Sydney

Sydney

Airedale Terrier

7" X 5" colored pen and ink drawing

2012

Pappy

Pappy

Mixed-breed Spaniel

10" X 8" pen and ink

2012

Another found dog!

"Pappy is about 12 years old.  My son found him in the woods in December 2001, with a broken leg and heartworms. He recovered fully and has become my husband's dog. Pappy loves people, but does not always play well with other dogs. He has always been terrified of thunderstorms and other loud noises. He is still very energetic and loves to go for long walks. In the evenings he can most often be found on my husband's lap."

~

"Pappy’s portrait is wonderful! You captured not only his likeness but his personality as well. When I saw your portraits in Bill Henderson’s book [All My Dogs: A Life], I knew I wanted to have a portrait of Pappy. Your suggestions were very helpful and your work is amazing! Thank you so much –"

~Janet

Greensboro, North Carolina

Georgia

Georgia

5" X 7" colored pen and ink

2012

Georgia is a "found" dog. My nephew Mark found her in the wilds of -- Guess where? -- Georgia. She's a German short-haired pointer, chocolate brown with a white star on her chest. She may have been a bird dog in another life. Now she's a family dog and a star to those who love her. 

Linoleum Block Print

Red Lily

4" X 4" Linoleum Block Print

One block, four colors

I’m in a block printing workshop in an airy, old barn, facing a set of double doors wide open to a grassy garden outside. It’s mid-summer in Maine and I am perfectly happy. I have my own work space and everything I need – a linoleum block, carving tools, an inking plate, spatulas for smearing ink onto the plate, all the colors I could want, soft rubber brayers to take the ink from the plate to the block, Japanese rice paper –  wonderfully transparent, incredibly strong – a wooden kitchen spoon to rub the ink from the block onto the paper, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

There are four of us in the workshop. 

We are guided by Holly Berry, a Maine printmaker who does fabulous work. Check out her website. 
We are using the reduction technique to make multi-color prints – a mysterious and miraculous method that I haven’t been able to manage on my own. Holly is revealing her secrets. Using one linoleum block, we carve out one color at a time, print, carve out another color, print, and so on, until our printmaking is done. I will print four colors – yellow, red, green, and black. 

I am creating a flower from our garden -- a red lily. 

As I carve and print, I build up an easy rhythm – carve the block, ink the stone, roll the brayer , ink the block, press the paper, check for color, ink some more.

I lay my inked sheets on the barn floor alongside a wall where no one will step on them. I am so absorbed I forget to eat my sandwich. Lightheaded, wobbly kneed, I am completely content taking one step at a time, building up layers of color. 

First five white stripes on a field of yellow. 

Then deep red petals surrounding yellow pistels, stamens, and one bud.

 Then a blue-green background to the fluting of red petals.

 Finally the key block, the black outline that defines my flower. 

Until I have an edition of ten prints of a red day lily from our garden. 

Reluctantly, I stop printing and start cleaning up my mess. 
*
This program keeps inserting text background colors indiscriminately. I've made it red to match my actual background -- sort of, but I wish I knew how to get rid of it altogether. 

Bailey, Harley, and Baxter

Harley

Bailey and Baxter

8" X 10" colored pen and ink

Here's how this trio's "mom," Betsy, describes her babies: 

Harley is 9-year-old terrier mix – “my smiling boy. Baxter is a 7-year-old red Dachshund – “my sensitive, serious boy.” And Bailey is 4-year-old black-and-tan Dachshund – “a little Tom boy. She loves playing with the boys and is the alpha female.”

And here's how Betsy describes her PenPets portrait:

Hey Leslie,

I received the picture today. When I turned it over I just started to cry. You captured my little ones to a T. The picture is gorgeous. You are truly a very talented artist who has an eye for capturing not only the physical aspect of your subject but their souls as well. Thank you so much. I will treasure this always.

You are right in that I cannot wait to give to my husband. I bought a beautiful black frame to put it in. It will be on the wall this evening. 

~Betsy

Here's how Betsy's friend reacted:

O, Betsy! It gives me goosebumps!You can see their personalities so vividly. It's exactly them!

  

Bailey and Baxter

Harley

Finny

Finny

West Highland White Terrier

5" X 7" pen-and-ink

2012

Hi Leslie!

Finny has landed . . . And he's perfect! Dad was over the moon. Thanks so much for your sweet note and speedy job!

~Leigh
Washington D.C.

Jupiter

Jupiter

Yellow Labrador Retriever

5" X 7" pen and ink

2012

Dear Leslie,

I just received a beautiful birthday present...one of your pen and ink drawings of my Jupiter! I opened the card from my Tim and remarked at how much the dog looked like my "Jupi". Tim chuckled. I then opened the package and proceeded to cry. It is so beautiful! You captured Jupiter's playful, sweet, mischievous and loving spirit so wonderfully. Truly a gift!

Thank you!

Susan