I rarely talk or write about the artist side of my persona. In my early years I was a working artist-painting in the winter and traveling the outdoor art fair circuit from the spring to the fall. I was in multiple galleries and even owned Market Gallery in the City Market. During my last season, I spent the entire August through October setting up in unbelievable weather, often battling rain and wind. After fifteen years I gave in to my education and got a "real" job. I put my ink, pens, silverpoints, and paints away, took my canvas to the basement, and closed that part of my life. I trained as an instructional designer and enjoyed the novelty of a nine-to-five day with a five-day work week. Working a normal day, I was able to start raising service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence. . . that was in 1989. Fifteen dogs later and still with passion for the program, I made time to paint again. Capturing our canine companions on canvas has been my present focus-putting my feelings on canvas through the dog expression I capture.

This month I am having a gallery show at St. Luke's United Methodist Church located at 86th and Meridian. I invite you to come to my exhibit "Dog is God Spelled Backwards." The church is open during the week and I will be at the exhibit each Sunday morning in August. This exhibit has been so much fun to develop. The paintings are for sale with the proceeds all going to Canine Companions for Independence. I have painted a variety of pups, not all service dogs and in all sizes of canvases.

When God had made

the earth and sky, the flowers and trees,

He then made all the animals and

all the birds and bees.

When his work was finished

Not one was quite the same.

He said, "I'll walk this earth

of mine and give each one a name."

And so he traveled land and sea and

everywhere he went,

a little creature followed him

until it's strength was spent.

When all were named

upon the earth and in the sky and sea,

the little creature said,

"Dear Lord, there's not one left for me."

The father smiled and softly said,

"I've left you to the end.

I've turned my own name

back to front and

called you Dog, my friend."

-Author unknown

Dog is God Spelled Backwards