In the Spotlight!
Nan's Art at AKC Museum of the Dog
Nan along with two other canine arts were the 2006 featured artists at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog Artists' Registry Exhibition. We are most proud! Nan had a range of both new and old works on display. The show was featured in an article in the museum's newsletter, Sirius and the AKC website. The show was at the museum in Saint Louis on June 11, 2006 through September 17, 2006.
Below are some of the paintings, which were exhibited at the show. I have supplied Nan's comments along with details for each piece. Enjoy!
Louisiana Courage
| Title | Louisiana Courage |
|---|---|
| Date | January 2006 |
| Breed | Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 16 inches by 12 inches |
| Price | $1,200.00 |
Believe it or not this has been brewing in my head for several years. The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog in the painting is based on my dog, Ashley. The photo that I worked from was of her running through a creek behind our old house in Rustburg Virginia. There never was a braver, more useful dog than Ashley. She could find lost piglets in thirty acres of shoulder-high pines, protect the chickens from critters and run off neighborhood dogs without injury to them or herself. With the event of Katrina, the remarkable fortitude and courage of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi this painting is a tribute to the people and their rich culture. Ashley lived to be 15 years old and is greatly missed. Good dog Ashley, good dog.
Hothouse Flower
| Title | Hothouse Flower |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006 |
| Breed | Peruvian Inca Orchid |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 12 inches by 12 inches |
| Price | In collection of Annie Traub |
This painting is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Martens. She shared her love for the Inca Orchids with me and was my mentor. I love the exotic coloring and sleek elegance of this rare breed. I put the orchid in the background in remembrance of their ancient mysterious history.
Runner's Light
| Title | Runner's Light |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006 |
| Breed | Ibizan Hound |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 18 inches by 14 inches |
| Price | In collection of the Artist |
Oh Runner how you broke my heart! Runner was a yearling in this painting. He had contracted a neurological infection that robbed him of his vision. In spite of this handicap he could still navigate thought the woods. I lost him just as the breed was recognized, a terrible blow!
Bart
| Title | Bart |
|---|---|
| Date | 1989 |
| Breed | English Bulldog |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 16 inches by 14 inches |
| Price | In collection of Michael & Myra Meyers, Starbull Bulldogs |
When Michael and Myra Meyers commissioned me to paint Bart they
sent me a snapshot of this glorious Bulldog on a neatly
manicured lawn. True to form, I researched the confirmation
and history of the breed. I felt moved to put Bart in a
traditional British landscape, including an antique breed of
short hone Bull. After finishing this romantic fantasy I
thought, Oh my goodness, what if Michael and Myra don't want
a dramatic scenerio!
Luckily they loved it and when I was
invited to participate in the exhibition my friends insisted
his painting should be included.
Sheena Remembered
| Title | Sheena Remembered |
|---|---|
| Date | 1991 |
| Breed | English Bulldog |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 16 inches by 14 inches |
| Price | In collection of Michael & Myra Meyers, Starbull Bulldogs |
This is the companion piece to the Bart painting commissioned by Michael and Myra Meyers. I created the same traditional English sylvan setting. I inserted British Shorthorn cows as compliment and mates to the glorious old bull in the Bart painting.
Foxfire I
| Title | Foxfire I |
|---|---|
| Date | January 31, 1987 |
| Breed | Ibizan Hound |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 15-1/4 inches by 10 inches |
| Price | In collection of Elaine & Andrew Ferguson, Serqet Ibizan Hounds |
This is a painting of Foxfire's favorite place, a little grotto back in the woods where he ran. Foxfire figures strongly in my pedigrees and produced eleven champions in one litter.
Meagan I
| Title | Meagan I |
|---|---|
| Date | 1988 |
| Breed | Rough Collie |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 8 inches by 10 inches |
| Price | In collection of the Kilgore Family |
Meagan was my late father's beloved farm Collie as a young pup. I just loved the wonderful colors found in the newly fallen snow.
Meagan II
| Title | Meagan II |
|---|---|
| Date | 1988 |
| Breed | Rough Collie |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 11 inches by 14 inches |
| Price | In collection of the Kilgore Family |
Here is Meagan as a grown lady. She was a wonderful, loving Collie who shepherded her family through life.
Ming
| Title | Ming |
|---|---|
| Date | 1983 |
| Breed | Pug |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 5 inches by 7 inches |
| Price | In collection of Don & Carol Ayrton, CADO Pugs |
Ming was my mother-in-law and dearest friend's first Pug. She
was a pet shop Pug of less than perfect conformation, but what
a character! She ruled the house over my Ibizans and us humans
too. She was a world champion rubber-mouse retriever. Ming
means never having to say you are sorry! She founded the love
for Pugs in CADO Pugs.
My Lady's Guardian
| Title | My Lady's Guardian |
|---|---|
| Date | 1989 |
| Breed | Pug |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 8 inches by 10 inches |
| Price | In collection of Don & Carol Ayrton, CADO Pugs |
This is a painting of my mother-in-law, Carol Ayrton's, first homebred champion, CH Cado Sun Hou-Tzu. I felt the oriental rug and the great brass platter with the Foo Dogs set the scene just perfectly.
Ruby on Wicker
| Title | Ruby on Wicker |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006 |
| Breed | Cavalier King Charles Spainiel |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 4 inches by 4 inches |
| Price | available in the gallery |
I was sent the most wonderful photos of Cavaliers in beautiful natural light. The dogs were beautiful in themselves, but the light made them radiant!
Highlander
| Title | Highlander |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006 |
| Breed | Scottish Deerhound |
| Media | Acrylic Enamels on Porcelain |
| Size | 9-1/2 Inches Oval |
| Price | In collection of Joan Garth |
I love the traditional oval format of the Victorian painters. Joan Garth, a loyal patron, had sent me many lovely photos of her Deerhounds. I painted this piece on porcelain with acrylic enamels. Joan spoke up for it before it left home.
Homage to James Ward
| Title | Homage to James Ward |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006 |
| Breed | Saluki |
| Media | Acrylic Enamels on Porcelain |
| Size | 6 inches by 4 inches |
| Price | available in the gallery |
I love the history of art, particularly in regards to animal painters. I saw a glorious Saluki pictured in an old Saluki periodical that so much reminded me of the deer sable dog in Ward's painting. I painted my own vision of this dog in a similar motif.
One Blood
| Title | One Blood |
|---|---|
| Date | 1989 |
| Breed | Wolf |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 11 inches by 11 inches |
| Price | $1,000.00 |
I wanted the challenge of painting the wolves, primal relatives of our favorite pets. I painted them in moonlit song.
Yankee Gray
| Title | Yankee Gray |
|---|---|
| Date | 1988 |
| Breed | Gray Fox |
| Media | Acrylics on Panel |
| Size | 10 inches by 8 inches |
| Price | $800.00 |
This little cousin of our dogs is living all around us, but seldom seen. I particularly love to hear their eerie calls in the night.
