Best Dog or Labrador T Shirt Designs Online (Original Dog Art)

It's time to enjoy the warm weather and what could be more fun than wearing a unique, original artist design on your T shirt? I have decided to spotlight some of my most popular dog and Labrador art clothing. Tee shirts are great and are available in many colors, but I also offer fun dog art on sweatshirts, zip front hoodies, organic shirts, caps, aprons and an assortment of gift products.

I will start this series with a favorite dog painting converted 3 ways. This is my original "Wine is Best Shared with Friends" Labrador painting modified to print on t-shirts and apparel. Inspired by my own Labrador Retrievers who are wine lovers, you can choose from my paintings of a chocolate Lab, a yellow Lab, and a black Lab drinking red wine. It is a great dog print for many dog lovers since only the nose shows, so almost any brown, golden or black dog is represented. Shirts are available in loose and fitted styles on white and a variety of colors for women, men and woman's plus sizes. This popular dog design is one of many original and unique Labrador prints from OtterTail Lab Art.

Old Black Lab Gets Adopted

It is with great pleasure that I am here to say my old foster dog, Shadow, has found himself one more wonderful home to live out his days happily ever after. Shadow is a sweet and wise old soul - the type who gives the impression this is not his first time around through life. He is now living in a loving family with another senior dog and 4 cats. It is great news, but a little bittersweet too because we have all come to love Shadow and miss him in our home. I am sure he will be happy and a good buddy to the other dog. Plus, there is already another senior black Lab waiting for a foster home, so we expect to welcome him in a few days. Live long and be happy Shadow! It was a pleasure getting to know you.

Support Lab rescue while finding fun gifts for dog lovers.

Black Lab Heart Dog Pillow

On occasion I still make quilted dog design pillows and many of the other things I have made over the years. Here is a recently completed black Lab version of my Quilted Heart Dog Pillow. It was created as a special gift from one Lab lover to her good friend in memory of her own black Labrador heart dog who crossed Rainbow Bridge. Even though I do not update my website often with new versions of all the different things that I make, please feel free to contact me about any special orders or custom creations you might want. Visit my website to see some of the variety of original Labrador Retriever Art paintings, silk scarves, wood and quilted items I offer, as well as my large selection of Labrador Retriever designs on t-shirts and gifts.

OtterTail Labrador Wins Again

Having been foolish (or senile) enough to forget to brag about my Whitsprgs OtterTail Tallulah, CD last summer when she earned her AKC Companion Dog obedience title by winning two High In Trial awards and a third place I had to post today to make amends to her. Yesterday Tallulah won her Rally Novice class with the only perfect 100 point score amoung 27 dogs entered. It was my first ever attempt at Rally-O. I knew Tallulah could do it, but was not so sure about myself and all those confusing signs! I managed and Tallulah did great - deserving her mug shot here on my blog. Tallulah is a fun Lab and a real social butterfly who is sure the world revolves around her, so she really shines when she is in the spotlight.

I am doing things backward by getting her Rally title after her Companion Dog title, but I have known how to show for a CD for 20 years. Rally is new for us. Next time I will do it in the right order and that will be starting with my chocolate Nissa later this year.

Thanks for the fun day out, Tallulah Bear!

Dog Training Tips - Feeding the pack

My own dogs learn the rules of proper etiquette at meals from the time they are young puppies. I feed them all in my kitchen at the same time, each from their own bowl. When I rescue dogs or take in fosters they all learn to follow the pack rules. It is more of a challenge for some than others, but all of them have learned to eat peacefully along side the rest of the dogs.

My feeding rules in general are - All dogs lie calmly while meals are being prepared (a struggle for some new dogs, but they learn). When food is ready they go to their spots and wait as I put the bowls down - in the same order in the same places every meal - new dog last. (New dogs have their first meals in crates or x-pens in the great room so I can assess their attitude and they feel comfortable while getting to know the rest of us.) No one is allowed to approach anyone else's bowl until that dog walks away. The first bowl down is usually finished before I put the last bowl down because I also make them each do something before getting their food (and being Labs, they eat quickly leaving no atom behind!). A new dog at first has to sit and make eye contact and not approach any other dog's bowl. Then they may have to down and wait, or let me check ears and teeth, or whatever little thing I think they need to learn - but starting easy and progressing in difficulty over time. One dog I rescued was food aggressive, so he progressed to sit and wait with his bowl on the floor and make eye contact. If he failed I simply pick the bowl up for a second and he corrected himself and we tried again. In the beginning he tried barking to boss me I turn my back on him, making eye contact impossible for a few seconds. Since he had previously learned he had to make eye contact before being rewarded, he corrected himself and tried harder when I turn to face him again. For my own dogs we do more advanced obedience stuff or silly tricks. The older they are the less they have to do.

The Labs that I bred and owned for many years were all softies and very obliging; taking pride in doing the "right thing". That's the personality I prefer; it fits my easy-going training and life style. But some of the rescue and foster dogs have more dominant attitudes and different histories, so need more discipline as well as clear step by step training rituals. If you have a dog that is food aggressive, please use caution. I have experience and a pack of well-behaved dogs setting good examples at meal time. The best way to avoid such problems is to control the food and the attitude from the beginning. I don't like the strict "no free lunch" approach to living with dogs, but you have to do what the dog needs to get your point across. I adapt my training to fit each dog and each situation and everyone eats peacefully. A few of my dogs retrieve all of the bowls for me when everyone is finished - a fun way to end each meal.

Senior Dog Comes to Lab Rescue

Meet Shadow. This old man is my new foster dog. Shadow lived with one owner his whole life, but when he had to go into a nursing home Shadow had no where to turn. He is 10 1/2 years old and, like most old dogs, thinks he knows everything! Still, being a typical Lab, he is willing to please and conform to new rules. Shadow has impressed me with his adaptability. Despite having lived with just one man and then home alone with caretakers stopping by for the past couple of months, he began melding into my pack of 5 dogs on the first day and gets along with everyone - including the cat. He lies with the rest of them as I prepare meals and eats side by side without issue and seems to like everybody. He is a smart old man who taught himself how to use the dog door on the first day and has enjoyed the freedom of taking himself out to lie on the dog deck or coming inside to a comfy bed. He has a few problems - a bum elbow that causes him to limp, he is a bit hard of hearing, his teeth are worn down to nubs, and he carries way too many extra pounds. Except for the latter none of it seems to slow him down and we are working on the weight. He is a happy dog, still full of life. Shadow has been with us for 2 weeks now and we are already getting attached. He is getting neutered today and I find myself worrying about as much as I do for my own dogs. Fostering dogs is a tough job!

