Happy Turtle Day!

May 23, 2015 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 2 Comments

We recently saw a few of our reptilian friends at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa.

This one in particular seemed glad to see us.

Such a nice smile!

These ones were lazing about on the boat launch railings. I’m guessing they were trying to get somebody to take them out on the big boats. Turtles love yachting.

These ones were having a spa day complete with mud baths and natural moss scrubs.

This one appears to be stuck.

His friend seemed to find that amusing. Turtles are like that.

This is a green sea turtle who was rescued. The blue bean bag thing is a weight pack/buoyancy device which helps her swim. She was hit by a boat and her back flippers are partially paralyzed.

This is an octopus.

This is a quickie sketch of a house in town. 4×6 inches.

This an acrylic painting of a mason jar from a lesson in the book “50 Small Paintings” by Mark Daniel Nelson, a great book for everyone from beginners to professional and all in between. 4×6 inches.

This is an acrylic of a farm near my house. 4×6 inches.

This is Sammy playing Frisbee.

This is the moon.

Because it’s time to say Good Night.

See you soon.

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2015

Please follow this link for available prints.

Thank you!

May the Dog be with you.

February 22, 2015 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

If you haven’t heard, it’s been a mite chilly out.

I know, I know, it’s shocking news.

I’m sorry I had to break it to you like that.

Personally I don’t mind the cold or snow.

Especially when a walk around my neighborhood looks like this.

I must admit, it is a bit rough to have this much snow and a white dog.

Of course when temperatures drop into the frostpaw levels, the dogs need to mostly stay inside.

Sometimes when I try to make them go outside even when it’s not that cold out, they simply vanish into thin air.

I don’t know how that happens.

Hmmmm.

It’s a mystery.

I recently made a bunch of ATC’s of animals for a trade.

ATC’s are artist trading cards. They are 3.5 by 2.5 inches, the size of a regular playing card.

These are in acrylic.

They will most likely appear larger on your screen then they are in real life.

And here’s a couple of ATC’s in ink.

Have a good one!

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2015

Please follow this link for available prints.

More prints to become available soon.

Thank you!

Christmas Trees, Peeping Toms and Dog Portraits

December 9, 2014December 9, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

It’s that time of year again.

Dummy was so excited to decorate the tree, he forgot to put his pants on.

He thinks he’s sexy.

No wonder we have so many peeping Toms.

Yeah, I see you Tom Turkey.

That’s right, strut away all casual like.

But I know what you did..

Sampson, I can’t believe you let them get that close to the house.

What do you have to say for yourself?

Really!

And to think, I made a portrait, just for you.

Acrylic, 8×10

Don’t worry Zeus, I made you one too.

Acrylic, 8×10

What do you think of that, Zeus?

Sigh…

Here’s a couple little landscapes too. Acrylic, 3×5

Acrylic 3×5

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

And the sign said..

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 3 Comments

Hats!!!

Oh I do like a nice looking sign.

I don’t like roast beef sandwiches but I had to admire this old school Arby’s sign.

I think it’s much nicer than a pig hawking his family’s wares while standing in a pit of fire.

Although he is kind of cute..

For a masochistic cannibal pig chef that is.

Now this is a delicious sign.

Yeah, I made that.

And this is a happy sign.

We’ve had some construction troubles with our bridges, so..

Yippee!

I fell in love this sign.

And yes it does rock.

And of course there are always useful warning signs.

Mascots creep me out.

Especially the ones with really big furry heads.

Magical things happen..my ass.

This is the perfect sign to start a horror movie with..

Deep in the shadows, the foul stench of a thousand locker rooms emanated from a lumbering monstrosity. As it lifted its gargantuan head, its puppet mouth stretched in a voiceless scream.

They would know! They all would soon know..

The Horror,!

The Pain!

The Abomination that is matted faux fur…

Whew. I need to quiet down.

Oh good there’s a sign for that too.

Though I must admit, I’ve never seen a corn head that wasn’t calm.

So this is conclusively catatonic corn. Yummy.

This sign is a standard directive.

Eat!!

Okay. That’s a good bossy sign.

Hmm.

Bossy and a little disturbing

To the funeral home..

No! Just no!! Stop it.

This sign seems to be confused..

Is it Ed’s

Or Art’s

Or is it Ed’s & Art’s

Or Art’s & Ed’s.

Or is it Arts as in The Arts.

Can I go in there and buy some liquor and some canvases and then paint like Pollock?

