Smile

What's better than a smiling Doodle Bird?

Smiling Doodle Bird, 9x12 inches, ink on  paper.

Perfection of Imperfection

Imperfection. I make imperfect art. Weird isn't it how what we strive for, perfection, never really making the grade, at least it never seemed that way to me. As an artist I found fault with my lines, they weren't straight enough, too bold, not bold enough and shaky. Grrrr. Life has been like this for a long time since I had a traumatic brain injury when I was 21. After that fateful day nothing seemed right for a long time, decades actually. But if I've leaned one thing it is this there is perfection in imperfection. 

Big and little Doodle Birds, 9x12 inches, pen on paper.

Doodling Away

Doodling away winter weather. It's fun pastime.

Purple-headed Doodle Bird, 14x18 inches, pen on paper.

Doodle dog, 10x12 inches, pen on paper.

Doodle birds

What are Doodle Birds? Mythical creations from my pen. I begin with a few simple shape then I let my pen do the drawing.

Spreading my wings, 16x18 inches, pen on paper.

Fat billed loon, 18x22 inches, pen on paper.

Green Eyes

Old Green Eyes favorite snacks are kippered snacks, tuna fish, fresh butter and spiders.

Green eyes, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Snow Puppy

It snowed today inspiring me to paint a snow puppy.

Snowy puppy, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper. 

Let's go play!

What's better than playing with a dog? Nothing.

Let's go play, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

First Love

I wanted a dog for Christmas when I was eight-years-old. I found new underwear, bathrobe,  dress and a wooden, frog bank under the tree. No dog. I wanted, hoped and prayed for a dog for years. My parents weren't dog people we had a cat, a wonderful, wacky Siamese, named Wing Wang...yeah make some jokes about that.

For my birthday, my 60th birthday a little black and white puppy came into my life. Ernest, Sir Ernest Shackleton the Second, has been the best gift I've ever received. I love this funny ball of energy. He has two speeds zoom and sleep. This is him begging for more cottage cheese -- that's a curd above his brown eye. 

I love Ernest, Ernest loves me and cottage cheese.

Ernest, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Happy Dog!

Who knew what would happen when we agreed to foster an ancient mini Aussie. I assumed he'd be with us until he was fully vetted, beautified and adopted. Love has a way of wiggling brown eyes and and pointy ears into hearts and I fell in love with the old dog. His vision is diminished as is his hearing, his coat is thick an fluffy and his toenails click on the floors. I love this old man of a dog, who knows what he has seen and heard in his many years but I know something he loves to hear, "I love you." I say it often. I kiss his furry brown head right between his big ears and that is how we roll these days. Rusty is no long available for adoption because I adopted him.

Happy Dog, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Parsnip

I painted Parsnip in an effort to appeal to the snow gods. The ground isn't white...yet. Fingers crossed.

Parsnip, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Snow Buddies

The frosty cat and chilly dog met on the field for a playdate. First they worried people might see them frolicking in the snow but soon they discovered no one noticed them. They chased and raced until they had to stop. That is when I snapped this photo. Snow buddies like deep snow, making tunnels and caves in snow and howling at the moon on clear, cold nights.

Snow Buddies, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.
$15 matted and in cellophane sleeve.

A dragon ate my homework

It could happen, really a dragon could eat your homework if you happened to live in the right place at the right time. In my universe dragons are friendly creatures who are willing to be friends with authentic humans. Dragons don't like hair spray, lip gloss, fast food burgers (they say they have no substance) and they loath red sports cars.

Blue dragon, oil pastel on paper.

Green dragon, acrylic on paper.

Snow Kitty

Who doesn't love a snow kitty? I can hardly wait for the first snowfall so I can make snow kitties, snow puppies and maybe even snow fish.

Snow Kitty, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.
$20
Available at the McBride School Christmas Bazaar
East Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, Oregon
Saturday, December 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I have a new friend

I have a new friend, one doesn't have a pet dragon, his name is Friend.

Dragon sketch for "The Singing Mountain".

Blue Dog to make you happyB

It's a gloomy day here, Rusty snored by my feet while I painted this. Somedays I just need a Blue Dog to cheer me up.