Much to my surprize there is a loving woman interested in adopting Shadow and giving him one more forever home. It touches my heart and, if it works out, I think it will be because Shadow has excellent karma for having patiently lived with and loved an owner who he slowly watched lose his capacities. Send good wishes for this sweet old dog - he deserves it.

Labrador Retriever Painting to Support Lab Rescue

This painting is done in my fun, silly dog style. It was inspired by the various Labrador Retriever rescue organization with which I volunteer and donate artwork. Labs are so full of fun and love, they are there for us whenever we are in need. They love the water, whether swimming, wading, boating, fishing or just splashing around. Sometimes even a Labrador may need a little help from his friends. A special edition of this black and yellow Labrador Retriever painting will be offered to raise funds to support Lab rescue. Visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop to purchase a poster that says "Save A Life - Adopt A Lab" or enjoy this version to brighten your walls and your life! Click this link for products with the LifeBoat Lab painting.

Training Tips: Labradors Underfoot

Labradors love their people and are often clingy and underfoot. Wanting to be with me where ever I am is one of the things I find endearing about my Labs, but I do not want them to trip me or inhibit my movement. This picture from a few years ago shows some of my dogs "helping" us put up a fence so we can keep them out of my garden (they raid the veggies!). As you can see, they decided it was their job to hold down the dirt dug for the post hole.

Labs need to learn not to get underfoot. Do it as a training lesson. Personally I am a clicker trainer, but there are many ways to teach anything. Here is one way: Using your calm, assertive energy walk toward him - into him if necessary - and tell him "move" (or whatever cue you want to use). As he moves praise and reward him with a treat. Repeat many times. Soon he will understand what "move" means and give you your space. You can teach him "get back" = back up, "away" = move away from the area, or whatever else you think of that might be handy. The more you words you teach him the better it will be for all of you.

I teach mine to stay "out of my zone" at the stove when I am cooking - they line up along the opposite side and that's fine - it's like an invisible line. I don't tell them they have to be there. It's not a "down, stay" - they are free to go do what ever they want. But, if they want to be near me when I am cooking they must stay out of my zone and most of them choose to lie as close as is permitted which is at the invisible edge. If someone drops a glass and they run in thinking to lick whatever spilled I stop them from getting near broken glass (or whatever) with my "away" cue. And they all learn "move" so I don't stumble over them. They also know to lie out of the way when I carry in groceries -- everyone gets a piece of carrot once I am finished. They are always with me, lie on my feet or on my lap and follow me everywhere (including to the bathroom), but they are not allowed to be dangerously underfoot.

Don't wait until your need these behaviors or your dog is tripping you. Teach them as a training lesson when you have time to focus. Give your dog your undivided attention for those few minutes and make sure he gives you his. Repetition is key to getting the cue word associated with the action. Doing it this way can make it a fun game for everyone and you have some very handy cues when you need them.

For more Lab inspirations visit my OtterTail Lab Art.
Happy Training!

New Funny Labrador Retriever Drawing

I wanted to create a simple, cute, funny and appealing Labrador Retriever drawing that I could adapt repeatedly to different designs and use in multiple ways. I came up with this guy. What do you think?

I have made him in this black version as well as yellow and chocolate with 2 sets of words. One says "Lab = Love" and "Support Labrador Retriever Rescue" underneath and the other says "I Need A Home To Call My Own" with "Adopt a Labrador Retriever" underneath. I made both available on a large assortment of products in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop. The section dedicated to Rudy's Rescue has both versions and the special section for LabMed has the latter wording. 100% of profits from all sales in both of these sections are donated to the respective non-profit Lab rescue groups.

I would like to make another version available in my general store and am wondering what wording, if any, I should include. I would love it if some of you would leave feedback regarding which you would prefer - design with no words or with words (maybe Lab = Love as shown here or something else by itself). If you have a suggestion of words you would like to see, please share that too! There is also a full painting featuring a chocolate version of this dog available on products in the Rudy's Rescue section of my shop. Look for more variations in the future.

Training Tips: Barking to order dinner

Some dogs learn to bark as a way to boss people around. This guy is a Lab I rescued from a shelter in KY. He came to me about 30 lbs overweight, had been "the man's dog" and made it clear he had no respect for women. He had learned to boss those in his previous home to giving him food (and whatever he wanted) on demand. I have dealt with a few rescue dogs who barked before dinner. I like to train with operant conditioning - which lets the dog think he is training you and is an effective, positive approach to fixing problem behaviors with bossy dogs (works great on submissive dogs too). Your timing is important in all kinds of training and is critical for dogs to get the message. You can use a clicker or not (read more about clicker training online. I like Karen Pryor's site at: www.ClickerTraining.com). Another tip I will interject here is the use of the word "Wrong" (which I learned from Gary Wilkes). It is said in a non-emotional, normal, quiet voice and it means "that behavior will not be reinforced, please try again". It is not the same as "No" - which means "Stop it!". Keep your cues and signals clear and unique if you want your dog to learn quickly.

Let's pretend you do not have a clicker, but want to start getting control of barking before the next meal. You are getting ready to feed your boisterous boy and he starts barking - perfect time to say "wrong", and go sit down and ignore him. If this is the first time you have ever used the word "wrong", do not expect him to understand it at all. It is meaningless to him right now. But, keep using it and he will learn by association so that it will become very meaningful in the future. Just remember to use it consistently and not interchangeably with "NO"! When you sit down and ignore him you should get a response to your behavior - it may not happen instantly, but the dog will stop barking. He stops, you say "good" or "good quiet" (if you want to teach the cue "quiet" you can teach it by association this way) and get up to go feed again. Barking resumes - say "wrong", go sit down again. Eventually he will stop barking more quickly and you can progress to stopping in your tracks instead of going back to sit down. When he stops barking say "good quiet" and move forward to proceed with feeding. Do not command "quiet!" while his is barking - he doesn't know what it means yet and you will just be yelling over him. Get the behavior first, then attach the cue. Continue this little dance of moving forward when he is quiet and stopping in your tracks or backing up and sitting down when he barks. Shortly your dog will learn he is controlling your actions with his behavior. You only progress toward the desired destination (dinner prep) when he is quiet. He barks-you stop, he's quiet-you proceed. He is the "operator" - that is the heart of operant conditioning. It is very powerful; we all want to feel we have some control of things that happen to us and this makes the message very clear to dogs because you are communicating in a jointly understood language. We all learn fast this way because the feedback is meaningful. As in all training, don't expect perfection the 1st time, but build on it with each session and have lots of successful sessions.