I think I need a drink.

Ahh, I see what you did there.

Thank you very much.

This sign is just pretty.

Most of these signs are in or around Galena, Illinois which is where this Inn is.

This is a pen and ink, a little smaller than 3×5.

I did finish it in watercolor but for some reason forgot to photograph it before mailing it off.

If you want to see it in color, simply print it off and go to town with some crayons. Enjoy.

These are some calm colorful corn heads in acrylic. 3×5 on canvas.

And an autumn scene, in acrylic for a WetCanvas Mini challenge. 3×4 inches.

This is a real quickie. Took about fifteen minutes because sometimes it’s simply fun to throw paint around willy nilly.

And it also gives me the chance to use the word “willynilly”.

I don’t use willy nilly enough.

Or amok.

So run amok and paint willy nilly.

Have a good one.

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

It’s May?

May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 6 Comments

Hmm, somehow I missed April.

I think what happened is that the spring came and I lost my mind.

But I did take some photos.

This is the Lock and Dam No 15, on the Mississippi River.

It is the largest existing roller dam in the world. It’s nickname is the “Washing Machine of Death”.

dum dum da dummmm

Nothing like a nickname that sounds like some cheap knockoff wrestling name.

“And in this corner, ladies and gentleman…the Washing Machineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee of Death!!!!!!!!!!”

And the crowd goes wild!

It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Lock and Dam No. 15 Historic District, #04000175 covering 3,590 acres (1,450 ha), 2 buildings, 9 structures, and 1 object.” I know where the two buildings and nine structures are but what the heck is the one object?

This is a water pumping station. (I think)

This was taken inside the car wash.

Because that’s how I roll.

And I made my own planet.

I saw a dinosaur.

I painted a few tiny geese, with watercolor.

(I’ve painted these before but not with watercolor)

These are all ATC/ACEO size. (2.5 x 3.5 inches, the size of a playing card)

And this is a sunset.

I’d like to claim that I meant to do that, but actually I was in a moving car.

And the camera was on the wrong setting.

Much like the setting I used to take a photo of the “Blood Moon” which incidentally is a much better nickname then the “Washing Machinnnnnnnnnne of Death!!!!”

The blue is the star Spica.

That’s alright, you win some, you lose some.

I also wrote a poem about squirrels which I lost.

I think the squirrels may have stolen it.

Oh don’t me give me that cute face..

Ah well, have a good one!

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog.com, 2014

Mudzilla!

October 13, 2013 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 8 Comments

(with my apologies to the Blue Oyster Cult)

Deep from the depths of the backyard, a savage creature awaits, stalking, sniffing

…chasing tennis balls…

The day comes when he pounces…

With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound

He’s a mole sniffing muck digging grimy hound

Eastern moles who think he’s a pain

Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them

He picks up a clod and he throws it back down

As he digs through mole tunnels underground

Oh no! They says he’s got to go

Go! Go! Mudzilla!

Oh no! There goes the mole’s burrow!

Go! Go! Mudzilla!

History shows again and again how Sammy harasses the moles’ clan.

Mudzilla!!

History shows oh man, how I have to wash the dog again and again!

Mudzilla!

Meanwhile in between washing the dog and refilling large holes in the yard I painted these little landscapes for a trade. These are all acrylic and 2.5 by 3.5 inches (the size of a playing card).

Disclaimer: No moles were harmed in the making of this and in fact they are currently digging up the back yard while giggling themselves silly over the foolishness of any one trying to outdig them..

Oops..

I’m just kidding, my husband saved this one from the lawn mower and put him back safely.

(He is sooooo soft!)

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2013

My Summer or How I Was Kneecapped By A Groundhog..

September 3, 2012September 5, 2012 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 20 Comments

So how’s your summer going? I know, I know it’s nearly over and I haven’t posted much but I swear I have a great excuse, ahem I mean reason..

So there’s this groundhog and like all groundhogs, he is so cute, a big darling fat ball of fur. Adorable.

Actually there are a lot of groundhogs,woodchucks, whistlepigs, whatever floats your boat, there are tonnes of them all over North America.

As everyone knows, groundhogs often study meteorology. They quite enjoy it even though they get dragged out of their den every February to tell us when winter will end. And since all groundhogs have a strange sense of humor, they will often lie and give us the wrong info. They’re funny like that.

