Here are a few pen and inks of just some of my favorite dogs on Dog Day! Click on the image to enlarge.
Tag Archives: pen
Wild Wednesday … Don’t Even Breathe!

Fawns are often killed by black bears in the Spring. Right after birth, fawns know instinctively to lay perfectly still. They have almost no scent. If the fawn doesn’t move a muscle and the bear is up wind it my not see the little deer.
I have you folks to thank, or blame for this pen and ink. It’s the third version of this fawn. You can see the two previous versions in the post Wild Wednesday Fawn Redo. First was a sweet vignette, which Mary told me was lacking. So I added more detail and asked if you all preferred the simple vignette of the more complete fawn. I received lots of great feedback and the majority liked the additional detail. If more detail is good then a lot more should be great. Truth is, I kept adding more and more because I had a vision. That’s when the bear came along to add some drama. The first rendition was lackluster. Now it tells a story, so thank you Mary and all you folks who commented before. Listening to a good critique only makes us better artist and writers. Even if I grumbled about it at first.
On a side note, if I’d known it was going to morph into this final drawing, the composition would have been different. However, I think it works okay. What do you think?
Wild Wednesday … The Watchers
Wild Wednesday … Quail Sentry

California Valley Quail on sentry duty. Pen and Ink.
It’s tough being a prey item. California valley quail deal with this fact of life by having a sentry to watch over the covey. He’s not much for defending the covey, but will sound a pretty good alarm.
Wild Wednesday … Red-tailed Huntress
Wild Wednesday … California Valley Quail
Wild Wednesday … Wiley Coyote?
Wild as in wildlife. Naturally, the coyote comes after the roadrunner.
I enjoy seeing wild coyotes and I see them often. As a dog lover, I’m sympathetic toward them. On the flip side I have no illusions about their predator nature and I keep an eye out for our pets and livestock.
Ranchers have to protect their livestock because it’s their livelihood. Coyotes have to hunt because it’s their livelihood. It’s a tough reality for coyotes and ranchers alike. All part of the harsh balance of nature.
Roadrunner, the Coyote’s After You!
Old Dogs, New Dogs

It’s been almost a year since Blitz passed. Soon after, I did this portrait of her as a bit of art therapy.
Our new girl golden retriever puppy was born on the 6th. She will be coming home in about six weeks. I can’t wait.
It just so happens her Grandmother, Gracie, is staying with us for awhile. In fact, at this moment she is putting a stuffed toy wolverine in my lap and asking for me to throw it for her. She’s staying with us while I’m running her in the Junior Hunt Tests for her owner and personal friend, Sally. Blitz was Gracie’s cousin.
This weekend we attended the Marin Retriever Club Hunt Test in Corning, California. It was a double header and we ran dogs on Saturday and Sunday. Mary ran her Sailor, Sally ran her Bella and I ran Sally’s Gracie. Great fun was had by all, especially the dogs. Everybody qualified in both events.

The gunner shoots the live flyer. Gracie and I are at the line watching her second bird go down. Photo courtesy of MaryA Livingston.
Prints available at Fine Art America.
Road Work Art Work
I’m an opportunistic artist. Time for making art is precious, so I find it where I can.
Click on the gallery if you want to get stuck at the road construction with me. Who wouldn’t, right?