Red

Red

Oil on canvas, 12x12

Part of the 101 Dogs project

A few years ago, after Looie, our Pekingese, died, Peter began looking for a dog for him. A dog of his heart. Looie had been this - as much as Looie, with all his self-possession and ego could be any human's dog - but Peter saw me with Jojo and wanted that same sort of relationship. 

After months of searching through probably hundreds of rescue and shelter sites, Peter found Abigail, a Plotthound, who was being fostered by a woman named Christine, in North Carolina. Peter and Christine chatted over the internet, Christine had him fill out an adoption application form, and when she gave him the nod, off he went. 

According to both Christine and Peter, it was love at first sight. Abby hadn't taken much to men, but she played with Peter, gave him the paw, and recognized him as her human. She's been a great addition to our household - as have Koko, Doc and Lulu, all of whom came from Christine! 

You don't meet many people in your life who supply you with joy, love and family, but Christine has done all that and more. I'll always be grateful - and always think of Christine herself as part of our little family. 

***

Good thing I'm going away today, as I'm running out of fun photos to share with you! So I am revisiting my paint-cap contest photo. People always wonder how much paint I use, so last March, I started saving caps. At the end of March of this year, I'll count them all up. Whoever comes closest, without going over, will get a free 10x10, or $125 off a larger painting! Send your guesses to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

***

Dog of the Day

It's my pal George. I might have used this already, but I figured we all need a laugh - and George is on his way to Arizona with his pal Henry and their humans, Cynthia and Kevin. We're all meeting in Tubac, and will take place in the art festival there, Feb. 8-12. Yay! Maybe George will wear his hat? 

***

A Final Thought

"It seems harmless enought to observe here that having an MFA (or even a knowledge of modern art) should hardly be a prerequisite to making art." 

- David Bayles and Ted Ormand

"Art & Fear / Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking"

Light Beneath the Clouds

Light Beneath the Clouds

Oil on black canvas, 20x20, sold

I have three big projects going now, and another very exciting one in the works. I can't tell you about that one yet, but I will when it's all finalized. In the meantime, here are the three that I'm working on: 

• 101 DOGS - In this project (which is about halfway done), I'm making 101 paintings of dogs, in honor of my dear Jojo and lovely Zoe, who died in September, two weeks apart. For $375, you get a 12-inch-by-12-inch oil painting of your dog and a book or poster of all the paintings when the project is finished. I'm giving money from each purchase to a dog-related group, as well. For more about the project, click here. 

• BIG SKIES PAINTING TRIP - In October, I'm heading to Montana, Wyoming and perhaps South Dakota, to make plein air paintings of these beautiful Western states. Sponsorships start at $125, and include regular blog postings, goodies from the road, and paintings when I return. Sponsors choose their paintings in the order in which they sign up! For more information, click here. 

• 2017 WACHAPREAGUE CALENDAR - I'm about halfway done with this one, and I'm loving how it's turning out. It's a calendar of 12 scenes of our little town, and it will be available soon, for a reasonable price, from me, and from Seaside Antiques and Art, right here in town. If you know you want a calendar or two, you can stop in at the shop and put an order in, or drop me an email at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

Cornflowers

Oil on black canvas, 10x10, sold

***

Dog of the Day

WE HAD A big black chow at one point, named Frank. Peter had gone to the pound with our daughter, who was looking at a lhasa apso. Erika came home with that dog (whose name is lost in my memory right now), and also Zoe, who, years later, came to live with us. Peter came back with Frank, who'd been trembling and barking and troubled with diarrhea in the pound.

Frank was a great dog, gentle and sweet and very funny. He looked fierce, and he could be fierce, but what he mostly wanted was to rip up a chew toy and lean against a human. He was a great dog and I still miss him. There's something very special about a chow, something deep and rich and noble, and then on top of that, at least in our experience, something silly. This guy made me think of Frankie.

***

A Final Thought

"I was not ready for abstraction. I clung to earth and her dear shapes, her density, her herbage, her juice. I wanted her volume, and I wanted to hear her throb." 

- Emily Carr

Boy - And Good Times at Paradise City

Boy

Oil on canvas, 12x12

Part of 101 Dogs project! 

I was part of a wonderful surprise at the Paradise City Arts Festival a couple weekends ago. 

Last year, in Omaha, I met a lovely woman named Fran, and we hit it off right away. We were similar in many respects, and had a number of shared experiences that shaped our lives and personalities. 

Fran bought a painting, introduced me to some of her family, and we kept in loose touch. A couple months ago, she called and asked me to make a painting of Boy, a beloved little poodle owned by Fran's sister Rose and her partner Terri. 

Rose and Terri live in Northampton, and Fran and I landed on the same idea at the same time: I'd make the painting, hang it on the wall of my booth, and surprise Terri with it. (Rose had to be in on the surprise, for photos and to make sure the women arrived at the show, etc.). 

