Blog
3/27/2021 9:25:25 AM
I've been showcasing my Irish work the last couple of weeks, to whet your appetite!
From today until midnight, Wednesday, 3/31/21, all my Irish paintings, that are still available, can be sent to you with free shipping (inside the US and Canada).
You can see the paintings here: Irish Collection
Prints are available of the paintings that are already sold. The prints are high quality Giclee's and can be on acid free archival paper or on stretched canvas. You can find them here: Prints of Irish Collection
Thank you for being with me on this journey!
Anne
ps. I'd love to know which pieces you liked the most. Please leave a comment below.
pss. All purchases have a 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked, as long as the purchase is returned in its original condition. (Purchaser would be responsible for return shipping.)
3/20/2021 10:19:45 AM
I hope you are enjoying my journey back through Ireland as much as I am!
Mossy, in the painting below (right), was another Border Collie that I bonded with while living there. (I met a lot of others, but they were more in passing.) Mossy actually lived at the house adjacent to the Hill of Slane Abbey, a place I frequently went to paint. I loved the ruins and the vistas were fabulous.
Mossy was about the same age as my Jeannie and he had some pain as did she. Unfortunately, Mossy's was from a broken leg that had not been properly set, and Jeannie's was from arthritis. This commonality gave them some similar attributes, to which I was drawn. Both were loving dogs, but there was also a wariness about them, which I think was a fear of being hurt. Anyway, they were approachable, but it was 
best if you didn't do it too fast.
Mossy would come to me and lie down beside me while I painted. It brings tears to my eyes as I think about him and the bond that we had.
I also met Ollie at the Hill of Slane. I was there painting on a really windy, cold day. I was actually having to hold my canvas on my easel with one hand while I painted with the other. Not fun. The wind was blowing so hard and so loud that I didn't hear him pull up in his truck. As he got out, he said, "Oh, don't put me in your painting!" My first reaction was a mental "Not a problem" then I turned and saw him! He was the epitome of an Irishman. He was wearing this beret and pants that were tucked into his knee-high boots, so that his pants looked like knickers. I couldn't believe it! I quickly told him I wouldn't, then asked if I could take a photo of him. He said yes, but that he had to "fluff his beard first", which he did looking into the mirror on his truck. It was too cool. He was super nice, too. He started trying to find a spot for me to stand where the wind wasn't so bad. I was touched. His efforts were unsuccessful, but I was still touched.
What are some special memories you have from your travels? I'd love to hear them!
All my best,
Anne
ps. "The Hill of Slane" painting is still available, and you can find it here: The Hill of Slane.
3/12/2021 4:11:23 PM
This time of year, my thoughts turn to Ireland. My husband and I were fortunate enough to get to live there almost a year, and we loved it. We loved the people, the natural beauty of the country, and I loved the dogs.
We had had to leave our 12 year old Border Collie, Jeannie, with my daughter and her husband. That was SO hard to do. It was almost harder than leaving our kids. My daughter was newly married, just under a year at that time, and our son was in college, a music major at UNT. The reason it was harder to leave Jeannie than our kids was that our kids totally got why we were in Ireland, and they knew we were coming back. I was sure that Jeannie didn't understand, this. Though, as I write this, I realize she may have. She was that smart.
Fortunately for me, there were Border Collies everywhere in Ireland, and I met one the very first day. We lived in Navan, a small town (about 25,000) approximately 30 miles north of Dublin. The next day, after arriving, I got out my paint supplies and took them to the center of town to paint. The town was lovely! When they'd joined the European Union, there'd been a contest to see which town could be the prettiest, which meant all the shops were painted in these lovely jewel tones and flowers were everywhere! I was in Paradise.
Soon after choosing my vantage point, and setting up to paint, I noticed the shop near me had this lovely Border Collie sitting in the doorway. I went over to see him, met his owner, and made 2 friends. The Border Collie was named Rex, after Ronald Reagan's dog. Pat, Rex's owner, was a big fan of our 40th president. I painted in that area several different times and Rex was always there. He'd get up and walk around a bit and would always return to his spot.
I'd always planned to paint Rex, and I think the time is finally right. The photo I'm posting is the one I'm planning to use.
3/5/2021 9:56:08 PM
