Saw something that saddened me today.  I know this has been making the rounds on Facebook.  Did you all see it?  New policy by Mobile County Alabama Animal Control.

How many lovely family pets are pit bulls?  We had a pittie mix growing up, and my kids have a pure bred pit bull rescue.  Both dogs were the sweetest, most loving pets.  The fact that Mobile County AC isn't even allowing rescues to come in and remove the animals to give them a chance just seems so anti-intuitive.  I had hoped we as a nation were making more progress than this.

I don't normally write posts like this.  I like to focus on the positive and celebrate our successes.  But it's good to be informed.

Remember, spay and neuter your pets to prevent unwanted litters and adopt, don't shop!

Valen's painting process

Just a few photos to show part of the painting process.  I'll be uploading a video too, so stay tuned.

Started with Valen's photo.  He loves to ride in the car.  What a cutie!

Sketched out the painting on canvas.  Decided to mostly focus on the head here, since he's got such a great smile.

Started the the piece in acrylic paint.  As you have seen from my process videos, I always put in the darkest values first, and work directly on the white canvas, no painting palette, building up to the lightest values.

A little more developed.  Don Seegmiller showed me a 60s pop art book that offered some inspiration on palette and design.  So I think I know where I'm going with this.

Time to add some pop art inspired embellishment.  I put down tape to create some nice straight edges to contrast with the more organic shapes.

Voila.  A piece that really pops.

 To find out more about the rescue that saved Valen's life, visit Sniffing Snouts Pitbull Rescue.

Valen from Sniffing Snouts

What the heck, guys?  Why didn't anyone tell me to start posting again?  I blame all of you for this five month lapse. ;)

Anyway, it's time to get back into the swing of things, with 2013 well upon us.  The year of Lost & Found!  I'm so excited to be working on this show.  I've met so many wonderful people and heard so many amazing stories.

Today I'm going to feature Valen, a sweetie pie from Sniffing Snouts in Florida.

Read his story here, then check back to see how his painting was created.

(Remember, these stories can be hard to read in the beginning, but they are injected with love, generosity and kindness from rescue volunteers across the world.  Don't give up before you get to the happy ending!)

Valen's story:


 I'm Valen, my foster mom tossed around a few names before she choose that one because it means "strong,healthy" and she knew it wouldn't take long before I grew into my name.

My journey started when my mom saw my intake picture pop up on the local animal control website.

 It didn't stay up long, they told her my picture made people sad. But she couldn't stop thinking about me. She came to meet me the next day and take some more pictures so more people could find out about me and just maybe someone could help me get out of that cold hard place. I was so weak I could hardly stand, but I really liked her camera, as soon as she turned it on I did my best to pose for her. 

I even gave her some kisses. That's when I heard her tell the nice officer that she HAD to get me out and that she wanted me to come home with HER!

I'm a pretty big guy, mom thinks I'm a boxer/pit mix because I'm all legs and I have such flashy white markings. I weighed 37 lbs. I was weak but I was really happy someone came to see me! When mom got the "Okay" to come pick me up they told her I couldn't be neutered until I gained more weight because they didn't want to lose me. I was SO happy to get to ride in the car! Even though mom had to help me get in. 

My dogmom <woof! see what I did there? Instead of godmom I call her dogmom> Candice made it so I could go to the vet right away, mom was worried my organs might have started to shut down because I had gone for sooo long without food. The vet was really nice and checked me out, said how handsome I was and that he would make sure I was healthy. It turns out I had a blood parasite called a Babesia infection YUCK! I don't know what that is, I just know it meant I had to get MORE shots, I don't really like shots much but they made me feel better!.

Nobody knows where I came from or how I ended up as a stray.  I left the vet a present (I couldn't help it.  It was embarrassing, but I was nervous) there were WHOLE paper towels which made everyone REALLY wonder where I came from and what I was doing swallowing those things.  Was I really THAT hungry out on the street? Or did some mean person make me eat them? I don't remember, all I know is everyone I have met since I got out has been SO nice to me, and that I don't need to eat stuff like that anymore.

One of the best things about being out of that shelter? I got to eat ALL DAY LONG! Mom was always giving me food! She made me special meatballs too! They were REALLY good! I started putting on weight in no time. Mom found out I really like it in the car and we go for rides a lot. It wasn't before I started looking like the handsome guy she always knew I should be. A couple months of good food and love and I bounced back to 55 lbs, I still have a few more to go but mom doesn't want me to get fat.

I have come a long way since mom found me back in December 2011, I've learned these little people called "kids" are pretty awesome (they almost always smell like FOOD!) and cats are pretty cool too! Mom says I'm healthy enough to go live with my forever family but I haven't found them yet. 

I love my foster family but if I get adopted mom can help another dog just like she helped me. If you live in Orlando I would love to meet you! The awesome people at Sniffing Snouts Rescue are the ones that made it possible for me to be saved.

Valen