Regal Dogs & Pets
I love to paint pets as special human characters, whether they’re real or fictional. With commissions, I enjoy matching a pet with a character (dogs, cats, frogs, etc.). The client may have in mind just how they want their pet depicted.
The emphasis in this series is to depict a human in an anthropological way. So the viewer may not own the pet but they recognize and perhaps like the famous person depicted.
It’s all about the humor and whimsy that I try to inculcate with the pet along with a touch of regalness! It’s fun to find just the right spot for it in your home or office and they make great gifts!
"Lord Byron" George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron after a painting by Thomas Phillips circa 1835 (1813). He died in the year 1824. During the Regency period he was generally considered to be England’s greatest living poet at that time and one with scandal attached to his name. Some narrative poems he knocked off during a few all-night sittings with a brandy bottle and then sold ten thousand copies on the day of publication. So appalling was the scandal and the condemnation, that on 25 April 1816 he left England and never came back, producing his best work in exile. I chose the Afghan hound to portray this artistic character. Original work of art. Prints are available, go to the store.
"Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), also known as Napoleon I, was a French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. After seizing political power in France in a 1799 coup d’état, he crowned himself emperor in 1804. Shrewd, ambitious, and a skilled military strategist, he met his Waterloo and was eventually exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died at age 51. He is noted for his quote: “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” I painted him as a Dogue de Bordeaux a French Mastiff (one with a dark nose). Original work of art. No prints are available yet.
"Ramses I"I Also known as; Ramses the Great. He lived during the nineteenth dynasty of the Kings of ancient Egypt during the years of 1292-1225 B.C. Under him, Egypt acquired unprecedented splendor. He was a warrior who claimed to have single-handedly saved his forces and had vast texts written about his personal valor. He left monuments throughout Egypt, notably; the temple at Karnak and the temple at Luxor among others. The period of his rule was characterized by great luxury, increased slavery, and the growth of a mercenary army, all of which led to the final decline of Egypt. He may have been instrumental in the development of the housing arrangement we now call suburbia. I used the Pharaoh hound for logical reasons. Original work of art. Prints are available in the store.
"Mr. Thaddeus Toad Esq." In the likeness of Beau Brummell (George Bryan Brummell) 1778-1840 was an English dandy, famous for his friendship with George, Prince of Wales (regent from 1811 and afterward King George IV). Brummell became, as a result of the Prince of Wales’s friendship and his own good taste in dress, the recognized arbiter of fashion and a frequenter of all society’s gatherings. That would not last and he would eventually flee to France to avoid his creditors. He was quite humorous and is credited with denouncing the eating of vegetables and, when challenged whether he had ever tried it, replying, "Oh, yes, I remember I once ate a pea." Original work of art. No prints are available yet.
"Custer" George Armstrong Custer: 1839-1876. He became famous for leading a battle and what became known as his last stand at Little Big Horn in Montana. General Custer was ordered to take his regiment and pursue a trail of Indians known to be in the area. What was not known was how many Indians they were up against! There were eleven tribes, numbering nearly 9,000 who had their villages on and in the vicinity. 200 cavalry attacked a village from one end while Custer attacked with 277 troopers on the village from another direction. Overwhelming numbers met them. General Custer along with his entire army was slain. The entire area has been made a national cemetery (his remains were taken to West Point in 1877). In his career he had 11 horses shot out from beneath him. One of his friends wrote his history under his name in one sentence, “This was a man.” The Briquet Griffon Vendeen fit Custer to perfection with its golden long hair and the added blue eyes to make him complete. Original work of art. Prints are available in the store.
"Sabrina" The fictional story of the daughter of a chauffeur who is hopelessly in love with David Larrabee, the playboy's younger son, in the rich Long Island household her father works for. To help her forget her woes, Sabrina is shipped off to cooking school in Paris. Sabrina is now a transformed sophisticated woman when she returns to New York. and David is entranced by her. However, his older brother Linus has arranged David's marriage to Elizabeth Tyson in order to seal a business merger and thus must steer David away from Sabrina. To do this, Linus takes on the task of wooing her for himself and falls in love with her. This film is a romantic masterpiece (both renditions). I was commissioned to do this painting with the owner's dog, that being; a young French Bulldog.
"Rhett" Rhett Butler portrayed by Clark Gable was Scarlett’s unappreciated lover. He spoke the line that would be immortalized in film history and would be overlooked by the film industry’s obscenity board; “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” He was known to Hollywood as “the King” and showed his ruggedness and raffish side in all of his movies. Born in Ohio, 1901-1960 and died of heart failure. I chose the dog that I felt depicted his character the most: American Bulldog. Original work of art. 16" x 20" Unframed. Acrylic on canvas. Price: USD 640.00 Prints are also available in the store.
"Scarlett" Scarlett O’Hara portrayed by Vivian Leigh in “Gone With The Wind” in 1939 and the drapery dress that has become the most famous costume in theatrical history, along with the movie that has been considered the biggest movie of all time. It was odd that Vivian Leigh gained the part of playing a southern belle - as she was born in India. She married Laurence Olivier, an actor considered the best in modern history. She battled manic depression and died of Tuberculosis in 1967. I chose a feminine and fragile look with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Original work of art. 16" x 20" unframed. Acrylic on canvas. Price: USD 640.00 Also, prints are available in the store.
"Teddy" Teddy Roosevelt 1858-1919 in his role as Lieutenant Colonel. In April 1898 he formed his “rough riders” – troops of the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Formed an unusual regiment filled with Ivy League college graduates, hardy western cowboys, and Indians, all to help the Cubans in their war of independence. I chose the Border Terrier for likeness with pun intended reasons. Original work of art. Prints are available in the store.
"Lady Macbeth" Lady Macbeth was the treacherous and tragic heroine of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It was first performed in 1605 and is still performed today. This depiction is seen at; The Folgers Elizabethan Theatre in 1848, based on an engraving by W.H. Mote. I used the English Springer Spaniel for its descriptive eyes. Original work of art. 16" x 20" unframed. Acrylic on canvas. Price: USD 640.00 Prints are also available in the store.
"Confucius" “If you only buy the best, you only cry once.” Confucius: 551B.C.-479B.C. A renowned sage and philosopher whose reputation, teachings, and thoughts have endured for over two millennia. His literary name was Chungni and his last name was K’ung (Confucius means “K’ung the Master”). He had a strange look about him when he was born. His forehead looked like an upside-down cave. Perhaps this was to be a clue as to his brilliance later. He concentrated on education, editing some ancient books of ritual and music. He taught poetry, history, ceremonies, and music to approximately 3000 students regardless of their social or economic status. He has become known for his quips and profound statements that are often quoted and sometimes – humorously. The Shih Tzu is an appropriate Chinese dog with a royal history and distinctive mustache. Original work of art. 16" x 20" unframed. Acrylic on canvas. Price: USD 640.00 Prints are available in the store.
"Annie Get Your Gun" Annie Oakley: 1860-1926. She was a legendary markswoman who was dubbed “Little Sure Shot” by Chief Sitting Bull (she was 5 feet tall). For 17 years she was Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows star attraction with her amazing shooting skills. At 90 feet Annie could shoot a dime tossed in midair or puncture a playing card from the same distance with five or six shots before the card hit the ground. She played a role in breaking down barriers and gained respect for women because of her talent, accomplishments, and generosity. Annie had long frizzy curly hair that could be wonderfully portrayed by a Corded Poodle. Original work of art. 16" x 20" unframed. Acrylic on canvas. Price: USD 640.00 Prints are available in the store.