At the time, I said that it would be extra great if Fran could come out from Omaha to be part of the surprise. She'd love to, she said, but she had a wedding to attend on the Sunday of the show, so it wouldn't be possible. 

I made the painting, and happily, it dried in time. I hung it in my booth and waited. 

A couple hours after the show opened, I looked up - and there was Fran! For a moment, it didn't compute. Then I think I shrieked, and ran up and hugged her, astonished and delighted. A moment later, Terri caught sight of the painting and stammered, "That looks like... that really looks like... That's Boy!" 

***

THIS WEEKEND, I'll be at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, in beautiful Omaha, Neb. I'm in Booth 134, just about where I was last year, and I have lots of exciting, new paintings that I hope will go to new homes this weekend! It's going to be very hot, so if you come to the show, please be prepared. 

The show is Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

***

THERE ARE LOTS of things that make shows successful. In addition to the wonderful surprise I wrote about, Paradise City was filled with other delightful meetings and connections. 

Amy Davidoff and Penny Winn came to the show, and we had dinner together afterward. Ames and Penny were friends from college, and we hadn't seen each other since. It was such a treat to get together with these amazing, smart, talented women, and continue a friendship that had begun 40 years ago. Forty years!  That's Amy below and Penny to the right. 

***

Happy Buyers! 

I had lots of Happy Buyers at Paradise City! 

AND I HAD Happy Bidders, too! This family put in the winning bid on a painting I'd donated to the Kestrel Land Trust, which has been conserving land, waterways and farms in the Pioneer Valley for decades.  Below, more friends visiting in the booth! 

***

Dog of the Day

FAITHFUL READERS of this blog know that the Dog of the Day isn't always a dog. But it's NEVER been a giraffe until now! I saw this amazing sculpture at Paradise City... here it's being loaded up for its trip home. Wish I could have seen the looks on other drivers' faces! 

***

A Final Thought 

"It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done." 

- Vincent Van Gogh

Spike

Spike

Oil on canvas, 12x12

Commission

Winter brushes the Shore with warmth these short December days, surprising and delighting me, bringing hope and life into a time that was starting to feel all too close, too tight and dark. 

Here in Wachapreague, Christmas lights brighten the long nights, and in the day, festive wrapping paper, holiday music and a parade of sweets and treats soften the edges. 

In a fit of cleaning out and tossing out, I find  my Christmas hat, and my Christmas spirit, though the latter has blown in and out a bit, like the summery wind of these past few days. 

Ghosts visit me in this time of joy, this time of celebration of Christ's birth. While I miss them, they remind me that I am grateful beyond measure for what life has brought me, for the time I spent with them, and for the love that makes my heart ache in their absence. What a celebration we would have, if they were here with me. 

Then I know, they are, indeed, here with me. They live on, in my heart, in my memory, in my prayers. It is a time to be thankful for all I have had and all I have now. 

And that includes you. 

***

THE 101 DOGS project is chugging right along! There are spaces left, for sure, but the list is filling up. Yay! 

The project is fun, it's good for art-buyers, pet-lovers and the generous of spirit and heart. You can check it out by clicking here. 

It's too late for me to finish a painting in time for Christmas, but if you want to give one as a present, I can email you a nice gift certificate that you can print and give to the giftee! Click here to drop me a line and I'll let you know how to proceed. 

***

I HAD A GOOD time as the featured artist at the Jack Richardson Gallery in Onancock this past Friday, during the town's Art Walk.

I met lots of nice people who were interested in my painting. Many of them are artists, and it was fun to enlarge my circle of creative acquaintances here on the Shore.

***

Dog of the Day 

Yes, I know it's a lot of Koko, but I'm a little in love... 

Here she is snuggling with Smokey, her hero. 

***

A Final Thought

"The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting."

- Vincent Van Gogh

Abigail - and Sure, Stuff Again!

Abigail

Oil on canvas, 12x12

Commission for the 101 Dogs project

I've started painting for the 101 Dogs project, and I'm just as excited as can be! The project involves me making paintings of 101 dogs, then putting the paintings together in a book and a poster, and donating money from each sale to a good, dog-related group.

You can be a part of the project, at pretty much any level you wish - sponsorships start at $25! To get an original oil painting and a book or poster starring your dog, you'll pay a minimum of $375. Bigger paintings, and multiple paintings, are part of the project at higher prices. 

Patrons will also receive dog-painting-related items, from buttons to mugs to notecards and stamps, and more. 

For full information, and to participate, click here to check out the 101 Dogs page on the Jacobson Arts website. 

***

Yes! 

Prints, totebags, pillows, shower curtains and more, printed with the paintings you choose, at my site here, or search for me on Fine Art America.

