Visions of SugarMice

About now, most children (and some adults) are going to sleep to dream about presents under the tree and sugar-plums in their stockings. (Does anyone know what a "sugar-plum actually is?) Cats, being super intelligent little creatures, are no exception. I caught our cat happily snoozing near the fireplace, where his stocking is hanging with care, and dreaming of SugarMice. This 11 x 14 watercolour hangs in our house every Christmas season, but small prints are available.

WHY DO I PAINT ANIMALS?

Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do? Taking stock, I asked myself why I have a compulsion to paint dogs, cats, and horses. I do dip into the world of Fantasy every so often, but always, always, I come back to dogs, cats, and horses.
I don’t want to change these animals in my paintings – to experiment or play with colour, shape or texture. It would be an artistically valid thing to do, and I admire the artists who do it, but it doesn’t satisfy the artist in me or the animal lover. I think animals are so beautiful just the way they are. I love the challenge of painting the different textures of their hair, from short and sleek, wavy or bristly, to long, luxurious and soft. Their colours enchant me, all those whites, creams, silvers, tans, golds, russets, chestnuts, sepias and blacks, and every shade and tint in between. I love all the shapes; the infinite variety of dog shapes, the soft and round, or long and lean of cats, and the pure poetry of horses. But it is their eyes that simply ensorcelle – Dark, liquid and trusting, emerald, sapphire or topaz bright, or soft, gentle and deep. I melt when I look into those eyes.
My love affair with animals has been going on all my life and will never end. I have to paint – I’ve no choice. It’s as necessary as breathing. And for the most part, all I want to paint are the animals I love. I paint these lovely creatures as carefully as I can to celebrate them, to share my love for them with the people who see my paintings, and to get into that special zone where, just for a little while, the delightful animal I’m painting belongs to me.
The Sheltie image above was done in Coloured Pencil, and is available as 4 x 6 Note Cards in packages of 6 for $8.00.

CHARM

This is a portrait of a beautiful cat named CHARM. She was a delightful little thing, and touched everyone who met her. I placed her among Forget-me-nots because she loved to sit in among them, and because she will always remain in the hearts of the people who loved her.

When I am doing a portrait of a pet who has crossed Rainbow Bridge, I like to use a Spring background, if a background is required but not specified. To me, it gives a feeling of hope that we will see our loved ones again.

Charm was done in Coloured Pencil and is an 8 x 10 image. The portrait went home last night, to enthusiastic reviews.

Traveller -Gypsy Vanner Horse

The Gyspy Vanner seems like such a lovely natured horse. There is one that comes to our local Fair each fall, and it is such a delight to give the quiet, beautiful Vanner stallion a hug. He is so gentle with everyone.
I've had this image in my mind for a long time, and when I set out to finally put it on paper, I hit a bit of a dilemma. I felt I needed to do some more work in acrylic, but the thought of preparing the board and then fighting with the paint was keeping me from starting the painting. Then it dawned on me that while I want to introduce more acrylics to my portraiture work, I didn't need to use it for my scenes. Watercolour is my first love as far as mediums go, so my decision was made. I was able to leap into this painting at once, and have enjoyed every moment of painting this Vanner who so obviously loves life and enjoys his free time. The painting "Traveller" is 11 x 15.5 inches on heavy Arches hot press paper.

Speckles

This was one of those impossible angles, but the puppy looked so cute, I couldn't miss the opportunity to paint him as he slept. Basset Hounds have a wonderfully distinct personality, and this innocent, velvety cuddlebug grew up to steal a roast - a whole roast!
I like the way the colours in this one bounce off each other, a hint of the bright little personality snoozing so comfortably in his bed. "Speckles" is a 4 x 6 inch watercolour sketch and is available.

Heather Anderson

Advance To The Light

There are times in life when shadows gather and it feels as though the gloom will never end. This is the time when one has to gather inner strength and find a fragil path of light to follow, and as you do, the light will grow stronger until you are standing in sunshine again.
In this 8 x 10 watercolour painting "Advance To The Light", I have chosen a Friesian horse to portray the strength we need, and in the midst of boiling cloud, the moonlight spills a path towards a place where the sun will eventually rise.
"Advance To The Light is available for purchase.