Some trainers don't like the idea of pairing the praise with the cue (e.g. "good quiet"), but it works for me. I do it both ways. Leave out the cue if you are in that camp. However, if your dog is just being quiet on his own during the day, telling him "good quiet" then will not be meaningful to him and will dilute or negate it as a cue, so remember to make your use of words relevant if you want to teach your dog to understand your language.

BTW, this guy learned quickly that he was not going to get fed when he bossed me. He is a dominant, very smart dog who gave me many challenges and taught me a lot. He still prefers men, but he respects everyone now - as long as they are a Pack Leader.

Happy Training!

Labrador Retriever Christmas Carol

BARK! The herald angels sing - everyone join the chorus! I love my Christmas houses, but a house just isn't a home for me if there is no dog and every dog deserves a loving home. So, over the years I have added a number of dogs to OtterTail Village - black Labs, yellow Labs and chocolate Labs, of course! This picture shows five of them gathering for a romp and howl. Three more dogs are off playing and I sculpted reindeer for my Santa's barn and sheep for the wool shop too. You can see some of my larger Labrador Retriever sculptures by visiting my OtterTail Lab Art website. All were inspired by my own OtterTail Labrador Retrievers. As you will have guessed by now, Labradors are a big part of my life and I am thankful for the joy they bring. Sing along with the pack. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful is another of their favorite carols - there are none more faithful than a loving Labrador!

Merry Christmas to all from Amy and the OtterTail Labs.

New Dog and Pet food bowls

Here is another great gift idea for dog lovers and cat lovers too! I now have ceramic pet bowls (large and small) available with a variety of designs or you can have one personalized. Visit the Dog Food and Water Bowls section of my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop for fun presents for your best pet pal or a pet loving friend. There is still time to order for those Dog Holiday Gifts! These would also make great dog show trophy ideas as is or customized for your club or the award won. You can commemorate any special occasion or doggy accomplishment. Contact me for special orders.

Rescue Lab Home for the Holidays

Happy news for Sally, my latest foster dog. She has been adopted by a wonderful family with a new Mom and Dad and 2 kids of her own and she moved in just in time for Thanksgiving. I think she had a lot to be thankful for indeed! And I am thrilled for her that she is settling in and beginning her new life with her best paw forward.
I wish that everyone would remember all of the animals in need this holiday season and help them in any small way you can. Every little bit makes a difference. Whether it is purchasing products that donate to dog rescue, donating directly to non-profit groups that help such as Rudy's Rescue for Labrador Retrievers, adopting or fostering dogs yourself, or donating blankets, dog products or your time to the local shelter, every little bit truly does make a difference. So many non-profit dog rescue organizations are small groups of hard-working volunteers with very low budgets. Never underestimate the value of even your tiniest donation. Everyone is thankful and you will be part of saving a life. Share your happy holiday spirit!

New Labrador Retriever Portrait Painting

This is my latest yellow Labrador Retriever portrait painting. It is a custom Christmas gift a thoughtful client commissioned for their dog lover friend. I sure hope he likes it! The owner and his dog were both described as bachelors, so the request was made for masculine background colors. I am always happy to do whatever I can to make each portrait just what the customer wants! The glow at the top is funny lighting on my photo, not on the painting. It is a cold, snowy, very gray day here at my home in NY and I didn't set up great lighting for this photo. Actually, photographing paintings well is a job in itself! If you are interested in commissioning your own custom dog portrait painting or other custom dog art, please visit my OtterTail Lab Art website and/or email me. This yellow Lab painting is 12 x 16", acrylic on canvas.

Adopt a Smiling Yellow Lab

Meet Sally! She is my latest foster Labrador that was rescued from a bad situation with her former owner. Sally is full of energy and had her own ideas about chasing the family goats at her previous home. Rather than keep her tied for life her owners decided it was best to let her go to find a new home. She is ready, willing, and able to be someone's family companion.
In addition to donating my time, training, money, and love to foster rescue Labs, I also donate a portion of profits from sales of my Labrador Retriever art. Please visit my shop to select gifts that give in more ways than one!

Labrador Retriever art website - New!

My new OtterTail Lab Art website is ready for testing. Everyone please take a moment to check it out and let me know if anything does not work. I try to test every page on several browsers before uploading, but I have a new glitch this time. My version of Internet Explorer is quite old and they no longer seem to be making a version for Macs. I am having trouble with my new Labrador Retriever paintings page. I have created links to buy fine art prints of my Dog and Lab paintings, but my IE browser version has trouble accessing the Imagekind site at all. If anyone reading this uses IE, please take a moment to test my links and let me know your results. I want to be sure everything is working so you can find the Lab prints you want as easily as possible! If you go to my Labrador Retriever paintings page and click any of the "Buy Fine Art Print" buttons that will be all the test I need. Tons of thanks in advance to anyone with a moment to help and let me know how it works!!

Just for fun I've included this October picture of my chocolate Lab puppy, Nissa, getting dried off after her daily swim. Isn't she a cutie?

Dog gone it! What's everybody been doing?

It's past time I check in - doggone it, time flies! It has been a busy summer and I am currently wrapped up in totally rebuilding my OtterTail Lab Art website and changing servers. I hope to get this well along before the end of the month and get back to making art! Please check back and better yet, check in on my website regularly to see and test the changes. I appreaciate any and all comments. As I get the new pages posted please let me know if you have any problems with it loading or not looking right or links not working. Right now I am making minor changes that you can see, but behind the scenes everything is in a wild jumble - like my two youngest Labs bouncing off the walls, careening around the corners and using the couch as a launching pad, I hope it will look good and behave well when the dust clears! Check back soon.

