Nautica

Nautica

Labrador Retriever

colored pen-and-ink drawing

10" X 8"

2012

I finished Nautica's portrait just before I flew to California. It was a fun challenge! Here's the request I got from Judy, Nautica's grandperson: "Nautica was the sweetest chocolate Lab you could ever imagine. She absolutely loved the water -- especially Lake Tahoe, where they live. Can you possibly do the picture and add some water near her?"

 Judy didn't have any photographs of Nautica in or near water, so this was what I had to work with. I didn't know how I would add the water until I finished drawing Nautica. Then something gave me the idea of a window looking out at Lake Tahoe.

Fanette Island

Emerald Bay

Lake Tahoe, California

I like to think that Nautica is looking down from doggy heaven at her favorite spot on earth.

Smith Family Reunion

Here are some updated photos of the Smith Family at our recent reunion in Coarsegold, California. Amazing how we haven't aged at all! (Please see previous post.)

Brian, Evan, Cary

Es, Marj, Leslie

Evan, Sue, Julie, Cary

Es, Marj, Leslie, Riley

Logan, Leslie, Riley

The Smith Pack

I'm preparing for a Smith Family Reunion in California this week, a small one with my mother, father, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, and two dogs. Having taken a two-day Book Arts workshop with Rebecca Goodale at Haystack Mountain School of Craft last month, I decided to practice my new skills. Here are four accordian books I've made of the Smith family dogs that have graced our lives over the last 50 plus years. 

"The Smith Pack"

Four Accordian Books

Tracy, Lucky, Charlie, Roger, Tess, Eli,

Merlin, Kiva, Kinsey, Tanner, Logan, and Riley

My brothers -- Brian, Evan, and Cary -- and I grew up with three dogs. The first was Tracy, a fabulous black Labrador, who taught us all to love dogs. Next came Lucky, a little mixed-breed spaniel, who I found as a stray puppy and brought home "for just one night, Mom, please!" Ha! She lived a long life under our roof. Finally, Charlie, a golden retriever, rounded out the love fest. The rest of the pack are dogs my brothers and I have loved as adults. Only my Kinsey and Evan's Logan and Riley remain, but I don't think they'll be the last of the Smith pack.   

The Smith Kids with Tracy

Brian, Evan, Cary, and Leslie

Cary, Evan, Grandpa, Lucky, Brian, Grandma, Leslie, Charlie, and Mom 

"All My Dogs" on the BBC!

Last week The Washington Post reviewed All My Dogs. This week the BBC interviewed Bill Henderson, the author of the book I illustrated. Watch the video by clicking here. We hope to make it the most watched video on the BBC! I'll post the text below from "One Man and his 13 Dogs":

 February 2012 

A dog may be man's best friend, but many dog lovers end up with numerous canine companions over the course of a lifetime.Bill Henderson has had a total of 13.The author of "All My Dogs: A Life" has dedicated his memoir to a shaggy mutt called Lulu who he describes as his "life dog".The book covers his own strict upbringing, rocky times in his marriage (he credits a dog with saving it), and the birth of his daughter. Each of the chapters is named after one of his dogs.Describing it as a "mutt memoir", Henderson says the book is half about humans and half about dogs. His conclusion is that dogs are more than just man's best friend, they are an essential member of the whole family.

Video produced by Leigh Paterson. Sketches courtesy of Leslie Moore.

First PenPets of 2012

Lulu and Truman

Belgian Tervurens

10" X 8" colored pen and ink

2012

Lulu and Truman are Belgian Shepherds, one of four breeds -- Groenendael, Laekenois, Malinois, and Tervuren. Each breed is distinguished by its coat color, texture and length. The Groenendael has a long, straight, black coat; the Laekenois has a short, wiry, fawn coat; the Malinois has a short straight coat that varies in color from dark fawn to mahogany; and the Tervuren has a long, straight coat that ranges from dark fawn to reddish mahogany with black tips. 

Here's the photograph of Lulu and Truman I used as a reference for my drawing:

Both dogs are champions! Lulu won Best in Show at the Belgian Tervuren National Specialty in 2011. Here she is posing for her prizes. Darlene (Lulu's person, the one in the middle) describes Lulu as "a diva with a super secret fun side."

And Truman has won prizes doing what he was bred to do. Here he is herding a flock of ducks. I love the way he's tip-toeing behind them. The ducks don't look at all perturbed. Darlene describes Truman as "a gentleman with a sense of humor."

I've never known a Tervuren personally, but I've always thought they were handsome dogs, a cross between Lassie (one of my childhood heroines) and a wolf.