy new year filled with love and light!

Onward and Upward!

Labrador Dog Christmas Cards - A large selection

'Tis the season for connecting with friends and sending them tidings of joy.  I have an avid group of return customers for my Labrador Christmas Cards who insist on new designs every year.  Last season after I created a mellow single sailing Christmas Lab several people requested a design with two dogs for motor boat lovers and/or those who live in climates that are warm for the holidays.  So, here you go!  A black Lab and a yellow Labrador enjoy cutting the waves as the wind brings them great smells and sends ears flying.  Black and yellow Labrador motor boat Christmas cards are available in sets of 10 and 20 or as singles.  (Psst - sets of 20 are a better deal.)  The inside verse reads:  Hope Your Christmas is Full of Fun.  It's a very merry way to extend holiday wishes to friends and family.

Want some cold winter scenes instead?  There are plenty to choose from in my Labrador Christmas Card collection.  Designs are available in yellow Labs, black Labs, and chocolate Labradors, of course.  Be sure to scroll down for the sets of 20.  You can buy yourself a little holiday gift with the money you save. 

Rally Obedience Title for young Black Labrador

Is that a look of disbelief?  You can't imagine that I waited so long to announce your first AKC title?  Let's get right to it! 

Black Labrador, Mooki, earned  his Rally Novice obedience title at the Wine Country dog show circuit in New York at the end of September 2015.  He earned 99 points out of 100 on the first two legs and the judge loudly and pointedly - and politely - told me it was all my fault and not his.  Knock me on the head a few times to remind me that rally is looking for something different than regular obedience!  I finally got my act together so he earned 100 points on the third leg to finish his title.  He got second place and third place the first two days thanks to my error.  We won first place the last day and a nice bag of treats.  Good work for a 17-month-old boy at his first all-breed dog shows, and very large ones at that.  "Overwhelmed" was the word of the weekend.  Onward and upward to more life experiences Mooki.

Cool off with thoughts of Holiday snow

It seems funny to post an OtterTail Dog Art Christmas card during this heat wave we have been experiencing in the northeast.  Maybe it will help cool us down!  I know lots of my customers begin looking for holiday cards in August as I get requests every year, so it's definitely not too early to get started.  This fun design of 2 Labrador dogs leading one of Santa's reindeer is available in sets of 10, sets of 20, and beautifully made single greeting cards.  You can choose a black Lab with a chocolate Labrador if you prefer, or even 2 black Labs walking the reindeer out to the sleigh.  The verse inside reads:  May your Christmas be merry and bright.

Other new designs will be added for the 2015 holiday season soon.  Meanwhile, I'm feeling cooler already - just chillaxing while the Labs enjoy their job.