All posts tagged Winchester

Back to work.

By On December 26, 2010 In Art making With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Back to work.Permalink

Two Greyhounds Sarah Regan Snavely clay sculptureSo I spent my Christmas working. I’ll admit it. But it’s not really work in a way. Putting the finishing touches on this two Greyhound sculpture. Hard to stay away once these pieces get close to finished.

Two Greyhound sculpture made from clay by Sarah Regan SnavelyNot quite finished, but getting close.

Greyhound inspecting SculptureAnnie says, “Needs a bit more work right there!”

Also worked on some bunny rabbits. For some reason I kept thinking of toasted marshmallows as I was working on these. I know the hounds can read my thoughts, but am I starting to pick up on their’s?

Three slightly bored Greyhounds are not the best of studio partners. Work? Who needs to work? Like Winchester here, as I was attempting to photograph these pieces for this blog. How do you get dog slime off the camera lens again?

Then Sage kidnapped a roll of bubble wrap – trailing it around the house as he RAN.

Who? Us? We aren’t guilty! :)

A break in the weather

By On December 7, 2010 In Living with Greyhounds With 6 Comments Permanent Link to A break in the weatherPermalink

After days of cold and snow, the weather warmed enough for a trip to the dog park. By warmed, I mean around 28 degrees F.

20 degrees seems to be the tipping point as far as weather warm enough for the dog park – if we get weather warmer than that with NO wind – whoo hoo! Dog park we go.

Winchester Greyhound running in the snow

The Greyhounds love to run. They know where there going as soon as we turn north on the road to the dog park.

Sage Greyhound rolling in the snow

Sage, especially, loves the snow. Winchester and Annie pretend it doesn’t exist, but Sage rolls and rubs himself in it.

Sage Winchester and Annie running in the snow

The snow doesn’t hamper their running and playing as long as it is soft and powdery. When it thaws a bit, then freezes again it gets a coat of ice on the top. The ice, not the temperature, will hamper our dog park trips. Ice slices Greyhound feet.

Annie Greyhound running in the snow

But till then, they run.

Winchester Greyhound gets hot

Until they are panting.

Annie and Winchester Greyhound play bowing in the snow

Then play some more.

Sage Greyhound running through the snow

Best part of the day!

Annie Sage and Winchester smiling in the snow

A frosty morning

By On December 6, 2010 In Life in North Dakota, Living with Greyhounds With 2 Comments Permanent Link to A frosty morningPermalink

Winter has descended on North Dakota. Most of October and most of November were beautiful, fall-filled. The more fall, the less winter. Hurray!

Annie Greyhound sniffing the winter air

Sunday morning was frosty as ever. The Greyhounds are getting used to the cold again and Annie was happy to be outside as I unloaded the smoke firing cans. The air is crisp and cold. I was happy to get this photo of her sniffing the slight breeze.

Frosty tree branches against a blue sky

Everything was covered with frost and the sky was foggy and cold… till the sun came out. Sunday was a beautiful winter day.

Winchester Greyhound sleeping in a sunbeam

Winchester, on the other hand, is happy to stay inside. Sage had the choice sunbeam next to the glass door, but Winchester found an able substitute.

Sage Greyhound looking through deck railingWhen Sage did come outside, he played with Annie till it was ready to go in. He peeked through the deck railing as I unloaded the smoke cans.

Smoke fired Greyhound dogHere’s one of the smoke-fired small sculptures from this weekend’s firing. More photos on Facebook.

Modeling.

By On September 14, 2010 In Living with Greyhounds With 9 Comments Permanent Link to Modeling.Permalink

front view standing brindle greyhound dog All three of my Greyhounds are working dogs. Not working as in “fill the soup pot” but working as in model. Be Greyhoundy. Be cooperative with inspection. With being measured and looked at. They all love to model and are very willing to let me poke and prod them, move them around, or measure their parts with calipers or a tape measure.

standing brindle greyhound profile

Winchester, being seven years old, has the most experience. Plus Annie and Sage are still into running and playing hard. They know the dog park is running. Winchester has other ideas. When the camera comes out, Winchester poses.

Standing brindle Greyhound dog profile

And poses. “Look At ME!” He’ll walk in front of other dog’s shots, butting in on others attention. Which is why today was so unique…

Standing brindle greyhound with white dog in background

Because someone else is beginning to horn into Winchester’s shot.

More than enough SD cards to go around guys…

What are they thinking?

By On August 11, 2010 In Living with Greyhounds With 1 Comment Permanent Link to What are they thinking?Permalink

I take a bunch of photos, and while I enjoy it immensely, I don’t know much beyond the basic photography class I took in college. I would like to learn more. Mostly my method is take a lot and delete many.

I keep a file for strange expressions on dog faces. Like this one:

Brindle Greyhound running with teeth exposedGo, Winchester, Go! My favorite part? The exposed pink inside his ears. So Vicious! So Pretty!

How about this one?Greyhounds and Poodle playingAnnie bouncing for joy. The Spoo mouthing Sage’s neck – trying to get him to run so the Spoo can chase. And Sage with one eye open, one closed?

Here’s another from that same dog park session:

Poodle and greyhound share intimate momentSpoo checking Sage’s breath? A romantic moment between Spoo and Sage with a jealous Winchester looking on?

Probably dogs playing – Spoo barking to get Sage to run. I love the strange story shots.

As the fireworks rage

By On July 4, 2010 In Living with Greyhounds With 4 Comments Permanent Link to As the fireworks ragePermalink

The Greyhounds could care less.

Black Greyhound sleeps as fireworks boomUnlike many, many dogs who hate, hate, hate fireworks. These guys don”t care at all.

