Good News!!

While my news is not on an Olympic scale :-), I'm pretty thrilled to announce winning a Third Place Award in Watercolours for "My Ball" and a Fourth Place Award in Drawing for "Soulful" at the Art Show at the Dog Show.
Best In Show was awarded to Marla Ruch Parnell and her stunning collie pastel portrait, "Sunbath"

And I must pass kudos and congrats to both the Canadian and American Men's Hockey teams for a incrediable Gold Medal game this afternoon. Even though I am Canadian, I'm not a huge hockey nut, but throughly enjoyed the play and was glued to the TV... In fact, the entire games were great; being more of an armchair-type athelete myself, I found the Olympic athletes amazing to watch!

Going to the Dogs!

Well, this year is opening with a blast:-D

I just got news about my entries for this year's Art Show at the Dog Show exhibition.
I have had three works accepted and am thrilled!

These will be displayed amoung 3 different location in Wichita, Kansas, between March 3rd thru April 11th. I will post more details soon, but now its off to the framers!

Going "to the Dogs" are:

"What's up Dach?"
4"x6" Watercolor


"My Ball"
5"x5" Watercolor


"Soulful"
5"x5" Colored Pencil on PastelMat

What a Weekend!

It has been a wonderful weekend here, with great news to share...

I just received my official notification, so I can happily post that my painting, "A Regal Grace," was awarded third place in the Watercolour Division at the Art Show at the Dog Show!
It is always such a boost to be recognized like this, especially in a show with such a high calibre of work.
The show is now hanging in Kansas and will soon be on-line to view. You can take a sneak peek at the Best in Show, "Little Diva" which is an exquisite sculpture by Tammy Bality of Colorado-Congratulations to Tammy and all the ASATDS artists !

In addition, our wonderful Blue Picardy Spaniel Suede now has a new name: CHAMPION Brighthope Blue Suede Shoes!

Suede finished his Canadian Championship this weekend under breeder/handler Vicki Duncan and was a very good boy, behaving beautifully.

While there is no American title to aim for, as the breed is not recognized by the AKC, we're thinking of putting Suede's energy and atheltic ability into action....obedience, agility, tracking, hunt trials- haven't decide for sure yet, but whatever it is, I'm sure we'll have fun!

Many thanks to the Duncans for piloting Suede in the conformation ring, and to the Ratigan menfolk for their support and :-) happy :-) participation!!

Art Show at the Dog Show Update

The results from the jurying of the Art Show at the Dog Show were sent out a little while ago and I forgot to post my good news!
Out of my 2 entries I happily got one accepted, but surprisingly it wasn't the one I thought it would be...
My entry "Regal Grace" is winging its way to Kansas while my "Heart and Soul" will hang around here for a little while longer.
Here is a pic of my son (aka the creator of "Blending In") and the framed piece. It didn't show up that great in the photo, but the frame has a rough, irony-looking textured finish which goes wonderfully with the undertone of ochre that I used in the painting. Topped off with a triple mat of white and warm white combo and the finished product looked wonderful! Kudos to the talented Joanne at the Picture Palace (Stoney Creek) who does my framing :-)

Another Entry

A Regal Grace
8.5" x 6" watercolor on WC board

I finally decided to go ahead and enter this as my second painting for the Art Show at the Dog Show. My main concern all along was that people might view this piece as just a nice boxer portrait...
In the end, however, I felt it had enough presence to be more than just a portrait and entered it along side "Heart and Soul".
This painting will be for sale in the future, depending on whether or not it is accepted. If you are interested in A Regal Grace, please email me, so I can keep you in mind regarding it's availability.

Heart and Soul

"Heart and Soul"
6.5" x 8.25" watercolor on paper,

We saw this wonderful pair of shelties during a dog show last summer and my husband quickly snapped a picture of them. I have done them up in watercolour and have titled it "Heart and Soul" which reflects the closeness this pair share, the mirror-like quality of the pose and a symbol (of sorts) that I saw while painting and strengthened it just a bit, so it stayed fairly sutble. Can you see it?

This will go on to the Art Show at the Dog Show, hopefully be juried in, and we'll see what happens after that. It will be for sale at some point. If you are interested, please email me, so I can keep you in mind regarding its availability.

I am still pondering whether or not the second entry will be sent off...

Painting Countdown

Work In Progress: 'Art Show at the Dog Show'

Well, the New Year has certainly started off with a bang!
I got my entry off to the Louisiana State University Animals in Art Show and and finishing up my last entry for the Art Show at the Dog Show. We artists know about the deadlines far in advance, but somehow most of us end up painting as close to the deadline as we can...maybe it spurs on our creative juices??
A peek at one of my entries "in progress" is shown above. I will get a photo of the finished piece taken this weekend and post it then.