My love of the natural world obviously extends to the animals in my life, including my dog Zoey, a Bouvier des Flanders. Prints are made by giclee experts using the finest quality materials; including heavy, acid free paper, and archival ink. The original graphite drawing is 10 x 11 inches, full size prints are available as a limited edition of 50 prints, each is hand signed and numbered. The graphite drawing is also available in a smaller sized print, it is 65% of the original size and measures 6 1/2 x 7 inches, the reduced size print is signed, but is not a limited edition. Both images have a wide boarder for matting and framing. The giclee prints are protected by a Krystal Seal archival bag and sent in a mailing tube.
I approach my work from the viewpoint of a naturalist, I compose my drawings with great attention to the detail, which is seen in the individual strands of hair as they cross over each other, the subtilty of the eye and texture of the nose. While the majority of my time consists of capturing all the nuances of the Bouvier, it's important to make sure the details don't overwhelm the whole. The design, composition and overall feel of the drawing come first and it's just as important to know where to leave detail out as well as where it should be included. It took 66 hours to create this relatively small graphite drawing of my dog.
While the greater part of my subject matter is spiritual or fantasy in subject matter, what can be more compelling than that look of affection in a dog's eye. Dogs give so much of themselves to their families and are always there to add love and companionship to our lives. While the viewer is drawn first to the eye in this drawing, I am sad to say Zoey no longer has her eyes, they had to be removed due to Glaucoma at the age of 5. She has adjusted amazingly well, her navigation skills are impressive on walks in the woods without being on a lead. Still, I'm happy that I decided to do this drawing while her eyes were intact.
If you have ever owned, or are a fan of, a Bouvier des Flanders, this print may be just the one for you.