Calendars - cowscapes, Eastern Shore paintings, dogs and flowers, available here, or search for me on Lulu.com. 

***

Dog of the Day

Guarding the car! 

***

A Final Thought

"There's no retirement for an artist. It's your way of living, so there's no end to it."

- Henry Moore

Hammy - and 101 Dogs!

Hammy

Oil on canvas, 12x12

Available at Center Framing and Art

56 La Salle Road, West Hartford Center, CT

I hit a deer the other night, on my way home from Virginia Beach. It was dusk, and I always look out for deer, especially at dusk and dawn, but this one came out of nowhere, virtually jumping into my van on Route 13. 

She died instantly, and I feel so terrible for having taken this beautiful life, no matter how inadvertently. I was uninjured, thanks to my very heavy, very large van. The front of the van is smashed in, the bumper dragging, one of the lights not working. But I was able to drive home.

The incident has drained me in my soul. Makes me feel like some part of me died, along with that deer. I am sincerely grateful that it was not worse.

***

THE 101 DOGS project is up and running, and I hope you'll sponsor me and get a painting of your dog! I'm offering it first to people I know, and so if you've told me you might like a dog painting, you've probably received an email from me already.

It's a really fun project, benefitting dog-related charities, and allowing me to stay home a little more this summer, and make dog paintings!

Prices for original oil paintings start at $375. You can be a part of the project for less, receiving items printed with dog paintings. I can still finish a few paintings and get them to you in time for the holidays. Otherwise, if you want to give a sponsorship as a holiday present, I will send you a nice gift certificate.

You can check out the entire project by clicking here to reach the 101 Dogs Project page on the Jacobson Arts website

Find out about how it works by clicking here

Find out about the dog-related recipients I've chosen by clicking here

Questions? Drop me an email at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

***
Dog of the Day

Saw these guys in Columbus this summer. Great blue eye on that one on the left! 

***

A Final Thought

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, 

but their inward significance." 

- Aristotle

Rooney - and 101 Dogs Is Live

Rooney

Oil on canvas, 16x16

commission

The 101 Dogs project, which is now up and running, puts my love of art and dogs - especially rescue dogs - together, and it is bringing joy back into my life. 

I rededicated it to Jojo and Zoe, and I have to say that working on the web page, Facebook page, flier, press releases, button, totebag, notecards, stamps and other items are helping me get through my sadness.

In the project, I'll make portraits of the first 101 dogs who share the lives of people who sign up at $375 or more. The people will get the portraits, a book or poster of all the dog paintings in the project - with their dog on the cover, or in the center of the poster - and a variety of other items. People sponsoring me for less than $375 won't get original art, but will receive a variety of thank-you gifts bearing art from the project. And anyone who sponsors me at any level will have my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation. 

Please click here take a look at the 101 Dogs page on the Jacobson Arts website - and please consider sponsoring me. If you've been thinking about having me make a painting of your dog, this would be a perfect time to do it! (Here's the link, if you'd rather copy and paste: http://www.jacobson-arts.com/#!101-dogs/ci93). 

***

I HAVE LOTS of exciting new paintings, and I'll be bringing a lot of them to the Paradise City Arts show this weekend. 

The show takes place in the Three-County Fairgrounds in Northampton, MA, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It's a terrific show, with plenty of lovely art, beautiful, fine craft, good food and music, too. There's a fee to enter, but you can get a discount coupon at the Paradise City Arts website. Click here! 

I'll be in the Morgan Barn. Please come and say hello, and see my new paintings. 

***

HURRICANE JOAQUIN has left the area, and the flooding has nearly stopped. The photo above was from Saturday. Sunday's high tide was even higher. I took a video of a guy who just had to drive down flooded Atlantic Avenue... and then had to stop to make way for some ducks. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYXQlbtOcRg

***

Dog of the Day

It's Maggie, who lives down the street and decided she needed to bark her head off at me. We used to call her the fake Jojo, because she looked just like Joey, but with brown eyes. 

***

A Final Thought

"The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives

 or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep."

- Paul Strand

Dixie - and 101 Dogs

Dixie and Friends

Oil on black canvas, 36x48

commission

I was quite excited, back in August, when I received my first big cowscape commission. I usually paint cowscapes from photographs of cows I've never seen in real life, so it was a thrill to meet my model and her friends, and to be able to take photos to my heart's content. 

I'm very happy with the way this painting came out, and am thrilled that Dixie's owner loves the painting, too. 

***

101 Dogs

THE 101 DOGS project is up and running, and I've dedicated it to the memory of Jojo and Zoe. 

The project brings together three big loves of mine - art, dogs and rescue dogs. In 101 Dogs, I'm going to paint portraits of the first 101 dogs whose owners sign on to sponsor me. I'll make the paintings into a book and a poster, and anyone signing up for $375 or more will receive a painting and a book or poster, and some other goodies, too.                                                                                 People sponsoring me at levels below $375 will receive fun goodies, though no original art. I'm going to donate money from each sponsorship to one of four dog-related groups that I've chosen, or to a dog-related group of your choice. 