Blue Dog, 9.5x11.5 inches, soft pastel on paper.

Original Whimsical Pets as Jigsaw Puzzles

I love doing virtual jigsaw puzzles especially of other artist's work. I get a kick out of knowing my artwork and photographs are on a puzzle site along with Monet, Van Gogh, Munch, Susan Mitchell and Picasso. It's a fun place check it out, oh, here's the best part it's all free, you don't have to join to enjoy.

 http://www.jigidi.com/jigsaw-puzzle/B5GXVARF/Scout-McSassypants

Scout McSassypants

Blue Christmas

Blue merle mini Aussie, 4x6 inches Christmas card.

Bah hum bug!

Bah Hum Bug!, Christmas card, 4x6 inches.

I've created a line of Christmas cards to benefit Miniature Australian Shepherd Rescue and Support (MARS) http://www.miniaussierescue.org. 30 percent of every sale will be donated to MARS to benefit these wonderful dogs. Buy them at my online store Cosmic Hedgehog,
https://squareup.com/store/cosmic-hedgehog.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Cheers!
Cecelia

I love Miniature Australian Shepherds

Buy a card and help a mini Aussie.

Peace, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.
Available as a holiday card here

Napping mini Aussie, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.
Available as a holiday card here

Rust in evening sunlight, photo. 

I love miniature Australian shepherds for many reasons, they are smart, affectionate, bond closely to their people and make excellent guard dogs. But many mini Aussies end up in rescue because people love cute puppies and then fall out of love when they discover their cute puppy needs a minimum of an hour a day of active exercise, the darling puppy is demanding, wants attention, wants to play, needs training and becomes destructive when left alone for long. For these reasons too many mini Aussies end up in rescue.

I was inspired to create these holiday cards because I love my two mini Aussies, Ernest who is three-years-old, our old man, rescue, Rusty, who is 13-years old. I volunteer with a regional rescue, Miniature Australian Shepherd Rescue and Support, MARS, http://www.miniaussierescue.org. 

30 percent of each sale will be donated to MARS to help these wonderful dogs. 

Please visit my online store, Cosmic Hedgehog https://squareup.com/store/cosmic-hedgehog to purchase these wonderful holiday cards and explore more unique mini Aussie holiday cards.

A couple of commissions

A couple of fun commissions. First, I talk with the person who wants the painting made asking lots of questions about the nature of the pet. Is he or she playful or serious? Old or young? Funny? Lazy? I also want to know what games he or she likes to play. What are their favorite toys? Then I need several photos of the pet in different settings; at rest, playing, snuggling, interacting with friends and family and other animals. It's from all of this I make my paintings. I am currently taking commissions for holiday gifts. You may reach me via email, cecelianunn@gmail.com.

Sega as a puppy, 6x6 inches, pastel on paper.

Commission, pastel on paper.

Out of control bows

Bah hum bug! We hate these big bows. Yeah, we know Christmas is coming but really do we have to do the bow thing again? Please, no more bows.

I hate this bow, 6x6 inches, pastel on paper.

I will  make her pay for this, 6x6 inches, pastel on paper.

Little Whimsy Video

Whimsical Pet PortraitsWhimsical Pet Portraits are created from buyer’s photos and descriptions of the pet’s personality. We will discuss styles and media such as acrylic paint and soft pastel and mixed media paintings.

Fee schedule 6x6 inches $50 6x8 inches $50 8x10, 9.5x11.5 inches $100 12x12 inches $150 14x16 inches $250 All artwork is insured for full value. Acrylic paintings will be shipped securely wrapped and in cardboard for secure shipping, Pastel paintings will be placed between two pieces of protective foam core with the face of the painting protected with glassine paper that will protect against smudges. At buyers request pastel paintings can be over sprayed with a non-toxic fixative. Please contact me with your questions.

cecelianunn@gmail.com

Lillian Cos

Lillian Cos was born in a garden right between the lettuce and lilies. The lettuce where she was born was lovely, young lettuce, pale green and lovely chartreuse. Right above her red lilies bloomed, huge blooms of red with deep maroon throats, held high on strong stems of brilliant green. Now, who can say why Lillian Cos grew from a little ball of fluffy yellow into a cat with magnificently huge ears and a coat of many colors much like the garden where she was born? No one knows why she is so beautiful but I happen to think it might just be a little magic.