Some groundhogs, especially those located in Ohio are infamous for their archeological interests. In fact, The Ufferman Site in Ohio, which is on the National Register of Historic Sites has been solely excavated by groundhogs. They have brought up human bones, pottery and rock tool bits used by the Cole culture (circa 800-1300AD). No human has ever had to excavate as the groundhogs have done such a great job of it.

Groundhogs, can climb trees, they can swim and they can run. To their dismay, they cannot cycle and since all groundhogs dream of competing in Ironman competitions, their sorrow is great.

But there is one thing that Groundhogs are renowned worldwide for, there is one thing they love to do more then anything, there is one thing that amuses them to no end and that is to dig holes, big deep holes…

And while many people think they dig them to live in for safety and food storage, that’s ridiculous, everyone knows they prefer bungalows with full size pantries. They actually dig holes to trap humans especially humans walking around with cameras, so that that human walking around with a camera will twist and turn as they fall to save their camera and tear all the muscles holding their knee cap in place. And then that human will spend the next six weeks wearing a hot awkward metal and foam cast that makes me, ahem that human, walk like Frankenstein and since that human will be in pain occasionally they will groan and small children and animals will run from this Frankensteinian beast, except of course for the fat black cat that lives with that human and likes to scratch her face on the metal contraption and enjoy her pain cause she’s an awful sadistic animal and meanwhile the groundhog is rolling around slapping it’s knee, bubbling over with mirth and glee, because even though he’s adorable, he’s a mother of a mean little so and so…

And that ladies and gentlemen is how you write a run on sentence…

Anyway, it’s not that bad. (rolleyes) I’m fine (whine whine moan). Seriously it’s all good. (sigh)

Actually did some drawings for a trade. Lots of fun.

The only rule was that they had to be small 3.5 by 2.5 inches (ATC’s, ACEO”s whatever) about the size of a playing card and they had to be in black and white.

As always they might appear larger on your screen then they actually are

This is a little windmill, in black and white that’s down the road a ways, I think someone lives in it.

This is from a photo in the RIL on Wetcanvas, many thanks to the person who put it in there for all to use. It’s acrylic.

This is a barn in pen and ink that we have driven by a few times.

This is an 1800’s bread oven off in the woods (to keep the heat away) at Balls Falls in Ontario, Canada. This is an acrylic.

This is an old wagon that for some reason, someone stuck in their yard. Acrylic.

This is a penguin, cause I sure as heck wasn’t going to draw a groundhog. Pen and Ink.

And this is a Victorian house we drove by on the way to Saint Louis in acrylic.

Other then that, I took a photo of the blue moon. It wasn’t blue but it’s negative is.

I also found a potato with dancing angels in it, I was going to sell it on EBay but I gave it to the raccoon instead..

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and has a fun holiday weekend.

Happy Labor Day!

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2012

Peeping Toms, Dragons and Gargoyles…

July 10, 2012 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 5 Comments

I hope everyone survived the heat wave of the last few weeks. As well as all the talking about the heat wave of the last few weeks.

It’s been so hot, people are losing their minds. This store in our town even forgot how to rhyme.

I saw on the news people were in all the public fountains trying to keep cool so it didn’t really surprise me when I realized I had someone in my own fountain. I would have told him to get out but the truth is if my fountain had been any bigger I would have been in there too.

So it’s been a lazy summer so far, mostly because if anyone moves, they melt on the spot.

We had a new deck built. It’s great and it’s so much easier to relax on a nice big deck without bugs bothering you…

Hey!! Shoo!!

Well I never..

I tell you the bugs this year are downright obnoxious. They seem to know the birds and mammals are just too hot and tired to chase them so they’re getting very bold.

This one here even decided to become a Peeping Tom.

Or he could have just been a member of the paparazzi trying to get photos of Dummy in his mermaid get up.

Check out that supercilious grin though, he wasn’t a bit sorry even when I caught him at my windows.

I went inside thinking he had listened to my lecture but those paparazzi are merciless.

He was slyly leering right into my house.

The Nerve!

The least he could have done is waited until I washed the windows so I wouldn’t have to show everyone my spots…It’s a bit embarrassing.

Creepy. But they did inspire me to draw a dragon and a gargoyle.

I drew these with pen and ink for a trade on Wetcanvas. They are ATC / ACEO size, that is 2.5 by 3.5 inches (the size of a playing card).