Brindle greyhound sleeping on rugWell, that”s not exactly correct. They were pretty interested in what the neighbor dogs were making all the fuss about – bark, bark, bark. But that wore off quickly.

Old Apollo like many dogs – tortured by the booms of the fireworks. Thank goodness these guys don”t care. So much easier and less stressful for everyone.

Happy Thursday!

By On April 29, 2010 In Living with Greyhounds With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Happy Thursday!Permalink

Difficult, waking up each morning…

“Come on, pups! Let’s meet this beautiful day! The sun is shining and the birds are singing!”

“Yawn!”

“Winchester? How about you? Let’s go out to the studio and check the kiln…”

But not Annie – she’s up and ready to go. From her- “Human. Stop messing around and treat me like the princess that I am. I need you to prepare my food, but not before rubbing my neck and  shoulders. Stop playing with these ridiculous contraptions and give me the attention I deserve.”

“Yes, Annie…”

:)

They’re bad and they know it.

By On April 2, 2010 In Art making, Life in North Dakota With 2 Comments Permanent Link to They’re bad and they know it.Permalink

Took the hounds to the dog park today. They were bad – playing too rough. Winchester and Sage gang up on Annie. Annie and Winchester gang up on Sage.

Don’t they look guilty?

Nobody got hurt and everybody got bathes when we returned. Annie was as dirty as I’ve seen her. Sage too.

A few minutes ago, things seemed too quiet. When I checked on the hounds they were all asleep on their beds. Good, bad dogs. Tired out.

Me too. Tired. Worked for a good portion of the day in the studio making tiles and welcome signs. My back is sore, my feet are tired, but it feels good. The kiln is full,  ready to be glaze fired. That load will go on my storefront, the next will be stockpiled for the Greyhound Gathering in Kanab. Lots to do.

More photos on Facebook.

Italian Greyhounds.

By On March 20, 2010 In Art making, Living with Greyhounds With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Italian Greyhounds.Permalink

blog_brokenig
Working on two memory boxes with Italian Greyhounds on them. I rarely venture into the Italian side of Greyhounds. Cause they are hard.

Not the breed, they are nice little dogs.

But sculpting them is hard on my brain.

As I was working, trying to keep my frustration in check, I kept thinking about why. Why are they difficult? Greyhound in miniature, right? Oh if it only were that simple.

But, really, it’s not the details of breed type that raise the level of difficulty. Or not that I haven’t practiced their form like I have with Greyhounds. The problem lies in one area – I lack experience with IGs.

I’m sure that’s it.

Because so much of my art making practice comes from the experiences I’ve had with my dogs. Those experiences are like a big pool to draw inspiration from from which to draw inspiration. With every memory box – I think of Sterling. Here’s the secret : Every box I make for him. Not to dwell in the pit of mourning for a dog long departed, but as a thank you for the experiences that he gave me.

Sculpture : Modern Day Hunter
The sculptures are totally influenced by my Greyhound experiences. Modern Day Hunter (above) is Winchester. The Greyhound who would love to hunt the neighborhood cats, or jackrabbits, or Pronghorn antelope, but instead has to “hunt” stuffed bunny rabbits instead. This piece isn’t a portrait of Winchester – but it’s heavily influenced by him and living with him..

Sketches and photographs and measurements just don’t do it. I need life experience.

Now back to work on these IGs…

Sunlight.

By On February 21, 2010 In Art making, Life in North Dakota With 4 Comments Permanent Link to Sunlight.Permalink

Annie_sunlight_feb2010

The Greyhounds have been weathering the weather quite well. Better than I am it seems. They, literally, find the bright spots.

sun_sage

Not there yet, but I am working on it. These are the components of my angst:

  • Boxes. I am itching to fire them, but clay dries when it wants. I could turn on the fan and up the heat in the studio – not the best practice, however. Best let them take their time. Sigh.
  • Big “Frank” sculpture. He feels dry, except for his rear end. So not dry yet either….
  • Same for Gettysburg Dog, Same for Three Dog Night sculpture. This is North Dakota. It is DRY here… right?
  • Big Runner dog is not going to fit in my kiln. I need to stop making pieces that will not fit in my kiln OR buy a bigger kiln.
  • My etsy store is empty. This is a good thing (Everything is SOLD!) but, hello!, need to restock.
  • The new Sterling Silver pendant is *this* close to done. The plan is to have it ready for the American Whippet Club 2010 National Specialty in Tucson in April. Better get going.
  • Tiles. Have we mentioned tiles at all? Must make more tiles! (Slab roller to make said tiles are buried under drying boxes).

winchester_sunlight

All of the above mean that everything is going well, that I need more exercise, that I should switch back to organic coffee (or cut out coffee entirely). The boxes and sculptures will dry. I will fire them. I will figure out what type of finish will work best for the sculptures. I will make that series of large tiles I keep thinking about. The snow will melt and the Greyhounds (and I) will be in better physical condition. I will buy a larger kiln and have it installed. The new sterling pendant will materialize. The etsy store will be stocked and restocked. And I will forget about all these things that are driving me CRAZY right now – replacing them with new “problems.”

It all means life is good.

Queen of the Mountain

By On February 10, 2010 In Life in North Dakota, Living with Greyhounds With 8 Comments Permanent Link to Queen of the MountainPermalink

Queen of the Mountain

Weather warmed up this afternoon just in time to take some photos with the new lens. I’m hoping for some interesting interior shots with this lens, but I tried exterior shots first. Loaded the results on facebook.

Three greyhounds peeking over fence

Greyhounds were good sports today, but everybody would like some of this snow to go away. Bring on the mud photos!

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →