New Project: Dog Days of Summer

I'm sure you've all heard the phrase "dog days of summer", but how many of you actually know what that means?  "Dog Days" are the hottest days of summer--typically in July and August.  The ancient belief was that Sirius, aka Dog Star, being in close proximity to the sun, was responsible for the hot weather. Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky.  The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the Dog Days as July 3 - August 11--and that is the time frame I've selected for my Dog Days of Summer Painting Project.  Beginning today, and hopefully every day through August 11, I will paint a portrait of a dog and post it here on my blog, as well as on my website (www.stephanieallison.com) and facebook page. I'm hoping this project will help me get "fast and loose" with my painting and give them a little more spontaneity and freshness.   We'll see...

Anyway, the paintings will be 8 x 10 and available for purchase for $80.  Just contact me if you're interested in purchasing one.  Who knows, someday I might be famous and those little suckers will be worth a fortune....or a few dollars, at least.  So above left is the first one:  a little Cocker Spaniel.  I hope you like it!

The painting on the right here is a mini-painting, 2-1/2 x 3 inches, acrylics.  It comes with its own easel and is available at Shelby Artists on Main, 617 Main St., Shelbyville, KY if you live nearby, or you can contact me if you would like to purchase it. 

I have several other projects in the works, including some new commissions and a poster I've created, from a painting I did as an experiment on YUPO watercolor paper.  It's a mini-poster, about 11 x 14, and is available for $25.  Just send me a message if you'd like one--they will be signed and numbered.

So that's it for tonight. I hope you all have a safe and relaxing 4th of July. Check back tomorrow to see my Dog Days of Summer #2 painting!