This first one was from a fountain in Germany. I realized while I was drawing it that since it was sculpted in the 16th or 17th century, most likely there were still many people at that time who thought dragons were real. Did you know that in medieval times, they thought that the only thing elephants were afraid of were dragons. (They also thought hyenas changed their gender at will but that’s beside the point) So I suspect the owner of this fountain who were members of the real Frankenstein family (and isn’t that just cool) put this dragon on it to keep out the hordes of high diving elephants that were so prevalent at the time.

It’s also my theory that all the Bigfoot hunters of today are the descendants of Dragon hunters. Yes, every generation in history has had it’s legions of believers running through the woods, getting freaked out by owl calls and coyote yaps and making facts up about creatures they’ve never actually seen. (Not to mention leaving scores of Bigfoots and Dragons giggling themselves silly)

Now this next one, also the size of a playing card is a Gargoyle on top of the Historic Wells Fargo Building in Davenport, Iowa.

It was supposed to keep bad vibes out of people’s money but well we all know how that turned out… I blame it all on acid rain myself.

This building is from the Roaring 20’s and has a lovely clock tower but also a very strange temple on top of it. It would make a good setting for a creepy story.

And this is a rainbow cloud, it has absolutely nothing to do with anything else but it’s pretty

Have a good one!

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©Virginia Spencer, thepurpledogpaintingblog, 2012

Birdstalking Part 2 or How the Catbird Sought Revenge..

May 23, 2012 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 12 Comments

So.

Hello.

I’m trying to come up with a better opening line that that.

But I’m exhausted.

Tuckered out, you might say. Dog tired, bushwhacked, fatigued, lethargic, pooped even.

I mean downright weary.

Why? Well, let me tell you why…

There’s a catbird living in my tree.

That’s right a catbird, I said. To be specific, a Grey Catbird, also known as the Slate Colored Mockingbird.

For those of who you have never met a catbird, yes, they do meow.

They also cluck and cackle and caw. And they coo and cheep and twitter and peep.

And occasionally they whistle.

But the one thing they never do, the One Thing no catbird would ever dream of, the ONE THING that never ever, in the history of animal kind, a catbird has ever done is to..

SHUT UP!!

They sing in the morning, they sing at night.

They sing in the dark, they sing in the light.

They sing when they’re hungry and happy and sad.

They sing when they’re excited, tense or mad!

(They also make me write like a Dr. Seuss wannabe. That mocking thing is contagious)

So I decided to fix his little red wagon and fry his chestnuts. He was done as dinner.

I turned back to my bird stalking ways. I cleaned my camera lens and it was on..

I tried in vain to get a photo of him with his mouth shut.

But I only managed to get photos of him with his mouth open.

He was singing to the left…

He was singing to the right..

Hmmmm… that’s not working…I need help…

Oh Mr Hummingbird, thank you for offering your services. Yes, you stick your tongue out at him.

Oh dear, Mr Hummingbird. Yes it is awfully hard to mock a mockingbird. They enjoy it, the sickos.

But thank you for trying. I appreciate the effort.

Mr. Cardinal? You have an idea, you say?

You’re going to give him the Awesomely Malevolent Evil Eye as only a Cardinal with a capitol ‘C’ can?

Wonderful..Give it your best shot.

Hmmm, Nice, but no banana.

Mr Bluejay, You’re going to what!?! Screech it away?

No!! No!! It’s a mockingbird!! For the love of God!!! Don’t teach it how to screech!!

Sorry, beg your pardon, lost my composure for a minute. It really is mimicking you quite well.

Yes that is how you sound, you can sit up in that tree and be as offended as you like but that is the noise that you make.

So finches? Any ideas?

You’re too busy playing ‘One Finch, Two Finch, Three Finch, Four!’ to help out a friend?

Yes I do realize catbirds chase cats. And dogs. And hawks and sometimes people too.

I also know that it’s been observed that other birds will actually line up and watch them when they are doing so.

It’s true. Everyone loves a show.

Fine, finches, go on with your game.

I think I know what will do it.

That’s right I called the Great North American White Wookie. It says…

“Arggggg…grrrr…gargle…gargle… arggggg!!!!”

Nothing? Really?

Well, I guess it’s time to ask the Honorable Zen Master Tree Frog for advice..

Hold up now. It’s upset you too? The Honorable Zen Master Tree Frog?

The Catbird stole your moves? and your mating calls?

The Nerve! The Gall! The sheer unadulterated insolence of that Grey Catbird slash Slate Colored Mockingbird!