Labrador Dogs follow a good Pack Leader

Labrador Retrievers, like all dogs, love a good pack leader. Here is a new design featuring black Labs, yellow Labs and chocolate Labs. Similar Pack Leader Labrador designs are available with black and chocolate Labs or black and yellow Labradors in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop on t-shirts and other fun clothing, stickers, hats, mugs and lots of great products. Even if you only have one dog, you should be a strong, kind and inspiring pack leader for your canine friend. I am a fan of Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, and his message to dog owners to be calm, assertive pack leaders by providing exercise, discipline, and affection, so my design shows the results. Three Labs walk calmly and happily and enjoy following their leader. I use some different tactics to address my dogs and the dogs that I rescue (I use clicker training primarily), but I am inspired by Cesar's energy and I can adapt my techniques to Cesar's ideas or follow his example with rescues and foster dogs who arrive with issues. Be inspired yourself, inspire you dogs by your nurturing guidance and proudly let everyone know you are the Pack Leader!

Labrador Retriever Rescue - Help When You Can

Sometimes in life you have to do what you can when you can. That is how this 7-yr old black boy came to join our pack. His name is Butch and his solitary owner was involved in a serious accident, leaving him in extended IC and possibly paralyzed for life. Butch was lucky to have an "uncle" who drove over twice daily to care for him following the tragedy, but that could not go on. Even a Lab used to living a reclusive life needs more attention in the long term. The loving uncle contacted Butch's vet, who made other contacts and a plea went out over the rescue network. I forwarded it to the group I volunteer with and several others, but everyone is full this year. Poor Butch had no where to go. So - I brought him here. I am fortunate to be in the position to help him right now. I don't want to count how many times over the years I have shuddered to think what would happen to all of my dogs if tragedy stuck my husband and me. I offered my home to Butch wishing that all dogs in such situations could have someone willing to take them in and give them a new loving home. I can only imagine what it feels like from the dog's point of view -- one day your beloved person just does not come home and you never seen them again. For so many dogs this ends up with a trip to a shelter and, especially for older, large, black dogs - who are the most difficult to place - it often means an unhappy end. But not Butch!! I am happy to say he is settling in. He enjoys my 4 other Labs and is fine with our cat. He is a gentleman in the house and really lights up when we go for our daily walks and swims in the pond. It warms my heart to see him becoming more comfortable every day. We wish for a miracle recovery by his "Dad" and, if that happens, I will happily give Butch back. I know how I would feel!!! Until that time Butch can live happily ever after here with us and we give thanks for being in a position to help when we can. Please consider offering your love and home to a dog in need. They ask for so little and you can truly save a life.

New Labrador Retriever T-Shirt Designs

I have 3 new funny Labrador T-shirt designs available in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop just in time for spring. You can see my new chocolate Lab puppy is already working by posing for the fun dog picture shown here. And I promise you, you do NOT want to underestimate the power of such a cute, sweet Labrador puppy!! The other 2 designs feature powerful black Labs. My old, gray woman wears the expression of "Been There, Done That" and Tallulah shows her attitude of "Don't Question My Authority!" I have a list of funny sayings that come to mind when I look at my dogs' expressions, so if you like these 3 designs there will be more. Have fun wearing your attitude or let your dog speak through you. These and many more Labrador Retriever t-shirts featuring my original Labrador paintings and photographs are ready for you to purchase in a wide choice of styles and colors with a click of your mouse. Satisfaction guaranteed! Have Fun Shopping Now!

Chocolate Lab Puppy Joins OtterTail Labradors

Introducing our wonderful new addition!! I have not posted in a while and she is why. I am thrilled to announce the arrival of Lobuff OtterTail Noble Nissa to our happy OtterTail Labrador home. Thank you Lisa Weiss for giving me the opportunity to have such a wonderful girl! Nissa was born on the 20th anniversary of my own very first litter, making her special indeed. My last litter was nearly 11 years ago, so this new Lab puppy brings great joy. It is also very nice to have a chocolate Labrador Retriever in our family again. My very first Lab (first purebred dog) was a chocolate Lab named Holly - she changed my life and was the instigator of all the rest of my involvement with Labs, inclucing my OtterTail Lab Art. Nissa is a beautiful girl who's name means "a sign", which is in keeping with her special birth date. It is also the name of a character from Dr. Who back in the 1980's who was pretty, sweet and very smart. As a side note for Whovarians - I have also had a Leela and a Tegan - 2 very wonderful yellow Lab girls! And my Leela was just as gung-ho as the doctor's!! I will surely have to write about both of them in the future. They are over Rainbow Bridge now, but many fond memories remain. Check back to see my wonderful Nissa as she grows!

Lab Rescue leads to Happy Labrador Adoption

Our sweet foster rescue Lab puppy, Eli, was happily adopted 3 weeks ago and is adjusting well. How could you not love that adorable yellow Labrador Retriever face? Eli came such a long way in the time he spent with us, it is wonderful to see him move on to his forever home and continue to grow and learn. I joked that he made it "from barn to bed" in one week, and his progress grew from there! He learned to walk nicely on a loose leash, even sitting whenever I stopped, he learned to sit, down, and come on cue, to make eye contact and give kisses. There were SO MANY new things - stairs, crates, car rides - it was a joy to watch him blossom. He even learned to voluntarily jump into the dog shower for a bath after our daily muddy walks and stand quietly for washing. He especially loved being dried - it was like having a massage! I think he is a hose dog in the making - I admit I have a soft spot for hose dogs! Eli is still a bit shy of strangers, but he is responding well to all of the new challenges. He has a dog loving family and we know he will have a very happy life. We do look forward to visits from Eli and his new "pack" in the future! I also plan to make some of my pictures of this sweet yellow Lab available on products with 100% of profits going to support Labrador Retriever rescue. Look for news about shopping at OtterTail Lab Art to donate to Lab rescue this spring and visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop for Labrador Retriever t-shirts and other fun clothing, gifts, prints, and products. Support Labrador rescue for a rewarding experience and give a gift to the sweet Lab souls who are so full of love.

Yellow Labrador Retriever Portrait Painting

This smiling yellow Labrador Retriever was a fun portrait to paint. Her name is Chamois and she travels internationally with her family. That is an exciting lifestyle for a rescue dog! Chamois has what is known as "dudley" pigment - her nose and eye rims are pink rather than the desired black. But she is still a cutie and a wonderful Lab. Who could resist that big, silly smile?! This custom dog portrait painting is done in my simplified, abstract style. It is an original acrylic on canvas, an exciting size at 24" x 30". The background colors and style were selected to match the client's requests. I will be making prints of this yellow Lab painting available with a portion of profits donated to support Lab rescue. I will also put this funny dog portrait on greeting cards and gifts in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop. To see other original Labrador paintings plus fun paintings of other animals visit my OtterTail Lab Art website. Click on this link for examples and prints of some of my other custom dog portraits and Lab paintings.

