Beetle

Beetle

U.S. High Point Field Trial Cocker in 2012 

5" X 7" pen and ink

2013

Klyde

Klyde

Chocolate Labrador Retriever

5" X 7" colored pen and ink

2013

Casey and Hans

Casey and Hans

Italian greyhound and Doberman

10" X 8" colored pen and ink

2013

Princess

Princess

Jack Russell Terrier

5" X 7" colored pen and ink

2013

"I received Princess today. It came out wonderful. You did a beautiful job. I know Sue and Joe will be very pleased. Thank you for the colored note cards and book markers. That's definitely an extra touch."

~Pam

Marcellus, New York

Shooter

Shooter

Golden Doodle

8" X 10" pen and ink

2012

Willy

Willy

Labrador Retriever

8" X 10" colored pen and ink

2012

Sage

Sage

Labrador Retriever

8" X 10" colored pen and ink

2012

Gracie

Gracie

Bullmastiff

8" X 10" pen and ink

2012

Not everyone can wait until Christmas to give away PenPets portraits:

"Thank you for your wonderful rendition of Gracie. You captured her strength and gentle nature beautifully. Paul loves it!!" 

~Kate
Southwest Harbor, Maine

Missy

Missy

Shih Tzu

7" X 5" colored pen and ink drawing

2012

Panda

Panda Collage

Panda Wet

7" X 5" colored pen and ink

2012

Panda Leaping

7" X 5" pen and ink

2012

Plumed-tailed Panda

Panda is 3/4 border collie, 1/4 Australian blue heeler, and 100 percent energy. She divides her time between hiking and swimming in Maine's Acadia National Park in the summer and playing in snow in Aspen, Colorado, in the winter. Lucky pup! I love her plumed tail!

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. 

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

Chico and Buddy

Chico

Chihuahua

7" X 5" pen and ink

2012

Buddy

Terrier Mix

7" X 5"

2012

Nika

Nika

Flying-Eared Retriever

7" X 5" pen and ink

2012

Dear Leslie,

Thank you so much for such a lovely portrait of Miss Nika. We fremed her and presented her to John and Sherri over the weekend. Sherri was moved to tears.

Thank you from all of us!

Darcy

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.

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 

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.