Must Love Dogs

No one should be too surprised that dogs fill the pages of my notebooks and sketch pads.

I. love. them.

 My voice even changes uncontrollably when I talk to them. For instance, I call them "Chuckiecheesesssss!" in a really obnoxious way. Trust me, it's annoying.

My affection for dogs probably developed as a kindergartener or around the time that I formed a Dog Club--the first in a list of the many lame clubs I have establish over the years (i.e. The Beanie Baby Club, The Nancy Drew Club, D.S.L (I couldn't even tell you what D.S.L. stood for anymore, but I can confirm that there was a club called that.), The Blue Stocking Society, etc...)

Back to these "Dog Club" meetings...The Club was maintained because I unflinchingly enforced two strict rules.

Rule 1. Movies and books where the dogs die were prohibited. ("Old Yeller", "Where the Red Fern Grows" and the likes were DEFINITELY not allowed in the Dog Club)...so, I guess that limited us to watching Pound Puppy movies and Beethoven.

Rule 2. Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies were acceptable snacks to eat during meetings.

That's it. I have no idea what the second rule had to do with dogs, but it had to be followed or banishment would ensue.

Seriously, wasn't life simple as a kindergartner?!

I love the character of dogs. I am so blessed by them.

I also find them individually really interesting...plus they are fun to draw and I feel like I am making artistic progress when I sketch them.

You also have to be really quick if you are trying to draw a dog live...that's why most of my sketches are of sleeping dogs.

Well, here are a few of my favourite canines and my attempts to sketch them. Enjoy!

Here's a little guy named Sawyer that belongs to my friend's daughter.

Scouters!!!

 

Here's Keeli. I never met her, but enjoyed sketching her with her owner.

Okay, so I know this looks like garbage, but it is a contour drawing

 and it was done in 1 minute without lifting my pencil or looking at the paper! And, I love that I can totally recognize my Snick.

Oh, so much love for this German Shepherd.

Here's Puppers! Bay-Bay!

 I've always liked this sketch of Lucy.

Here's Soy Boy!

I can't wait to get a picture of him where he isn't a white blur...Then I'll sketch a more lively pose.

 

  

Here's the the sketch for a painting I hope to show you soon! Isn't this one a cutie?

 

Stay tuned!
To view more of these little sketches, visit my facebook page at Pet Portraits by LaPine Design.

Thanks for reading!

So Long 2012

In 2012, I was met with grief as it was really difficult to say goodbye to my beloved German Shepherd in September. The pain of not having her a part of my daily routine left a gaping hole in my existence. I know it's a bit dramatic to say this, but for someone who is annoying and neurotic to a severe degree, there aren't many people who will tolerate my antics. Yet, for some bizarre reason, this rotund dog treated me like I was the most agreeable person in her world and was acutely tuned to my ever-revolving moods...Plus, she never shirked off my bear hugs. I miss her.

Looking back on this emotional year, I must now survey my attempt to meet the goals I set. I actually started a never-ending checklist that will not be posted because...well, it's pretty much a glorified shopping list, and I'm doubtful anyone would care to read it. (But there are tons of things crossed off!)  Ah, but here is the list of goals I made last January on LaPineDesign and how I faired.

Find a church to attend on a regular basis. UGH...Unfortunately, this was not met. Please pray for me that I find a church in my next community this spring.
Go to Moldova.  This did not happen. Instead I was able to take several classes this summer. I knew it would have been a longshot, but with God all things are possible, so I wanted to be expectant and open to the possibility.

Illustrate a children's book written by my cousin, Katie. I made a lot of sketches, but am still hoping to develop


this. I did illustrate a book that I wrote for a class. I forced myself to make the book rhyme, so it took forever. It's called The Passport of Ellen Magellen.  It's also the size of an actual passport..."And, he IS, he IS on TV."




Design www.JanaLaPine.com and launch site.  hahaha...nope.

Paint a pomegranate. I sketched a pomegranate on a canvas in hopes to paint it...Does that count? Here's the still life
photograph I settled on.

Read The Hobbit .  YES! And it was AMAZING! The film was fantastic too...don't try to tell me otherwise.



Refine the next 8 cards for the 2012 Line of Ice Box Cards. YUP! Finished these babies too!

To take a peek of the finished cards, click here.

Wear dresses more often. Yeppers! All the time!