Labrador Retriever Rescue Dogs Need Your Love

Meet our newest foster dog. He is a 5 month old yellow Lab we are calling Eli (to commemorate the NY football Giant's superbowl win). I am fostering him for Rudy's Rescue, a non-profit group based in Rochester, NY. Eli came from a puppy mill where he lived in a barn with lots of other dogs and little human interaction. When I picked him up he was terrified of everything, but after a warm bath and yummy meal you could almost see his little mind opening. This is only his 4th day with us, but he is coming out of his shell and progressing quickly. Eli is a sweet guy with lots of potential. He enjoys playing with toys and the 3 other Labrador Retrievers who live here now. They set excellent examples for any Labrador puppy to follow and learn. It is rewarding to help Labs in need through fostering dogs, donating my Labrador Retriever artwork and designs and a portion of profits from my Lab paintings and photographs which I sell as prints and on clothing and other products. You can support Lab rescue by bidding on wonderful dog gifts available right now at the Labrador Life Line auction online. Or help save the rest of the dogs at Eli's puppy mill by purchasing my designated OtterTail Lab Art t-shirts, home products and gifts for dog lovers.

Black Lab Painting with Wine and Friends

It has been way too long since my last post, but at least it is because I have been happily busy. The holidays and new year were celebrated and enjoyed, custom Lab Art commissions continue to entertain and challenge me, and I have added new experiences to my daily routine - most notably, playing along with Namaste Yoga on FitTv every morning. I love it! My OtterTail dogs are all well and we are on the downhill side of winter. The year is fresh with great new adventures.
Between custom portraits and art projects I did squeeze in one painting just for fun. This latest version of "Wine is Best Shared with Friends" is a black Lab painting (or any black dog) done in my most simple style. It is acrylic on watercolor paper and has been donated to Labrador Life Line for the annual Labor of Love Auction. This is an on-line auction fund-raising event that I hope will draw many generous bidders. Your shopping for Lab-related items will donate money for Labrador Retrievers in need. The auction runs Feb. 8th through the 23rd, 2008. I have also donated a fine art giclee print of my yellow Lab painting titled "A Head Pillow is Nice". Giclee Prints of these and more of my Labrador Retriever paintings are available at my ImageKind gallery. The original yellow Labrador painting of my wine drinking dog is available directly from me. It is acrylic on canvas board.
Thanks for stopping by to read what's new. I resolve to update more often! Best wishes for a great new year to everyone.

Yellow Labrador Hunting Dog Painting

Here is one of my most recent Labrador Retriever paintings. If you have been reading along you may recognize this as our oldest yellow Lab, Dave (aka "Pumpkin Dave") who crossed Rainbow Bridge in August. Shhhh, it's a Christmas present for my husband. I wanted to capture Dave's big smile and happy Labrador spirit in bold colors and a fun, impressionistic painting style. He was a happy dog. Jim missed him at camp this season and ended up wearing Dave's camo bandana himself - for luck. Even macho guys can have a soft spot for a Labrador. I hope he likes his Christmas painting!

I know I have been lax about writing in my blog. I want to draw interest to my dog paintings and Labrador art and then I get busy and don't make time to write. I will have to do better in 2008! Right now I am working on a custom order for a January wedding as well as finishing a quilted table runner as a Christmas gift for friends. I am also starting an exciting commission of a yellow Labrador Retriever portrait that is requested to be bright and silly in a more abstract painting style. Other projects for early 2008 include illustrations for a stream guide and portraits of 2 Golden Retrievers. Sounds like a great way to start the year!

For fine art prints of this or a selection of my other paintings please visit my Dog Painting and Flower Photography Gallery at ImageKind. For posters, t-shirts and other products with my dog paintings and designs visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop or my poster galleries at Art.com and Artist Rising.

Happy Holidays to All!

Happy Thanksgiving Dogs and Cat

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Here is a picture of me with my 2 black Labs (Eponine and Tallulah), my yellow Labrador (Marius) and our calico cat (Helen) during a break in cooking on Thanksgiving Day. We all ate well, drank good wine, watched football and gave thanks for our many blessings. Helen is a rescue cat who turned up under a box on the porch at Jim's camp 5 years ago. She mostly tolerates us and conspires to make us wait on her every whim, but I know deep down she is thankful to live here. We try to get her to earn her keep by posing for and inspiring designs in her own on-line store called Dame Helen's Cat Shop. (Her full title is Dame Helen of Hector.) The dogs, on the other hand, are always full of cheer and happy to help in creating fun Labrador Retriever and dog art on t-shirts, greeting cards, and gifts for your dog loving friends and family. Shop now through Nov. 28th and save $15 on your purchase of $50 or more! Use coupon code: FRFAM2007

For truly unique gifts shop my original Lab paintings, sculpture and art. You will also find designs on silk scarves for wine and flower lovers and custom ideas for that special someone.

Black Lab, Yellow Lab & Chocolate Lab Christmas Cards

Start your holiday season's greetings with fun black, yellow or chocolate Labrador Retriever Christmas cards! Here is a sample of my chocolate Lab stealing Santa's Hat. You will also find yellow Labs ice skating, and black Labs sledding fast downhill. Don't worry, there are black, yellow and chocolate Labs doing all 3, as well as other funny and more traditional cards in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop. In addition to cards I have many silly and sincere Labrador Retriever art designs on products from t-shirts to mugs, ornaments to framed prints. All will make great gifts for dog people of every age on your shopping list. If you are looking for fine art giclee prints of Labrador Retriever paintings, please visit my print-on-demand Labrador dogs and flowers gallery. You can choose from a variety of paper types and sizes or canvas and you can select to have your artwork matted and framed before it is shipped. Best of all, visit my website for original OtterTail Labrador Retriever Art.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Greeting Cards

Here is a new dog design for Christmas and winter holiday greetings. This fun Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever art was created by special request. Tollers are cute red dogs with some long hair feathering and white chest, paws, blaze and perhaps a tip on the tail. Tell you Toller lover friends to visit my shop for Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever cards and gifts along with Labrador Retriever art, gifts and cards. It's getting to be that busy, festive time of year. Enjoy your holiday shopping in comfort while finding unique, original art for dog lovers by shopping online and ordering directly from the artist.

