I will let Dad post his 'explainations' of each of my paintings here, below the picture of each of them. I am only showing three, because Dad could only find three of the five 'logs' he made of my work and how I did them. The other paintings will be availible too, but later!

By the way, if anyone feels generous, I need my web-page tweaked so that I have a special set of links (off to the left there) for my Art Gallery, and so that folks who would like to can buy my artwork. (Dad has a paypal account just for that!) I don't have a gold account, so unless someone buys that, I need my files hosted elsewhere. Dad has an account that could be placed on, though! So if you can help, just hollar!

Okay- and now... for Big Bertha's Art Show... or part of one, anyway!!

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Dad writes:

These works are all done on artist-grade canvas-board, with artist-grade acrylics. Big Bertha paints with a foam brush that has a wooden handle she can hold in her jaws. I hold the canvas for her, and let her choose how to apply the paint. I let her choose three colors from her row of paints before we start, so even the color choices are Big Bertha's! (within the limits of what colours I have bought already, of course.)

These are three of her Paintings:

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Bertha had a definate URGE to paint today. She was very unhappy when i got my art things out, and demanded hers right away, for her to paint first. The moment she had her 'palette' (a round table with all her (bottles) of colors of paint sitting on it) she chose three right away, and was very eager to get working.

She concentrated very very hard... and she began her work with the first color she'd chosen- the lightest- yellow. She was quick to know where she wanted that, and quickly surrendered the paintbrush, while looking on top of the table for the next one- for a minute, I'd forgotton which she chose next, so I started to offer both, and she quickly indicated the brown. She was VERY deliberate, even careful with the little stabbings of color, and when she felt done, she finally gave me back the brush- I asked three times if she was done, before she gave it to me, but as always, I offer her again just in case, and nope, she wanted that red one, right now! I loaded the red brush, but she was unhappy with it for some reason- since she was sniffing the tip, I thought maybe I hadn't put enough paint on- I loaded it a little more, and she was happy- with this one, she was very agressive and forward, placing her color, and then almost immidiately surrendering the paint brush- she considered taking it again, but looked at the canvas, wagged her butt and went to find a place to sit while I set it aside... she was done!

Only after the next weekend trip to the local Dog Park, did I realize how surprising this painting is- there is a huge metal 'sculpture' in bright yellow just outside the fenced 'off leash' part- and the off leash park is bedded/covered/floored with wood chips. I cannot figure out what the red spot would be, but sometimes she seems to use the red like that- one figure. I wonder if she was painting the dog park! (I'll have to take a picture so you can see what I mean!)

Amusingly, I thought we were done too, but Big Bertha had other ideas- she demanded a second choice of colours, and this time, only picked two. an Aqua blue and a bright Foliage green. She was fierce about it, so that I didn't have time to wash the last brushes, I had to grab up two entirely new brushes to work with her with.

She was very pushy and picky about the first colour, choosing it as first to use, and demanding that the paintbrush be re-loaded (and heavily) several times. I was very surprised as she demanded I brace the canvas against her paw so she could really push the brush around and make a BIG area. She rarely does that kind of colouring. Then she wanted the green- to me, she seemed suddenly frustrated, the very second I gave her the brush. Conflicted, making little rumbly-growly sounds of discontentment, as she tried to hold the brush in her jaws, her mouth, against her tongue- she really struggled. I thought maybe the subject in her mind troubled her, or maybe she was trying to convey something with her very careful, deliberate slices along the canvas... she didn't seem entirely happy with the canvas, but she dropped the brush into my hand at one point, and got up as if to say 'that will have to do!' ... only after cleaning up the brushes, did I realize the brush i'd given her was of an entirely different kind of wood handle- I don't know if she was concentrating and frustrated, thinking of a subject and frustrated, or perhaps most likely, she was frustrated by the change in the way she had to manipulate the brush in her mouth to do what she wanted! Whichever, she decided it was done, and she was content enough with it, so we'll all just have to wonder what confounded her so!

I might also note in retrospect, the Aqua colour is the very same colour as one of the futon covers we use most often- and there does appear to be a distinct human-shape to one or two of the figures- three big ones (us and the dog?) and three tiny ones, perched on the back and end where the three cats all lay. Is this a Family Portait? *grin*

We should call this one, "Queen of the Mountain"-

Just before asking to paint today, Big Bertha had a rare treat- a big roll of rawhide, basted with yumminess. I notice that when it came time to choose colors, she knew RIGHT what she wanted- grabbing the red (which I have come to wonder if it represents her sometimes) and then the dark blue which she has *never* chosen before (it looks black in the bottle) and then the bright green. In accordance with the way we paint, I loaded her brushes in the order she chose them, and she quite deliberately made one big figure and several small ones in red- before she made an attempt to brush up and down and side to side with the blue- she seemed a little less than happy with the outcome, but deliberately laid down the brush on the floor when I had not offered to take it but she was done with it. After a moment of carpet cleaning (chuckle) She got her green brush. She seemed puzzled about how she wanted to apply this, and once done, showed absolutely no more interest in painting again tonight.

Amusingly, I notice that the blue (which again, looked black in the bottle- maybe she thought it was going to look black on canvas!) would have been the color of her (black) crate, and the green is the same color as the blanket she is currently using in it. If red represents herself and other animal figures, then I wonder if she were not depicting herself, queen of the mountain in her crate with her lovely rawhide prize on her blanket earlier- chasing off any cats who might come too close. She loves her rawhide a little TOO much to share. ;)

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Wow... I hope someday to have my own doggie-artshow or something... wouldn't that be cool? I LOVE painting!

Big Bertha