Heather Anderson
www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com
anderson.animalart@sympatico.ca

Either You Get It - Or You Don't

Playoff Season is upon us, and Biff and Jo-Jo are hockey fans, but they like different teams. Even though Jo-J0's team didn't make it this year, he enjoys the game enough to sit and cheer on Biff's team. Oh the intensity, the fascination of watching the action unfold. Some people just don't understand, so I guess when it comes to Sports, either you get it, or you don't.

Heather Anderson

Something In The Air

It's that time of year again - the geese are coming in every morning and evening, filling the air with joyous "Goose Music" There is even more magic to it when you see them just at sunset, some flying past while others come in to rest for the night, and all of them reflected in the pools and lakes that have sprung up in the fields.
I chose Acrylic for "Something In the Air" because I wanted to play with the reflections of the evening sky in the watermeadows. I decided that an interested English Setter would be just right for this 14 x 18 painting. He has already seen the landing geese and now has his attention on the flocks overhead.

Larger Than Life

One of the highlights of the Ottawa Season is the FUR BALL, the charity Fundraiser for the Ottawa Humane Society. This year, I have been pleased to give them a donation for the Silent Auction that is part of that event.
"Larger Than Life" is a small acrylic painting, and my own Studio Cat, Sasha, posed for me. He was adopted from the Humane Society when he was just a tiny kitten. We had no choice really. As we were walking around looking at cage after cage of beautiful cats and kittens, he reached through the bars of his cage, took hold of my finger, drew it between the wires, and began to suck on it. It would have taken a harder heart than mine to walk away. Since then, he has been a total delight, and reigns over the dogs as the Sheltie Hollow Cat.
I named this painting LARGER THAN LIFE because it seems to me that this is how cats see themselves.
If you are thinking of adding a cat or kitten to your life, please remember that there are thousands of cats in shelters all across the country, waiting for a loving home.

Heather Anderson
www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

Desert Wind

Because I find acrylic to be the most uncomfortable medium that I use, I am trying to do more of them in hopes of increasing my comfort level. I decided to try "Desert Wind" in acrylic as I wanted it to be a large painting. This painting of an Arabian horse and Saluki was done on a 16 x 20 gessoed panel, and while it was fun to do, there was also the familiar frustration level with this type of paint. More frustration presented itself when I tried to scan the image. My scanner was much too small, and we faced a 4 piece scan. Instead of facing that, we decided to take the painting to a local print shop to have it scanned for us, and at that point, the gremlins really came out of the woodwork. The person at the shop refused to let me have any input into the scan, then when we went back to collect it, they had temprarily lost the CD with the scan. We gave them a week, then went back and they had it ready this time. When we got home and looked at the CD, the scan was so horrible that I threw it away and got out my little digital camera. The resulting photo is not great, but SO much better than what the shop had done. Now I have two new goals; to find a new print shop, and to buy a better camera!
One bright spot that came about half way through this painting was that I was given a Blog Award by fellow artist Debbie Flood. Thanks Debbie. It made my day.

Heather Anderson
www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

Fall Fair

This weekend was our local Fall Fair. This is an event that we try to never miss. We love to go and see the children's art and all the produce, baking, quilts, and other exhibits in the agricultural hall, and then it's off to see the horses. We can spend hours, watching the various jumping, driving, and saddlehorse classes, and hanging over the rail at the heavy horse ring. I love the way the ground shakes when they trot past, and the sound of thunder from their huge hooves and the wild jungle of their harness. But even these giants get nervous before they go in the ring. I saw this lovely Clydesdale being quietly reassured as he was walked to the entrance of the ring.

"You'll Be Great" is a 10 by 13 inch watercolor painting, and it is available for sale.

A Wonderful Party

The other day, my dog "niece" went to a wonderful party. Several dog friends received invitations to this party, and they arrived dressed in their best collars, scarves, and ruffs. There were games for them to play, dog treats to munch on, , and time to just lie on the grass and visit. Their humans had treats and visit time too, which made it very nice for everyone. In fact, both humans and dogs had a howling good time.

Maybe it is time to start planning a Sheltie Party here at Sheltie Hollow.

Welcome to Sheltie Hollow

June is a busy time here at Sheltie Hollow. We are occupied putting in the annuals that I have bought or grown from seed and checking the overall design of the garden. Do we need to divide or replace perennials, or do we need to fill in a bare spot?

The Shelties watch carefully and are always ready to lend a paw, digging in the dirt, carrying light objects, or finding and bringing us lost gardening gloves. At the end of a busy gardening day, everyone looks forward to a warm, soothing bath.

Visit my website: http://www.kelpiestudio.com/