Lillian Cos, 9.5x11.5 inches. soft pastel on paper.

Dog noses

Dog noses. Some are long and pointy, others short and squat but all are wet and cold when they nuzzle you first thing every morning. I love wet dog noses, don't you?

I know you love me, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.

Blue Diva

The Blue Diva, yes, she was a diva, a queen Blue Russian, who had a staff of two. She had humble beginnings born not in a barn but in an old rowboat on a farm. From these humble beginnings she became a princess, a spayed queen and finally a diva. She looked down her royal nose at most people and creatures except for the raven who lived in the old growth Douglas fir trees in her garden. They spoke every morning after her breakfast, she on a wide windowsill and raven on a branch above. What they said I do not know but it must have been worth her time. Perhaps he was telling her how beautiful her coat shimmered in the early morning sun.

Blue Diva, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.

Inspired by love

Today my work was inspired by love. Marmalade reminds me of my niece's cat Sebastian, a great orange tabby, who was exactly the color of her hair. Sebastian would sit on her should while she ate breakfast then he'd sneak down her arm and lap up any milk left in her bowl.

Sally is inspired by my neighbor's wonderful old hound. Sally was my friend, she was a great listener,     gave wonderful kisses and was always ready to go exploring. I never see a hound with her markings that doesn't bring warm memories to my heart. I'm glad she was my friend.

Marmalade tabby, 9x12 inches, pastel on paper.

Sally, 12x10 inces, pastel on paper.

Fresh snow in the mountains and on paper

Snowman with hat, 9.5x11 inches, pastel on paper.

Snow puppy, 9.5x11 inches, pastel on paper.

Cats and politics

In a good will gesture, I am giving equal time to canine and feline presidential candidates. Today, I present Loki, a fluffy, loving and silly cat from the animal shelter in Hermiston, Oregon. Loki is an independent cat who takes advice from no one he is influenced by food and tummy rubs.

Loki for President, 9x11 inches, pastel on paper.

Smoking Jacket and Politics

Dog in smoking jacket, 9x11 inches, pastel on paper

Sick of politics? 

Red and Blue

Red cat, blue cat will you purr of me?

Look into my eyes you are getting sleepy,  5x7 inches, pastel on paper

Wild and weird calico, 9x11, pastel on paper

Check out my candidates

Write in the most egotistical creatures on earth, cats, for our highest elected office and see just how well the government works. These felines promise to sleep late, play all night, distain 98% of humanity, including heads of state and the Queen of England (She's a dog lover.) and destroy the rugs in the White House and capitol. They promise to keep the White House and all official buildings rodent free.

For a Rodent Free White House Vote Beautiful Felines.

Vote Smakoge for President 2016
5x7 inches, pastel on paper

Old Blue Eyes for VP
5x7 inches, soft pastel on paper

Vote for ME!
5x7 inches, soft pastel on paper

Raining Cats and Dogs

Today was a perfect day to spend in the studio creating pastel paintings of whimsical pets. As rain pelted my windows I had a wonderful time painting some of my best friends. 

Busy puppy takes a break, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

I ate the whole thing, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Mad Cap Cats

It's a rainy day, two dogs snooze at my feet while I play with soft pastels making cat paintings. Painting on a rainy day makes me happy.

Mad cat Loki, 9x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.

Green eyes, 12x14 inches, pastel on paper.

Whimsical Abstract Pet

Inspired by a Boston terrier, a warm summer evening and a little magic.

Who am I? Fido? 18x22 inches, pastel on paper.

Quick Pastel Sketches

I enjoy doing quick sketches of my canine friends because it allows me to work just with shapes and colors. Working fast doesn't give me time to over think what I'm doing. I work so quickly I can't ask myself if I'm doing it right or good enough -- I just have fun.

Leaping the Rainbow Bridge, 9.5x11.5, soft pastel and crayon on paper.

Edgar in motion, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.

Falkor, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.

Scout Mcsassypants, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.