Have a Titanic Party on April 14th, 2012. Well, this happened to be one of the highlights of my year. Thank you ladies...and dad, for making it so much fun!

Go water skiing. A clue...No.

Go rock climbing. hahahaha I know, I can't picture it either.

Record: "The Stairwell", "Photographs", "It's Christmas Time", "Sad Song", & "Overtly Overly." ha. Definitely didn't happen.

Beat my blog record from last year! (136) hmm...I reached 67. I'm okay with that.

Call my grandparents once a week.  Ah, I don't even think I made this happen once a month. You know I did call them, but I didn't always get to talk to them. A lot of voice mails. In my book this doesn't constitute as a good ol' call.

Become friends with James. I'd say there was a nice 2 week period when this was fulfilled. I don't know about the current status at the moment. This will be a carry over goal.

Draw my friends and family. hmm...haha I think I did draw Hannah early on in the year. It was a terrible likeness. I'd like to continue to work on this goal too.

Host 3 giveaways on LaPine Design. Okay, only hosted 1 giveaway.

Finish reading all the books I am in the middle of; Out of Africa, The Way of the Master, Anna Karenina (ughhhh. this is never going to happen), Sherlock Holmes: Volume 2, & Tom Jones. I'm still chiseling away at Sherlock Holmes: Volumn 2...that will totally happen. Not too concerned with finishing the others.

Make truffles. Um. I'm embarrassed to say this didn't happen. On second thought, I'm sure everyone is pleased that I didn't do this..

Be quiet. This sadly didn't happen either...working on it though.

Spend more time in prayer. I'd say this was better, but will definitely be a life long goal to spend more time in conversation with my Saviour.

Well, there's an awful amount of blue (unsuccessful) in this list. I'm hoping next year will bear favourable results. I have a feeling it's going to be crammed with a lot of accomplished goals.

Thanks for reading LaPine Design!

And have a Happy New Year!

Here's a little Mariah for you to ring in 2013:

Oh, the places I have been...

 When I like where I am, I take a picture of my feet in that location. Here are a few over the past year.

Is this a little morbid? I hope not. Graveyards can be such beautiful places. So sacred. This was also taken in Tennessee during my friend's exquisite wedding on a plantation. (Don't worry, not DURING the wedding...more like during the reception.)

Don't worry, I'm not going to pretend like I know what these figures mean...I think I am looking at graphs?!?! This was on a walk with my Snick...

In a bog.

Naturally, this snowy one is my favourite. Ugh. I miss my german shepherd terribly...especially today.

 

To see more pictures like these, visit my other post here.

A Eulogy for My Snickers

What is left of my heart is broken.

I had to say goodbye to my beautiful 14 year old German Shepherd on Thursday.

I don't know how I am still standing. This dog brought so much joy into my life on a daily basis, that now she is gone, I am devastated.

There's no way I could possible articulate how much this dog meant to me. I could never find the words.

Believe me, sentences cannot summarize the time this dog invested in being my shadow.

No language has a vocabulary to describe the loyalty and affection she conveyed every time I came home and wrapped my arms around her.

She would constantly find where I was in the house and check on me to make sure I was okay. If there were times when I wasn't okay, she'd find me and stay by my side. How can I attach those thoughtful actions to a few trite syllables?

 She'd accompany me on car rides (especially whenever I went to my grandparents') and enjoyed walking the neighbourhood with me even when we could only make it around half of the block. She loved to stop and smell every tree and post along the way. Lately, she would stoop to let her head brush against all the lower branches, sometimes even going out of her way to find a branch.

 I could be doing the most mundane task around the house, like blow-drying my hair, and she'd sit in the hallway to keep me company, smiling all the while.

Snicks loved all food. Because of her penchant for food, I called her Snackers, Secretary of Snacks and my little Rataouille. If the fridge was open, Snickers would be there. If someone was even in the kitchen, Snickers would make sure that she would be there just in case any crumb were to accidentally drop to the floor.

I tried to capture the sparkle of her character in countless photographs, sketches, and paintings. I even had videos of her, but they hardly mirror her true likeness. God created a remarkable animal when He made Snickers. People would always tell me that they could see her smile. She had the best smile!

I can say with confidence, she loved me and I loved her. She will be greatly missed for the rest of my days.

 

 

I thank the Lord for blessing me with her friendship and love for 13 cherished years.