Fishing Labrador Retriever Design in Wood

We have been cutting my OtterTail Lab Art designs in wood items since 1987. This is my Fishing Dog design. Others include Diving Dog, Dog in Cattails which features birds in flight, Pheasant in the Corn, Swimming Dog, and Friends. You can see some examples of our Labrador dogs in wood on my OtterTail Labrador Art website. We use only quality hardwoods - primarily cherry, maple and black walnut, finished with a hand-rubbed oil to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Every design is hand drawn and individually cut with a scroll saw, so we can take into account the unique grain on each piece of wood and easily customize pieces for special gifts for dog lovers. This picture shows a cherry peg rack which will be a trophy at the up-coming Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac Bare Bones Specialty 2007. Other trophies for this year's show include a black walnut peg rack with my Diving Dog design and cherry and black walnut cork boards with my 3 Friends design. These are in addition to the custom dog design tile keepsake boxes featured in this blog last month. Other wood items we make include shelves, serving trays, and our very popular picture frames.

We are happy to create custom OtterTail Lab Art pieces for gifts, trophies or your own home decorating. Please allow plenty of time when ordering as all of our dog artwork is made by hand with love and care.

Adopt a Rescue Labrador Retriever - or foster one!

Meet Jake - our current foster dogs. He is a purebred black Labrador Retriever who was saved from a kill-shelter in Kentucky. Jake is 6 years old and the poor guy was surrendered by his elderly owner who felt they could no longer take care of him. It's a shame, because that owner had obviously been doing a good job. Unlike most shelter dogs, Jake came to us in excellent shape. He is very fit, has clean teeth and ears and a shiny coat. Jake is a gentle sweetheart and I hate to think he might have been killed for lack of another home. He gets along well with our other dogs and cat. He is house trained and crate trained, and not at all destructive. Unfortunately, large black dogs are the least likely to be adopted, so we may be fostering Jake for some time to come. Jake is a neutered male, up to date on vaccinations and heartworm preventative, and lovable in many ways! We are volunteering for a Lab rescue group based in Rochester, NY called Rudy's Rescue for Labrador Retrievers. The area we cover is quite large, although we do require home checks for all potential foster homes and adopters. But we also work with other rescue groups who can do home checks for people out of our immediate area. If you are interested in helping these wonderful dogs in need, please contact Rudy's Rescue through our web site or any of the many other rescue groups working to save homeless dogs all across the country.

Another great way to help rescued dogs is with your donation or by shopping for Labrador Retriever t-shirts, home decorative items, art and gifts in the designated sections of my shop (including one for which 100% of profits are dedicated to LabMed) or visit Rudy's Rescue Store, which I maintain. I have also donated most of the designs. There are many ways dog lovers can help and every bit, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.

Dog Show Trophies and Custom Gifts

I have been providing custom pieces for dog show trophies, judges gifts, and awards for about 20 years. This example is a tile-topped wood box created for the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac Bare Bones Specialty Show coming up in October. These boxes are provided by and tiles printed by my professional print-on-demand company. In this case I supply the custom artwork to be applied to a wide variety of products. To see more of the products and gift items available visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop.
Most of the Labrador and dog show trophies we have created over the years have been original pieces made by my husband and me - particularly our wood OtterTail Lab Art items. In addition to conformation trophies, we have made many obedience trophies, hunting test and field trial awards, club awards for outstanding members and versatile Labradors, and judges gifts. Of course, we are also happy to make special pieces for any Labrador lovers' Christmas, holiday or special occasion gifts. And, we're not just for Labs - we have designs to delight dog lovers of all types. Here is an example of a general dog design. Since this is also a trophy for the LRCP Bare Bones show (all-breed obedience is being offered), I created a unique design that features bones!

Training Tips for Labrador Retrievers and other dogs

For years I have been writing training tips in articles, letters and emails. I thought it was about time to make my efforts available to anyone who might just need the tips I have to offer, so here is my first entry. Please note, I am NOT soliciting questions - I volunteer tons of time to a Lab rescue organization adopters, fosters and friends. The tips shared here are free for the taking .. or not - as always, use your own best judgement regarding whether my tips fit your needs and never do anything with your dog that makes you uncomfortable. There are many ways to approach every training situation. Mainly, like my Labs themselves, I like to have fun! There will be no particular order to my training posts. Some will be for puppies and/or first time dog owners and some will be for experienced trainers, dog sport competitors, and rescue dog rehabilitaters. So here we go!

(Names will be changed to protect the guilty :-).)
Problem: Nora is ignoring the chewies and her designated stuff in favor of tearing up pillows, her crate bed, and other soft items. Sometimes she retrieves the items, sometimes she shreds them. We scold her for ripping the pillows, but she still does.

Tip: That's typical for a young Lab. They do have a high need for human attention. If chewing and playing with her own toys gets ignored, but tearing up pillows gets attention - even if negative - then pillows it will be. I suggest you play with the Nora's toys with her, and tell her how wonderful they are and make a fuss when she is doing the "right thing". If she only gets noticed when she is being naughty, then she will be naughty. And it all starts innocently - she rips a pillow as a puppy mistake and it gets lots of attention vs. she bites her bone and no one notices because she is being good and owners don't realize they need to "make note" that she IS being good. Labs are needy. It is important to make a little celebration about all of her good behaviors at first - not just ignore them. Labs love to be praised - that little effort you take to tell them when they are just being good, whether it's being quiet, chewing a bone, sleeping in their crate, whatever - that little positive reinforcement can make all the difference for a Lab - especially a puppy. It takes concerted effort and training for most people because it is so easy to ignore them when they are being good or think "phew, the Lab is finally quiet" and not make note of it to the Lab. But that is what they really need - that is what they thrive on. The "secret" to Labs is that they are needy - pay attention to the behaviors you want to see more of, because you will see more of the behaviors you pay attention to!

Enjoy your dog! Labs just want to have fun - Share the Spirit!

See some of my OtterTail Labs having fun and inspiring my OtterTail Labrador Retriever Art.

New Labrador Retriever Christmas Card

Here is my first new design for 2007 dog holiday cards. This is a digital painting of a black Lab catching snowflakes on her tongue. There are 2 choices of verses inside. One says "Enjoy the Moment. Happy Holidays" and the other says "Share the Wonders of the Holiday Season". Many of my Labrador Christmas cards are now available to purchase individually or in sets of 10 or 20. They are professionally printed on your choice of matte or glossy stock. Please visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop greeting card section to see all of my available Lab and dog holiday designs. More new Lab Christmas cards will be added this season. The black Lab who modeled for this greeting card was my own OtterTail Silky Bonnie Blue. To see more of my Labrador models and dog art please visit OtterTail Lab Art.

