Dog Show Photos from Jackson, TN

We went to visit the dog show being held here in Jackson, TN yesterday and today. And we'll probably go back tomorrow (I *love* the dogs!). This little fella here - an adorable and awful sweet Pug - was the first to welcome us to the show. Who wouldn't feel welcome with this little happy face greeting you? I got several photos of him, and already made a pop art digital painting - in fact, he's the star of a Christmas design already, which you can see here.

The next to greet us was this massive dog, called a Dogue de Bordeaux - or a "French Mastiff". What a friendly boy he was! I LOVED this dog! I'll be doing a painting of him soon, for sure.

Here's a lady having fun with her Bull Terrier. Looks like a big ole baby. :)

This black Standard Poodle posed so nicely for us. He knew he was hot stuff. :)

This little girl here just looks so sad about having to be brushed again. And FLAT IRONED! Yes, they flat iron the dog's hair. Honey, I don't blame you for being sad about it...I hate it when I do my hair too.

Here's a group lined up in the ring. Lots of beautiful dogs in this group.

This little Pomeranian was SO READY to come out of that crate. Lemme out, please please please!

I love this photo of this Harlequin Great Dane meeting up with a Rat Terrier. About 150 pounds verses 8 here. What a cool comparison! I originally thought of using this photo to do a large, 16x20 oil pastel - I'm not sure if I will...I have to play with some things and see if I can get happy with it first, but I think it would make a great larger painting.

And here's my favorite group - the German Shepherds. I kept trying to get a decent photo of them all lined up. The handler's face is blurred (2nd dog), but hey, after all, I was trying to get the dogs. :) I'd love to do a painting of a line of these beauties. Every photo has something amiss...the GSD's *never* are still - except for maybe that one second I wasn't taking a photo. Glad to know mine is not the only GSD that's like this...I was beginning to think Max has a bit of ADD, but now that I've seen these, I believe it's normal for the breed. Anyway...if I piece together enough of the photos, I think I'll be able to come up with a good reference/composition for a 16x20 of the GSD's which I *really really* want to do!

Thank you for coming! We enjoyed having you! This cute-as-can-be Bulldog sends me off for the day. Like I said, I may go back tommorrow. The problem is I have VERY SORE THIGHS. Obviously, I haven't done as many "squats" as I did at this show in a long, long time. I got to see so many beautiful dogs, and learned how out of shape I am at the same time. But I may hobble back down there tomorrow. Think I'll give Allyson the camera and let her do the squats, though. :)

BTW, I picked up a great gift for myself while I was there (yeah, I know, that's freaky...haven't bought myself a "gift" in years!). It's a gorgeous hand-painted German Shepherd miniature portrait on Agate from an artist out of Ohio. Her website is http://www.animalimagesart.com which shows some examples of her work. You can contact her through her site to order. Of course there were vendors there selling mass-market stuff...but you know me - being an artist AND a jewelry designer as this lady is, I knew where to put my hard-earned money! I have a lovely pin (which I can wear as a pendant too) that I'll treasure forever!