There are seven sponsorship levels, starting at $25 and going, well, as high as you want. Sponsor me at $5000 or more and you'll get paintings, prints, a boatload of goodies, and I'll come to your place and cook dinner for you and your dogs. 

To find out more, click here to check out the main project page . You can also find the project by going to jacobson-arts.com, my website. Please take a look at the related pages, too, if you have a chance. And let me know what you think - do you have questions or ideas? I'd love to hear them. 

***

Dog of the Day

I am back up on the horse, yes. This is Abby, one of our dogs, 

who's missing Jojo about as much as I am. 

***

A Final Thought

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, 

and those who matter don't mind." 

- Dr. Seuss

Sunny Summer Days

On Miscou Island

Oil on canvas, 12x24

commission

It's a delight when I open my email or answer my phone and there's someone there, wanting a painting. It was an extra special delight when I got an email from Tracee, wanting to know if my painting of Miscou Island, New Brunswick, was still available. 

It was not, but I told her I'd be happy to make one for her that captured the same scene as the first one, and she was delighted. The painting was to be a gift, and Miscou Island had special meaning for her entire family, as her grandmother had lived there as a young girl. 

In June 2010, I went to the Atlantic Provinces of Canada with Heather MacLeod (you can see some of her work by clicking here). We barely knew each other when we left , but we had a grand time, saw amazing and beautiful places, made a lot of paintings, and laughed until our sides hurt. 

Painting Miscou Island again brought back all that delight, and all that sense of discovery and exploration. And it made me want to go back! 

The painting below was another commission from a supporter who loved the original painting that I made, as part of a six-piece commission. He wanted the beach ball to have the colors of the Rainbow Flag, and I loved that idea. I painted it a couple days after the Supreme Court made marriage legal for everyone, and I felt like the painting itself was a celebration. 

Can you tell that I like making commissions? I do! 

Andrew's Beach

Oil on canvas, 10x10

commission

***

THE 101 DOGS PROJECT is progressing, inch by inch, as I work through some of the details. I'm glad to hear that people are interested! 

The full sponsorship price, the one that gets you a painting and cool stuff (or a painting and a donation to a pet-related charity of your choice) is going to be somewhere between $350 and $400. 

There will be lower-priced sponsorships, and payment plans, too, so if you want a painting of your dog, and you want to be a part of the project, I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen. 

***

Happy Buyer's Dogs of the Day

Above, Daisy, who Pearlene says is a gentle, loving dog. Doesn't that show in her face? Below, Pearlene with "Does the Night Forget?" in her Ohio home. 

And here's Olive, Pearlene's other dog. I think Olive runs the show! 

Want your pet to be the Dog of the Day? Send a jpg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

***

A Final Thought

"I dream of painting, and then I paint my dream." 

-Vincent Van Gogh

Molly - and a New Project!

Molly

oil on canvas, 12x12

commission

As many of you know, I'm a big fan of dogs. That's probably putting it mildly. We have five dogs, and at one time, had seven. I'd live in the middle of 200 acres and have 40 dogs if it were possible. Our dogs enrich our lives, Peter's and mine. They make us laugh, they comfort us, they wait for us with loyalty and hope. They are great company, excellent nurses, and good friends no matter what. 

I love painting dogs, too. I've often said that if I could make a living just painting dogs, and doing the occasional show, I would. 

So I'm going to give it a try. In 2016, in place of a sponsored art trip, I'm embarking on a project to paint 101 dogs. I'm still working out the details, but the thumbnail sketch is that it's going to involve 101 portraits, a book and/or a poster of all the paintings (what's your preference?), a variety of items created from the paintings - and a serious donation to the Eastern Shore ASPCA, nearby in Onley, VA. 

As the project rolls out, I'm going to ask for your help in spreading the word. The first step is to get 101 people who want portraits of their dogs. (No cats or birds or hamsters in this one...) So please start thinking of folks who would be interested. 

And stay tuned for details. I'll bring them to you as soon as I set them. 

***

Signs...

The sign above is in Wickford, RI. So, really. How can a dead end also be a loop? 

The sign below is outside Doughty's Market, on Route 13, just up the road. The first one (Tina Custis, pay your bill) appeared a few weeks ago, and it must be working, because there have been at least a half-dozen names up there. I bet they get in there as fast as their legs can carry them, just to get their name off the sign! 

***

Dog of the Day 

I met this French bulldog pup at the show in Richmond, I believe. 

By the time he got to my booth, he was one tired little puppy. 

***

A Final Thought

"The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless." 

- Jean-Jacques Rousseau