Another Wonderful Labrador Crosses Rainbow Bridge

We said good-bye to our oldest dog, Dave, on 17 August after 15 happy years. Pumpkin Dave, as he was affectionately known, is running fast again - his favorite activity - over Rainbow Bridge. This picture was taken during one of his last stays at my husband's hunting camp. He wore his camo dogdanna so he would fit in with the boys. You can see by the Labrador smile on his face that it was a fun time for him, even in his old age. We will miss you Pun'kin Dave, but we know you are happy to be running again. Run like the Wind!!!

Back to School Dog Students

Get ready for another fun year of learning with my new back to school Labrador designs. Labs love to learn, so it's no surprize they are excited about the up-coming start of school. Here is my black Lab on his way to classes with a backpack that says "School is Cool". He joins his chocolate and yellow friends as well as a black Lab, yellow Lab and chocolate Lab wearing book bags that say "Teacher's Pet" - a fun twist on words. Whether you are a student or a teacher or a classroom helper or tutor, these simple dog designs will make lessons more fun for everyone. There are also products to decorate your classroom or for great gifts for teachers, students or anyone who helps someone learn something new. Visit my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop for your next back to school supplies.

Shop Now!! For a limited time we are offering a sale - buy 3 shirts and get one free!

Our Oldest Labrador Retriever

Happy Birthday, Dave! On Sunday, 8 July 2007, our OtterTail Decathlon Dave celebrated his 15th birthday. Dave is our longest living Lab (or any dog) to date, although he is not the oldest OtterTail. Maggie, a Labrador puppy from my first litter, lived to 16 years, 10 1/2 months. Our old man, who has always been affectionately call "Punkin' Dave", spends most of his time sleeping these days. We will continue to wait on his every need as long as he wants to stay with us. He enjoyed some grilled steak and extra carrots (his real favorite) as birthday treats. Dave, as his name suggests, was born during the 1992 olympics. Though he was named for the decathlete, Dave Johnson (which also happened to be the name of a friend of ours), his very favorite "event" was running. When Dave was younger he loved to run as fast as he could for as long as he could. Then he would catch his breath and run some more. He would have been an olympic runner if he could. Happy Birthday, Dave - we all love you!

Patriotic Dogs - Fun For All

Happy Independence Day to US friends celebrating the 4th of July! Here is my patriotic "Go Fast Dog" starting the festivities early. He's running to spread joy like many Labrador Retrievers do just for fun. This silly dog is a stars and stripes digital manipulation of my original drawing. The red, white and blue design is available on t-shirts, clothing, mugs and other products in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop and comes in different colors for holidays and everyday. He can also be found stealing Santa's hat in popular black Lab, yellow Lab and chocolate Lab versions in the holiday section of my shop. May we all feel the joy of living and value our freedom the way well-loved Labrador Retrievers do!

Adopt a Rescue Dog

This is my current foster dog, Molly Sue. I am fostering her for Rudy's Rescue which is a Labrador Retriever rescue group based in Rochester, NY. I don't know how much Lab she has in her (she is a hound-doggy mix), but she is a real sweetie who was saved from a kill shelter in Kentucky. She is barely 6 months old and will make some family a wonderful companion. She is as affectionate and attentive as a good Labrador and likes to swim in our pond. At barely 30 lbs she is not the least bit timid to 'run with the big dogs'. I like this silly picture of her. She reminds us of the cute black sister to the Grinch's dog, Max, (as drawn by Dr. Seuss) so for fun we are calling her Molly Sue Who.

She has had lots of training since she arrived and that alone would make her adoption price worthwhile. Add in the fact that she is such a fun little dog and that 100% of the donation goes to help save other dogs in need and it is clear that adopting a rescue dog is a great way to find a good friend and make a difference. Wherever you are there are dogs needing loving homes and rescue groups working to save them.

I plan to make some new Labrador Retriever and dog paintings to help raise funds for Rudy's Rescue. Check back for sneak peaks and updates.

Fine Art Prints of my Dog Paintings

I am excited to announce a new option for buying fine art prints of some of my dog paintings and flower photographs. I now have a Dogs and Flowers gallery on ImageKind. They use high quality printers and inks on a variety of fine art papers or canvas. You can choose exactly what you want and even have the pictures matted and framed in one easy step. Canvases can be stretched with wrapped corners, ready to hang. Use your credit card for added convenience. Satisfaction guaranteed!!

This painting entitled "Wine is Best Shared with Friends 2" is one of my popular Lab prints that is available. The original Labrador Retriever painting is acrylic on canvas panel, framed in a custom hardwood frame. It is available directly from me (OtterTailArt.com).

ImageKind is an exciting new outlet for my art prints. I have prints and posters available through my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop, my gallery on Sistino, and my gallery on Art.com. ImageKind offers a greater selection of fine art quality products that I hope will please my classiest customers. They all make great gifts for dog lovers - Gardeners and flower lovers too! More designs will be added soon.

Beauty Sleep Black Labrador Painting

Another painting for my "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" series, this one is called "Beauty Sleep". A pretty black Labrador Retriever sleeps soundly on a pink pillow. She is a simplified, abstract painting capturing the feeling of the moment. The model was my OtterTail Eponine - always a picture of beauty in my eyes. This would be a great picture for any bedroom or nursery or any quiet room in your house and a charming gift for dog lovers. The original acrylic on 16" x 20" stretched canvas (unframed) is currently available. Prints can be purchased in a variety of sizes and on different papers to suit every need. Order prints (completely matted and framed if you like!) from Amy's Gallery on ImageKind or Amy's Gallery on Sistino or my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop.

Prints of Paintings and Photographs

I have a new exciting gallery started where you can buy quality fine art prints of some of my photographs and paintings. They have a great variety of papers or canvas to choose from for your print as well as custom mats and frames if you prefer to have the artwork delivered complete and ready to hang. The name of my new online gallery is Dogs and Flowers - 2 things I love! Click on the name for a sneak preview.

