On 01.02.02, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Too late for surgery, I had chemotherapy, which failed. In May the chemotherapy was changed and I was soon in remission which was celebrated and welcome and lasted nine years - until October 2011. There was progression in 2011 so more treatment was indicated and I am now back in partial remission. But I'm not only a cancer patient - I also enjoy my family, walk my dogs and am learning to draw and paint. Life is good!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Letting sleeping dogs lie

This is an unusual post for me. First, I rarely, very rarely, work a complete drawing in graphite. Typically I begin with a pencil underdrawing, a simple contour and continue from there.

Second, I can't recall when I last drew Parisse. She's my wonky black labrador retriever, neurologically miswired and not known for sociability. It was not her typical behavior to let me share the sofa with her. She was there first, but typically jumps down if I join her. Tonight she was apparently just too dog-tired because she stayed, rearranged herself several times and fell asleep. I drew as fast as I could because, sure enough, she eventually changed position to something completely different.

9 comments:

  1. You're getting better and better all the time, Barbara. How nice of Parisse to give you this opportunity to practice!

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  2. Animal drawings can be hard due to the constant movement, however you have done a good job here! I always find quick pencil sketches very satisfying especially with a limited amount of time as the brain hasnt got so much time to dither and what comes out is very real.

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  3. Well done! My cat never stays still when I am sketching. I think he must 'feel' me looking at him and he starts squirming. Any other time he sleeps he is still as can be!

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  4. You did a very nice job on this drawing. Wasn't it nice of her to finally pose for you?

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  5. I have a suggestion for a book you might enjoy... 'Lads before the wind' by Karen Pryor...it's about training dolphins.

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  6. What a nice sketch. Isn't it funny how some dogs are social and others a little more stand-offish.

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  7. Lovely sketch! I love those posted previously too, the doggies and the pens =)

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  8. Thank you, each of you, for your comments. This is the dog I worry about the most because she really is strange. Little by little she allows more human contact. Usually if I sit next to her, she takes off - no chance of a drawing then!

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