Scout feature image

Scout

topdogPet Portraits 3 Comments

This is Scout, one of my first commissions. Painted with just enough detail to activate your brain!

Seamus feature image

Seamus Growls

topdogPet Portraits 2 Comments

“Keep moving, Pal.” This portrait commission was a memorial for a beloved family pet, Seamus. Apparently, Seamus was quite the character and loved going for rides in the car and growling at people who passed by the vehicle – in a “keep moving – nothing to see here” kind of way. This hobby (or habit) was so amusing to the family that one of them commissioned me to memorialize it in a second portrait. The …

Winslow, a Bernese Mountain dog at six months old

Winslow at Six Months

topdogPets

I haven’t posted much about Winslow lately. He’s hit the six month mark, and is weighing in at over 80 lbs. A big boy, indeed! Winslow is a very high-spirited pup. It’s exhausting trying to keep him under control. I think he’s got a definite Alpha Dog vibe, which means he’s constantly challenging other dogs and us. I’ve had to do some research on training an alpha dog, and how to keep them in line. …

Columns at St. Peter's Square, Rome. Photo by topdog

How I Became An Atheist: The Short Version

topdogBeliefs

One Sunday in 2002, The Missus and I sat in church on a sunny Spring day. At the time, the Catholic Church was embroiled in another priest sex scandal. During the homily a monsignor (more than a priest, less than a bishop) implored us to keep giving our money to the Church, despite these horrific incidents.

Hughes Brothers: Murphy

topdogPet Portraits

A few years after I painted Junior, the next Hughes Brother came along: Murphy. A swell looking fellow, he had lighter coloring than your typical German Shepherd, and I accentuated that in the portrait. I think it’s a fair observation that German Shepherds need proper training to be their best at protecting their pack and accepting non-threatening strangers. In a neighborhood setting, you don’t want a dog that is aggressive towards everyone they see. So …