Dalmatian Gift Commission

 When COVID-19 quarantine shut downs started, a dear friend of my mother's and all around lovely person had a sorrowful loss.  This elder lady's old sweety dog was sick and taking her back from the vet where the diagnosis was only a short time left for her, this kind small lady fell carrying her big old sick pup.  And she broke her collar bone on the sidewalk.  She then had to suffer that pain, with the bone stabbing into her muscle now, and the pain of having to put her companion to sleep soon.  Not to mention the misfortune of timing with getting treated at a doctor and having surgery during a pandemic.  I was so happy she at least had my folks for friends just down the block to help her out through it all. 

Many months later my mother escorted her friend to several animal shelters to find a new companion for the very isolating times.  Her age-old favorite dog breed is a Dalmatian but that breed is unlikely to be at a shelter and they are famously high strung and bounding with energy.  Not the best breed for a spunky lady in her later slower years, especially after a major injury.  As luck would turn out, a kindly extra sweet pit mix bonded with her at a shelter and they became instant friends.  They go out for walks everyday and with time the big pup's coat began to reveal a lot more spots than they could first see.  Maybe it was a dry shampoo from the shelter?  Or maybe the pup's true coat coloration is emerging now in a happy loving home?  Whatever it is, my mom and her friend suspect there could be some Dalmatian in this much more calm cuddly mutt after all.  And she will gladly sit on your feet while you visit on the couch so you can get a good look and good petting in.  

So with this heartwarming story of sorrow, pain and new companionship and love, my mom had a brilliant idea.  For a holiday gift, we could combine our efforts from afar (living in different states as we do) and make a Dalmatian sketch to frame and gift for her, to reclaim more happiness from 2020.

So I set to work on a few trial sketches. Didn't like anything with color.  And then I thought "Duh!  Charcoal for a black & white doggie drawing.  Obviously!"  And that with a younger reference photo (Dalmatians are hard to get to hold still for models I think) was what we needed.  

With that super sweet puppy face, I felt like I could capture what Dalmatians mean to this friend; their endless energy and curiosity and joy.  I will always like them for their history of use at fire stations really as horse-dogs, helping guide and guard the horses that drew the water pump wagons to a fire, barking loudly the whole way down the streets as an alarm to others. "Keep back, make way for the horses!  We've got a fire to get to." I had always wondered why they were linked to structural firefighting. 

This was a fairly quick commission for a dear family friend to welcome her new sweet companion home to stay.  

"Always a Pup at Heart"

Shi Shi Beach Sexy Nude

 I am eager to return to Shi Shi Beach & the  Point of the Arches for an actual beach camping trip.  I haven't camped on a true beach since childhood (sandbar of a river does NOT count, but still fun, do not attempt in the rain).  But it is a long drive from me.  I savor the trip I made a few years ago as part of some hiking therapy for a tough time, conveniently planned after a work trip that would take me half way there.  The drive back was looooooonnng, determined not to stop for a pee break but also sip on stuff to keep awake.  Every play that will-power game?   

 Intentionally staying out on the very long lovely beach at the northwestern tip of Washington and the continental US ("Hi there Canada!") gives a truly special sunset.  There's nothing in the way except the cool rock formations of the Point of the Arches.  Then you walk back with a flashlight, carefully trekking through large deep mud patches in the forest between the beach and the road.  All still fun and engaging.  

Only one of the significant mud wallows among the trail.  Next time I'm back, someone is getting wrestled in one of these!  Such luxuriously fluffy mud!!

 

Of course I captured plenty of photos and knew I would want to paint at least one.  I started that painting about a year ago but got held up by all the 'life' stuff.  It will be full of many fun little details while of course looking like a simple beach sunset painting at first glance.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whole beach panorama

I started with a sketch of course, then wanted to tackle the sky.  I didn't love it but didn't feel like changing it yet.  I find sitting with such 'flaws' can give you a better fix after more work is done.  Never know what else I may want to change too.   So I soldiered on into the beach.

I really loved this little stream that was gently trickling right out of the forest and over the beach, ambling and cutting a wandering path directly to the salty ocean waves.    Shi Shi Stream?  Shi Creek?

 

Rocks time

 

 

Its got a long way still, some lumps to smooth out, but it will be in great shape come February.  

Stay tuned.  And yes, there will be a sexy nude model ;)

 

 

 

And the last changes are DONE!

 

If you look real close, you can spot the nude beach dweller I decided to add for a giggle.  It's still PG13 though, because their back-lit.  Hard to see... anything. ;)