Dummy! Come quick! The Honorable Zen Master Tree Frog needs you!

That’s a good Dummy, you cheer him up and I will settle this for once and for all.

Catbird, I didn’t want to have to do this. You left me no choice.

It shouldn’t have come to this but when you push people to extremes they go to…well..extremes.

By the power invested in me as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder and Supporting Cast of Birdstalkers Anonymous (Quad Cities, IA/IL Chapter) I call the..

The …

Get ready folks…

The..

Hide the children…

The..

Avert your eyes…

The (and this is the technical name)..

The Dastardly, Heinous, Ghastly, Loathsome, Menacing, Razor Toothed, Jagged Jawed, Mother Nature, that is one mean looking mother but it does have exceptionally pretty eyes for a goose Goose.

We call him Al for short.

So what do you have to say now Catbird?

Yea, I thought you’d have nothing to say

Wait a minute..What is that? Humidity? Oh it’s Hot! I guess it’s time to turn on the Central Air so my house doesn’t turn into an oven. You know when I turn on the Central Air so my house doesn’t turn into an oven, I can’t hear outside.

Never mind, Catbird. Carry on.

Now I have some peace, I can get back to painting.

This is from a photo in Wetcanvas‘s RIL by Dave Slaughter. Thank you to him for it’s use.

This is acrylic, 4×4 inches and it’s a Mountain Bluebird.

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Come thunder! Come lightning!

May 7, 2012August 19, 2015 ~ thepurpledogpaintingblog ~ 17 Comments

Mother Nature has been on a roll. Super Moons, fiery sunsets, lightning. You name it, she’s been throwing out the works lately.

The super moon was well..super. Congratulations to whoever came up with the name Super Moon. Job well done. Sure, Super Moon, sounds as if it should be running around dark alleys, rescuing old ladies from purse snatchers and generally giving miscreants some well deserved ass kickings but nevertheless super it was. I did not however see it’s sidekick, Mediocre Meteor, who sadly burned up in the atmosphere causing a ruckus over in Scotland where screams of “We’re being invaded, Laddie!” were heard from glen to glen and down the mountain side.

Did you know that last December a guy accidentally drove his Mustang off a 100 foot cliff while watching a meteor shower. Yes, he did. And then he walked away.

Foolishness comes with it’s own airbags.

But I digress, anyway there’s this Super Moon, complete with cape. People, all over the world, gathered to see it and take photos and generally have a good time. As per usual when anything interesting is happening in the sky, Mother Nature in her infinite wisdom covered our area in clouds. I’m starting to think the big M doesn’t much like Illinois.

She did however like Northern New York, where I took this photo in 2005. It was taken with an old digital but it is pretty, no. (That last sentence sounds better if you read it with a french accent.)

The sky was on fire!

But this is what I saw of the Super Moon.

*sigh*

BUT! I fooled her, yes I fooled Mother Nature. Friday night, when the Moon was still quite close to the earth, not a Super Moon but a somewhat impressive moon, it was beautifully clear and I went outside with my camera to play with some filters.

Boo-yah! Mother Nature. That”s right, I said it.

This is a blue filter.

This is a sepia filter.

And this is a Canadian filter.

That was all fun and good but then a thunder storm came so I decided to try and take some lightning photos.

Ooooh. Right to the ground….

A little further off..not terribly clear.

Time to try my new tripod.

Did I mention that I finally bought a tripod?

Yup, I did and it’s metal and I tried it out in a thunder storm.

Son of a…..

Mother Nature is a mite touchy.

And for the record, do not try that at home!

Other then some shakiness, a killer headache and a ringing in my ears which I successfully drowned out listening to Def Leppard really loud, I’m fine.

I decided to take a break from the photo thing and paint this acrylic which is 3×6 and was painted for a challenge in the Miniature Forum on Wetcanvas. The original photo came from Wetcanvas’ reference image library and thanks to PeterH for putting it there.

…

.Take care, all!

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the purple dog painting blog

Art, Poetry, Photography & Other Nonsense

miniature

Happy Turtle Day!

May the Dog be with you.

Christmas Trees, Peeping Toms and Dog Portraits

And the sign said..

It’s May?

Mudzilla!

My Summer or How I Was Kneecapped By A Groundhog..

Peeping Toms, Dragons and Gargoyles…

Birdstalking Part 2 or How the Catbird Sought Revenge..

Come thunder! Come lightning!

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