Goin' Mobile - my newest dog woodblock relief print

I really wanted to capture that ecstatic expression on dogs' faces when they are out for a car ride. Our mundane errands are big sight and smell events for our dog friends! I took a ton of photos trying to capture just the right expression with my Otto as my model. I enjoyed carving the pine block grabbing the detail of the expression and the fur.

What's extra special about this print is that it is part of the Baren Forum's exchange. The theme for this exchange was "My Window", so I borrowed a title from Pete Townshend, which, incidentally is the perfect theme song to the expression on Otto's face.

It's open edition, and one of the prints will be archived at the University of Kentucky.

And like all my woodcut prints, it's for sale, HERE.

Next up for me is finishing a portrait of two little girls. Almost done, so stay tuned!
I'm American artist, Robin Zebley. My pet portrait website, including custom woodblock print portraits, is HERE at http://robinzebley.com If you'd like to keep updated, click on "followers" to your right. If you'd like to see my whole blog, just click on the banner at the top of this post. I love dialogue on my art, so please do comment! Robin

Otto - the "boxer - bull mastiff" who turned into a pitbull

Well, what do you think, breedwise? We had recently lost Chester, our beagle/basset hound, and wanted some company for Gus, our little "mutt terrier". Gus loved big dogs, ignored little ones her size, so we set out to adopt a bigger dog. Although we had healthy, happy dogs for years, we couldn't adopt! We lived in a rowhouse and most rescues required a fenced in yard. I have very strong feelings about city dogs and what I see as a lethal requirement that only folks with fenced in yards can adopt a dog in need. But that's another story. We found Otto in an ad in the paper at a pet store that specialized in mixed breeds. He was a "boxer bull mastiff" Well...here's how he turned out. When he was a puppy and people said he was a pitbull, I'd say "He's NOT a pitbull! He's a boxer/bull mastiff!"...but obviously, after 9 years, I've accepted him as he is!!! He's the best! He thinks the world was created to make friends with. I just hope whoever bought his brothers and sisters didn't reject them when they realized the unscrupulous pet store sold them a breed that needs very good parenting.

I'm pet portrait artist Robin Zebley. My site is robinzebley.com If you'd like to see more of this blog, just click on the banner at the top. To get updates, click on "follow my blog" to your right. Thanks for visiting, and I'd appreciate if you'd forward my links to others you know might be interested! Robin

Brutus - You're my Inspiration!

There's one colored pencil drawing I can't part with, it hangs in my home and goes to shows with me. It's at the top of this blog. It's my very first colored pencil portrait, Brutus, my niece Valerie's dog and the story of how he inspired me to be an animal artist is really fun! My husband, John, and I flew down to Florida to see Valerie and her husband Tony and their first baby, Anthony. We were ooohing and ahhhhing over Anthony, camera in hand, when I spotted poor Brutus, pouting on a leather chair. He looked so pathetic and so comical!! I shot this photo of him. I had been experiementing with colored pencils as a fine art medium. I liked the way you could "paint" with the lush and vivid colors while getting great detail. When I got home to Pennsylvania and was printing out the photos, well....I took prismacolors to paper.

Actually, this is the very first serious piece of art I made. As you can see, the photo has issues. Not cropped nicely, with background clutter and too much flash from the chair. It was the first time I made choices about what to include and what to leave out and how to convey this story.

Anthony is now six and an artist himself (and magician!) And Brutus has stopped pouting and loves Anthony as much as we humans do! I'd love to hear your reaction to my story! Send me an email or comment here. Robin -- Oh! And you can see more of pet portraits I've done on my website: http://robinzebley.com