So far I am using this gallery for some of my flower photographs. Soon I will add my most popular Labrador Retriever dog paintings. If you have a favorite that you would like included in this new print on demand art service, please email me with your request. Many of my Labrador paintings are also available as prints on Sistino, Art.com, and my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop. Each site offers a variety of media and quality of prints with or without frames.

The floral photography I have added to my new Dogs and Flowers Gallery on ImageKind.com are pictures I took in my garden at OtterTail Farm. Gardening is another of my loves - after my dogs, of course. I have many lovely sunset, clouds and interesting sky pictures and seasonal landscape photos I will be adding to my various galleries as well. I hope you will think of my OtterTail Labrador Art as well as my flower and nature photographs when you are looking for unique gifts for dog lovers, gardeners or anyone who enjoys beautiful landscapes and sunsets.

New Labrador Retriever Painting

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. That is the name of my new series of Labrador Retriever paintings. This picture of a snoozing yellow Lab is titled "A Head Pillow Is Nice". It is done in my simplified style, capturing the essence of the moment. The model was my charming boy, OtterTail Marius. The original is available for sale and is acrylic on 16" x 20" stretched canvas. Prints, framed prints and posters are available in a variety of sizes through my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop as well as my galleries on Art.com, Sistino and Artist Rising. To purchase this original Labrador painting or any of my other dog art please visit OtterTail Lab Art and contact me.

Labradors like jobs

Tallulah decided helping me do poop patrol should be one of her jobs. She carries the shovel for me as I scan the yard. I always enjoy letting my Labradors help with the chores. Tallulah offered to carry the shovel one day, so I let her have it, praised her for carrying it, called her to me when I needed it and gave her a click and treat for delivering. It was that easy. Now she helps out everyday. I can just drop the shovel anywhere and she will get it for me or I hand it to her between "uses". I love to teach my dogs tricks and jobs by capturing behaviors they offer and turning them into something useful or silly. Teaching anything makes them smarter and better learners and they are never too young or too old to learn. Tallulah has been doing this since she was 10 or 11 months old. My yellow Labrador, Marius, began carrying his puppy bowl around when he was 5 weeks old. I clicked and treated that and turned it into delivering to hand and he has been collecting all of the empty bowls after meals for me for the last 10 years! He loves that job and insists on doing it (and knows not to approach any other dog's bowl until they have finished and left it). I have had 2 other dogs decide they could do that job too once they saw Marius get clicked and treated for it. The others taught themselves. Have fun with your dog and give them a job today!

Labrador Retriever Silk Scarf

This is one of my newest hand-painted silk scarves. My "6 Lab Heads" series has been very popular. This is only the second one I have made with black, yellow and chocolate Labradors and the first one is my own, so I expect there is a Lab lover with fashion style who will be craving this one! It is 8"x54" crepe de chin, 100% silk. I have another new 6-heads scarf on my web site and a 3rd one on china silk being finished which will go on soon. You can see them and many of my others by visiting my hand-painted silk scarf page.

I love painting on silk. The colors flow and spread, which can also be a problem, but when they go the way you want them to it's great fun. Silk is such a nice fabric to wear by your skin I can't resist having a large collection of my scarves myself. Silk is also much tougher than many people think. All of my scarves are washable, you can even throw them in the machine, but I do hand-wash mine in warm to hot water. Rinse with a little liquid softener for extra silkiness, lay flat on a towel to blot, then iron while damp to dry and it's ready to go.

I do custom designs on silk scarves too, so if you want a unique gift of original art or a special fashion statement of your own contact me. I am happy to paint colors of your choice in my existing designs as well.

Silky smooth sailing till next time!

Yellow Labrador Retriever Painting

Here is a painting of Reilly Blue that I decided to do as a memorial for our good friends and his last family. It is acrylic on watercolor paper. I did it in a somewhat more realistic style than I usually paint. Fixing red eye is a challenge and I always prefer to remove the collars. I also posed him sitting instead of lying down. The colors of my dog paintings do not always look the same on-line as they do in real life, but I think you can see his likeness. Prints of Reilly Blue will be available through my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop, as well as greeting cards and other products.

I have been painting silk scarves since I finished this Labrador portrait. Painting on silk is always fun because the colors flow so freely. Once those are all complete and photographed I will be rebuilding my hand-painted silk scarf page of my web site. There are silk scarves for dog lovers, wine and grape lovers and those who simply like colors and silk. I hope you will visit!

Lab Tested

This picture is over a year old and includes my lost loves, Obi (bottom left) and Gwen (top right). Eponine (top left) and Marius (bottom right) are still here Labbing me up. It was a fun photo shoot with me wearing one of my "Lab Tested" design t-shirts. As you can see - I am thoroughly tested and Approved!! For those of you who may have purchased this design from my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop, you now have collectors items. It seems someone has trademarked the term "Lab Tested" and the rest of us are not allowed use it. So, I have revised the design offered in my shop (after a several month absence) to simply say "Tested" in the muddy paws on the front and it still has the same design on the back saying "Approved". It's a funny world with people owning common phrases many of us have used long before they got the idea to take control. The term "Gone Fishing" is also trademarked and threatening the design I have by that name as well. No fear, I can remove the words and adapt my silly fishing dog to stay out of the way of the word police. Pesonally, I will stick with my Labs' attitudes and happy spirits - Life is too short for owning and fighting over words that belong to everyone. Make up your own words or phrases and you deserve to own them - take over common phrases that lots of people have enjoyed for a long time and wallow in your own mire. Not for me - we're moving on. Labs just want to have fun!!

Cats this time

I created this painting of 2 cats as a wedding present for my niece and her new husband. They were married on 3 Feb. 2007 in Tampa, Florida. I flew down for the event, which was quite a feat for me since I do not like to fly and have not been on a plane since 1999. Now I am home again - home, sweet, home - back where I belong and back to painting.

I call this painting "Twogether". Leanne and Trey have 2 cats, so I thought they would enjoy this design. For me, this picture represents being together as friends and partners -- There for each other to lean on and rely on and share the experience of life, and yet, still unique individuals with your own hearts and minds and needs and interests.
This is an acrylic painting on canvas panel, 12" x 16". I call this style abstract realism. My husband, Jim, made a solid maple frame to finish off our wedding gift. It was fun to paint and try out new techniques and I hope the bride and groom enjoy it for many years to come.
Prints will be available in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop as well as my gallery on Artist Rising. A modified design is also available on t-shirts, clothing and more great gifts for cat lovers.