Is your dog worthy of being immortalized on canvas?  A commissioned painting is a very affordabe gift for yourself or someone else.

Artist Kellie Straw’s custom dog paintings hang on dog owner's walls across the country and she frequently donates to charity auctions. She began painting twelve years ago and currently works in acrylics with a turn-around time of about two to four weeks for a commission. 

Sir. it is mine                                 copyright Kellie Straw

Straw often depicts action in her paintings and loves to meet her portrait subjects.  If she cannot meet the dog, she likes to have a selection of photographs and looks for a “soft eye exposure.”  She can capture the dog’s personality in a painting because she has ‘read’ dogs for a living.  Straw also draws inspiration from her two dogs, Rose the rottweiler and Kirby the poodle.

Straw paints mostly dogs, but says, “Cats have just as much right to be on canvas.”

Charlotte's Game                             copyright Kellie Straw

Lifeguard on duty                  copyright Kellie Straw

  Artist Nancy Schutt

Norman                               copyright Nancy Schutt

 

"Dogs and art go together," says artist Nancy Schutt.  "To me, it is the most obvious thing in the world,” she notes.   Schutt has been a courtroom artist, a drawing instructor, and a general contractor. She now lives in Seattle and mostly paints dogs.

Schutt works with her clients throughout the painting process and keeps the client updated on progress.  She asks for input until she and the client are happy with the end product.

“I love dogs because they have a joyful countenance, they don't hold grudges, and are shameless about their tastes and preferences,” notes Schutt.  She shows her affection for dogs through her paintings and through her contributions to animal rescue.

Schutt believes, "Dogs are beautiful, comical, intelligent, and worthy of admiration and a tribute."  She is offering a 20% discount on all commission orders placed by January 1, 2009.

Osler                                                    copyright Nancy Schutt